B2MeM 2014 (Yes, Really!)
Nov. 3rd, 2013 05:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dawn_felagund posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
b2memYes, my comods and I have really started talking about 2014's Back to Middle-earth Month. However, there is a good reason behind this! (Normally, the mods start discussion in December, with the members being brought on board by January or February.) There are two important things that we wanted to bring up to B2MeM participants for feedback.
First is the event for 2014. We have done daily-prompt challenges for the past three B2MeMs. These are always popular and are pretty easy to do (so long as BINGO cards aren't involved ... ;), but when we started running B2MeM, it was not necessarily a daily-prompt challenge, and while daily prompts are usually well-liked, we have also had requests to try a different format. So we wanted to propose an idea and see how the community felt about it.
Instead of a daily prompt, we have considered putting together a compilation this year. Those of you who have been SWG members for a few years know that we have done compilations there in the past. (Akallabêth in August is probably the best example of this.) The idea is that participants claim a prompt or prompts well before the event itself. Each participant then sets out to create a story, poem, or artwork based on that prompt, only instead of trying to get something created quickly to be ready for the next day's prompt, the participant has time to make the piece the best it can be. During the month of the event, one or a few of these pieces are "released" each day. By the end of the month, there is a compilation of stories, poetry, and art based around a theme.
Our idea is to put together such a compilation for this year's B2MeM, based around a theme that encompasses the diversity that our community has to offer, i.e., whether you write First Age or Fourth, Hobbits or Noldor, there will be a place for you. The pieces will be revealed over the course of March. At the end of the month, we would also like to offer an e-book or print-on-demand book of the compilation (for writers and artists who want to be included--this would NOT be mandatory). Ideally, there would be the opportunity for writers and artists to pair up to do illustrated stories, and we would offer beta assistance and other for authors who want it.
So what say you all? Are we willing to give the daily prompt a break for this year? Does a compilation seem like something we'd like to try for this year's B2MeM? Please remember that this community exists to promote a fandom holiday that will help bring the various corners of the Tolkien fandom together, so we need to know if our participants think an idea will work for them or not. In short: please be honest in your feedback! :)
The second point concerns moderators. B2MeM started as an alliance of Tolkien fandom groups that wanted to offer a month-long "holiday" in which Tolkien-based transformative works are celebrated. As a result of this basic structure, it was always assumed that the mods of the groups that participated would be the mods of B2MeM. In actuality, this doesn't work that well. For one, group mods already have significant responsibilities in running their groups. In many cases, they cannot also run B2MeM. Secondly, this keeps those who have ideas about B2MeM, time to volunteer, and who would make excellent moderators from actually serving as moderators.
As a result, we will be opening up moderation of B2MeM to more than just the mods of the groups that sponsor it. Moderators help plan out B2MeM events and get them ready for March. They help run things behind the scenes before and during the event. They help to answer questions from participants and cheer participants on. We tend to work closely together on planning and then divide up responsibilities for actually running the event, based on the talents and interests of each mod.
Please comment here, message me, or email me at DawnFelagund@gmail.com if you'd like to be a mod for this year's B2MeM. You should expect to be available beginning in December through early April. (Obviously, everyone needs time off, and we cover for each other when needed, but this is our "busy season," so to speak.) I will make sure to begin including anyone who is interested in moderator correspondence going forward.
First is the event for 2014. We have done daily-prompt challenges for the past three B2MeMs. These are always popular and are pretty easy to do (so long as BINGO cards aren't involved ... ;), but when we started running B2MeM, it was not necessarily a daily-prompt challenge, and while daily prompts are usually well-liked, we have also had requests to try a different format. So we wanted to propose an idea and see how the community felt about it.
Instead of a daily prompt, we have considered putting together a compilation this year. Those of you who have been SWG members for a few years know that we have done compilations there in the past. (Akallabêth in August is probably the best example of this.) The idea is that participants claim a prompt or prompts well before the event itself. Each participant then sets out to create a story, poem, or artwork based on that prompt, only instead of trying to get something created quickly to be ready for the next day's prompt, the participant has time to make the piece the best it can be. During the month of the event, one or a few of these pieces are "released" each day. By the end of the month, there is a compilation of stories, poetry, and art based around a theme.
Our idea is to put together such a compilation for this year's B2MeM, based around a theme that encompasses the diversity that our community has to offer, i.e., whether you write First Age or Fourth, Hobbits or Noldor, there will be a place for you. The pieces will be revealed over the course of March. At the end of the month, we would also like to offer an e-book or print-on-demand book of the compilation (for writers and artists who want to be included--this would NOT be mandatory). Ideally, there would be the opportunity for writers and artists to pair up to do illustrated stories, and we would offer beta assistance and other for authors who want it.
So what say you all? Are we willing to give the daily prompt a break for this year? Does a compilation seem like something we'd like to try for this year's B2MeM? Please remember that this community exists to promote a fandom holiday that will help bring the various corners of the Tolkien fandom together, so we need to know if our participants think an idea will work for them or not. In short: please be honest in your feedback! :)
The second point concerns moderators. B2MeM started as an alliance of Tolkien fandom groups that wanted to offer a month-long "holiday" in which Tolkien-based transformative works are celebrated. As a result of this basic structure, it was always assumed that the mods of the groups that participated would be the mods of B2MeM. In actuality, this doesn't work that well. For one, group mods already have significant responsibilities in running their groups. In many cases, they cannot also run B2MeM. Secondly, this keeps those who have ideas about B2MeM, time to volunteer, and who would make excellent moderators from actually serving as moderators.
As a result, we will be opening up moderation of B2MeM to more than just the mods of the groups that sponsor it. Moderators help plan out B2MeM events and get them ready for March. They help run things behind the scenes before and during the event. They help to answer questions from participants and cheer participants on. We tend to work closely together on planning and then divide up responsibilities for actually running the event, based on the talents and interests of each mod.
Please comment here, message me, or email me at DawnFelagund@gmail.com if you'd like to be a mod for this year's B2MeM. You should expect to be available beginning in December through early April. (Obviously, everyone needs time off, and we cover for each other when needed, but this is our "busy season," so to speak.) I will make sure to begin including anyone who is interested in moderator correspondence going forward.
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no subject
Date: 2013-11-03 11:55 pm (UTC)The daily prompts make my eyes tear-up just thinking about how horribly stressful they are for me and how negatively they affect me personally. I am very INTO this fandom. And I hate to be left out. But I really feel like the homely stepchild during B2MeM.
I think it is not fair that people push so fucking hard for the daily prompt year-after-year. And that they should give other people a chance to do something they might enjoy. (And not by Not Participating either!!!!) I've done the daily prompts (poorly I admit, but up to my capacity!) for years like a good soldier and complained, yes, (foot soldiers always do complain!). But I really, really tried to keep up with a program that was alien to me and no fun for me at all.
Just one year I would like to feel a part of B2MeM, instead of dragged kicking and screaming through it; or feeling sad and left out. (I start dreading it about December and am not recovered until nearly August!) I'd love to try to write something I liked and that I could be proud of just once for this event. (Also, my B2MeM stories are also the least read of anything I write and people never come back later and read them either--even the people who read every new story I post throughout the rest of the year. Even the few half-decent ones I write during B2MeM are overlooked. Time wise, makes a big bleeding hole in my creativity for the fandom during the course of a year, because of the advance loss of joy and the long recovery.)
I would like to help in some way. I don't think I am a good mod candidate. Too opinionated for constant collaboration and too nearly blind for a lot of daily detail or record-keeping work. But would help with anything else, including publicity or banner-making (now that I finally understand the Rules for graphics).
ETA: I just read Tehta and Linda above and it makes me despair.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 12:25 am (UTC)In an Artistic Temperament aside: my B2MeM responses weren't so popular either, but I guess the small time commitment makes me feel OK with that. I also don't much care how people respond to fics I write for myself, like the Amarie one -- nobody can take away the amusement I get from that. It's challenge fics that make me get all irrational, because they make me feel like I am writing into the void: not for myself, and (in the absence of feedback) not for others, either.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 12:31 am (UTC)I do feel just the opposite. If I let go of drabbles or ficlets that are something that I could do on a daily basis. I never have the balls to pull them later. They sit there like lumps of mud amidst the work I really labored over. If one of them turned into something I am proud of nobody reads it anyway. So I guess I do like the opportunity to try to write something better and take a little time with it. I do not think I ever write anything entirely for myself. Before I wrote fanfiction, I used to make my boyfriends or husands and my sisters read my stuff!!
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 12:42 am (UTC)On the other hand, I hate the thought of forcing someone to read my stuff, and praise it, which is the fic exchange way. With a challenge like this, I would worry that, if I claim a prompt and then do something weird with it (which, let's face it, I would almost certainly do) then I am depriving others of the chance to write/read something more to their taste.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 01:11 am (UTC)You are not the only person who has requested a break from daily prompts. And I understand that point of view, just as I understand the appeal behind the madness of writing something every day. (I'm like the Gumby of writers, I guess, and am happy just to be able to write! Which is probably because that hardly ever happens! :D) But like I've said in years past, we really and truly do try to accommodate everyone ... it's just not possible to accommodate every one every year, for the simple reason that people are so different in what appeals to them! :)
We've had the daily prompts for the past three years for a variety of reasons. I probably helped to create the monster that is the expectation of daily prompt challenges every year. BINGO was the anomaly; that should have been a non-daily-prompt year, but the idea just slapped me in the face and I had to go with it. Last year had to be because we had almost no moderator availability, and daily prompt challenges (except for BINGO!) are really easy to run. But when the mod-types started talking about this year's challenge, I suggested giving the daily prompt a break for the people who find it unappealing.
Also, my B2MeM stories are also the least read of anything I write and people never come back later and read them either
That's something that has always bothered me because I do recognize that writing every day doesn't leave much time for reading/commenting/discussion. We have tried to fix it in years past with reviewing challenges alongside the writing/art challenges, but they have not been popular.
I would like to help in some way. I don't think I am a good mod candidate.
Now I think you would be a great mod. But the SWG mods--the best team I've ever worked with, in fandom or out, and I am not a person who likes collaboration--work so well, imo, because they can be very critical and yet we're all still friends at the end of the day. And I know I can work with you like that because you are one of the few [fannish] people who gets to see me get cranky, and you're still talking to me! ;)
But hey, I'm happy about the banners! I'm glad that PITA image document did some good (because I'd always wondered why you didn't make banners anymore but never want to push people by asking ...)
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 01:22 am (UTC)Graphics are good for me. Let me know if there is some other role you think I could fill as well. Despite being a slow fiction writer, I am fast at most tasks. I would not do well on a big Excel spread sheet or anything of that nature, because of my vision problems and needing to blow everything up really big on my computer.
no subject
Date: 2013-11-04 01:47 am (UTC)I'll let you know, in any case! I know we'll need graphics, as we always do. Thank you! :)