2024 RebelWriMo Winter Potluck and Blind Book Exchange

 

2024 Green Red and Gold Winter Potluck Social Media Graphic

Well, after my posts about week 4, it's now time to give you all the details about our Winter Potluck and Blind Book Exchange (formerly the TGIO).

Many Sockmonkeys are already familiar with this end of November writing madness gathering, but, in case you aren't or just need a refresher, here are the details for this year:

What: 2024 Winter Potluck & Blind Book Exchange

Where: Parkland/Spanaway Pierce County Library

Date: Sunday, December 1st, 2024

Time: 2 - 4 p.m.

We usually make this a potluck because it's fun to eat while we chat about our November writing and what we hope to do next or just to catch up with other Sockmonkey writers. You are welcome to come even if you aren't able to bring a dish to share - please just sign up on this form to let us know you're coming. And if you're bringing something for the potluck, please RSVP here (or just leave a comment on it saying you'll pick something up on your way to the event if you're not sure what you might bring).

In case you're not sure what a Blind Book Exchange is, basically, you bring a new or gently used book that you've wrapped and to which you've attached a short, non-spoiler type blurb or hint about the book for other Sockmonkey writers to use as they decide which book to choose. This is a fun way to get something to read to refill the creative well after spending so much time writing (or editing, etc.) and everyone enjoys seeing the books that other Sockmonkey writers get. (A favorite blurb from last year, which was very short, was "DIY Gone Wrong". The book inside? Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.) The whole thing is a variation on the way libraries and book stores often do this and call it a "Blind Date with a Book".

If you'd like to see some examples of past Book Exchanges, here are links to posts with photos of them on our Regional Instagram:

December 2019

 December 2022 

 December 2023 

Also, just for fun, (and only if you already have it) please wear your favorite funny or ugly holiday attire (shirt, sweater, etc.).

Please do not attend if you or anyone in your immediate household is ill or has recently been exposed to illness, in order to keep from spreading it to other Sockmonkey writers.

The event will be broadcast on a video channel in our Discord for those who are ill or otherwise cannot attend, so they can see and hear what's happening and can participate via text chat if they'd like to do so.

I hope to see you there - virtually or in person!

Image: A dark green background with the neck and shoulders of four different red holiday sweaters, one in each corner, framing a small gingerbread cookie above a Red and Green gingerbread man holiday sweater on the left next to large words in alternating yellow and red that read: 2024 Winter Potluck & Blind Book Exchange". A yellow oval next to the word Winter and above the word Potluck contains small white text that reads: Sunday, December 1st. A rounded red rectangle under the word Exchange has white text that reads: Wear your ugly or funny holiday attire! White text in the center at the bottom reads: See the Google Calendar or the blog for more details and to sign up!

RebelWriMo Week 4 Sockmonkey and Library Hosted Events

 

Week 4 Sockmonkey Hosted Write ins Social Media Graphic

Sorry to be a bit late with this - I prepared the graphics but got called in for extra work shifts so wasn't able to post them right away. Rather than take the time to try to edit them, I decided to just post the week 4 posts as they are.

Whether you're participating in our November RebelWriMo or not, if you're writing or editing a project and would like to join other writers while you do it, here is the schedule of Sockmonkey Writer hosted writing events from November 25th - December  1st, 2024:

Mon 25 - Tacoma Coffee Shop 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Tue 26 - Cave of Time Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Wed 27 Return to Cave of Time Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Thu 28 Turkey Day - None Scheduled

Fri 29 Wordslinging on Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Sat 30 Zoom Write 10 - 11 a.m.

Sun 01 Winter Potluck and Blind Book Exchange

Please note that seating at the Coffee Shop is limited to a total of 10 - 12 people, including the host.

Check the Google Calendar for more details and for links to sign up for the Winter Potluck and Book Exchange on December 1st (More info coming soon).

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The PCSockmonkeyWriters Polly Esther and Pierson logo is in the lower left corner and the words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Graphic of Library Hosted Writing Events This Week

Here is a listing of Library Hosted writing events for November 24th - November 30th, 2024:

Wed 27 - Puyallup Library 5 - 7 p.m.

Thu 28 - Turkey Day - Libraries Closed

Sat 30 - South Tacoma TPL 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

See the event on the Google calendar for addresses and links to the library's event listing for more information. The holiday closures mean there are fewer library events this week, but there are still a couple you can attend if they're convenient and you have transportation.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange 2024

An image of the welcome table at the start of the Midway Pie Day Event

Hello Sockmonkeys!

I had hoped to get this post out to you sooner, but power and internet outages due to our midweek Bomb Cyclone, on top of my usual schedule challenges, meant I just couldn't do so until now. In any case, here is your pictoral and text-based update on what happened during this year's event.

Of course, Polly Esther and Pierson, along with the Sockmonkey basket and their smaller winter Sockmonkey friends were waiting on the welcome table for writers to come in. The tickets were used to both determine turns for the Mug Exchange and for a separate Door Prize drawing for a Sockmonkey mug (which is wrapped in a black bow in front of the yellow bag seen on the table).

Many Sockmonkeys arrived near the very beginning of the event and others arrived as time allowed,  but there was plenty of food and, as you can see from the photo of wrapped mugs next to the Sockmonkey bucket, there were plenty of mugs waiting to be chosen during the exchange. We even had a couple of Sockmonkeys who weren't able to participate in person, but who dropped off mugs and participated in the exchange virtually via our Discord.

As is our tradition, about halfway through our 2 hour gathering, we started drawing tickets to see who chose which mug. The photo above shows the end results of all of the unwrapping, with the now revealed mugs posed around the Sockmonkey basket. There were actually enough extra mugs so that seven of those present were able to choose a second mug to take home.

Above is a photo of Pierson the SockDog, who is propping up three of the lovely Sockmonkey keychains brought to the Pie Day event by Jessica Blacknall. It was so kind of her to take the time to make these to share with everyone! Thank you so much, Jessica! (Don't worry, there are extra if you weren't able to come to Pie Day - there will be some available at the Winter Potluck and Blind Book Exchange.)

And, just so you can see a close up of a few of the mugs, first I will share the photo I took to post on my social accounts. It shows two small Sockmonkeys with Reindeer antlers and scarves sitting on either side of a black mug with some small hearts and the words "You Octopi my Heart" painted on it.

I also requested and received permission to share screenshots of the following two social media posts here, in case you're not on the social sites where they were initially shared:

This post from Colin D shows a photo of his mug, which is black inside with a black handle and has a white background with the words "Keep Clam and Proof Read" on it above his Sockmonkey keychain next to the quote that was printed on the tag inside which reads "A writer's life and work are not a gift to humankind they are it's necessity. - Toni Morrison".  The text of his post reads: Some items from @sockmonkeywriters.bsky.social mid-month Mug Exchange writerly check-in. The keychain is hand-made!!!

This photo is a post from Jen aka Jexx which shows her purple travel mug above an open notebook with a pen in the middle, the Sockmonkey keychain and a plate of pie and other food on the right, with a closed notebook that has a Sockmonkey sticker, and I Voted sticker, a Hi my name is label and the upper half of a yellow duck sticker on it on the left side. The text above the post reads: At the Midway mug and pie celebration of SockmonkeyWriters! We don't officially do NaNo anymore, but we do a November writing month and meet for writing! And pie!

It was fun to see the familiar November faces again. Here's to keeping this bit of community going and hopefully building it up into something more robust as time goes on!

RebelWriMo Week 3 Sockmonkey and Library Hosted Events

 

Graphic with Calendar of Sockmonkey Hosted Writing Events this Week

Here are the Sockmonkey hosted events for week 3!

Whether you're participating in our November RebelWriMo or not, if you're writing or editing a project and would like to join other writers while you do it, here is the schedule of Sockmonkey Writer hosted writing events from November 18th - November  23rd, 2024:

Mon 18 - Tacoma Coffee Shop 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Tue 19 - Cave of Time Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Wed 20 Return to Cave of Time Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Thu 21 Under the Sea Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Fri 22 Wordslinging on Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Sat 23 Zoom Write 10 - 11 a.m.

Please note that seating at the Coffee Shop is limited to a total of 10 - 12 people, including the host.

Check the Google Calendar for more details.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The PCSockmonkeyWriters Polly Esther and Pierson logo is in the lower left corner and the words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Graphic of Library Hosted Writing Events This Week

Here is a listing of Library Hosted writing events for November 18th - November 23rd, 2024:

Mon 18 - 320th Federal Way 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Tue 19 - South Tacoma TPL 12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Wed 20 - Puyallup Library 5 - 7 p.m.

Wed 20 - University Place 6 - 8 p.m.

Thu 21 - Buckley 12 - 1:30 p.m.

Fri 22 - South Hill 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Fri 22 - Sumner (and Zoom) 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

See the event on the Google calendar for addresses and links to the library's event listing for more information. The Sumner Zoom session is something they request registration for, so be sure to visit that event listing before attempting to attend.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange this Sunday!

 

Social Media Graphic for this Year's Midway Pie Day

Hello again, Sockmonkeys!

I know, lots to keep track of and catch up on this month. Maybe you were wondering if, since we're no longer affiliated with HQ, we'd be doing the bigger potluck events or not. The answer is a definite YES! They're too fun not to continue, so in honor of passing the midway point of our November RebelWriMo, we are having our Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange this Sunday, November 17th from 12 - 2 p.m.

New to the region or the group and don't know what a Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange is? Basically, it's a write-in, but with food (and often multiple pies) and where people bring a wrapped new or clean, gently used mug to exchange for a random mug from all the others brought. See this post on the 2023 Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange 2023 for photos of last year's event.

This is always a fun time and we all get some writing in while eating and being able to chat with other writers from the Tacoma/Pierce County area.

Again, it will be this Sunday, November 17th from 12 - 2 p.m. Please see the event on the Google calendar for more details. Also, please note that I will do my best to stream the event into a video channel in our Regional Discord for those who are ill or otherwise cannot attend in person.

Please RSVP to let me know if you'll be able to make it by clicking through and filling out this form (if you haven't already done so).

And then, if you will be attending, please click through to this form and fill out what sort of food you're willing to bring to the Pie Day potluck.

I do hope you'll be able to join us!

P.S. Yes, there is also a Winter Potluck and Blind Book Exchange on the calendar. It is scheduled for December 1st. You can check the calendar for more details and the links to RSVP and sign up now or wait until the post with them in it is written and published on the blog.

Image: White background with blurred apples on the left next to a lattice crust topped apple pie on the right. A vertical orange rounded corner rectangle is on the left with the text "Midway Pie Day Is This Weekend! in white above a white line with the words "Join us for a Writing Potluck!" in brown above a horizontal darker rectangle with the words "Mug Exchange, Too!" in white in it. Below that in white is Sun Nov 17 12 - 2 p.m. and at the bottom of the rectangle in brown text are the words "See the Pie Day Post on the Blog for more info & to RSVP". The PCSockmonkeyWriters Logo with Polly Esther and Pierson is in the lower right corner on top of the pie.

RebelWriMo Week 2 Writing Events 2024

 

Graphic with calendar of Sockmonkey Hosted Writing Events this week

Here we are at the beginning of the 2nd full week of RebelWriMo, so it's time to update the graphical calendar to remind you what sort of events we have for all Sockmonkey writers the week of the 10th - 17th (although I'm getting it up late, so we missed the 10th and 11th, sorry about that!).

Tue 12 - Cave of Time Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Wed 13 Return to Cave of Time Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Thu 14 Under the Sea Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Fri 15 Wordslinging on Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Sat 16 Zoom Write 10 - 11 a.m.

Sun 17 Midway Pie Day & Mug Exchange Write-In Parkland/Spanaway RSVP

Sun 17 Write Time Write In - Sumner 3 - 6 p.m.

I'll make a longer post about it, but I wanted to make sure everyone knew about the upcoming Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange Write In. It will be on Sunday, November 17th from 12 - 2 p.m. The food sign up form will be in the other email, but to RSVP and get a few more details, please visit the Midway Pie Day and Mug Exchange RSVP Google form.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The PCSockmonkeyWriters Polly Esther and Pierson logo is in the lower left corner and the words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Graphic with Library Hosted Writing Events This Week

Due to Library closures for Veteran's Day (thank you for your service if you or any of your family members are or have done so) the calendar of Library events is much shorter this week:

Wed 13 - Puyallup Library 5 - 7 p.m.

Fri 15 South Hill 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Fri 15 Sumner (and Zoom) 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Sat 16 - TPL South Tacoma  3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

See the event on the Google calendar for addresses and links to the library's event listing for more information. The Sumner Zoom session is something they request registration for, so be sure to visit that event listing before attempting to attend.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

RebelWriMo Week One Sockmonkey and Library Hosted Writing Events

 

Graphic with Calendar of Sockmonkey Hosted Writing Events this Week

Okay, Sockmonkeys, here we go!

Whether you're participating in our November RebelWriMo or not, if you're writing or editing a project and would like to join other writers while you do it, here is the schedule of Sockmonkey Writer hosted writing events from November 3rd - November 9th, 2024:

Sun 3 - None hosted - Turn Clocks Back!

Mon 4 - Tacoma Coffee Shop 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Tue 5 - Cave of Time Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Wed 6 Return to Cave of Time Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Thu 7 Under the Sea Discord 6 - 8 p.m.

Fri 8 Wordslinging on Discord 7 - 9 p.m.

Sat 9 Zoom Write 10 - 11 a.m.

Please note that seating at the Coffee Shop is limited to a total of 10 - 12 people, including the host.

Check the Google Calendar for more details.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The PCSockmonkeyWriters Polly Esther and Pierson logo is in the lower left corner and the words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.

Graphic of Library Hosted Writing Events This Week

Here is a listing of Library Hosted writing events for November 3rd - November 9th, 2024:

Mon 4 - 320th Federal Way 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Wed 6 - South Tacoma TPL 3 - 5 p.m.

Wed 6 - Puyallup Library 5 - 7 p.m.

Wed 6 University Place 6 - 8 p.m.

Fri 8 South Hill 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Fri 8 Sumner (and Zoom) 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Sat 9 None hosted

See the event on the Google calendar for addresses and links to the library's event listing for more information. The Sumner Zoom session is something they request registration for, so be sure to visit that event listing before attempting to attend.

Image: Brown background with beige rounded rectangles that list the above date and event information from top to bottom over an image of a world map with sunglasses and an open notebook and pen on it. The words "See our Blog, Google Calendar or Discord for more info" are in dark brown at the bottom.