In Person Satellite Write-In Guide

As busy as November can be with reckless writing abandon, many Boston Wrimos find setting up community-based NaNo events – what we call Satellite Write-Ins – make the month a lot more fun and productive. 

When Planning a Satellite Event

  1. Social media (Our Facebook group, Discord server, the NaNoWriMo forums) are a good place to gauge interest in your event. 
  2. Remember that NaNoWriMo and NaNoBoston groups, social media, etc., are open to participants of all ages.  Please be respectful, friendly, polite, and encouraging when proposing an event.  Avoid sarcasm, which can easily be misconstrued as threatening or offensive.  And remember, no cursing! 
  3. Many Wrimos are underage, so venues selected should keep this in mind.  Write-Ins at bars may be fun, but necessarily limit who can attend.
  4. NaNoBoston will not approve or promote Satellite events held in private homes.
  5. Cafes, coffee shops, and bookstores are all excellent and appropriate venues for events. 
  6. It’s an excellent idea to scout out your location ahead of time.  You want to look for things like tables and seating arrangements and locations of power outlets.  This is a perfect time to speak to management about accommodating your event. 
  7. While smaller events (up to 5 people) shouldn’t have any problem just showing up to a location, larger groups should call ahead and let the venue manager know you’d like to come by.  While it’s not required, it’s considerate of the location’s need to turn tables during what may be their busiest times, and will help ensure you have the space to sit and work.
  8. Plot out activities: You may wish to discuss possible activities ahead of time, such as word wars, word sprints, icebreaker questions, planned discussions about writing, etc. Having activities makes the event more interactive, and perhaps less awkward for folks who don’t know each other to be doing nothing except writing silently.
  9. Your Municipal Liaisons put a lot of time and effort into planning the Official Write-Ins.  Please do not submit events that conflict with official events; we will not approve or promote them. 

Once you’ve selected your date, time, and location

  1. Visit the regional page on nanowrimo.org.
  2. Click on the EVENTS tab at the top of the page.
  3. Click the SUBMIT AN EVENT button.
  4. Please preface your event name with “Satellite Write-In” and the neighborhood/location.  This makes it clear to your fellow Wrimos what and where the event is.  Example:  Satellite Write-In:  Cambridgeport
  5. The EVENT DETAILS box is a great place to fill in information about the event (if it’s themed, etc.), as well as helpful information about the venue (entrance difficult to find, where you expect to set up, etc.).  You do not need to include the address here – that’s on the next page.
  6. Select the date, time, and duration of your event.  Be sure to check that the time zone is correct! 
  7. Click the NEXT: VENUE button to proceed to the next screen.
  8. Tick the in-person box
  9. Select your venue.  (If you need to add a new venue, scroll down to the bottom of the drop-down list for that option.)  Put in the name of the venue, then the address.
  10. Click the SUBMIT EVENT FOR APPROVAL button.
  11. Email the MLs at BostonNaNo@gmail.com to let them know you’ve submitted an event.  It should be approved within 24 hours.

On the day of your Write-In

  1. Consider bringing at least 1-2 extension cords and power strips to accommodate tables not near an electrical outlet.  Including a surge protector to accommodate the number of Wrimos attending is handy when you have more Wrimos than outlets. 
  2. Wrimos may show up without RSVPing.  Make it easy for them – outline in the event listing any easily identifiable clothing you may wear, stickers on laptops, etc. – anything to help people find you. 
  3. Show up early: Be there about 15 minutes early, so that you can welcome folks to your event, and get to know them as they arrive. You can also troubleshoot tech problems should they arise.
  4. Remember, you’re the host: Make everyone feel welcome and included. It’s also okay to have some participants not participate in a word war or other activity but keep writing.
  5. Don’t be afraid to ask people who look like they might be doing NaNo if they are. While it can be uncomfortable to approach a stranger, you might be helping someone who is too shy to ask you about NaNo, or who just hasn’t recognized you yet. You may also get the chance to introduce someone to NaNo for the first time. So please, don’t be afraid to ask.
  6. If you’re writing in a restaurant or any business, please be courteous and respectful of your hosts and fellow patrons.  Support them by buying something while you’re there. Not only does this engender goodwill in the community about our event and the people involved, it also ensures we will have places to hold NaNo events in years to come.

Thank you

By hosting an event, you’re helping yourself and your fellow Wrimos to make it to 50k! 

This covers the basics of setting up your In Person Satellite Write-In.  If you have further questions, email Travis + Jordan at BostonNaNo@gmail.com. 

Updated 2022