silwritersguild | September Newsletter

September's Challenges

Let the Games Begin!

As fall begins, many of us return to school grind, filling our days with classes, homewor, and tedium. So in the midst of that return to seriousness, let's take a moment for some fun and play games! Write about a game your favorite characters used to play as children, or the contests that may have been held at festivals. Or if you're feeling at little mischeivous, write about the games your favorite characters might have invented to enliven a good bottle of spirits. It doesn't matter how simple or complex, as long as the games begin! As always, use any style (drabble, poem, novel, etc)!

Quote of the Month

He delights in wrestling and in contests of strength; and he rides no steed, for he can outrun all things that go on feet, and he is tireless.

The Silmarillion, Of the Valar

Character of the Month: Aredhel Ar-Feiniel

Check this space soon for Aredhel's bio!

Character profiles by Oshun.

View past character profiles.

Want more challenges? Check out our complete challenge listing for more than two years' worth of challenges to inspire your writing!

Have an idea for a challenge? Some of our most popular challenges have been created by you, the members of SWG! If you have a plotbunny gnawing at your ankle, a favorite quote, or a favorite character that you think might inspire others as well, please send an email to moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org and we'll try to include your challenge in our next newsletter!

September's News

Sexual Content Warning Poll

A few months ago, a discussion on our Yahoo! group about warning labels and slash inspired us to reconsider how we want to label stories containing sexual content on the archive. The issue concerns the "slash" and "het" labels that we currently use on the archive. In short, we are dissatisfied with the current warning system. Right now, sexual content warning system is:

Sexual Content - Mild

Sexual Content - Moderate

Sexual content - Graphic

Sexual Content - Heterosexual/Het

Sexual Content - Homosexual/Slash

The issue is how one should label a story that includes a romantic pairing but does not include sexual content. Does a story with a homosexual character need the "Sexual Content - Homosexual/Slash" label when there is no sexual content? Thus, we are trying to revise the system so that authors do not feel that they are having to inaccurately label their stories while simulataneously allowing readers to find the types of stories they are interested in. Help us out by voting in our Revision of Warnings in Use on the Archive Poll. The poll will run from September 1 through September 30, 2008, unless the poll sparks a large amount of discussion, in which case the voting deadline may be extended.

Moderator Changes in September

By unfortunate coincidence, all three of the SWG's active moderators will either be out of their home countries or moving house during the month of September and, therefore, may have intervals where they will not be able to be online. Angelica has kindly agreed to act as a temporary moderator during the first half of September to keep an eye on the group and address any concerns that require immediate attention. She can be reached through the Yahoo! group or through the SWG archive.

Members are welcome to continue to contact us via moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org; the regular moderators will continue to receive auto-forwarded messages from this account and will reply as soon as possible. However, while we generally respond to messages sent to this account within a day (usually within a few hours!), then we might be slightly more delayed during September. We appreciate everyone's patience and understanding!

Around the World and Web

Tickets Are on Sale for 2008 Elffeast!

This year's location is the castle complex Balduinstein in Germany, near the city of Limburg. Participants enjoy a 13th-century old castle tavern, castle ruins, two Hobbit and a dwarf house, and the palatial Noldorinhome. The surrounding woods invites fall hunting, and we give thirsty travelers next-to-exquisite catering and a Rohan banquet including mead and wine. And, of course, you mustn't miss Fëanor’s sons offer the Evil Flames with their unforgettable fire show on Saturday!

Not many tickets are available, so act quickly to reserve yours by visiting the Elffeast website!

A Long Expected Contest

A Long Expected Contest--ALEC for short--will feature a monthly challenge and welcomes writing from all corners of the Tolkien fandom! Check out ALEC's LJ community and Yahoo! group for rules and more information. September's challenge: Don't Tell Me, I Don't Want to Know

Teitho Challenge

Teitho means "write" and that's what we want you to do for the Teitho Challenge. Each month a new theme is posted and we ask authors to send in (unpublished) stories, which are then posted anonymously. The current theme is love. You will have four weeks to write a story for this theme - the deadline is September 25th. For further reading, please check the Teitho Website and have a look at the general rules.

Around the World and Web is provided for our members to inform them of events in the larger Tolkien community. SWG is not affiliated with and does not endorse the groups that we feature in Around the World and Web, and we are not responsible for content on sites outside of our own. Please use discretion and caution when visiting unfamiliar sites on the Internet.

Would you like to see your group or event featured on Around the World and Web? See our Promotions Page for more details or email us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.

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