Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Introduce Yourself!

deejsylvis — Thu, 1 Nov 2007 08:17:57 -0700

Okay, I'm putting this thread together so we can get to know each other a little bit better. Besides, it's something to do while you're taking a break from churning out those words!

(And of course, it's all optional, but the reason I suggest posting a picture or a link to a picture is because it helps people to put names to faces at the events -- I mean, I can't make people wear name tags every time ... )

Feel free to use this template, or not, and only put in what you're comfortable telling people: (I'll post mine after the thread is set up, I promise -- this is so you can cut and paste)

***

'Real' Name:

Age:

Job / Course of Study:

My Novel (in a sentence or two):

Other Interests:

Other Places to Find Me (personal website, Facebook, LJ, etc.):

IM Accounts:

Photo (or link to same):

***

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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Let the Tri-City Word War Begin (Encouragement, Banter, and all the Good Stuff)!

greensong — Mon, 5 Nov 2007 19:57:22 -0800

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!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Post-NaNo Togetherness

deejsylvis — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 05:01:30 -0800

I'll be talking about this more in a day or two when I send the last official Toronto NaNo email of 2007 (*sniff*), but one of the things I'm really committed to with this year's group is providing people some ways to keep in touch after November is over. I'll be pleased as punch if you guys keep hanging out together, maybe form some partnerships to edit the masterpieces you've created (if you're into that sort of thing), and keep the spirit of what we've done this month alive!

Since eventually, the NaNo site shuts down for the off season, I want to make sure you know what other options are out there. First and foremost, I've just created a Google group mailing list particularly for the use of Toronto NaNo and Script Frenzy veterans, so feel free to add here:

http://groups.google.ca/group/toronto-nano

And use it as you'd like. Right now, it's a fully public group -- I may have to restrict it a little bit if we start getting spammed, but I'll worry about that as it comes.

Also, there's the Facebook groups for NaNo:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2346009821 (Please note, you MUST have your region set as Toronto, Ontario to join this group!)

And Script Frenzy, though I'll have to add that one in later, as I'm at work where Facebook is blocked. And there's a Livejournal group for NaNo, though it's been a bit quiet this year:

http://community.livejournal.com/nanowrimo_tdot

So please, join any or all of those, and we'll keep in touch! (I'm thinking of January for the first NaNo reunion!) And please, as we look toward the post-NaNo days, I'd love to hear anything from you as far as reactions to how the month went, suggestions for next year, ideas for events, locations, games, deposing the evil ML ... ;)
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Thank God It's Over: The NaNo Toronto Final Party! RSVPs and other fun stuff here!

deejsylvis — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 17:19:00 -0800

We did it! That's the rousing refrain for this year's End of NaNo Toronto party! And I don't care if you wrote 50,000, 150,000 or 5,000 -- if you took part, and you wrote, you're a winner in my power-mad eyes!

Seriously, folks, it's been a hell of a year, and now it's time for us to blow off steam and party like it's ... well, the end of another tremendous National Novel Writing Month! There'll be games, prizes, readings (please bring selections to read, that's a LOT of the fun), and if that isn't enough, I promise to wrestle a bear until you're satisfied!

The location is Sharkey's Cafe in Bloor West Village (http://www.sharkeysrestaurants.com/), the time is 2 pm on Saturday -- be there or be somewhere else wishing you were there!

Sharkey's Cafe
2199 Bloor Street West (near Runnymede)

TIME: 2-5:30 pm

PS: Please note that we will also be accepting donations for NaNo, as always -- AND I'll have the mp3 compilation CDs made from the mixes exchanged back at the mid-way party! Now, these are coming out to TWO discs, so I'm asking for a minimum donation of $5 to cover my expenses and throw a few bucks at NaNo each. Naturally, we hope you'll donate more. There are only gonna be 19 copies, so they'll go fast!
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Final Countdown Writing Session -- RSVP Here!

deejsylvis — Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:21:37 -0800

Okay, this is a very particular writing session -- strictly for people who are still racing for that elusive 50K on the last possible night! (And, perhaps, one or two of our Word War team if they're really pushing that evening and need the fellowship.)

So yeah, the rules are -- you must be pushing to try to break 50K that night. I'm not saying you have to MAKE it (I may not), but you have to still be trying. And you have to RSVP, as I only have so much room in my apartment! I figure I can handle about 10 people or so, though table space will be VERY limited and you may want to bring those cushion desk things, TV trays, whatever might help for a writing surface. Or be okay with writing on the floor, or the coffee table. ;)

I do have wireless if necessary, and I'll try to pull together a few snacks. BYOB. And I am making this for people of legal age, in case there should be a few celebratory toasts. I ALSO have three cats, so if that's a problem for you, I apologize but their hair is definitely everywhere.

If there are enough people who want to do a separate gathering just to socialize, let us know and we can try to arrange for those folks to meet somewhere -- but this is mostly for writing, and writing, and writing.

Again, please RSVP so I know who's going to be coming!

Final Countdown Writing Session
800 Lansdowne Avenue, Toronto, ON
(Closest subway is Lansdowne, then we're about 10 minutes walk north of Bloor. You'll know our building because there's a dollar store in the front corner. Come around the back side of that building -- there are other buildings, so don't get confused, and there's a tiny 'lobby' area there. I don't know if the buzzer ever works, so just call me -- 416-737-1267 -- or sneak in with someone. I'm in unit 222.)

7 pm right up until the stroke of midnight, if that's what people need! I'll definitely be trying to write, whether I expect to pass 50K or not. Come along and we'll have a grand old time!
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Thornhill Writing Session - Thursday, November 29th!

greensong — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 19:27:24 -0800

I've been talking about holding a writing session up in the northern 'burbs, so here we go!

Thursday, November 29th at 6:00PM (to whenever) at the Starbucks at Yonge & Centre (7787 Yonge Street). It's served by a few major bus routes from both Richmond Hill and Toronto (Viva Blue, Viva Pink, the #3 from York University, and the 99 Yonge which, along with the Viva buses, run to Finch station), so hopefully this will work well for everyone!

Here's a Map!

Please RSVP here! :)

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Toronto Word War Captain (vs. Chicago & New York)
Check out the current standings here!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

If you should need encouragement ...

deejsylvis — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 08:28:09 -0800

I know this is coming up a little late in the month ... but then again, this is when everyone's starting to either feel confident they're going to make it, or starting to seriously feel like they won't, so maybe it's the perfect time.

I was thinking that, maybe, it'd be a good idea to do a "Big NaNoer" type thing, where we matched up people who could use some encouragement with people who had some to give. You'd get someone's name and some way to contact them, through here or email or whatever, and just drop them a line every day or two until the end of November, seeing how they're coming along. I particularly thought it might be encouraging for people who are too far out to come to the events -- but certainly, we can all use some encouragement now and then! (And yes, you can certainly put yourself down for both!)

So I guess I'll just put it out there, and if there's interest, we'll run with it! All I'd need to know is this:

Name (username is fine):
Need Encouragement?
Give Encouragement?
Best way to be contacted (here, email, whatever):

And if there IS interest, I'll connect you with someone who matches up!

Next year, I promise I'll have these ideas set up earlier on. ;)
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Event planner needed for post-NaNo ...

deejsylvis — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 15:25:44 -0800

Just a quick note -- is there anyone out in Toronto NaNo-land who is really good at event planning and would be interested in helping (helming, really) a thing or two in the off season? If so, let me know ... I had some conversations with Chris (Baty) and a bunch of the other MLs while I was in San Francisco, and some interesting ideas were raised. I just know I'll need some help to see them to fruition.

Let me know! Again, this is something we wouldn't even really sit down to DISCUSS until after the 30th, so it won't affect your word count. ;)
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Almost there!

Elumir — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 06:38:13 -0700

Just three more months!

I have an idea for a book, but I'm going to be a bit more serious about it. So I don't know if I'll go crazy on the word count as last year.
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Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

East enders!

coldacid — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 11:31:14 -0700

Y halo thar!

Anyone here from out the east side of the city, or further? I'm comin' out all the way from Pickering, and I'm wondering if there are any locals from here, the 'Jax, or West Hill.
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Chris Charabaruk

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

2008 NANOWRIMO CD

greensong — Sat, 9 Aug 2008 10:41:41 -0700

REQUESTING SUBMISSIONS!

While November still seems eons away, we would like to give you the heads up about something very exciting that is in the works in Toronto-Nano land, and invite you to play a part. We are all novelists, yes, but it has not escaped our notice that many individuals in the group channel their creative energy into other pursuits as well - we have a lot of talented musicians, graphic artists, dramatists, and other artistes in our midst.

We have a wonderful idea: to create a CD of original music by Toronto NaNo'ers, for Toronto NaNo'ers, about NaNoWriMo and the creative process/writing in general. Not only will this encourage and inspire copious amounts of novel writing, it will also act as a fundraiser to help support the events that we have all come to know and love during November.

If you're interested in taking part, here's what you need to do:
Send an email to nanotorontomusic@gmail.com before September 1st, letting us know that you'd like to participate.
Write a song relevant to NaNo, writing, or creativity (ideally 2-5 minutes in length), and record said song. Multiple submissions are welcome.
Email your song(s) in high quality MP3 format to nanotorontomusic@gmail.com by October 1st in order to get it on the CD. We will endeavour to include all songs submitted by the due date on the CD, as space allows.

Collaboration and cowriting is absolutely encouraged, so if you're got a great set of lyrics that you'd like set to music, or play an instrument but don't necessarily want to write something, let us know. We will do our best to facilitate collaboration to ensure that everyone who wants to be a part of the CD is part of it.

And lest you visual artists are feeling left out, there's one last part of the project that we'd like your help on, and that's the cover art! If you're graphically inclined, and would like to take a stab at putting something together, please contact us at the same address (nanotorontomusic@gmail.com) for further details. Submitted artworks will be put to a vote, with the winner getting featured on the cover of the CD.

Please make sure that any works you submit to this project are ones that you have created yourself, and control the copyright for. All artists included will retain copyright, as well as all legal and moral rights of any work they submit.

If you have questions on any part of the process, please email us and we shall be more than happy to answer.
We are incredibly excited about this project, and can't wait to hear what everyone comes up with!

Ryan, Debs, and Errol
(the CD Team)
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Toronto Word War Captain (vs. Chicago & New York)
Check out the current standings here!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

NaNo Toronto's Bowling Reunion!

greensong — Fri, 28 Dec 2007 11:38:54 -0800

We said there were going to be reunions, so here we are with the first one! Toronto NaNo's going BOWLING (c'mon, you know you want to)!

Date: Saturday, January 12, 2008
Time: 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location: Bowlerama West. 5429 Dundas Street West (Map Here), just a few minutes walk away from Kipling Station.

Guests are welcome! We're going to ask for $10 from each bowler to cover the lane rental and so on, but isn't it worth it for a night of fun, friends and big round balls? :D (Deejay's words, not mine). We've got lanes reserved from 6-8, but an RSVP here or through the Google Group would be most appreciated so we can adjust the number of lanes we reserve if needed.

Hope to see you there!
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Toronto Word War Captain (vs. Chicago & New York)
Check out the current standings here!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Final Sentence!

merpy — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 18:32:00 -0800

What is your final sentence, as of the time you submit tonight? Or the final sentence of your story?

Mine, because I wrote the last scene before the second-last, so I'm still going but have a final sentence anyway, is:
"I will go down to see, and finish this entry another day." Not so thrilling. Dazzle me with yours!
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"merp! merp!" --bunnyhero
2005: Eleanor's Story (unfinished) | 2006: The Alchemy Project (65K) | 2007: Normal as a Coconut

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

My climax stinks

EricHopkins — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 21:59:19 -0800

Before I started my whole novel I had the big finish in mind ... Well, I finally made it, the pay-off, the point in the story where everything has to come together, the big twist, the heart-wrenching final choice, and ... splat.

Augh!

Has this happened to anyone else?
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Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

The Toronto/New York/Chicago Word War Final Standings?

Mark_London — Sat, 1 Dec 2007 07:01:25 -0800

First off congratulations to all that made it or gave it a shot. Knocking off 50K in 30 days is no easy task.
There should be a "Had The Guts To Try NaNoWriMo" graphic for anyone who didn't accomplish the goal.
Something like http://www.fwointl.com/images/NaNoWriMo_Guts.gif
Just remember ... there's always next year and now that I've had my first taste, I'll be back.

Secondly, I'm trying to find the final stats on the Word War between our three great cities: Toronto, New York, Chicago
Any idea on where I'll find the total word counts?

Well, back to work on Inkwell Newswatch ... the only publication for writers. {smile}

All the best to you and yours during the coming year!
Mark London
Associate Editor
Inkwell Newswatch
http://www.fwointl.com/in.html

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Mark London is a Toronto based freelance writer and Associate Editor of Inkwell Newswatch (IN) who has been with the Freelance Writing Organization - Int'l. http://www.fwointl.com/ from the early years volunteering much of his time assisting young writers

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

The 50k Stumble

tateneil — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:48:29 -0800

I'm just 2k away from a win, and my story has just...stalled. It ended around 47,500 and now I'm struggling to finish up the last little chunk.

Is anyone else experiencing this kind of wall?

My strategy for the rest of tonight is to craft a wordy, emotional epilogue that may or may not make the cut. It's going well so far. So, give it a shot if you're about to trip ten feet from the finish line. Set up a sequel.
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Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Go Toronto!

darkgirl — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 19:28:02 -0800

You've got an hour and a half left. I hope you all make it to your goals!

We've got 4 1/2 hours left here and I've still got to write another 4K. (I've written 4,000 in the last 3 1/2 hours, so I'm being optimistic).

Have loads of fun at your party tomorrow!

Love,
A Former Torontonian
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Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

FIVE MINUTES!!!!!!

AmandaMiller — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 20:54:27 -0800

TYPE! FASTER! FIVE! MINUTES! TO! GO! HURRRRRRRY!
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Amanda Miller
daintilyfrosted.com

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

ATTENTION WORD WAR PARTICIPANTS

deejsylvis — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:48:34 -0800

This is your ML speaking:

Holy cow! You guys are doing an incredibly awesome job, and obviously so is Chicago because they keep freakin' pulling ahead! And they've got a 29-hour writing marathon starting tonight until the end of NaNo!

Which, of course, you probably know. I just wanted to make it clear that the Final Countdown writing session that I'll be hosting here tomorrow evening is completely open to you folks, as well, if you're still writing -- and if you need somewhere to hide away even earlier in the day than 7, let me know and I can probably accommodate you.

It's not even so much that I mind if they win, but if they DO win, let's make them earn it! Keep going, folks! I'm behind you all the way, and I'm incredibly proud of my region!
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***
D.J. Sylvis deejsylvis@yahoo.com http://monkeyman.livejournal.com
ML for the greatest city on Earth, Toronto, Ontario!
Visit Monkey, Monster or Spaceman -- my online writing project!

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

50 k club

maggie2u2 — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 21:44:20 -0800

50,323 as of last night
still have 8 days to go and more story to tell

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maggie in TO

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Bummer... No Lulu

Elumir — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 07:16:17 -0800

Was just over in this thread:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/node/1060100

And it seems Lulu.com isn't doing their one free copy this year. How sad. I may still try and get it ready for lulu though to get one printed copy. My last book was only $8, so if this one is the same in price, it won't be that bad.

And if anyone is serious about reading my story this year, I'll make it a free download again.

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Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

How you plan to celebrate?

AmandaMiller — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 16:46:25 -0800

Me:

Dancing with a posse of fabulous ladies, wearing incredibly silly outfits, wielding cocktails until they pluck them from our hands and send us home to bed.

You?
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Amanda Miller
daintilyfrosted.com

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

jumps up and down; does backflips

OilsDragon — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 09:13:44 -0800

(No, I don't really know how to do backflips.)

I JUST GOT THE JOB!!!!!!!!!

For those who have no idea what I'm talking about: I've been waiting on tenterhooks to hear whether I landed a manager position at a new organic/health food store opening three blocks from my house. I just got the call - & I'm in.

WHOOPPEEE!

...What's that? I finished a novel? Oh, right, that too. ;)

Thanks, all, for the support and all the fun this year.

~V
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"The past does not repeat itself, but sometimes it rhymes." -Samuel Clemens
http://naturalmedicine.suite101.com

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

45,000 words

RedParrot — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 18:37:23 -0800

46,918

Gak.

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The RedParrot
50,000 words or taxidermy ...

Canada :: Ontario :: Toronto

Overused Phrases?

RyanHarron — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 20:17:31 -0800

Has anyone found that there are certain words or phrases that they keep using throughout their story? I seem to be overly fond of describing people's "tone of voice" with this story, although I have no idea why.
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--Ryan