Celebration Post 2017

[independence1776]

Welcome to the Celebrations post for B2MeM 2017!

A wise Hobbit once said that it is dangerous business, stepping onto a path and seeing where it takes you. This month over thirty creators stepped onto a path. In all, they created more than 280 fanworks. Some ran into the real-life equivalent of barrow-wights and sentient willow trees; some made it to their destination more or less unscathed; some are walking still. We want to offer a chance for all of this month's B2MeM quest-takers to celebrate what they accomplished and share where they are going!

Here you can talk about which path(s) you chose, maybe mention unposted works you're working on or what you'd like to do with the B2MeM prompts you didn't reach or get a chance to use, why you didn't (or did) get as far as you wished, and talk about your creative process if you'd like. You can also include a list (with or without links) to your works for this year's B2MeM.

It doesn't matter how much or how little you accomplished this month: everyone is welcome and this space is open for celebrating, sharing, and squeeing!

Comments

[starbrow.livejournal.com]

My roundup post is here (http://amyfortuna.dreamwidth.org/582212.html).

I set out to conquer three paths, because they all looked awesome, and I got to the end of none of them...yet, but I got a pretty fair way along all of them! So I'm quite happy with my work. It was fun to write short little pieces, use up bits of stalled WIPs and snippets, and just spend time on all those ideas I've had in my head for ages. I wrote way more genfic than I normally do, but it seemed to suit my mood (though I'm now quite ready to get back to the smut!).

I have definite plans to finish all the paths (my folder in Scrivener for B2MEM is bursting with stuff), so it'll all get done sooner or later. :D

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Congrats for everything you did complete! My aim for the next month or so (besides taking a rest from writing so much, so hard) is to catch up on reading all the fics that were posted. The ones I did read were of fantastic quality and it whetted my appetite for more.

I laughed at this: I wrote way more genfic than I normally do, but it seemed to suit my mood (though I'm now quite ready to get back to the smut!).

Me too! I almost never write genfic but somehow it seemed to suit me this time around. :D

[independence1776]

You did an awesome job! 25 fanworks in a month! I'm thrilled to hear you'll keep working! :D

[fernstrike]

I wrote a little something summing up my experience this year here :-)

If this space is for squeeing then I want to squee about how awesome this year's B2MeM was!! I was nervous because it was my first time joining in, but there ended up being nothing to worry about. The whole community was so warm and welcoming, and everyone here is so talented! I loved perusing everyone's work and sharing my own stuff, too.

I chose the green path to start with because I wasn't sure how much I'd be able to accomplish, having never done anything like this before. Sometimes I'm ambitious, other times, I'm a little cautious! It was great fun and produced a work ("Oats") that many people enjoyed. I was insanely happy about that! It also gave me a chance to follow up my fic about Eldarion in order to fulfil the very first prompt (with "Crouching Shadows"). In writing "The Blacksmith" to complete that path, I also got inspiration for a new multi-chapter fic that I'm working on right now.

When I finished that I moved onto the purple path, which I haven't finished (and am not sure I will), but which I really enjoyed doing. It produced three of my favourite pieces I wrote ("Moon-letters", "We Are Sundered" and "Faithful"). I have artwork of Tilion and Arien I created for one of the prompts, which I will hopefully post soon on my own LJ or the AO3 collection.

This was a big learning experience for me. Time constraints from university meant I didn't have time to go into in-depth longform fic writing, so I learned a lot about condensing ideas and language into drabble form. Not only that - I also got a chance to explore a lot of characters and time periods and events I wouldn't usually put much thought or deliberation into, and its given me a greater and deeper interest in finding out more about the legendarium and the lore.

Most of all I'm just so happy to have been part of such a great creative quest with so many daring and brilliant folks. I'll definitely be back for more next year! :-)

You can read all my stories on AO3! I hope to have crossposted them onto other archives soon.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I agree that this was a fantabulous B2MEM! And it was the first year I could participate so wholly because I had the time. I thought the stories were really, really wonderful and I want to read them all! (I did read a lot of them but I want more because they were so, so good.)

It was truly a fantastic experience to participate in this year's challenge. I met so many wonderful people whom I didn't know before this and I can't wait for next year. :)♥

[independence1776]

I am thrilled you decided to join us!

In writing "The Blacksmith" to complete that path, I also got inspiration for a new multi-chapter fic that I'm working on right now.

Awesome!

B2MeM is truly great for getting to play around with characters and times you normally don't touch.

And yay for coming back next year! :D

[nialoke]

I started out on the purple path because I really loved the last prompt for it (I have that one still on my write list for future use) but I'm a very slow writer either way, and then the month just started off really awful for me in real life terms. Which is why I ended up switching to the green path, and I'm insanely happy that I managed to finish it *squees* This last month I've probably written more than the past six month or so, and I'm just really happy.
As for where I'll be going now, I'm definitely planning to have another look at the gameboard again, at all the prompts I liked but didn't get around to do, but I think for now, I need a bit of a break ^-^'

However, I hardly got around to checking out all the wonderful work of other participants so far, so I'm planning to catch up on reading and reviewing now :D
As well as crossposting my fics to AO3 and the SWG, since I got to lazy to do that right away pretty quickly

A list of everything I wrote this month is here.

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

Congrats for finishing the green path! And also for your list of stories, because I want to read everything! I thought the stories this year were of phenomenal quality and the authors were such great people that I don't think I've ever had this much fun participating in a challenge before! :)

[nialoke]

Thank you! I'm happy you had fun, too! :D

[independence1776]

Congratulations on finishing the green path and especially for writing more! That's definitely something to be proud of! :D

[nialoke]

Thank you, that's very sweet of you to say :3

[lin4gondor.livejournal.com]

I have been excited about this year's B2MeM since the idea was first broached that it should take the form of a game (I served as a mod this year, so I was in on the plan early on, quietly squeeing in anticipation as the game board came together). It came together beautifully, and it's been so awesome to see how everyone seems to have enjoyed the prompts and the different paths. Unfortunately, I was unable to write anything for the challenge until the very last day, when I finally got a drabble up for the first prompt of the purple path. I am very thankful that the game board will remain accessible even though the month is ended, because I have planned very carefully my path to the center, and I intend to write all those prompts (eventually)!

My goal is to take multiple paths -- as it stands now, I am starting with purple, and moving to red at the next intersection. After that, we shall see where the Muse takes me. I have ideas for several of the prompts at this point, but nothing has been actually written other than the first prompt.

I also have not yet read anything else that was written, so that's on my List of Things to Do, as well. I shouldn't lack for reading material or writing ideas in the coming months!

[independence1776]

Congratulations on beating back Darth Real Life enough to write a drabble! I wish you luck on finishing your path! :D

[ladybrooke]

Congrats to everyone on all the writing! :D

I have a lot of writing and posting still to do (I have four ready to post, I just need to pull my brain together). I've been chipping away at the blue and purple paths - list of what I've posted here - but I want to do several of the other paths too, so I'll be working on things for awhile. I had hoped to finish the orange path before the month was up, but instead I got sick and posted nothing from it since I wouldn't have been able to respond to comments, so that's probably going to be first after I finish blue and purple. Then we'll see.

My creative process was basically staring at a prompt and waiting until a character popped to mind that would be good for it. Which sometimes led to things way outside my comfort zone (Númenor stories) and other times stuck firmly in my comfort zone (Nimloth stories!).

I will hopefully finish my paths before next year, but given how my life goes, who knows? :P It'll get done eventually.

[independence1776]

Congratulations to you! There's certainly no time limit on the prompts, so I wish you luck with them.

[ladybrooke]

Thank you! :D I will need the luck. :P

newbie

[hennethgalad.livejournal.com]

i did the blue path to challenge myself, normally i'm a wordsmith and i dont have much art experience, (nor much of a clue about art apps or posting stuff !)
it was so good to finally upload my ten things that i actually jumped up and down briefly :). not really a 'squee' kind of person...
seen some awesome stuff by others, and looking forwards to tucking into the rest over the year.
interesting that the game board will stay up, i often need an 'angle' to inspire me to write, so i'll probably pick away at the fiction path.

Dorwinion all round !

also greetings to the SWG and ao3 artistes !

RE: newbie

[independence1776]

Congrats on finishing the blue path! Challenging yourself to do something new is a great way to approach B2MeM.

It's B2MeM's policy to leave all prompts up year-round; we want people to use them.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

I don't think my DH was ever so happy to see the end of a month as he was to see me posting my final story on March 31st. I started and completed the Red Path, and it was really wonderful to get back to some serious writing within the fandom once again, but it made some serious cuts into the time I spend with him. I also made a personal goal to review consistently, and I think I achieved about 95% completion rate for that goal, with the last 2-3 days of stories still to read and comment. It was a tremendous ride - a roller coaster all the way.

What I really liked about this year's layout was the prompts were all listed right away. I could do a quick review and choose my path very quickly. I didn't understand all aspects of the game right away (I don't play games, generally), but as I began to understand, I was very happy I had chosen Red as my path. It was a challenge producing more than 31 total items by the end of the month with my crazy real life schedule, but it was SO WORTH the challenge.

One thing that had me laughing is the fact that I didn't write a single piece rated higher than a PG all month. That's so opposite my normal reading and o-fic writing that it was a total shock. But it was also a lot of fun to tone down the angst and other aspects of higher ratings. I also had the opportunity for one cross-over fic and received a huge "Squee" from the author of the other fic. It turns out he's a huge fan of LOTR too. Who knew?!? LOL. His approval for my having borrowed his characters and his happiness with my tale still has me walking on air.

So, to keep this from being ridiculously long and too sappy - THANK YOU!!! Thank you to absolutely everyone who was welcoming once again, who read and commented, who kept things positive, supportive, and complimentary toward every author, artist and contribution. That's the way it should be. The 2017 B2MeM will be remembered for many years to come as one of the very best events. Thank You!!!

- Erulisse (one L)

[independence1776]

Congratulations on completing the red path! That's a lot of work.

You are very welcome!

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for providing the perfect prompts to suck me into the quicksand of the Red Path - LOL.

- Erulisse (one L)

[dreamflower]

I had a blast this year! The Purple Path was perfect for me, about half the prompts of the usual B2MeM, and I simply couldn't resist the first two prompts, which gave me the chance to really mix up JRRT's works into something fun.

I did miss being "behind the scenes" this year, but I'm glad I decided to stick to participating. I hope to be volunteering again next year.

I loved the chance to include things like meta, and art and recs, too! I hope to post more parts of my "Concerning the Shire"--I've got lots of bits written for it, but not organized yet.

Thanks everyone for such a terrific and creative challenge this year! It's going to be hard to top this one!

[independence1776]

Congratulations! The purple path seems to have been a popular one.

I'm glad the year off worked for you; we'll be glad to have you back next year if you still want to when we start prepping for 2018.

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

I didn't understand the board thing at first but plumped for purple and then printed out the prompt list, which was an easier way for me to deal with it. The purple path was just the right length for me, giving me a few free days to polish before posting pieces. I think I may return to the board for inspiration throughout the year and I have a couple of aborted fics. that I will probably work on.

I loved reading other pieces, although I confess that I'm not a big fan of Silm. fic. (I really must re-read that book one day). The artwork posted was also a high standard. Here's a link to my own entries http://elwenlj.livejournal.com/600937.html . . . I even dusted off my art bag and drew something.

I think the real heroes of B2MeM are the folk who pulled all this together, created the board, icons, awards, moderated, tagged etc. They were the ones who made it possible for the rest of us to just play. Thank you for the playpen and thanks to all those creators who climbed in to romp.

[independence1776]

Congratulations! I'm glad to hear it worked out so well for you this year and good luck with your future and aborted fics.

[oloriel.livejournal.com]

Like many others, I really loved the idea of the game. I loved that there were different paths to choose - I was especially pumped to hear that there would be a fanart path, but then ended up choosing a different one (green) instead. I haven't touched my watercolours in.... exactly a year, as it turns out, because my last paintings were for B2MeM '16, and it was wonderful to have a reason to prioritise that again. I initially went for the green path because the prompts immediately got my muses kicking, which turned out to be a fortuituous choice as I got a writing assignment halfway through March, and probably wouldn't have finished any longer path. As it was, I managed to complete both my B2MeM path AND the assignment.

AND I had time (more at the beginning of the month than towards the end, but I hope to catch up eventually) to read other people's contributions, which hasn't always been the case in past years. So all in all, this year's challenge has worked really well for me. Squee!

[independence1776]

Congratulations on finishing both B2MeM and your assignment! I'm likewise glad to hear that having a path specifically for art inspired you.

Squee indeed!

[hhimring]

I wrote one ficlet specifically for this year's B2MeM (with an entirely new plot bunny, that is), featuring Beleg and Gwindor.
I also managed to write a section of a longer story that I had been waiting to start for a while and hope to be able to continue it soon.

I posted a number of rec lists. I managed to complete a path (a very short one, part green, part yellow), mainly with the rec lists. I'm pleased with how this went, given the circumstances.

It was good to see others be so productive! I enjoyed reading some good entries and know I missed a few others that I haven't been able to catch up with yet.

[independence1776]

Congratulations on what you accomplished! Fic and rec lists are always good, and especially working on a WiP.