Category: YMCA Simoce Muskoka

Gearing Up for Muskoka Novel Marathon Number 15! Now Accepting Sponsors!

As July creeps closer to us (or us closer to it?!), this year’s Muskoka Novel Marathon prep is gearing up! That’s right, it’s now time for the writers to begin their fundraising efforts.

Writers at the 2016 Muskoka Novel Marathon’s opening day!

This is always the hard part for me! It’s a big ask, and it’s become an even bigger one in these times. And there is the donor exhaustion thing, as well. People thinking, ‘just how many times is this idiot going to keep doing this thing and asking us for money?!’

The in-person event location for the MNM. This year is ONLINE again…

The answer is, I’ll probably keep doing it for as long as it exists. It’s an extremely beneficial event for me. I’ve probably written more words at the Muskoka Novel Marathon than I’ve written during any other time of the year ever. In fact, I know I have. It’s what gives me the right to continue to call myself a writer.

A snapshot of my desk at the MNM 2016.

AND…I’m also passionate about the fundraising side of this event. LITERACY! It’s what writers value most. 100% of the collected funds goes right into literacy programs. 100%!

 

Literacy is really an umbrella word here. The YMCA literacy programs do SO much!

  • Academic upgrading (non-credit)
  • Literacy and basic skills in reading, writing and math
  • Computer and life skills
  • GED and ACE preparation
  • E-learning
  • English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Savvy Seniors

As well as helping students upgrade their basic literacy skills, they help new immigrants to Canada and seniors who are lost in today’s new tech savvy online world. Their programs are far reaching.

Fun Photo time! This is from the 2018 MNM! Every Sunday of the Marathon Sue Kenney takes the writers on a little walk in the woods!

Small donations go a LONG way, because they add up! We can do this together! Since the inception of the MNM, writers have collected roughly $215,000.00! That is no small feat, but I guarantee you that the total was built up one dollar at a time. Nothing you donate is too small.

This year’s marathon is: July 14 – 17, 2023

If you’re a writer, you can still register to participate in the Marathon. LEARN MORE HERE.

If you would like to help by sponsoring me, I would be so thrilled! Here’s a LINK TO MY PERSONAL YMCA FUNDRAISING PAGE.

HERE IS MY MNM PROFILE PAGE, WHICH ALSO HAS A LINK TO MY DONATION PAGE.

Let’s see what our little army of writers can do with your help this year! We are writers helping you to help readers.

 

So Many Things! #MNM2016 #OWC2016

I received an email this past Friday that had me in tears. I know I walked away from the organizing of the Ontario Writers’ Conference, but it was never because I fell out of love with the organization. My life became a hot-mess. And then, as I picked up the pieces, I became more engaged. And then life became too valuable. I just did not have the time I once had to engage in extra-curricular activities. The OWC was our baby. We strove extremely hard to make it better each and every calendar year. Even after I left the committee and Board, I attended…and I served as a Manuscript Mentor. But my involvement ended there. It had to.

The email was to announce that THIS, 2016, would be the last Ontario Writers’ Conference. It is the end of an age. I just thought it would always carry on. It makes me very sad to see it go.

So, this is your last opportunity to take part in this amazing fantastic writing conference. If you are anywhere near the GTA, you should do whatever you can to take in the event.

This image was stolen from the Instagram account of Mel Cober. This is me attributing the photo to her.
The Incomparable Wayson Choy!
Mel, Naomi, Lori. OWC 2014.
Caroline Wissing – The OWC would NOT be the same without her! Read her YA novel VOICELESS. It’s wonderful!
Wayson Choy – Honorary Patron of the Ontario Writers’ Conference

Some Photos of OWC Past. One Last Year to Make Memories…

The conference takes place April 30-May 1.

INSPIRING. EDUCATING. CONNECTING.

THE ONTARIO WRITERS’ CONFERENCE

April 30 – May 1, 2016

Ajax, Ontario

REGISTRATION PAGE

THIS YEAR’S SCHEDULE

FACILITATORS & SPEAKERS

It really is a fabulous conference. Rumour has it Wayson Choy will be at the conference again this year as the Honourary Patron…a role he has held proudly since the conference’s inception.

Do yourself a favour and register today. We should all indulge our creativity through workshops and conferences. The benefits are numerous. You will not regret it. This last one, I’m sure, will be the best one.

My thanks and gratitude to ALL who ever worked on this conference. You have made magic happen. You have changed writers for the better. You have orchestrated lasting friendships. You left the world a better place…

Long live the legacy of the OWC!

NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT…

I would like to ask you to consider sponsoring my efforts to raise funds for literacy through the Muskoka Novel Marathon. I go up to Huntsville, Ontario, in July for the yearly 72hour novel writing marathon. This will be my 9th marathon! It’s an incredible event for writers…we get to focus on creativity for a whole weekend while a volunteer staff of kitchen angels feed us and provide us with a non-stop supply of coffee. 40 of us take part in the event. As much as it’s a retreat for writing, it is MORE SO a fundraiser event. We raise much needed funds for YMCA Simcoe/Muskoka…for their literacy programs. ALL funds go directly to helping those who find themselves under the repressive cloud of illiteracy. With YOUR help, we could brighten their day. Please consider sponsoring my marathon. Any amount would help. Click on the image/link below to go directly to my donation page:

mnm