Muskoka Novel Marathon

Writers Helping Readers for 22 Years

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Testimonials from our Writers

MNM – it’s like coming home

A friend of mine introduced me to the Muskoka Novel Marathon and I have never regretted finally taking the leap and joining in the fun.

Krystyne Taylor-Smith
http://niagarawrites.ca

I did it!

Best memory: Writing my first novel!  I did it.

- Anon

Awesome event!

Awesome event!  I will be back next year for sure!

Michael Codato

Best fun in a chair

Best fun I’ve had in a chair except that one time when I was 19 with Jerry.

 –“me”

supportive community of writers

I was nervous coming into my first marathon, but was quickly made welcome by the supportive community of writers I met at the Muskoka Novel Marathon. Besides being able to sit and write an entire novel from beginning to end in just two or three days, I left with a great sense of camaraderie and belonging. Every writer MUST experience the luxury of spending an entire weekend marathon writing! There is nothing else in my writing life that compares to it.

Kevin Craig, two-time+ winner (Adult category)

The Help I Needed

I have enjoyed this experience so much.  It helped me break through a block that I’ve had for so long.  The supportive humorous loving space gave me the help I needed.  Thank you.

Laura Heming

They made me laugh, cry, ponder, belch, wretch, angry, afraid, crazy, love and lose control of my bodily functions – and that was just the authors! Wait till they read you their stories!

Sharon Ledwith 

Fun!

This has been a perfect opportunity to experience novel writing.  A kick-ass intro to this art form.  Great organizers and the group is supportive and FUN!

– Anon

Favourite parts of the writing year.

The MNM is one of my favourite parts of the writing year.  Productivity, inspiration, and camaraderie—it doesn’t get any better than this.  (Also, sleep-deprived writers = funny.)

 – Erin Thomas

From the acknowledgements in _Springfield Place_

Time to sit down and write the draft arrived in the form of the Muskoka Novel Marathon. Each summer in Huntsville, Ontario, the Muskoka Literacy Council, now YMCA Literacy Services, holds their annual Novel Marathon to raise funds for community literacy programs. In 2007, I first penned Springfield Place. Positive feedback from the panel who read the fruits of our labours provided encouragement to continue with the book.

S.A. McCormick

Being around writers writing is what I needed.

– Anon

Writing is a solitary act, but it was great to be in a room with so many writers, especially when they were engrossed in their work.  It was like watching writers in their natural habitat.

Kim Sparks

Best Memory

Best memory: Kevin yelling down the hall at the writers, “COULD YOU BE QUIET?  THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO PROCRASTINATE HERE!”

Debra Bennett

From the acknowledgements in _The Wolf’s Mouth_, winner of the Latin American Casa de Teatro Prize

The first draft of this manuscript was written in Spanish, during the three-day frenzy of the Muskoka Novel Marathon in Huntsville, the summer I arrived to live in Toronto …. I wish to thank the Muskoka Literacy Council for organizing this absolutely crazy and memorable yearly event, which provides a much needed venue for writers like me — who have impossibly busy lives — to escape reality and drive into non-stop writing.

Martha Batiz (English translation by Gustavo Escobedo, published by Exile Editions)

A fun environment to laugh, learn, and work. The perfect mix of fun and competition, camaderie and rivalry. -Tracey Lapham 

Tracey Lapham

As a first time participant in 2008, I found the MNM experience unleashed a passionate craziness I had forgotten I possessed.

Connie Knighton

Like Family

Honestly, one of the best writer’s marathons I’ve attended.  The fellowship was fantastic and it’s very much like a family here!  Kudos to the organizers!

Sharon Ledwith

Fun event

I entered the 2008 MNM at the last minute and with no idea what to expect. What I found was a fun event with a supportive group of writers and volunteers. I’m glad I attended and am looking forward to MNM 2009!

Dawn Huddlestone

Open to possibilities

This was my second MNM.  I thought I knew what I was in for.  This year’s experience taught me to be more open to possibilities and that—at times—a story has a mind of its own!

Susan Blakeney

Best Writing Experiences

Writers have told me the Muskoka Novel Marathon is one of the best writing experiences in their lives and one of the best life experiences, too.

Martin Avery, originator of the Muskoka Novel Marathon and six-time participant

Come out and write!

Come out and write!  It doesn’t have to be good; it doesn’t have to be winning; it might not even get finished; but, just come out and write with us. If you want to be a writer or if you are a writer, come out and practice with us. There’s a manuscript waiting for you to type it at the Muskoka Novel Marathon. Challenge yourself to do something you’ve always wanted to do: write a novel  (in a weekend!).  Come to the annual meeting of the weird, the wicked, the wonderful, the sweet, the solemn, the sober, the silly, the sleep-deprived, the stumbling, staring, stuck, un-stuck keyboard punchers at the Muskoka Novel Marathon.  A place for you has been reserved.

- afive-time participant

contagious energy and enthusiasm

I loved the Novel Marathon experience in 2008!  It was a dream come true – I was velcroed to my chair, surrounded by the contagious energy and enthusiasm of so many wonderful and talented people. The words just flowed. If you have always dreamed of writing, but never felt you could spare the time, give yourself this gift and help the Muskoka Literacy Council at the same time. You will love this experience and you will truly become addicted to the Muskoka Novel Marathon!!!

Evelyn Pollack

an enjoyable and worthwhile experience

MNM 2008 was my first writing marathon. I went in not knowing whether I would be able to produce at a volume that would create a novel and whether that writing would be even vaguely readable. The result: it was an exhausting experience in which I learned that I can indeed produce decent literature in volume and under a tight time constraint: I completed a novelette with enough meat that it will eventually become a complete novel. I also got to meet and talk with fellow writers (during breaks and meals) about sticking points in our writing and about other things in the wider world. It was an enjoyable and worthwhile experience I will happily repeat.

Herb

Don’t Miss These Great Replays

  • Demo: Scrivener Software (Recording) $0.00
  • MFA For A Day with Tena Laing (Recording) $10.00
  • From MNM to International Bestseller with Amy Stuart (Recording) $10.00
  • 20 Years of MNMs (Recording) $0.00
  • Open Writer Coaching with Kate Arms (Recording) $7.50
  • How to be Ridiculously Prolific at an MNM (Recording) $0.00
  • How to Win a Muskoka Novel Marathon (Recording) $0.00
  • How to Do Professional-Quality Worldbuilding (Recording) $10.00
  • Write What You Know (Recording) $5.00

On Instagram

muskoka_novel_marathon

A huge thank you to our writers, fundraisers and s A huge thank you to our writers, fundraisers and supporters! So far, we’ve raised over $8,500! Did you know you can still make a donation until September 15 to help support @ymcasm Literacy Programs in Huntsville? Visit the link in our bio!
1 more day of #writemnm2022! Did you see KM won o 1 more day of #writemnm2022! 
Did you see KM won our raffle for the beautiful quilt!? 
So much fun still to be had! Don’t miss out on tonight’s midnight reading!
#muskokanovelmarathon starting right now!! Check #muskokanovelmarathon starting right now!!

Check it out! 
  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel. 
Photo Credit unsplash Hannah Grace
We are so excited to sit down and write with you!! We are so excited to sit down and write with you!! If you haven’t signed up yet, there is still time :)
Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio
July 15-18
#muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel

Photo Credit unsplash
Kyle Glenn
Brooke Cagle
The #muskokanovelmarathon is coming up! We know th The #muskokanovelmarathon is coming up! We know that you are busy getting ready just like us!  We would love to see where you are going to spend your time writing. Post a pic of your space and Tag us!

It’s not to late to join us!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio
July 15-18
#writingspace #writingingroups #favouritewritingspot #writingnook #writingnooks
#muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel

Photo Credit unsplash 
Joyful
Come join us for the Muskoka Novel Marathon on Jul Come join us for the Muskoka Novel Marathon on July 15-18 

It doesn’t matter what you use to write, we are just so excited to get writing!!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio.  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel #writingtogether #handwrittennovel #typewritter

Photocredit unsplash

alejandro escamilla
christin Hume
Do you love getting cozy with a cup of coffee? We Do you love getting cozy with a cup of coffee? We do! You could win this beautiful quilt made by one of our lovely writers by visiting the Shop section on our website! Proceeds from this quilt go directly to YMCA Literacy Services! Link in bio!
What is the Muskoka Novel Marathon? It’s an oppo What is the Muskoka Novel Marathon? It’s an opportunity to give yourself the gift of time and space…
To create your story
To write your heart out
To explore!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio
July 15-18  #muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel
Looking for a space to write? Check out the #Musko Looking for a space to write? Check out the #MuskokaNovelMarathon for an amazing space to write with others from July 15-18!
Sign up using the link in our bio!

#writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novels
It’s coming soon!! The #muskokanovelmarathon is It’s coming soon!! The #muskokanovelmarathon is less than 2 weeks away!!

Join us July 15-18 and use the time to write your heart out!

Everyone is welcome!
Sign up at muskokanovelmarathon.com or click the link in our bio!

#muskokanovelmarathon #writers #muskoka #mnm2022 #novelmarathon #writing #literacy #fundraising #books #novel

Photo Credit unsplash 
John Jennings
IMG_5487 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5487	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5464 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5464	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
Everyone's back at it with full tummies. It's very Everyone's back at it with full tummies. It's very quiet in here. The only sound is of keyboards clacking.

#MuskokaNovelMarathon2012 #MNMFlashback2012 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2012 (Photo Credit: Dawn Huddlestone)
IMG_5460 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5460	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5445 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5445	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5444 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5444	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5654 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5654	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5553 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5553	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5551 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5551	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
IMG_5550 #MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback20 IMG_5550	#MuskokaNovelMarathon2019 #MNMFlashback2019 #MuskokaNovelMarathon #MNM2019
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