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== What's a Write-a-Thon? ==
<center><big><big><big><big>Wednesday August 10th, 2011<br /><br />
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.
<font color="red">
'''Food, history of food, we are all food experts'''<br />
</font color></big></big></big></big>


But hey, why not show up in between the write-ins, too!
'''Please enter your suggestions for the August topic [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon#New_Suggestions_and_Discussion|here]].'''</center>
----
The next '''Write-a-Thon''' will take place on Wednesday Aug 10, 2011!


== When? ==
We know that not everybody has Wednesday at the same time though, so to make it fair '''our''' Wednesday lasts 48 hours! Therefore, '''Write-a-Thon''' starts on  
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month.  The next Write-a-Thon is '''Wednesday, September 3, 2008'''.  September 3rd starts on September 2nd, 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on September 4th, 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii. Save The Date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!
[http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=7&day=5&year=2011&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=0 Aug 10th, 1200 UTC], when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on  
[http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?month=7&day=7&year=2011&hour=12&min=0&sec=0&p1=0 Aug 11th, 1200 UTC], when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii.


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.
== 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 hearty; to exchange ideas with people we might not "meet" otherwise.


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.
But hey, why not show up in between the write-ins, too!
 
== 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 [[CZ:Subpages|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, September 3, 2008===
<center><font color="red"><big><big><big><big>'''My Favorite [[Band]]!'''</big></big></big></big></font></center>
Or your favourite [[Genre (music)|Music Genre]]...your favourite [[orchestra]]...[[recording artist]]--their best [[song]] ''(I may shudder, but hey, it's up to you!)''  If it's [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=music&fulltext=Search musical], and it's your fave, write about it!
 
''(You can also be inspired by some of the future 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!)''
 
== The Partiers ==
*[[user: Aleta Curry|Aleta]] was late to the party room, and found it empty!  Time to go ''knock, knock, knocking on people's doors!'' Came back and started with what might well be the [[The Jackson 5|world's most famous brother act]] and [[Chanticleer (choir)|another boy band]].  Hmm...there'll be more... [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:56, 2 September 2008 (CDT)  Aleta returned to [[Genesis (band)|the beginning]] to do some editing to count herself among the bona fide partiers.  Today, since it's still Wednesday in the U.S., listening to [[user:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo's]] interesting [[bossa nova]] inspired your M.C. to change the red link for the great [[Ella Fitzgerald]].  I notice that CZ has started a [[band]], but we've got no [[choir]]!  Horrors!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Okie, I've made an edit to [[Chanticleer (choir)|another boy band]], although not a very major one.  When I finish today's input into my new article about the glorious, *glorious*, GLORIOUS [[The Weavers|Weavers]], I'll have become a full-fledged partier.  (And right now, to prove it, I am just about to take my last sip of a 5-to-1 Plymouth Gin/Noilly Prat martini -- how nice to know that there is a '''second''', nearly frozen glass of same in the freezer waiting for me to go downstairs and retrieve it -- the Weavers will thank me for the effort!) [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:08, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] edited [[The Jackson 5]] and started [[The Hudsons]]. [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 23:14, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
:: How embarrassment!  I thought you meant [[The Hudson Brothers]] till I read your article! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 05:16, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*Is it a bird, is it a plane?  Chris made a start on [[Capercaillie (band)|Capercaillie]], but don't [[grouse]] when you find out the truth. :) [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 01:01, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**No clue what it means or even how to pronounce it, but the name of this band makes me smile.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 16:39, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
***Kap-er-kay-lee is the correct pronunciation. The band is named after a species of grouse that lives in the Scottish highlands. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 16:58, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*Favorite band, hmmm....[[Citizen's Band]], [[Gastric band]]...I think I'll go for [[Genesis (band)]] -[[User:Derek Hodges|Derek Hodges]] 04:47, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**This reminds me of a great line I heard on television the other day. "What's your wife's favourite flower?" "[[Flour||Self-raising]]!" [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:53, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel]] started [[Ari Babakhanov]], edited [[education]] and added videos to [[Kawir]].
 
*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] started and worked on three articles since the last Write-a-Thon, namely [[Photosynthesis]], [[Cognitive science]] and [[Hormesis]]. He may ask that they count something in relation to today's activity, though he finds himself reluctant to set such a present and has high hopes of starting something new today (2:16 p.m. here in San Francisco as I key this).  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 16:19, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Yes, of course that all counts.  I suppose we have to write about [[Tony Bennett]] or (I Left my Heart in) [[San Francisco]], now.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::Nah, I did get a chance to start a new article. (See farther down for entry on that.) --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 23:27, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*While being shaken mightily on the rough tracks of Amtrak, [[User:Pat_Palmer]] is endeavoring, during her evening commute, to further flesh out [[abc (music notation)]].  She won't be able to finish it tonight due a meeting but she will be watching the festivities during breaks and will continue tomorrow.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 16:36, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Aleta is very impressed that Pat can write about music notation. [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
:::Hey, I was using abc notation back in 1996...if you're familiar enough with it, you can "sight-read" music in a whole new sense! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:36, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
* [[User:Mal McKee|Mal]] was out chasing cars, missing most of the party. Open your eyes though, and you'll see that Mal started an article on [[Snow Patrol]]. Anyway, he has to run as he has to shut his eyes. This is beginning to get to me - we could make this go on forever! --[[User:Mal McKee|Mal McKee]] 17:35, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::Hi Mal!  Glad to see you, even with your eyes wide shut.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 17:57, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Anthony Argyriou|The other Anthony]] wrote about [[scientific notation]], which has nothing to do with bands, but it was something he could do while at work. [[User:Anthony Argyriou|Anthony Argyriou]] 19:10, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise]] dashed in to kick off an article on [[Joy Division]] and will get back to the write-a-thon when she gets home from work--it's a hectic day out here! ''It's been a hard day's night and I've been working like a dog'' ... so I'll be back soon. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 21:21, 2 September 2008 (CDT) Let's waste time chasing cars ... becoming a bona fide partier this month with an edit to [[Snow Patrol]].[[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 19:10, 3 September 2008 (CDT) Meanwhile, birds and planes go through the rainbow--it's so [[Divine Comedy (band)|divine]] to get a chance to write about some favourites ... like [[Sigur Rós]], [[Franz Ferdinand (band)]], [[Arctic Monkeys]] ... and to meet [[User:Larry Sanger|Larry's]] challenge about bands I should be embarrassed to admit that I liked, let's go for [[Hanson]]. I'm not sure yet if reality TV show rejects should count ;)
::::Wait a second--Larry actually said we should admit to liking bands we're embarrassed to admit to?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 23:21, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
::[[A-ha|Aha]]! (a band, for those too old or too young to know, tee hee) Lou's in da house! [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 21:45, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
*[[User:Tom Morris|Tom]] brought [[pop music]] and [[Stevie Wonder]] to the party, and danced to [[heavy metal (music|heavy metal]] while tapping away at [[education]]. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 19:52, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] finally wandered in, listening to [[Altan]], who were playing [[reel (music)|reels]], as usual.  And he is about to start making small edits to everybody else's articles.  [[a-ha]], I see one; Norwegians!; and here I thought they were Americans; no wonder the weird grammatically awkward "Take On Me"; uh, ;-) .  Bopped with [[The Jackson 5]] (I remember a small Michael Jackson dancing on TV...from when I was even smaller) and tackled a little [[education]] (life-long, don't you know).
 
*[[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford]], finishing his second martini (see above, Chez Aleta) finished off his initial article about [[The Weavers]], and, having edited Aleta's article about those Irish boyos, achieved '''Full Partier Status'''. What a sacrifice!  I gave up watching that Eskimo woman give some sort of speech or other.  Oh, well, I can read about it in the NYT tomorrow.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 21:47, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] did get a chance to start a new article, on that ancient Greek surely everyone has heard of, [[Alcmaeon|Alcmaeon of Croton]].  I hope others will help elaborate on the biography of that important person in the history of medicine.  --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 23:23, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
==Keen-as-mustard and jumped the gun==
* Because I'll do anything to avoid actual work (or worse yet, grading papers), I've started my September ''composition'' (he he): [[Abc_(music_notation)]][[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 18:36, 18 August 2008 (CDT)
:: "Composition" - ha, ha.
:: Wow! jumping the gun already!  Will one of you wizards please archive the August page so we can get September's up if people are going to be so johnny-on-the-spot?  Wow!
:: [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:40, 19 August 2008 (CDT)
 
== Porch sitters--article creators who didn't edit a new article ==
*[[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]] started the page on ''[[Google Chrome]]'' and disappeared to celebrate ''Vinayaka Chaturthi'' or ''Ganesha Chaturthi'' - a Hindu Festival that starts today.
::Hi Supten!  'Bye Supten!  Ah, me...''Alone Again, Naturally!''  (Yes, I'm going to keep this up) [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 20:53, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*Alex begins his rocking wednesday with [[Blind Guardian]]. -- [[User:Alexander Wiebel|Alexander Wiebel]] 04:11, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo]] was distracted composing [[Bossa nova]]... "Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars". [[User:Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro|Marcelo B. Barata Ribeiro]] 08:16, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Howard C. Berkowitz|Howard C. Berkowitz]] 09:08, 3 September 2008 (CDT) is never quite sure how to respond to the write-a-thon. There are several specific articles in Internet networking and security that I have in progress, may be review for a new contract/job. That creates a whole web of related articles, with at least one colleague/collaborator involved.
 
::In going through military things, I variously stopped and filled in several magenta links, as well as "oh, that reminds me" additional articles. In some cases, I've identified things I can't answer, which may be addressable by a collaborator with the time, may actually be holes in the logic, or may have deliberately obscure and classified answers.
 
::I have several "capstone" article  trying to organize a topic but still very experimental, such as "locality of networks"..
 
:::Oh, but there's only one way to respond to the Write-a-Thon, Howard:  ''write something!''  :)  All the above counts!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 16:58, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
 
*[[User:Patrick Brown|Patrick Brown]] created [[Ulaid]].
 
*[[User:Marc J. Dziezynski|Marc]] got his thrash on, creating [[Metallica]]. He plans to source/expand/etc. it soon, though he definitely won't mind if someone else gets to it first! --[[User:Marc J. Dziezynski|Marc J. Dziezynski]] 20:18, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


== Party crashers--article contributors who didn't create a new article ==
=== When? ===
* It's 4am in the [[United Kingdom]], and instead of being asleep like normal people, [[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] has been editing articles on [[The Jackson 5]], [[Google Chrome]] and [[education]]. Once he has finished abusing his [[circadian rhythms]], he may write some articles. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 22:06, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
Write-a-Thons happen the first Wednesday of every month. It starts on Tuesday 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on Thursday 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii. Save the next month's date!  Put it on your calendar!  Set yourself a reminder!


==The shy ones, absent-minded profs, and other modest creatures==
Any new article you create, and any edit you make to somebody else's Write-a-Thon article during that time period will count!
*[[Sarah Palin]] isn't a [[musician]], but [[user:John Stephenson|John]] gets credit just the same.
::Travel(l)ing through North America at the moment and it's wall-to-wall Sarah Palin on CNN, so... [[User:John Stephenson|John Stephenson]] 22:05, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
*I was going to write an article but ... [[User:Catherine Woodgold|Catherine Woodgold]] 22:13, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


== The total party poops ==
Our [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/August_1%2C_2007|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.


==Special Requests==
=== So how do I join in? ===
This is the Month of September and our first [[CZ:Biology_Workgroup/Workgroup_Week|Workgroup Week on Biology]] is just round the corner. Please lend a helping hand. [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten Sarbadhikari]] 20:30, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
Joining in is really easy:
* First of all, show up on the first Wednesday of the month!
* Start a new article. Any new article is fine, although a suggested theme is given each month. Even just a stub will qualify, although the more substantive the article the better. Come back to this page and let everyone know you've started it! The earlier in the day you do this step, the better.
* Make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's ''new'' article! You might need to come back a little bit later in the day to do this, once people have had chance to make all those new articles. Then come back to this page and reply to the person who made the article.
* Optionally, but preferably, mention Write-a-thon in the Edit summary of any pages you create or edit for the party! It lets others who may have forgotten know it is here.
* Congratulations, you are an official Write-a-thon partier!


:Hear hear! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 21:15, 2 September 2008 (CDT)
==Join the fun!==
When you've created your new article (or improved an existing article, for that matter) on Wednesday 6th July, come and list it here! Don't forget to sign your name so everyone knows you've joined in. Then, when you've edited someone else's article come and let them know!
===<big><big><big>List your new articles here!</big></big></big>===
*[[History of pie]] - [[User:Mary Ash|Mary Ash]]
*[[Doenjang jjigae]] - [[User:Chunbum Park|Chunbum Park]]
:::The Greatest Contribution of All Time. (Why is everyone so apologetic?)
*[[Natural_Gourmet_Institute]] - [[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]]
** Sorry to miss the date--Wednesdays are too busy for me.  I've create an article one day later.  It is just a stub; it would have been more, but instead, I drained all my energy battling the article creation template.[[User:Pat Palmer|Pat Palmer]] 14:18, 11 August 2011 (UTC)
*[[Haggis]] - also late, sorry [[User:Gareth Leng|Gareth Leng]] 16:21, 11 August 2011 (UTC)
*[[Mozartkugel]] -- Rather small (and late) contribution. --[[User:Peter Schmitt|Peter Schmitt]] 18:27, 12 August 2011 (UTC)


== Questions ==
==Upcoming!==
Today (or was it yesterday?) the new browser ''[[Google Chrome]]'' has been launched. I'm using that for this post. Shouldn't we fill up that page? [[User:Supten Sarbadhikari|Supten]]
*August 2011 - (theme still to be chosen--anyone?)
:For the moment, it's Windows only, leaving me with nothing to comment. [[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 03:26, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
**Please enter your suggestions for the August topic [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon#New_Suggestions_and_Discussion|here]].


*I want to know if anyone over the age of 30 can think or write about [[The Jackson Five]] without singing?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 22:19, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
==Previous shindings==
**Me, Me, Me!  I don't even know who they flippin' '''are'''! And I certainly never '''hoid''' them, except, I suppose, in my deepest nightmares.... [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 23:09, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
{{CZ:Monthly Write-a-Thon/Previous shindigs}}
***Stop lying!  That's like crusty octegenarians who claim never to have heard of [[The Beatles]]!  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 23:15, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
****Not so! I'm certainly an overbaked baguette of a sexagenarian, and I've *hoid* of the Beetles, and even heard, mebbe, four of their songs, but I ain't never *hoid* of the Jackson 74, or listened to them. Michael Jackson I *have* heard of, but, thank God, never actually, hoid.... (Ludwig von Peirce, who, thank goodness, is now 100% deef) [[User:Hayford Peirce|Hayford Peirce]] 23:21, 3 September 2008 (CDT)


== [[CZ:Big Collaboration|Big Collaboration]] topic ==
All, we did a credible job with [[Sports]] last month.  I'd like to try another [[CZ:Big Collaboration|Big Collaboration]]--I hope you'll be interested.  The topic I've put out there is
:::'''[[Education]]'''
We may not all know the theory and history, but we sure know a lot about it in other respects, I think! --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]]
:[''singing''] We don't need no Education, we don't need no thought control....
==It's a wrap!==
== Previous shindigs ==
*[[CZ:Monthly Write-a-Thon/August 6, 2008|August 6, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/July 2, 2008|July 2, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/June 4, 2008|June 4, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/May 7, 2008|May 7, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/April 2, 2008|April 2, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/March 5, 2008|March 5, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/February 6, 2008|February 6, 2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/January 9, 2008|January 9,2008]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/December 5, 2007|December 5, 2007]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/November 7, 2007|November 7, 2007]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/October 3, 2007|October 3, 2007]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/September 5, 2007|September 5, 2007]]
* [[CZ:Monthly_Write-a-Thon/August 1, 2007|August 1, 2007]]
== Official libations==
===2007===
* 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]]
===2008===
* January - [[Whisky]] and the ''Cocktail of the Month'', a [[pharisee (beverage)|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 [[shandy|shandies]] and [[spritzer]]s 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]]
* August - [[pineapple]] [[juice]]  Well, that's all right, I guess!
==Bonus point winners==
== Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions==
== Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions==
===New Suggestions and Discussion===
===New Suggestions and Discussion===
''Go ahead and propose one!''
* History of food/foods.  [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 22:59, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
 
* What about red links in [[Special:Random|Random pages]]? --[[User:Daniel Mietchen|Daniel Mietchen]] 10:15, 4 December 2008 (UTC)
* 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. --[[User:Tom Morris|Tom Morris]] 11:48, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
*I suggest "Numbers".  [[User:Richard Pinch|Richard Pinch]] 07:21, 15 December 2008 (UTC)
 
* "Hometown Heroes" - write about someone famous from your part of the world (either where you're from, or where you are now).
::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.
* "Poles Apart" - find the spot directly on the other side of Earth from you, and write about someone or something in the vicinity. (Contributors on other planets, follow a similar procedure for whatever planet you're on. Contributors not on planetary bodies permitted to write about whatever they feel like.)
::Maybe a separate subpages initiative?
* Fill in an item from [[French_republican_calendar#Months_and_days|this interesting list of natural objects]]. Or [[Positivist_calendar#Commemorations|this interesting list of people]].
::[[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:25, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
* All articles must start with the same letter of the alphabet, allowing for diacritics and transliteration (so Å, Á, and あ would all count if A were the letter, for instance).
:::''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.  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 18:33, 4 July 2008 (CDT)
* Photo stubs - no minimum word length, no theme requirement, but must contain an image.
::::Yes, I like the general idea too. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 07:24, 3 September 2008 (CDT)
* Choose a random number from 1 to 500, then go to [[Special:WantedPages]] and start an article on the topic currently at that rank.[[User:Petréa Mitchell|Petréa Mitchell]] 19:15, 1 January 2009 (UTC)
 
*What will people most enjoy writing that could lead many different contributors to a short, but complete and interesting article that links to larger articles? Maybe "Events" could be a theme - pen-portraits of memorable sporting moments (see [[try]], or notable historical events - including tsunamis, eruption of Krakatoa, comet collision with Jupiter, the birth of Dolly the sheep, freeing of Nelson Mandela, the sinking of the Titanic, assassination of Martin Luther King, the Mutiny on the Bounty, the discovery of the Americas? Can I suggest asking that every new article should have at least one external link and links to other articles here?[[User:Gareth Leng|Gareth Leng]] 12:31, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
* Could fall under the category of 'Attractions', and 'National Parks' also covers some of these too. Most countries also have at least one UNESCO Heritage Listed location--could well be worth a shot, as these locations would have a rich history as well as artistic/cultural significance. [[User:Louise Valmoria|Louise Valmoria]] 20:16, 6 August 2008 (CDT)
::*I like this idea.  Further, definitions and other subpages are preferable, even for stubs. [[User:Chris Day|Chris Day]] 17:01, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
:::Dare I suggest that even stubs can and should be non-orphans? Basic criteria: [[User:Howard C. Berkowitz|Howard C. Berkowitz]] 18:00, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
:::*Reachable from the front page or a core article/workgroup page
:::*Link to at least three other articles, even if they are redlinks in a Related Articles subpages
:::*Have at least three other articles link to them
* I propose "childish things" as a topic. --[[User:Larry Sanger|Larry Sanger]] 15:51, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
::Er...you talkin' 'bout me again???  You can always tell who's got a toddler at home, huh, Larry?  [[User:Aleta Curry|Aleta Curry]] 02:57, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
*For this revival, to open it to lots of partiers, suggest theme: '<font color="darkred">Topic of Your Mind's Desire</font>', or, '<font color="darkred">Whatever</font>', or something in that vein, with the proviso that article be consistent with CZ standards. [[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 02:28, 30 June 2011 (UTC)


===Future Theme Schedule===
:: Kinds of [[Phobia]]s, or [[mammal]]s, or [[insects]]s or [[arachnid]]s or [[butterfly]]s or [[flower]]s or [[medication]]s or [[symmetry group]]s or [[legends in sports]]. But wait, there are many [[tree]]s and [[automobile]]s and [[computer program]]s, and [[ice cream]] flavors. Sooo many choices, so little time. [[User:David E. Volk|David E. Volk]] 23:48, 11 July 2011 (UTC)
*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 [http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=music&fulltext=Search 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: [[Special:Wantedpages|Wanted pages]] * [[List_of_people_who_made_conceptual_breakthroughs_in_computer_science|computer science biographies needed]] * Redirects * Write a subpage * Check [[:Category:Approved Articles|Approved articles]] for completeness of subpages
(feel free to add in your own pet peeves)
*November - '''[[National Park]]s''' - most countries have them but Citizendium doesn't...yet.
: [http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/ UK], [http://www.nps.gov/ USA], [http://www.atn.com.au/parks/parks.htm AU], [http://www.pc.gc.ca/ CA], [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/NationalParksLanding.aspx?id=38405 NZ], [http://www.parks.it/world/FR/Eindex.html FR]
::May I suggest a separate theme for each workgroup, and a campaign to obtain a commitment from each member of each workgroup to start a new article, however stubby, but thoughtfully and excellently stubby.  A rhetorical question.  Incidentally, CZ has no article on [[Rhetoric]], a fascinating subject with roots in antiquity and above-ground branches and fruit in the 21st century. --[[User:Anthony.Sebastian|Anthony.Sebastian]] 19:31, 19 August 2008 (CDT)


== See also ==
== See also ==
Line 183: Line 78:
* [[CZ:Weekly Wiki|Weekly Wiki]]
* [[CZ:Weekly Wiki|Weekly Wiki]]
* [[CZ:Article of the Week|Article of the Week]]
* [[CZ:Article of the Week|Article of the Week]]
* [[CZ:New Article of the Week|New Article of the Week]]
* [[Archive:New Draft of the Week|New Article of the Week]]


{{initiatives}}
{{initiatives}}

Latest revision as of 05:02, 8 March 2024

Wednesday August 10th, 2011

Food, history of food, we are all food experts

Please enter your suggestions for the August topic here.

The next Write-a-Thon will take place on Wednesday Aug 10, 2011!

We know that not everybody has Wednesday at the same time though, so to make it fair our Wednesday lasts 48 hours! Therefore, Write-a-Thon starts on Aug 10th, 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on Aug 11th, 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii.

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 hearty; 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. It starts on Tuesday 1200 UTC, when it starts being Wednesday in New Zealand, and ends on Thursday 1200 UTC, when it finishes being Wednesday in Hawaii. Save the next month's 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!

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.

So how do I join in?

Joining in is really easy:

  • First of all, show up on the first Wednesday of the month!
  • Start a new article. Any new article is fine, although a suggested theme is given each month. Even just a stub will qualify, although the more substantive the article the better. Come back to this page and let everyone know you've started it! The earlier in the day you do this step, the better.
  • Make a substantive edit (not just a copyedit) to somebody else's new article! You might need to come back a little bit later in the day to do this, once people have had chance to make all those new articles. Then come back to this page and reply to the person who made the article.
  • Optionally, but preferably, mention Write-a-thon in the Edit summary of any pages you create or edit for the party! It lets others who may have forgotten know it is here.
  • Congratulations, you are an official Write-a-thon partier!

Join the fun!

When you've created your new article (or improved an existing article, for that matter) on Wednesday 6th July, come and list it here! Don't forget to sign your name so everyone knows you've joined in. Then, when you've edited someone else's article come and let them know!

List your new articles here!

The Greatest Contribution of All Time. (Why is everyone so apologetic?)
  • Natural_Gourmet_Institute - Pat Palmer
    • Sorry to miss the date--Wednesdays are too busy for me. I've create an article one day later. It is just a stub; it would have been more, but instead, I drained all my energy battling the article creation template.Pat Palmer 14:18, 11 August 2011 (UTC)
  • Haggis - also late, sorry Gareth Leng 16:21, 11 August 2011 (UTC)
  • Mozartkugel -- Rather small (and late) contribution. --Peter Schmitt 18:27, 12 August 2011 (UTC)

Upcoming!

  • August 2011 - (theme still to be chosen--anyone?)
    • Please enter your suggestions for the August topic here.

Previous shindings

empty form

Write-a-Thon Theme Suggestions

New Suggestions and Discussion

  • History of food/foods. Anthony.Sebastian 22:59, 7 July 2011 (UTC)
  • What about red links in Random pages? --Daniel Mietchen 10:15, 4 December 2008 (UTC)
  • I suggest "Numbers". Richard Pinch 07:21, 15 December 2008 (UTC)
  • "Hometown Heroes" - write about someone famous from your part of the world (either where you're from, or where you are now).
  • "Poles Apart" - find the spot directly on the other side of Earth from you, and write about someone or something in the vicinity. (Contributors on other planets, follow a similar procedure for whatever planet you're on. Contributors not on planetary bodies permitted to write about whatever they feel like.)
  • Fill in an item from this interesting list of natural objects. Or this interesting list of people.
  • All articles must start with the same letter of the alphabet, allowing for diacritics and transliteration (so Å, Á, and あ would all count if A were the letter, for instance).
  • Photo stubs - no minimum word length, no theme requirement, but must contain an image.
  • Choose a random number from 1 to 500, then go to Special:WantedPages and start an article on the topic currently at that rank.Petréa Mitchell 19:15, 1 January 2009 (UTC)
  • What will people most enjoy writing that could lead many different contributors to a short, but complete and interesting article that links to larger articles? Maybe "Events" could be a theme - pen-portraits of memorable sporting moments (see try, or notable historical events - including tsunamis, eruption of Krakatoa, comet collision with Jupiter, the birth of Dolly the sheep, freeing of Nelson Mandela, the sinking of the Titanic, assassination of Martin Luther King, the Mutiny on the Bounty, the discovery of the Americas? Can I suggest asking that every new article should have at least one external link and links to other articles here?Gareth Leng 12:31, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
  • I like this idea. Further, definitions and other subpages are preferable, even for stubs. Chris Day 17:01, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
Dare I suggest that even stubs can and should be non-orphans? Basic criteria: Howard C. Berkowitz 18:00, 14 January 2009 (UTC)
  • Reachable from the front page or a core article/workgroup page
  • Link to at least three other articles, even if they are redlinks in a Related Articles subpages
  • Have at least three other articles link to them
  • I propose "childish things" as a topic. --Larry Sanger 15:51, 6 May 2009 (UTC)
Er...you talkin' 'bout me again??? You can always tell who's got a toddler at home, huh, Larry? Aleta Curry 02:57, 7 May 2009 (UTC)
  • For this revival, to open it to lots of partiers, suggest theme: 'Topic of Your Mind's Desire', or, 'Whatever', or something in that vein, with the proviso that article be consistent with CZ standards. Anthony.Sebastian 02:28, 30 June 2011 (UTC)
Kinds of Phobias, or mammals, or insectss or arachnids or butterflys or flowers or medications or symmetry groups or legends in sports. But wait, there are many trees and automobiles and computer programs, and ice cream flavors. Sooo many choices, so little time. David E. Volk 23:48, 11 July 2011 (UTC)

See also


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