By Tracy Nita Pender
The 2008 edition of the Muskoka Novel Marathon, a yearly event hosted by the Muskoka Literacy Council, was a rousing success — both in the number of pages written and the amount of money donated.
“For the writers to have gathered close to $5,000 in pledges is amazing,” said Susan Lowe, president of the Muskoka Literacy Council (MLC). “It is one of the highest amounts ever raised since the inception of the Muskoka Novel Marathon seven years ago.”
The fundraising dollars are greatly appreciated at the MLC.
“Our present government funding allows us to support only 40 students at any one time; however, our current student base has risen to over 65 per month as a result of the diverse programs we now offer,” explains Lowe. “Fundraising allows us to support and welcome those adults into our programs as they come in, rather than having to ask them to wait for an opening at some unknown date in the future. Fundraising goes directly toward student programs in the form of print and tech resources as well as improved technology for our ever-expanding computer programs and workshops.”
Held from Friday, July 11 to Monday, July 14, the event saw 26 writers immerse themselves in their craft, with 18 of them submitting a final product for judging.
“We’re shooting right now for a wrap-up party for the novel marathon near the end of September, and that’s when the winners will be notified,” said Lowe.
The Muskoka Novel Marathon also took to the Internet, offering a way for the public at large to get in on the writing action with an online Story Relay. And there’s still a chance to donate to this great element and help push the dollar figure over the $5,000 mark.
Thought up by Paula Boon, a member of the MLC’s Muskoka Novel Marathon committee, the relay let people log in and add a line, a sentence or more to three separate stories during the same time that the authors were writing away on site. The online stories, started by Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch, saw about a dozen people log in and participate.
“This is the maiden run of the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay and we hope to make it an annual event. For seven years, only a limited number of writers have had the opportunity to support adult literacy initiatives at the Muskoka Literacy Council through their participation in the Muskoka Novel Marathon and through the pledges they have raised. This initiative allows the larger community to contribute in a fun, creative, and literary way through their writing and through their pledges, and, better still, you don’t need to be an accomplished writer to participate,” says Lowe.
Unfortunately, the site experienced a minor glitch on the Sunday.
“We experienced technical difficulties which rendered the Muskoka Literacy Council Story Relay inaccessible from Sunday on,” said Lowe. “To make up for the lost hours, and to enable sponsors to include their contributions to the stories, the Story Relay site will be re-opened from 8 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 7 to 4 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8.”
After that time, the writers who started the stories will read over the entire work and will close the relay with a line.
To take part in the Muskoka Novel Marathon Story Relay, log onto www.huntsvilleforester.com and click on Story Relay under the "Features" list on the left side of the screen. Follow the prompts thereafter to add your contribution.
Lowe is looking forward to seeing what people add to the stories this week and encourages the entire community to check out the site.
“A successful first go will ensure that the event will continue to grow in the future,” she explained. “Mel Malton, Roy MacGregor and Robert Munsch are all looking forward to where the community will take their original ideas.”
[NOTE: The Muskoka Novel Marathon began as an event under the Huntsville Festival of the Arts banner, and it is still held during the July festival season. Susan Lowe is also currently a member of the festival's board.]
