After spending a couple of hours in discussion with the captains from Chicago and New York, here is the finalized Toronto Word War Team! In case you missed the memo, this is a friendly competition where teams of equal numbers from each city compete for the highest total word count at the end of November.
(alphabetical order):
1. abscondingpixie
2. A-Chels
3. alberta_brown
4. AlleyCat34
5. AMTP
6. apmckay
7. arvin
8. bluecello
9. carrotmuffin
10. Ceres
11. dianap00
12. dlami
13. elder
14. Elfyn
15. Elumir
16. EmceeFrodis
17. EricHopkins
18. EternalDaisy
19. fishcat
20. Fyreflixe
21. gnomeyg
22. greensong
23. Hearther Emme
24. HidaShara
25. Inspiration
26. JoannaC
27. kalinda001
28. Litharukia
29. littleminx
30. ljoh
31. madanesor
32. Mark_London
33. merpy
34. Metria
35. Morbidly_Intricate
36. Netavatar
37. newtestleopard
38. norbork
39. OilsDragon
40. orderlychaos90
41. padys
42. Phyl
43. QuiltedPorcupine
44. redsmirk
45. Rue
46. RyanHarron
47. Slighty
48. SnippyB
49. Status Q
50. The Magnus
51. thebakagami
52. TheTabster
53. Thiaf
54. Twin2
55. Vampy
The alternates in case someone has to drop out due to extenuating circumstances are as follows:
(in order of sign-up)
ALT 1. ian
ALT 2. go-mom
ALT 3. cnewell
ALT 4. Arisuki
My apologies to the last few who signed up who couldn't be put on the team, but we had to cap it somewhere to keep the numbers across the three teams even. Don't be disheartened though, for your word counts still count toward the Toronto total in the grand scheme of things!
Since I'm sure many of you are wondering, the first word count tally will be posted on Wednesday morning with subsequent tallies posted on Sundays (and of course, at the end of the month). In the mean time, do a little dance, write a little more, and feel free to visit our opponents in Chicago and New York (but remember to keep it civil).
The only thing left to say is how impressed I am that so many people have taken up the challenge, and that I'm really looking forward to kicking some serious butt! Bring it on!!
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Toronto Word War Captain (vs. Chicago & New York)
Check out the current standings here!
70,466 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 16 52
Looks like Toronto is too busy writing to actually show some enthusiasm about the word war. Come on Toronto. Are you that short on words?
50,324 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 18 07
We can save our enthusiasm till Wednesday morning! Until then, write like the wind...
50,005 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 18 51
I'm sorry, did someone say something? It's hard to hear over the constant clacking of my keyboard sometimes.
60,000 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 21 48
Why talk about beating you guys when we can show you instead? ;)
70,466 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 22 52
Oh Toronto, you make it so hard to hate you with those accents. But I won't let that weaken my resolve.
By the way, I'm listening to the Tragically Hip right now as I type away furiously. Isn't that sort of ironic. Your own pride and joy are going to help Team Chicago beat you in a small way. ;)
60,000 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 23 50
Well guys, the moment you've all been waiting for!
As of November 7 at 1:30AM, the tallies are as follows:
Toronto: 533111
New York: 572825
Chicago: (pending; will be posted in the morning)
New York is 39714 words ahead of us, guys, but easily within reach! This should be extra motivation for those lagging behind to keep pounding those words so we can catch up.
Congratulations to EmceeFrodis whose word count currently sits at an astounding 43787 and is leading the team! Rounding out the top five are AlleyCat34, apmckay, merpy, and Elumir, all with word counts over 20 000!
70,466 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2007 - 23 56
New York: 572825
Chicago: 580286 (and that was as of 12:15 a.m. EDT)
I think this is the first time Chicago has ever been ahead of Toronto in a count. Rock! Really close so this should be a fun one this year.
Captain, 2007 Chicago Word War Team (vs. New York City and Toronto)
"Write Early, Write Often"
167,363 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 00 35
Oh, we can totally catch up! Those Yanks don't know who they're dealing with. Let's show them how we do it in the Great White North.
Glad my word count could contribute. I plan to keep working away just as hard as ever once I hit 50,000 (which I'm aiming to do tomorrow). I've got a lot-- and I mean A LOT-- still to do. Actually, my final word count will probably be something like "infinite", so the rest of the month is going to be just as intensive as the last few days.
Back to Word for me!
52,814 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 08 38
You are seriously, scarily awesome.
52,814 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 08 39
Did you guys film that before I got there last night?
52,597 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 09 27
What?! We're behind?!
That's it... time for me to stop slacking and start kicking @$$!
86,035 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 09 29
We gonna kick some Yankee Doodle Dandy Butt this year ---- Im going to hit 40k tonight if I can, then onto 50 tomorrow if all goes well..... and then from there onwords and upwords! HAHA!!! Great Job every one!!!
115,292 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 09 41
Behind? Good grief.
And Oils, we may have filmed it before you go there, but I don't know which one you were. Any other person would have been preferable to the obnoxious guy peeking in periodically. :D
52,814 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 09 55
I was the one with the magenta t-shirt and the messy ponytail, talking about - wait, what was I talking about? Anywho, I was one of those people talking with Deb et al and not so much with the writing (though I still managed to get nearly another 1,000 words last night to add to our tally - look out, NY and Chicago!).
52,597 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 09 57
I missed the video because I was too chicken to actually introduce myself to anyone that was there last night :(
I heard teh video being filmed though and scolded myself immensly for being so shy.
51,673 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 10 31
Ah hah hah, there's me sitting in the back looking clueless.
60,000 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 12 28
Yup, we did film it before you got there, cherie, because some people had to leave early. Don't worry though, we can film many more over the month, and it will be all the more sweeter when we leave their word counts in the dust!
23,667 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 12 31
I will be adding more over the next few days as well. I am at 7874.
115,292 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 13 15
Ah, no worries about being shy. I was writing and didn't pay much attention, so I didn't really look up too much from where I was nor did I really go out of my way to introduce myself to people. Big snob, I am.
I think we need to take a group photo shot... or a panorama shot! That would be even cooler.
:)
Or, Heather can go around with a vid cam, and do a quick interview of each person. That way you're forced to be acknowledged. :D
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2006: Enchantress
23,667 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 13 17
Now 8712. I will try to be up to date by tomorrow.
90,207 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 22 11
See I knew I should have updated my wc yesterday even though I hadn't written in three days
my word count as of Saturday was 10k, I haven't really had time since but I plan on writing a lot tonight. I'll update my word count for sure by saturday so that this time I'll actually be helpful.
Besides I've got friends to beat/catch up to and that's also motivation.
Canadian power all the way.
Morbidly Intricate
:: runs off to write like the gale force winds of a hurricane ::
27,351 / 50,000
Nov 7, 2007 - 23 22
Fight-o! Fight-o! You can do it. *waves pompoms*
167,363 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 03 41
Thought I'd report that I hit the big five-oh-kay. Still all revved up and wanting to write more. The Word War is really helping me keep pumped up, despite filling up the little bar under my name.
BTW, the video was fantastically awesome! You guys are great!
86,035 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 06 27
Im not far behind you EmCee! Congrats on your victory!!!! We are going to rock this house and show them American folks just who has the word mojo!
115,292 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 07 11
Yippeee! Congratulations! That's exciting!
Greensong, when is the next word Tally? I want to make sure I can push out some words before that...
85,700 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 09 35
This year should be the year of a lot of firsts:
• Taking the lead and pulling ahead of Toronto
• Staying ahead of Toronto all month
• Receiving a nice congratulatory card from them at the end of the month
=-D
60,000 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 12 41
Yippeee! Congratulations! That's exciting!
Greensong, when is the next word Tally? I want to make sure I can push out some words before that...
EmceeFrodis, you are absolutely amazing!
Elumir, the next tally will be on Sunday, probably in the evening.
And...here's a little challenge for everyone and especially for me because I definitely need it! Between now and Sunday, I challenge everyone to write an extra day's worth of words, on top of the daily target of 1667 needed to hit 50K by Novemer 30. Whether you're at 1000 words, or at well...(again, massive congratulations to Emcee), it will feel amazing to make up some ground and/or get ahead in the word count. Anyone game?
Onwards and upwords (sorry, that was the worst pun ever)!
52,597 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 12 51
I'm game, though I'll have to do it all between today and tomorrow. I'm not going to have any internet access again until Sunday night.
57,432 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 13 41
I can do that. At least, I think I can.
87,202 / 50,000
Nov 8, 2007 - 14 06
I will attempt the challenge! Gotta get ahead, gotta get ahead...