I believe this thread was lost in the site crash, so I'm re-starting it.
Even in my first year five years ago, Mr. Ian Woon was a tradition among nano-ers, so I can't talk about how it began. I do know that it was a dare at first, but has long since become more than that. Mr. Ian Woon, put simply, is a character whose name is an anagram of NaNoWriMo. He crops up in people's novels every year, in various incarnations, and many of us use both him and other such anagram-named characters whenever we have need of a name. This year, I will be using:
Mr. Ian Woon, editor in chief for a major newspaper
Naomi Rown, rival writer to my main character and all around bitch
Irma Wonno, good friend of my main and coworker at the paper
Omar Wonin, boyfriend turned ex of my main
Marion Now, owner of the most exclusive club in town
Rowan Mion, love interest of my main
Norman Iwo, fling of my main
...How about you guys?
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Dum Vivimus, Vivamus!
58,408 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2008 - 04 13
Haha I've only used Mr Ian Woon once to my shame. In my 2006 novel he appeared as a fat, snotty manager of a music store. I'm sure I'll find him a role in this year's novel though ;)
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Oct 3, 2008 - 06 41
I didn't know about this until the first time this thread was first posted (in the "time before the crash") but that's to be expected as this is my first NaNo. I plan to use one of the anagrams in my novel. I'm not sure which one yet (though I am leaning towards Mr. Ian Woon, but now that I have a plot, I have an idea where he is going to go.
I think this is a great tradition!
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Oct 3, 2008 - 13 01
I think there's definitely a place for Mr Ian Woon in my novel!
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Oct 3, 2008 - 13 15
I included him in my 2006 novel, but managed to leave him out last year. I assure you that I WILL put him in this year, though! Maybe he can be my MC's homeroom teacher.
151,694 / 50,000
Oct 3, 2008 - 14 01
Holy crap, this is amazing. I already have a place for Mr. Woon.
Muahahahaha....hahaha...haaa
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Oct 4, 2008 - 19 42
Mr. Ian Woon will certainly have a place in my novel. Perhaps while I'm at it, he will be killed by the Traveling Shovel of Death. Mwahahaha~!
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Oct 4, 2008 - 20 58
He shall be my MC's biology teacher.
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Oct 4, 2008 - 21 19
He's definitely getting a cameo in my novel somewhere...I'm just not sure where yet.
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Oct 4, 2008 - 23 33
I will add him. I think this is fun.
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Oct 5, 2008 - 06 11
Mr. Ian Woon will show up somewhere. I don't know where.
Naomi Worn will be there, too. She will meet up with my MC while they're both riding their bikes across the country. Naomi worn will be hardcore.
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Oct 5, 2008 - 07 26
I've never used Mr. Ian Woon or any of his anagram colleagues, actually. Maybe it's about time I did!
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Oct 5, 2008 - 08 38
I haven't heard of this until this year. It is amazing! I can't wait to use one of the anagrams in my novel this year! :D
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Oct 5, 2008 - 18 09
Thanks for the reminder. Mr. Ian Woon is now added to the characer list.
I'm also considering:
Nan Mowrio
Ann Woomir
Roman Woni
Rio W. Noman
Roma Winon
Riann Woom
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Oct 5, 2008 - 18 18
I'll add him as my character's teacher :D How awesome!
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Oct 6, 2008 - 08 47
Ooh, I like Ann. I can't use Roman, though-- my sister's husband is named Roman, and I don't want him thinking it's named after him!
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Oct 6, 2008 - 08 55
I think Mr. Ian Woon may be a regular at my character's coffeeshop. He hasn't made an appearance in my NaNos since 2005, so perhaps it's time to bring him back for a bit.
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Oct 6, 2008 - 11 29
Hm, I want an Ian Woon, but almost all of my male characters are from Peru, where Ian is not exactly a common name. Maybe I'll have an Omar Wonin. I know an Omar from Ecuador. And Wonin can become Wonín. It works. :)
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Oct 6, 2008 - 12 09
Ooh, this sound like a fun tradition! I'll have to find a place for him. Actually, I've been needing a floor manager for MMC2's workplace...
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Oct 6, 2008 - 16 46
Yes! Not sure how, exactly, but I'll get one of them in there.
Last year it was Owin Moran, smart-alec and overly educated revolutionary.
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Oct 6, 2008 - 17 10
I have to say, I'm still proud of Mr Ian Woon. I can't claim the anagram idea, but Woon was all mine, baby!
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Oct 6, 2008 - 19 03
I like this :) I'll include Mr. Ian Woon in my novel. He sounds like a bit of a "mystic" to me.
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Oct 6, 2008 - 19 05
I didn't use Mr. Woon, but I did create the "Baticris Islands"... a series of tropical islands inhabited by fortune telling topless priestesses.
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Oct 6, 2008 - 19 41
Mr. Ian Woon will be a civilian casulty in my gang war. How I'm going to manage to insert his name without it being totally out of place, I have no idea...
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Oct 7, 2008 - 08 45
Newspaper article!
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Oct 7, 2008 - 10 22
I think Naomi Worn will be a crewmember on the salvage spaceship in my novel.
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Oct 7, 2008 - 13 21
I skimmed the first post, then ran to my handy-dandy Miscellaneous Writings notebook and began scribbling anagrams. I have some NaNoVirgin friends, and will pass this cute tradition along to them; I've only done one NaNo (2007 winner) and did not know about Mr. Woon et al.
Herewith a few of my ideas, which I'm sure will co-incide with others' as there are only so many possible combinations:
Min O'Rowan - a Scots character who makes up her own pseudo-Scots phrases, such as:
winor moan, meaning the howl of a western wind, or
wron' maino, meaning the left hand unfairly used in thumb wrestling
Roman Wino - somebody's internet username (of course!)
Raw Noomin - a rare gastronomic delicacy, probaby involving a very ethnic type of pasta
Namoin Row - the street on which someone lives, or an apartment complex
Ian Om Rown - a meditative friend of Min O'Rowan, o'course
Omar Ninow - a strong, possibly Arabic Man
*sigh* Do I really have to stop this nonsense and get back to the plot now?
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Oct 7, 2008 - 15 35
I didn't hear about Mr. Ian Woon last year at all! Pity, because he could've had a perfectly lovely luxury cruise out among the stars (until the ship broke apart). I think he'll become Rian W. Moon, and since I always include someone(s) doing NaNoWriMo in every story, and I'm starting to see Rian as manager of the coffee house where they always go to write. At this rate I won't have to worry too much about characters ... besides Mr./Ms. Moon, I have 4 friends, 2 co-workers, possibly an ex-husband (if anybody is going to die) and myself (who, from now on shall direct at Rian W. Moon the characteristic "You are so not my people!") scheduled to have a part. Mixing and matching them (in totally implausible situations, and always ridiculous outfits) is some of the greatest fun of writing my books.
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Oct 8, 2008 - 02 10
Last year Naomi Worn featured prominently in my novel. I'll have to use Mr. Ian Woon this year. Hmm, I hope nothing unfortunate happens to him...
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Oct 8, 2008 - 03 16
I am thankful for this thread! I needed a name for an extremely pompous poetry editor and Mr Iain Woon, it is. Gratitude!
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Oct 9, 2008 - 05 16
Oh, I added Owin Maron, deceased husband to Marion Now.