Rules for the 2009 Challenge: Team Lushguin v the State of Maryland
Eligibility
• Texans: You must live within 60 miles of Austin or Houston. You may not come from another city that has its own Regional Lounge.
• Marylanders: You must live in the state of Maryland.
Sign-ups
• Notify your challenge coordinator via email ONLY - texas (at) flickguy (dot) com in Texas or maryland (at) flickguy (dot) com in Maryland - by midnight on November 3 that you want to participate. Your email must contain your nano username.
• During the challenge, you must respond to any requests from your challenge coordinator within a maximum of three days so we know you aren’t missing in action.
• Your challenge coordinator will provide a “word count thread” in your regional lounge to track word count. Participants will post ONCE to this thread when instructed by the challenge coordinator. When everyone has posted, the thread will be locked.
Updating Word Count
• You must update your word count at least once every five days. If you are unable to update your count, contact your challenge coordinator.
• During the course of the contest, we may ask that you update your word count more frequently.
• You must input your final word count by midnight on November 30. After midnight, you will no longer be able to update your count.
Scoring
• You may drop out of the challenge at any time up to midnight on November 15 without affecting your team’s count.
• Only the official word count from the locked “word count thread” on the NaNoWriMo website will be considered when computing the final score.
• After midnight on November 30, the challenge coordinators from each team will drop the highest and lowest scores from their respective counts. They will compute the average score for all remaining competitors.
• The team with the highest word count average will be the winner.
• The challenge coordinators will compare results, and when both coordinators agree, the results will be posted on the NaNo boards.
Trash-talkin’
• Each team will have a clearly labeled “trash talk” thread. The Lushguins trash talk thread will be in the Austin Lounge. Trash talk is to be posted ONLY to the trash talk thread and should remain in good fun and within the bounds of good sportspersonship.
Our God-like powers
• Challenge Coordinators decide what “good sportspersonship” means.
• We reserve the right to remove folks from the competition for any violation of the rules and guidelines listed above.
• We are the final authority in any dispute or question about the rules.
Remember It’s All in Fun
• In the heat of competition, we sometimes forget it’s just a game. If you have a concern or question about anything regarding the competition, please contact your challenge coordinator before you post.
(If you’d like to discuss this further, please post questions or comments to this thread or shoot your challenge coordinator an email or pm.)
----------
GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
77,896 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 10 43
You see correctly, my Lushguins -- the rules are finally HERE.
I'm flickguy, and I will be your Challenge Coordinator for this year's Challenge. I hope to receive many, many emails from y'all by November 3.
A few items I want to amplify:
#1) By email only means just that. If you only reply here in this thread, you are not entered. Send me an email, please. And make sure that email includes your NaNo ID.
#2) We're doing the averages a tiny bit differently. In addition to dropping the low score of each team, we're also dropping the HIGH score. This does not mean we don't value you if you write hundreds of thousands of words. We love you, in fact. We just want EVERYONE to try their hardest. It's easy to use the high-count writers as a crutch. Let's not, okay?
#3) Even though we're doing battle with the Crabs, they are our friends and we love them. Let's remember that when playing in the Trash Talk thread, please.
Questions? Comments? I'm all ears.
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
81,205 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 15 53
Sweet! Go Lushguins!
----------2009 - Destined to Rule (Unverified Winner!)
61,346 / 50,000
Oct 28, 2009 - 17 33
Yeah, Flickguy! We're so glad you're back this year. Thank you for taking on The Challenge again.
XOXOXOXOXO
77,896 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 17 50
Hey, kids! I finally got around to writing up the "welcome" email to let you know you're in. So check your mail -- if you didn't get a message with a title beginning with "Challenge 2009", one of three things happened:
1) Something failed from me to you.
2) I never got your initial request to join
3) You haven't sent me an email to join.
So far, twenty of you fantastic beings have taken up the banner against the crabs! Y'all rock.
I want to hear from more of you. If you think the Challenge would help you write more than you think you can... sign up today!
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
36,685 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 21 02
Yes, i'm interested in the challenge. But would I need to enter the most words in a day? Is it by week? will I have to check in?
----------77,896 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 06 23
Wow. I've been doing some version of the Word Count Challenge for so long that sometimes I forget that not everyone knows what the heck it's all about. I'm glad you asked these questions, Knight Z.
In order of questioning... No, no, and yes, in a way.
The Word Count Challenge will add your word count to our pooled word count (which we will then average) and compare to the average count of the Challenge participants in Maryland. Whichever average is higher... wins. Being part of the challenge will not require you personally to beat anyone else personally. It will only require you to write.
Because NaNoWriMo itself is a month-long challenge, so is our Word Count Challenge. We might mention who happens to be ahead on any given week, but the only number that truly counts as a competition is the final number. (Plus, Caeraerie has created a *wonderful* tracking site, so you can see the standings any time you choose.)
Lastly, the check-in... the only real checking in we will require is that you update your word count on the NaNoWriMo site regularly. We check the numbers on the 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, and finally on the 30th. As long as your number is larger on each of those days as the previous "checkpoint" day, we won't ask you to "check in". We do ask that you let us know in advance if you can't update your count for whatever reason on a given checkpoint... and if you do not update and don't let us know we'll ask for a check-in to make sure you're still with us... but that's pretty much it. You update regularly, you never have to talk to us if you don't want to.
One other thing to mention, if you're still on the fence about joining us: If you sign in and realize it was all a big mistake ("Let me off this ride! I thought I would like it, but I don't!"), there is an easy-out clause. Just let your coordinator (me) know via email by the 15th that you don't want to participate after all. You'll be removed from the Challenge, and no one's feelings will be hurt. You can always come back and play with us next year.
I hope this explanation was sufficient for you. If you have any other questions, just ask.
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
37,090 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 07 17
The Lushguin stumbled into the bar and found himself among a gaggle of drunk Lushgins. 'Can somebody pass me a bottle of Gin?' 'Can't you see I'm a Lushguin?' and all the Lushgins laughed, remembering back to a time whey they too knew what it was like to be a Lushguin.
Aannyways..
I'm here, and now it's getting really close to show time. I have everything I need to get 60,000 words out and I plan on being here for who ever shows up, Lushguin or Lushgin, 'I don't care.'
I think a nice crab dinner would be in order when we win.
Or I can just write one up and we can read how much crab we all ate and how much fun we had regaling the other Lowly crab creatures, whomever they may be.
----------("Did I say that out loud?")
facebook.com/fuzzywashere
77,896 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 08 30
*headdesk*
I had mispeled "Lushguin" in about three places and in three different ways -- by the time I caught the one in the header, it was too late to do anything about it, because I had replied to the message already. Once there is a reply, you can no longer edit your message.
I figured it was only a matter of time before someone made fun of me for it.
I cry now.
(And yes, I know that I mispeled "misspelled". I do it on purpose.)
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
77,896 / 50,000
Oct 30, 2009 - 22 04
Our army increases in number. We are now 31 (counting me, of course).
Next batch of "Welcome" messages sent out. If you think you have signed up but didn't get my lovely form letter crafted especially for you, please see the previous "what went wrong" message in THIS thread.
I'm going to bed now. When I awake, I will go see a movie.
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
4,910 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 09 41
OK, I want to join! How do I do that? And is there anything specific I'd have to do?
----------36,685 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 22 52
I just sent you an email flick for entering the competition! ^___^
----------107,532 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 05 55
OOOH I hope I am not too late to join!!!!
C's high score will be nixed???? OH HOLY NOOOO!!!
LOL
Yeah, finding forum time has been hard. Harder still with a novel to write. XD
-----------------------
All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.
Walt Disney
2006 - Leaving Despair - 250+k words - Winner
2007 - Continuity - 425+k words - Winner
2008 - A Time to laugh - 97+k words - Winner (but not to me)
77,896 / 50,000
Nov 1, 2009 - 11 04
As of Noon Central Standard Time on November 1, our count stands at 41.
I have sent out 40 Welcome Letters since sign-ups began. If you have not gotten yours, one of the three things previously mentioned happened. Please resubmit your sign-up request.
If you have not signed up yet and would like to, you have until midnight Tuesday night.
If you're still on the fence, remember there is an opt-out clause. It can't hurt to give us a try. You might find a word count challenge to be quite motivating.
We will get the Trash Talk threads going this week.
That's all for now... Stay tuned.
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
77,896 / 50,000
Nov 2, 2009 - 22 51
Hey, Lushguins!
Something seems to be going on with the webmail my flickguy.com host provides, so I'm having difficulty with the steps involved in sending out the 18 verifications that are still pending. So what I'm going to do instead is post here a list of those for whom I have received sign-up emails and go from there.
If your username is not on this list and you think it should be, send an email to texas (at) flickguy (dot) com to remedy the situation. (Be sure to include your nano name in the email.) It's officially November 3 now, so you have until the next time the clock strikes midnight to sign up.
Our Roster Thus Far - 59 of us!
AdenPenn
----------akelsey333
awewriter
Caeraerie
Cambrie Mae
Daymorn
Deia
DeniseR
diabeticangel
Dominick D
duskweaver
Elana
Elephande
Faeth
faience
FGHart
flickguy
FourteenthTarget
freidabee
garretwriter
isle.sam
Ithiliel
jayiin
jc78729
Jen_Shumate
KleenexCow
Knight Z
kswope
ktne
laifana
lonelyfilly
lumos_aeternum
Lunis
mamawildbear
maxxgrl
mayhopebringushome
medusacascade
MizLacey
mtb0001
Myth
nuttyknitter
OctoberDreaming
OrangeTangoDoble
parhelion
RL Copple
RockinB
Silver
Sithwitch13
SkyMomma
Soluna
Stitch
Tathry
TexasDutchie
Thestral
Tippy
toastytreat
Towner
txbluebonnet2006
Tyloric
GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
53,527 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 13 17
I'm in, I sent you my email. Sorry it took so long- slipped my mind.
----------53,214 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 16 44
I just sent an email to texas at flickguy dot com, so I'd like to think I'm in on this for once.
This is probably the first year during which I'd be an asset to the team.
----------2004-2008: No wins yet
2009: Wiles
This year is going to be my first win. I'm well past the pace for it so far, and I have almost my entire plot planned out in advance.
77,896 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 22 21
Midnight came...
Midnight went.
The sign-up period for Challenge 2009 has ENDED.
Thank you all VERY much for coming out to play with us. We had an unprecedented turnout this year. Our Lushguin Army has 72 combatants.
That's right. 72!
In the morning I will compose the Word Count thread post. The 72 of us will need to post to that thread ONE TIME.
We are, in alphabetical order by username:
AdenPenn
akelsey333
awewriter
Caeraerie
Cambrie Mae
clover_green
Da Shlom
Daymorn
Deia
DeniseR
diabeticangel
Dominick D
duskweaver
Elana
Elephande
Faeth
faience
FGHart
flickguy
FourteenthTarget
freidabee
garretwriter
gpanza
isle.sam
Ithiliel
jayiin
jc78729
Jen_Shumate
KleenexCow
Knight Z
kswope
ktne
laifana
lonelyfilly
lumos_aeternum
Lunis
mamawildbear
maxxgrl
mayhopebringushome
mcrog077
medusacascade
miothrio
mitda
MizLacey
msirois
mtb0001
Myth
NetOwl
nuttyknitter
OctoberDreaming
OrangeTangoDoble
parhelion
RL Copple
RockinB
RodwenofRohan
rosemarypepper
saavedra
Sandpaper7
Silver
Sithwitch13
SkyMomma
Soluna
Stitch
Tathry
TexasDutchie
Thestral
thetruax
Tippy
toastytreat
Towner
txbluebonnet2006
Tyloric
All I can say is HOLY MACADAMIA NUTS! We are gonna ROCK!
----------GO LUSHGUINS!
50,000 words is easy.
50,000 words that make sense? Much harder.
3,675 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 22 39
I messaged you a few days ago but i have been away from my computer til today and I am not on the list :(
37,881 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 10 55
woot!!
----------Defeating Maryland, one crab leg at a time
2009: Blame it on the Weatherman
Trebuchet Club Member 2009