Archive:Monthly Write-a-Thon: Difference between revisions

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(created last month's page in preparation for this month)
imported>Aleta Curry
(Clean up in prep for August WaT - thanks, Tom!!!)
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== When? ==
== When? ==
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, July 2nd, 2008'''.  July 2nd starts on July 1st, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on July 2nd, 1200 UTC, in Hawaii.  Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, August 6th, 2008'''.  August 6th starts on August 5th, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on August 6th, 1200 UTC, in Hawaii.  Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!


Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article during that time period will count, though to be a ''bona fide'' partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.
Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article during that time period will count, though to be a ''bona fide'' partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.
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== The Partiers ==
== The Partiers ==
*[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] was greatly surprised to see that [[User:Aleta_Curry|Aleta]] is yet to arrive! [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry]] has promised ten stubs this month and that sounds good! [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony]] had sent a mail to check the color of links. From there Supten took the cue of starting a biography of [[William Osler]]. Then he peeked at [[List_of_people_who_made_conceptual_breakthroughs_in_computer_science|Computers people needing biographies]] and started [[Joseph Fourier]]. As usual, he filled up at least one entry in each of the subpages linked to each of these articles. After that he thought of breaking for lunch and to give time to the others so that he can come back to edit some other new articles.
:Still no one around (4 hours since he had taken a break)! Utmost surprising!!! [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] 05:04, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
::Thanks to [[User:John_Stephenson|John]] [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] could edit [[Nara, Nara]] at  05:17, 2 July 2008 (CDT)!


*No rest for the wicked! Larry gave us [[lampoons of philosophers]], which was crying out for expansion. And I managed to summon up an article on the late, great [[Stephen Jay Gould]]. Huzzah. Celebratory drink! [[Lemonade]] and a [[cookies|cookie]]! Don't you worry, though, like a bad smell, I will be back to raise my stubbly game! ;) --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 07:33, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


*[[User:Derek Harkness|Derek Harkness]] joins the moaning about how it's difficult to edit when your in the far east and there's no articles on the board yet. But doing as he always does, he just edited one of the articles form a previous write-a-thon while he waits for the others. He started off this month with [[Qianshan National Park]] and is mulling over wither to suggest a National Park theme for a future a-thon. Then he had to edit [[Anshan]] to point to the new page. Next, in keeping with the theme, he started a new article on [[Mao Zedong]]. Just a stub for now, there's loads more that co-write-a-thoners can add to this one.
*[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] decided to start his personal stub marathon with [[Leibniz]] (1a) and [[lampoons of philosophers]] (2a)...  Then edited [[biographies]] (1b)...then I gave you all [[knowledge]] (3a) and [[folk music]] (4a) (just to make sure you're well-rounded)!  Now to edit some other people's articles, bwa-ha-ha...OK, edited [[lemonade‎]] (2b, good idea for a drink of the month--but it might need information about alcoholic methods of preparation), [[Joseph Fourier‎]] (3b, tiny edit), and [[Stephen Jay Gould‎]] (4b, linkifying).  OK, came back and started [[argument (logic)]] only to realize that it had already been started...so edited [[argument]] (5b).  Then started [[Ludwig Wittgenstein]] (5a) and [[existence]] (6a).  Well, folks, I gave it the college try...I could have done ten if I were more comfortable doing ''very'' short articles, but I guess I ain't!
*Combining Olympics with Biography, [[User:Chris Day|Chris]] brought across an old ''original'' article from wikipedia ([[Marlies_Göhr]]). It was almost unchanged showing that some articles in wikipedia are so obscure as to remain undiscovered by vandals.
*The gale-force wind has died down, and [[user:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] battles both it and the [[oil crisis]] to stagger belatedly into the party room.  She was here earlier, though, and points out that she had both [[biography|attempted to define this month's theme]] and introduced [[Madeleine L'Engle]] to the crew before being blown back across the ocean.  Will give anyone from Oz dispensation to keep partying, because ''this was ridiculous!!'' [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:20, 2 July 2008 (CDT).  Later, as an apology for being less than my scintillating self, brought back [[sherry]] for everyone, despite knowing little about it.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:45, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel]] warmed up with [[online encyclopedia]], talked about [[Gottfried Leibniz]] and started [[William Gardiner]].
*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]], the wiki-link font-color troublemaker, started developing an article on [[Vesalius|Andreas Vesalius]], who published his revolutionary anatomy book the same year [[Copernicus]] published his revolutionary astronomy book.  [[Ptolemy|Ptolemy]] and [[Galen|Galen]] bite the dust.  He also did small edits to [[User:Derek Hodges|Derek Hodges']] [[Voltaire]], and added a wikicommons image.
*[[User:Derek Hodges|Derek]] dozed off in the corner for a while, but he did come up with [[Voltaire]]. More to come, but technically after midnight EST.


==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
* No way am I going to have time for the Write-A-Thon in July ("Biographies"), so I've gone ahead and started the article on [[Claude Shannon]] right now.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 11:00, 9 May 2008 (CDT)
::Good on ya, girl!  Accepted with pleasure.  (Someone remind me to copy this to the July W-a-T! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 03:41, 11 May 2008 (CDT)
::''Edited to add:'' I remembered! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:31, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


*[[user:Aleta Curry|Aleta]] was among the [[false start|gun jumpers]] with [[John Akii-Bua]] last month--purposely done as a theme combination.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:31, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
[[User:John_Stephenson|John]] couldn't make it back in time from [[Nara, Nara]], Nara, Nara... (help!) [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 05:08, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
:And now I know where Nara, Nara is!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:43, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


[[User:Anthony Argyriou|The other Anthony]] started [[Body mass index]] as a stub before midnight local time, but it was wednesday somewhere. He also started [[square]], on Wednesday, local time. [[User:Anthony Argyriou|Anthony Argyriou]] 16:13, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
:It was Wednesday in New Zealand!  That counts--enough to get you on the gun jumpers list, anyway!  I see you've done plenty since then! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:43, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


[[User:Ian Johnson|Ian]] decided that we may not need another hero. But we could sure do with an article on the Australian 'Little Lucifers' legend [[Frank Thring]]. --[[User:Ian Johnson|Ian Johnson]] 16:36, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
:After an intro like that, you'd think someone'd start [[Mel Gibson]] [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:43, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


To celebrate her rescue from FARC, [[User:Anthony Argyriou]] created a stub article on [[Ingrid Betancourt]].  [[User:Anthony Argyriou|Anthony Argyriou]] 17:12, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==


[[User:Michael Yates|Michael Yates]] Campaigned with [[Chuck Baldwin]] and got bored half-way through. [[User:Michael Yates|Michael Yates]] 21:56, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
[[User:Gareth Leng|Gar]] managed to squeeze in [[William Robertson]] in a busy day. Sorry not to have been able to join in more.[[User:Gareth Leng|Gareth Leng]] 03:00, 3 July 2008 (CDT)
== Party crashers--contributors who didn't create a new article ==
Had a bit of a late one last night. If [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry]] is going to give us ten stubs, then jolly good. I need about three hours more sleep, but managed to chuck together [[Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel|Hegel]]. Might pop back later to the party once I've woken up properly. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 06:31, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
:[[User:David E. Volk|Dave]] added the John P. Mcgovern Academy of Olserian Medicine to the William Osler article, but was too busy/depressed to party the whole way. [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 10:42, 3 July 2008 (CDT)
==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
* [[user:Richard Jensen|Richard]]  [[William Westmoreland|went West]] and met an [[Earl Warren|Earl]]
* [[user:Howard C. Berkowitz|Howard]] was [[H Norman Schwarzkopf Jr.|stormin’]] about.
* [[user:Pierre-Alain Gouanvic|Pierre-Alain’s]] latest offering felt heavy as [[lead]].
* As befits a legal eagle, [[User:William C. Gray|William]] found a [[L. Patrick Gray, III|gray]] area.
* [[User:Milton Beychok|Milt]] was late, but bravely [[specific heat ratio|took the heat]] for it!


== The total party poops ==
== The total party poops ==
Alas, where were...?


*[[user:Hayford Peirce|What?!  Where's Hayford???]]
*[[user:D. Matt Innis|Matt]]
*[[user:Stephen Ewen|Steve]]
*[[user:Steven Benett|the other Steve]]
*[[user:Joe Quick|Joe]]
*[[user:Denis Cavanagh|Den's]] travelling, so he's forgiven
*[[user:Robert W King|Robert's]] got a hurt hand
*[[user:J. Noel Chiappa|Noel]]
*[[user:Nereo Preto|Nereo]]
*[[user:Regina Bouillon|Regina]]
*[[user:Dawn|Deepsea Dawn]]
*[[user:Meg Ireland|Meg]] has problems making Wednesdays, so she's forgiven too
*[[user:Pat Palmer|Pat]] sent apolgies for this month and jumped the gun
*[[user:Kjetil Ree|Chuck]]
*[[user:Roger Lohmann|Roger]]
*[[user:Jitse Niesen|Jitse]]
*[[user:Paul Wormer|Paul]] - hmmm...thought I saw Paul somewhere?
*[[user:James F. Perry|J.F.]]
*[[Michael Geldorp|Another Michael]]
*[[user:Bruce M.Tindall|Bruce Tindall]] was sleeping off his [[jet lag]] and then enjoying a visit with his kinfolk, while trying to ignore the fact that he'd just received email messages giving him 3 new copyediting jobs just as he thought he was starting his "vacation."
*Todd Coles
*[[user:David Green|Yet Another David (Green)]]
*[[user:Louise Valmoria|Lou's MIA? ''I don't believe it!'']]
*'''You'''!???


==Special Requests==
==Special Requests==


== Questions ==
== Questions ==
This month 2nd July doesn't seem to have started anywhere in the world till now! Should I come back tomorrow to edit someone Else's new article? [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] 05:07, 2 July 2008 (CDT)
 
:Thanks to [[User:John_Stephenson|John]] Supten could edit [[Nara, Nara]]!
 
::Reply to original comment: that's because we don't have any place for posting about 'puter problems, except for the Forums, where poor Aleta posted.  And yes, when you '''can't''' edit within your time zone due to technical difficulties (including the lack of writers in your time zone!) you are perfectly welcome to return.  Sooo, yes, you'd be a ''bona fide'' partier in any case, Supten! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:37, 2 July 2008 (CDT)


==It's a wrap!==
==It's a wrap!==
I guess 2nd July came up really fast, we had a lot of regulars missing.  Still, enormous amounts of work anyway--wonder what would happen if we were ALL here AT ONCE?
Thanks for a great time everybody--see you next month to talk about '''Attractions''' and of course our continuing subtheme, The Olympics, which will be starting.


And don't forget, September will be a doozy with music, music, music when we all wax prolific on '''My favourite Band!'''


[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 19:15, 3 July 2008 (CDT)


== Previous shindigs ==
== Previous shindigs ==

Revision as of 21:37, 4 August 2008

What's a Write-a-Thon?

It's a bunch of people getting together on a wiki at a particular time to do a bunch of writing. It's like an online party! Heck no, it is an online party! It's also an excuse for infrequent wikiers to show up and party hardy; to exchange ideas with people we might not "meet" otherwise.

But hey, why not show up in between the write-ins, too!

When?

Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month. The next Write-a-Thon is Wednesday, August 6th, 2008. August 6th starts on August 5th, 1200 UTC, in New Zealand, and ends on August 6th, 1200 UTC, in Hawaii. Save The Date! Put it on your calendar! Set yourself a reminder!

Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article during that time period will count, though to be a bona fide partier, you have to write your new articles when it's that day in your part of the world.

Our first Write-a-Thon took place Wednesday, August 1, 2007 and was considered a roaring good time--we had about 30 partiers creating something like 50 articles, and editing lots.

What are the rules?

Rules? This is a party! There are no rules!

Well, OK, maybe there are a couple rules:

  • We'll have a Write-a-Thon the first Wednesday of every month.
  • To participate, you only have to do two things: (1) start a new article (even just a stub will qualify, if not too short - and please remember to include the subpages template!), and (2) make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's new article. Then you can list your name here as a partier. Until then, sign in as a porch-sitter, party-crasher, or total party poop.

This month's Party Theme

Wednesday, August 6, 2008 --

Attractions

Someplace you always wanted to go/something you always wanted to see. And/or a local attraction--go ahead and plug something wonderful about your city, county or village. AND...you guessed it...The Olympics!!!

(You can also be inspired by some of the theme suggestions, below. Or propose one yourself--just scroll down. Or write about something that takes your fancy--or the first thing that comes into your head--JUST DO IT!)

Create an article, already!

Check it out: Start an article!

Now (this time anyway) easier than ever! Stubs are not only permitted they are encouraged!

The Partiers

Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun

Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article

The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures

The total party poops

Special Requests

Questions

It's a wrap!

Previous shindigs

Official libations

  • Inaugural - beer!
  • September - champagne
  • October - we were refurbishing the bar and only had coffee!
  • November - made up for last month with more vodka than was good for us and plenty of rum.
  • December - eggnog and wine
  • January - Whisky and the Cocktail of the Month, a pharisee
  • February - schnapps and the Cocktail of the Month, the caipirinha (considered the national drink of Brazil)
  • March - port wine (which should probably live at port (wine), no? (Someone put that on their list, please....Oh, *someone* did--thanks, Ro) and the Cocktail of the Month, a Dead Aunt
  • April - Akpeteshie hot and fresh from Ghana. And cool shandies and spritzers if that took your fancy. Lotsa staggering around the bar after this party!
  • May - Was it champagne? No, we were dry, I think.
  • June - Were we abstaining yet again?
  • July - Sherry

Bonus point winners

Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions

New Suggestions and Discussion

Go ahead and propose one!

  • National Parks - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
  • I had a thought the other day - why don't we have a Subpages day - either separate or as a Write-A-Thon theme? There's tons of them Bibliographies, Related Articles and Definitions that need writing. --Tom Morris 11:48, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
It's a good thought, Tom, and I can see where the subpages need doing. Trouble is, whenever the Write-a-Thon has been too narrowly restricted, particularly when the suggested 'theme' is really a codename for 'work', it doesn't go over well. The WaT's great success is the fun, write-what-you-want atmosphere.
Maybe a separate subpages initiative?
Aleta Curry 18:25, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
Edited to add: Actually, why don't I add this in to October's spring clean? The more options, the more likely people will find something they like doing. Aleta Curry 18:33, 4 July 2008 (CDT)

Future Theme Schedule

  • July - Biographies! The Good, the bad, and the altogether ugly. Also: The Olympics, because I will well and truly have Olympic fever by then!
  • August - Attractions - Someplace you always wanted to go/something you always wanted to see. And/or a local attraction--go ahead and plug something wonderful about your city, county or village. AND...you guessed it...The Olympics!!!
  • September - My Favorite Band! - Or your favourite Music Genre...your favourite orchestra...recording artist--their best song (I may shudder, but hey, it's up to you!) If it's musical, and it's your fave, write about it!
  • October – Spring Cleaning (or “housekeeping”, for those of you for whom it’s not Spring) Let’s mass-attack some of our outstanding chores, particularly “lists”, such as: Common words with multiple uses (in need of disambiguation), e.g. as in CZ:List of words with multiple uses. * Further suggestion: Wanted pages * computer science biographies needed * Redirects * Write a subpage
(feel free to add in your own pet peeves)
  • November - National Parks - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.

See also


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