NaNoWriMo is a competition against yourself, that you do with others... but that doesn't mean that there isn't any room for a bit of traditional competition as well. Let's talk about rivalries!
It's pretty simple - two regions sign up to go against each other. Scores are awarded in a number of categories: average words per author, percentage of authors who hit 50,000, donations raised, etc. There's always room for a bit of friendly braggadocio between the regions - usually, there'll be a thread set up for that purpose in each region's forum.
And that's all there is to it!
So - are there any regions you guys would like to face in a rivalry? I've got one suggestion, but I'm open to others. Here's mine:
Have any of you been following the NaNoVideo programs on the main site? If not, go check out episode #7. It's very informative, it guest-stars Tom Selleck... and, um, it also guest-stars us. Yep, in that video, Alberta::Elsewhere is listed as the rivalry region for California::East Bay, the home of NaNoWriMo. I've already sent off a e-mail to their ML, who replied that they were surprised, too. But the note also went on to say many glowing, wonderful things about Banff, Medicine Hat, and Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, so needless to say, I kinda like these guys.
What say you, Wrimosaurs? Do you want to step up to this strange challenge, and take on the East Bay area? Or is there another region that you'd prefer to go up against?
----------
Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo
1,973 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 12 16
Hey, I'd be happy to contribute to our region's tromping CA, bay or not. My dog is from S. CA (just outside of LA), and she's my exuberant writing partner... so we're up for it!!! Show the US that we're more than great comedians, LOL!!!
----------Uncouthly Yours,
Lady Emily Titlington, Founder & President
*U.N.C.O.U.T.H. Enterprises Unlimited
"Well-behaved women seldom make history."
*Utter Nonsense, Capricious Oddities, Unrehearsed Trivia & Harangue
93,830 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 12 57
Hey!
They made it public by having it on that video, I say we take them on. Good, fun, healthy competition never hurt anyone :D
I say bring it!
However, if we can also beat Ontario: North Bay I'd be super stoked too!
----------~unrulydreamer~
43,238 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 13 25
I think it could be fun! Count me in as a 'Yes!'. :)
37,150 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 18 15
So... you went out lookin' for a fight, eh?
Couldn't leave well enough alone?
We're all happy writin' our words, gettin' along just the way we always have and then you gots to go out and smack a white glove across the nose of a juggernaut. And then you gots to go out an broadcast it all through cyberspace.
And now you come lookin' for help. You wants to know if the old Chopster will back you?
I gots two words for you:
H3LL YEAH!
----------"Because creative people aren't always in charge. And when they do their best work, they're hardly ever in charge. They're just sort of rolling along with their eyes shut , yelling Wheeeee." - Steven King, Everything's Eventual
85,433 / 50,000
Oct 29, 2009 - 21 47
I saw that in the video too! I was totally amazed at seeing Alberta Elsewhere show up on the video. I immediately looked to see if we were taking East Bay area right after I finished watching the video so I am ALL for stepping up and challenging them.
Heck, I'm shooting for the equivalent of two NaNovels (100K+ word count baby) so I want some good competition!
----------~CLicK~
NaNo 2008 Dawn of Eve - WON!
NaNo 2009 Memoirs of an Unlikely Assassin
Inspiration is a lie. Sleep is for the weak. Caffiene is a gift.
Seriously, giving up was never a choice.
10,560 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 18 20
Lessee, they've got like 850 more people than we do, no snow to deal with, and more local activities to get them motivated.
"It's 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses. HIT IT."
43,238 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 19 36
Well, okay, there's that, but c'mon! We could still take 'em!
10,560 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 20 32
Totally! We HAVE the energy! I'm in.
93,830 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 15
Is it true were taking Ontario:North Bay too???
----------Cuz that'd be awesome!!
~unrulydreamer~
26,547 / 50,000
Oct 31, 2009 - 21 59
I'm totally game, I say we take them on. :D
----------"Everything you can imagine is real." - Pablo Picasso
54,035 / 50,000
Nov 3, 2009 - 19 46
It's official! We are in a rivalry with both East Bay and North Bay! Let's show them what we can do, guys! If you check the "Regional Info" tab on the header at the top of the forum, you'll see our standings with both of them - at least, you will once NaNo HQ works the bugs out.
Now, I don't know if those East Bay folk are taking us seriously with this... but if they aren't, that'll be just one more thing they'll rue at the end of the month! Onwards, proud Wrimosaurs, and submerge our rivals in the torrent of your words!
----------Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo
43,238 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 06 20
I don't know why, but this made me giggle . . . like an evil villan! Muahahahahahaha!
;-)
85,433 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 06 53
Now, I don't know if those East Bay folk are taking us seriously with this... but if they aren't, that'll be just one more thing they'll rue at the end of the month! Onwards, proud Wrimosaurs, and submerge our rivals in the torrent of your words!
Then I guess I had better aim to finish both novels before the end of the month to help us out! I wasn't going to work that hard on my second novel because I'll actually be working at work by the time I finish novel one, but we need to show East Bay what we're made of!
----------~CLicK~
NaNo 2008 Dawn of Eve - WON!
NaNo 2009 Memoirs of an Unlikely Assassin
Inspiration is a lie. Sleep is for the weak. Caffiene is a gift.
Seriously, giving up was never a choice.
85,433 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 07 06
Since the word count widget isn't working yet I thought I'd do a little research just so that people know how we're doing.
We are ahead on individual word counts against every one but North Bay, ON! Go Wrimosaurs! That means each of us is typing up a lot of words!
When it comes to North Bay, they may be outwriting us individually, but their total word count doesn't even touch ours.
So way to go Wrimosaurs. You're doing well so keep writing!
----------~CLicK~
NaNo 2008 Dawn of Eve - WON!
NaNo 2009 Memoirs of an Unlikely Assassin
Inspiration is a lie. Sleep is for the weak. Caffiene is a gift.
Seriously, giving up was never a choice.
93,830 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 10 55
We're Doing Awesome!!!!
I personally enjoy that we are kicking butt!
*does a dance*
----------~unrulydreamer~
85,433 / 50,000
Nov 4, 2009 - 16 42
Me too. It soothes my competitive soul. However, it's only the beginning of the month! We can't get all comfy and content with our leads yet!
----------~CLicK~
NaNo 2008 Dawn of Eve - WON!
NaNo 2009 Memoirs of an Unlikely Assassin
Inspiration is a lie. Sleep is for the weak. Caffiene is a gift.
Seriously, giving up was never a choice.
54,035 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 08 20
The widgets are up, and it's perfect timing - by the end of Nov. 6, writing the daily quota would give you 10,000 words. So it's a great day to check out other regions, and see how they're faring.
(Don't freak out if you're not at 10K - this is for a time period less than a week without a full weekend. There's still plenty of time to hit your mark. For instance, only SIX regions have an average over 10,000 right now. One of which is Canadian - congratulations, Quebec!)
Like click said, we're doing really well - we're sitting at a very respectable 6,343, and the day's not even over yet. That's well ahead of East Bay, and even Calgary! Edmonton's still a wee bit ahead, but they're crazy. And North Bay is over 8,000? What's going on over there?
Make sure you update your wordcount before midnight tonight, everyone! But we're doing great - keep it up!
----------Denton, a.k.a. Aquadeo - ML for the Alberta::Elsewhere Wrimosaurs
I'm typing this year's novel LIVE on:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/late-write-featuring-aquadeo
85,433 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 09 29
Will do. I am about to shut off the internet here at work and make up for my lack of writing yesterday. Let's see if I can't break my own record of number of words in a day.(11,487).
darn Guy Fawkes day for delaying me! lol I only just squeaked by the 50K mark last night just before midnight!
----------~CLicK~
NaNo 2008 Dawn of Eve - WON!
NaNo 2009 Memoirs of an Unlikely Assassin
Inspiration is a lie. Sleep is for the weak. Caffiene is a gift.
Seriously, giving up was never a choice.
1,973 / 50,000
Nov 6, 2009 - 12 53
Well, I'm afraid I'm going to let our Region down, after scarcely getting started, and only writing on Day One up until now... Sadly, I've been advised by My Personal Advisor to pull out of NaNoWriMo this year, as I was already quite stressed-out long before Nov 1st. So I guess that's about it for now. Hopefully "we" will win the Rivalry!!! There are some real "churners" cranking out the words, so I am confident that The Hat team stands a good chance, despite my withdrawing from the festivities. All the best, everyone!
Until 2010, I shall remain...
----------Uncouthly Yours,
Lady Emily Titlington, Founder & President
*U.N.C.O.U.T.H. Enterprises Unlimited
"Well-behaved women seldom make history."
*Utter Nonsense, Capricious Oddities, Unrehearsed Trivia & Harangue