B2MeM 2014: Seasons of Middle-earth Review Challenge Guidelines

[dawn_felagund]

As part of this year's Back to Middle-earth Month challenge, we are encouraging our readers to show their love to our writers and artists by leaving comments on the stories, poems, and art they enjoy! To encourage reviewing, part of B2MeM 2014 will include a review challenge.

Below, you will find 15 different review challenges to complete throughout the month. You can do one or do them all! If you don't want to complete any of the specific challenges, the comments you do leave on B2MeM 2014 pieces still count toward the grand prize. At the end of the month, add up all the comments you leave on B2MeM 2014 stories, poems, and art and collect your grand prize.

Guidelines

1. Any comment left on any piece of writing or art created for B2MeM 2014 counts toward the challenge. Comments on compilation and non-compilation B2MeM 2014 pieces count. (For challenges #12 and #13, you may review pieces created for past B2MeM events.)


2. A comment cannot count for more than one review challenge. The exception is the grand prize: All comments you leave on B2MeM 2014 writing and art will count toward your total for the grand prize.


3. Some B2MeM 2014 pieces may be posted on sites other than the b2mem community. You are welcome to leave comments on any site where B2MeM 2014 writing and art are shared.


4. As always, we are operating on the honor system as far as prizes claimed for the review challenge. However, if you'd like to report your review, brag about your accomplishments, or squee more over the piece you just commented on, you can leave a comment to the thread below for the challenge you completed.


5. Once the month is over, we will put together the review challenge stamps you earned into a single graphic if you want us to do so. Comment here when you complete a challenge, or contact us at the end of the month with the challenges you have completed.

Review Challenges

This year, in the spirit of using comments to send encouragement and love to our writers and artists, we are offering Tolkien-themed postage stamps for completing the various review challenges below! You can use the HTML code beside each stamp to display your prize wherever HTML is acceptable, or right-click to save the image to your computer and share it on the image host of your choice. At the end of the month, we will put together all of the stamps you earn onto a collector's page for you to display.

Challenge	Stamp	HTML
1. Review an author or artist who is new to you. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp1.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
2. Review a genre or medium you do not normally read/view. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp2.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
3. Review a piece of writing or art from a time period you do not normally read/view. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp3.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
4. Review something featuring a character or group (e.g., Elves, Dwarves, Hobbits) you do not normally read/view. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp4.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
5. Review something that was recommended to you. (Find recommendations on the weekly roundup posts.) [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp5.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
6. Write a review that is 100 words or more. (The word count should not include quotes from the piece.) [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp6.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
7. Review a story in your favorite genre or artwork in your favorite medium. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp7.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
8. Review something set in your favorite time period. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp8.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
9. Review something set in your favorite location on Arda. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp9.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
10. Review a piece that you think handled canon in an unusual or thought-provoking way. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp10.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
11. Review a piece that demonstrated excellent characterization. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp11.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
12. Review a piece with three or fewer first-level comments. (Comment replies do not count! You may comment on any B2MeM piece for this challenge, even if it was written for an event prior to 2014.) [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp12.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
13. Review a piece created for a past B2MeM event (2008-2013). [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp13.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
14. Leave a review in the form of one of your favorite characters writing a letter/note to one of the characters in the fanwork. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp14.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />
15. Review a work that evokes a strong personal feeling or connection for you or that you cannot stop thinking about. [Report your review!]		<img src="http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/images/b2mem2014/stamp15.jpg" alt="B2MeM 2014 Review Challenge" />

Grand Prizes for Reviewing

Once the month of March is over, you can collect your grand prize based on the total number of comments that you leave on B2MeM 2014 pieces. Remember that the reviews you write for the challenges above also count toward your total for the grand prize. Banners and icons for the grand prize will be posted to the community at the end of the month. The grand prizes will be as follows:

60+ reviews: Silmaril
50-59 reviews: mithril
40-49 reviews: platinum
30-39 reviews: gold
20-29 reviews: silver
10-19 reviews: bronze

Comments

[shirebound]

This is awesome!

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! :D

[tehta.livejournal.com]

But... I do not want a Silmaril! I know what happens to people who take one in hand, whether they then cast it away or not!

Also, I am sorry, but by including 14. you are just asking for trouble.

[moetushie]

I once got a review from "Fingon" on one of my more harmless Fingon/Maedhros stories. It was ... strange.

[hhimring]

Those stamps are lovely!

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! They were really fun to make. :)

1. Review an author or artist who is new to you.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 1. Review an author or artist who is new to you.

[zdenka]

Done -- multiple times by now. :) I'm looking forward to making the acquaintance of more authors' work.

2. Review a genre or medium you do not normally read/view.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 2. Review a genre or medium you do not normally read/view.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Poetry & dwarves are new genres for me. Already B2MEM 2014 is stretching my horizons!

3. Review a piece of writing or art from a time period you do not normally read/view.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 3. Review a piece of writing or art from a time period you do not normally read/view.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Just finished Evergreen, by Fadesintothewest. Silm fic is not a genre I generally read, but this is ... the third I think I've read of the 2014 B2MEM entries. Does it still count as a time period I don't usually read?

4. Review something featuring a character or group you do not normally read/view.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 4. Review something featuring a character or group you do not normally read/view.

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

I normally dislike fic about dwarves. This, however, was wonderful.

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/252695.html?view=3330071#t3330071

5. Review something that was recommended to you.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 5. Review something that was recommended to you.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Oshun recommended Firstborn of the Firstborn, a story by Tehta in response to a note left about reviewing a Linda Hoyle story. I read and reviewed at Ao3. Since it doesn't say it has to be a current B2MEM piece, may I please have this stamp?

:-) And do we have to wait to use these, until the end of the month? Can we use them now, as LJ icons? There's nothing in the notes above that say we can't, but I thought I should ask at least.

6. Write a review that is 100 words or more.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 6. Write a review that is 100 words or more.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Crowns of Holly by Kittotter provided a great opportunity to write a lengthy review. I'd recommend this piece to anyone who enjoys Tolkien. While the piece does require at least a modest understanding of the Silm, you can easily look up the characters on Encyclopedia of Arda to give it more depth. This story gives a little peek into how Sauron eventually brought about the downfall of Numenor.

7. Review a story in your favorite genre or artwork in your favorite medium.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 7. Review a story in your favorite genre or artwork in your favorite medium.

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

Gen is one of my favourite genres (does that count as a genre?), as is slice-of-life.

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/253011.html?style=mine#comments

8. Review something set in your favorite time period.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 8. Review something set in your favorite time period.

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

LotR-era TA is my favourite time period in canon, and this one was just post-RotK, which is my favourite time period within that. :)

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/257031.html#comments

9. Review something set in your favorite location on Arda.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 9. Review something set in your favorite location on Arda.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

I adore the Old Forest and its magic - not my sole favourite location (though one of them, and especially so in the Third Age) and Himring wrote such a fantastic testament to Goldberry that fell in line so well with my thoughts about it that I'd like to enter this review here:

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/255484.html?thread=3433468#t3433468

10. Review a piece that you think handled canon in an unusual or thought-provoking way.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 10. Review a piece that you think handled canon in an unusual or thought-provoking way.

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Fadesintothewest's Evergreen was precisely such a piece: http://b2mem.livejournal.com/253284.html?thread=3399012#t3399012

11. Review a piece that demonstrated excellent characterization.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 11. Review a piece that demonstrated excellent characterization.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Last Summer by Rhymer. The hobbits of the Fellowship just spring off the page in this beautifully rendered story sharing the highlights of a couple of summers in The Shire. Not only does she get the characterization perfectly, she captures the essence of each of them and their role in the Great Adventure that wasn't.

12. Review a piece with three or fewer first-level comments.

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 12. Review a piece with three or fewer first-level comments.

[zdenka]

Done, for this story set at the height of Eregion's power and beauty, in which Gil-galad has a confrontation with a certain individual. I recommend it!

13. Review a piece created for a past B2MeM event (2008-2013).

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 13. Review a piece created for a past B2MeM event (2008-2013).

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/162206.html#comments

This gorgeous piece.

14. Leave a review in the form of one of your favorite characters writing a letter/note ...

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 14. Leave a review in the form of one of your favorite characters writing a letter/note ...

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

Reviewed (http://b2mem.livejournal.com/263848.html?thread=3627432#t3627432) "Noise of Thunder" by Astris.

15. Review a work that evokes a strong personal feeling or connection for you ...

[dawn_felagund]

Reply to this comment if you want to report that you've completed this challenge! Reporting is completely voluntary.

Re: 15. Review a work that evokes a strong personal feeling or connection for you ...

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

Indy's Change in the Wind is such a wonderful piece - Indy and I discussed the Avarin names via email, and I'd been looking forward to the fic since then, not just because Maglor is one of my favourite Fëanorians and I get very invested in him anyway, and not just because it was based on a gift fic I wrote for Indy, but the worldbuilding is wonderful and exactly what I'm hoping one day to manage, so it's really a combination of all of it, and I'm pretty sure I'll keep coming back to this.

http://b2mem.livejournal.com/253011.html?view=3355219#t3355219

[with-rainfall.livejournal.com]

What a fantastic incentive for both readers and writers! I've already discovered one gem through this.

[dawn_felagund]

Yay! I love to hear things like this. :)

What is the tag for finished stories so we can find them???

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I have been looking for them in a desultory manner on and off for two days and cannot find them by scrolling (or looking at the tags here). I must be scrolling over them or on the wrong LJ site or something.

Re: What is the tag for finished stories so we can find them???

[independence1776]

The tags for stories this year are compilation and non-compilation.

[shirebound]

I'm having such a wonderful time reading new stories and authors. Such a wealth of stories! I just eased from bronze to silver, and look forward to the second half of the month.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I lost track. I have been concentrating on keeping track of collecting the stamps. I hope I can go back and count my numbers later. I know I have read and reviewed several more than what were appropriate for the stamps.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

If I have a favorite art medium in fandom, it would have to be hand-made crafts and Elliska's three remakes of the Ellesar were absolutely exquisite. I'm very tempted to go and try some of the clay she suggested when we chatted about how she'd done the polymer one. I wouldn't have the patience to attempt the beading one she did!

I left a review.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Okay, so I've determined my favorite genre finally - stories about elves - and one elf in particular.

So today I read and reviewed Phoenix by raise_the_knife, in my favorite genre. And was thrilled to do so.

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

First of all, do these reviews have to be B2MEM stories posted here under the B2MEM LJ community? Or can we count reviews for stories that are being posted directly to personal LJ's and various other archives for the 2014 B2MEM challenge?

And then, do you want a list? I hit 61 this evening.

Once we have sixty, do we start over - because, naturally, being the precious metal/gemstone lover that I am, I want them all!

This was a seriously fun challenge. Kudos to the mods for coming up with it!

[dawn_felagund]

Or can we count reviews for stories that are being posted directly to personal LJ's and various other archives for the 2014 B2MEM challenge?

Absolutely! Anything identified as being written for B2MeM 2014, no matter where it is posted, counts. :)

And then, do you want a list?

We go on the honor system, so unless you want to list them all here, then we do not expect you to.

Once we have sixty, do we start over

That's not something I ever considered! :D But, yes, you can certainly start over if you want to.

Congrats on 61! That's amazing! And you've certainly made many artists/authors happy. (You certainly did for this one. :)

[tanis2014.livejournal.com]

Finally! A story set in the Ring Wars - definitely my favorite time period. And it was, for me, one of the best stories posted to date - Bear It For Me Yet Awhile by Cairistiona. I'm still teary-eyed.