So, about the last week and a half. It started out like this:
A week in the lake with our girl. She swam beside us to make sure we survived our swim. She’s extremely good at splashing cold water on you when you’re trying to acclimatize to the frigid waters of Lake of Bays too.
There was a lot of this:
Everybody should just spend a week in a Muskoka chair sometime in their life. I think the answers to some of the universe’s biggest mysteries could probably be worked out in a Muskoka chair. Don’t look at me for those answers, though. I’m always too busy just sitting when I’m there.
So, there was that. Battery recharging, if you like. Though a couple of those canoe trips with my son had me thinking I may just drop dead one day really soon.
Next, the weekend.
There’s this groovy little club that meets once a year in downtown Huntsville, Ontario:
Studio 54’s nextdoor neighbour. So, this is the secret passageway at the back of the wardrobe. Or, if you like, a side door to the rabbit hole. Once you’re inside…you can check out, but you can never leave.
Before you enter Club 55, though, feel free to play the nearby piano:
At every Muskoka Novel Marathon, there are great Out of the Blue moments. Like, for instance, Saturday night. Somebody had the idea to run out into the street and have a spontaneous Tai Chi break. Well, it was a fantastic idea, but because we were all tired…it was slightly miscommunicated. We ended up having a Tie Tree break, instead. Confusing…but very pretty.
And I’m not sure we could ever have a 72-hour novel writing marathon without stilt walkers and fire jugglers again. They really are inspirational story prompts.
The benefit to the writers who participate in the MNM
The Muskoka Novel Marathon: 37 Writers x 72 Hours = 821,500 Words.
The benefit to the YMCA literacy program for those fighting the good fight against illiteracy
The Muskoka Novel Marathon: 37 Writers x Generous Donations from Family & Friends = $14,572.00
This fundraiser is such a win/win for everybody. Any writer can understand the gift it would be to earmark an entire weekend to writing. That there is actually an opportunity to also be a part of the WRITERS HELPING READERS fundraiser…that’s the icing on the cake. Where would writers be without readers. Who understands the amazing gift that the ability to read can be to a person more than a writer does? We live in a world of words. They are our passion. Knowing that the marathon brings the gift of reading to others–it’s the most powerful awe-inspiring thing about the entire weekend.
My own stats for the weekend: 70 hours. 191 pages. 40,487 words
KEVIN CRAIG 