The Writer's Ultimate Packing List

Essential things for a writer.

This Thursday, I will be heading to Huntsville with butterflies flapping within my gut and my brain waves pulsing eleven times faster than my uncontrollable heart beat. Thinking… thinking… thinking. That’s what I will be doing… along with 33 other nervous writers! We all will be participating in a 72-hour writing marathon called “Muskoka Novel Marathon” in hopes that we bring awareness to a very important cause… ILLITERACY.

Literacy is not just about reading and writing. There are approximately 47% of adults in Ontario that struggle with reading, writing, comprehensive and simple mathematics skills. This Muskoka event raises money to help individuals with these needs, and I am more than happy to participate. It can have a huge impact on someone’s life.

With that said, I also am doing it for a somewhat selfish reason… I admit it... I love to write. I'm blushing, as now you know my secret. This is a perfect weekend for me to turn my brain off to everything (such as driving kids to sporting events, doing laundry and dishes, cooking for five, sometimes ten people) and to let my brain concentrate on writing a story that someone else may enjoy reading… some day.

So, with the deadline fast approaching, I thought I better make a list of things to take with me, so I won't forget an essential thing like Skittles and M&Ms, oh, and my laptop! So, for other writers heading to a writing retreat or a three-day long writing marathon, here's my quick checklist of what not to forget! Looking at this list, you may need to tow a trailer to hold it all

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The Writer's Packing List

• A creative brain
• Laptop with power source (your battery won’t last 72 hours without one)
• Extension cord
• Flash drive/Thumb drive (for manuscript back-up, or email yourself every few hours)
• Cell phone & charger
• MNM Pledge Sponsor Sheet & money collected
• MNM T-Shirts/any COOL writing shirts
• Previous 2012 MNM Awards that you have to give back (unfortunately, you can't keep them)
• Research material (including photos)
• Sticky notes
• Paper or notebook for writing down character names, sudden ideas or just drawing pretty pictures until an idea smacks you in the head
• Highlighters & coloured ink pens (you just never know what colour your brain wants to doodle/write in)
• Sleeping bag, pillow, blanket (you're allowed a few minutes of sleep every now and then if you need it)
• Reclining lawnchair/hammock
• Comfy lounging/relaxation clothes to write in
• Deodorant/Anti-perspirant (ward off the stink bugs)
• MNM Handbook (bring a copy if pre-mailed out - so you know who else is writing in the marathon, plus the important rules not to break)
• Lucky charm/writing friend (I'm bringing my sock monkey for someone to talk to at night, when everyone else is sleeping)
• Several inspirational hats to compete with Pat Flewwelling's collection (and of course, a group photograph of hat wearers will be in order)
• An amazing CAPE of any kind (Saturday midnight cape party is optional, or, you can come dressed in a fun costume of any type... Tobin Elliott will be wearing the Party-Pooper outfit with a frown... Kevin Craig will be wearing a silver disco outfit... and M-E Girard will be sporting her new apron that transforms her into a late-night superhero. What will you be wearing? Whatever it is, pack it!
• ADVIL/TYLENOL or pain reliever of any kind (thinking hurts the brain muscles; so does hearing some people's voices continuously nattering in your ear)
• Energy drinks, like Monster, Red Bull or Rockstar to keep the brain waves in full shock for 72 hours straight when you'd rather be sleeping
• Sweater, sweatshirt, coat (Air-condition is at MAX, especially during the night)
• Bathing suit/cap/goggles to take a midnight dip in the river or an afternoon swim in the pool doing laps
• Business Cards (Networking with other writers)
• Your published books you'd like to sell to other writers
• Money to buy new author friend's novels
• Heating pad or Magic Beans (sitting 72 hours tends to be hard on the back)
• Camera & charger (for documenting the fun time you are having, plus to update your blog, web site, Facebook & Twitter accounts)
• Music/iPods/CDs (Creative words flow better with great music)
• Earbuds/Noise canceling headphones (sometimes you want to block out LOUD disruptive people)
• Most recent family photo (everyone wants to know what your family looks like & whether you're a pet lover or not)
• MEDICATION (important one: we don't want your personality disorders & mood swings getting in the way of the next Canadian award-winning novel)
• Kleenex/tissue or napkins of some kind (to wipe off the emotional tears from your cheeks while you write a character's death scene or to clean up sudden coffee spills because your brain
• Comb/brush/makeup/pony-tails (RED ALERT: WE TAKE PICTURES) THROUGHOUT THE 72 HOURS OF NO-SLEEP)
• Map, GPS or computer print-outs of where you are going
• Favourite coffee mug, juice glass or water bottle.
• Slippers, flip-flops or fancy-ass high heels (whatever gets you in the mood to write like a tornado is coming your way and you only have to finish one paragraph before it reaches you)
• Snacks to get you and your new author friends through 72 hours of non-stop writing (HINT: the better the snack, the more they will like you!)
• COOKIES ARE MANDATORY! They go great with morning coffee & inspirational chats with fellow early-risers! :D