Remembering 10 Years of Back to Middle-earth Month: Memories of 2008

[dreamflower]

Discussion post for 2008:

2008 marked the first time that B2MeM was organized by The Silmarillion Writers Guild, which issued this challenge.

Back to Middle-earth Month: The Circles of the World

March is Back to Middle-earth Month, an annual holiday started to remember how and why we all got involved in the Tolkien fandom. Every year, SWG puts together a project to honor not only Tolkien's works but the creativity of the fans who continue his vision.

This year's theme--Circles of the World--considers the many different events that take place on Arda in the context of what inspires us as fans. We asked Silmarillion authors, poets, and artists to send in their work along with a few words of what their work, and their participation in this fandom, means to them, and, as usual, we've received an overwhelming response. We've received more than fifty pieces of writing and artwork, creative work that shows yet again the skill and imagination of the members of this fandom.

Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday throughout the month of March, we will release another set of this work, each fitting a different theme. Be sure to check our site regularly to find both work from your favorite authors and artists and, hopefully, to discover a couple of new ones!

There was also this announcement in middleearthnews:

Last year, in March, we marked "Celebrating Middle-earth Month" (CMEM-07). Let's celebrate our love for Middle-earth again this year!


March 2008: CELEBRATE MIDDLE-EARTH MONTH (CMEM-08)

You don't need to sign up anywhere to participate, but if you see this on your Friends-page and like the idea, please post this text to your journal to spread the word.

How to participate:
1. Pick a day of the week (or more than one) on which you resolve to always post something LotR-related in March, and let your friends-list know.

2. Go back and read your favourite chapters from the book, or watch the movies again. Let the beauty of LotR inspire you. And then, share the love.

3. Start your subject line with (CMEM-08) when you post, and use a "CMEM-08" tag. This'll make it easy to spot your Celebrating Middle-earth Month entries.
No matter if you just ramble about your undying love for LotR, picspam us, post wallpapers, icons, or write fan fic/create fan art, the plan is to get as many LotR-related entries on our friends-pages as possible throughout March.

Sound good? Let's celebrate Middle-earth again!

Did you participate in the SWG's 2008 challenges? Did you write stories for it? Did you make posts for the challenge from Middle-earth News? If you did, please share your experience with us here in the comments. Give us links, share your anecdotes and memories.

Did you miss out on it, but find yourself curious about it? Check out the comments and ask questions and join in the discussions! And if you check out previous works, be sure to let the creator know how you liked them.

Comments

[dreamflower]

Unfortunately, I did not participate much that year. I didn't know of the SWG challenge, and I intended to take part in the M-e News. There are two or three posts under the tag "cmem08".

I wondered why there were so few, but a check of my old posts revealed that was the month my husband was hospitalized with a heart attack and had stents put in. Needless to say, I didn't have a lot of time for it.

[hhimring]

I get the impression the SWG challenge really took off that year. Fifty contributions! That clickable map is very impressive, too--but because I wasn't around when the contributions were posted bit by bit, I always get a bit lost in it when I go exploring. There are a lot of familiar names and interesting discussions and snippets, but from one time to the next, I don't remember which links I've already clicked on.

[dreamflower]

I really liked the clickable map too. I wish I'd had more time to take part that year!

[binkaslibrary.livejournal.com]

This was the first B2MeM I participated in (on the SWG) and I remember it was absolute fun.

[independence1776]

This is the B2MeM I wish I could have participated in; it looks like a lot of fun.