Season of Writing Dangerously:: Weekly Motivational Post: Snippet Share

[dawn_felagund]

On our last motivational post, a lot of people confessed that they are losing steam. I think this is probably to be expected for a few reasons. Firstly is that most people get a strong start right out of the gate, but then this slows down after a while, whether because of flagging inspiration or real-life obligations or a little of both. (Unfortunately, as I've learned, the laundry does not do itself because you are in the middle of a really awesome story.) Secondly is that it is summertime for most of our participants, and I know more than a few of us have been away on holidays or doing other summertime things that take time away from being able to work on creative projects.

We're just about halfway through the Season of Writing Dangerously, though, so we still have a lot of time to make up on lost ground! This week, we are inviting our participants to share a snippet of something they are working on. Hopefully, this will not only help us look at what we've accomplished (versus angsting over what's still left to do) but will also result in lots of squeeful and encouraging comments that can help those of us who need it over the hump at the midpoint.

As always, these weekly posts are yours to do with as you see fit, so whether you want to brag or rant or you need to ask for help with something, please feel free to do so here. I still have something special in mind for the midway point of the Season, but I have family visiting from overseas at present and so have fallen a bit behind in fannish stuff as a result. Watch this space for an announcement in the next couple of days, when I will hopefully have my act together! Also, if you like to make banners and would be free to help out within the next few weeks, please do let me know, and I'll include you on the email to our volunteers about this special post. (If you've volunteered generally, no need to let me know again.)

Best of luck for a productive week! I look forward to seeing everyone's snippets!

August 2013 Newsletter Posted!

[dawn_felagund]

My apologies for the lateness of this announcement, but I have family in-town from overseas and have been a bit busy as a result. Our August 2013 newsletter is posted on the website:

http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/news/newsletter.php

We're in the midst of a busy time here at the SWG! August is, as it has always been, our annual Akallabeth in August challenge. During this time, we encourage our members to read and write stories related to the Second Age. As we have in years past, we've compiled a list in the newsletter of all of the Second Age stories we could find on the archive. As in years past, if you have written a Second Age story and do not see it on the list, please let us know so that we can add it. Putting this list together is a big task every year, and we often miss a few stories. Also, don't miss our 2009 Akallabeth in August collection that journeys through the whole Second Age through story, poetry, and art: http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/akallabeth-in-august/

And, of course, if you've ever wanted to try your hand at Second Age fiction (or if you love the Second Age and want to show it some more love!), we encourage you to take the leap this month. Many of our authors have in the past (including me!) and produced some really wonderful Second Age stories for our archive.

We are also in the middle of the Season of Writing Dangerously, and it is not too late to sign up, if you'd like to set a creative goal for yourself this season. And, in July, the archive participated in the International Day of Femslash, and the stories created for that event are available to read on the archive.

In this month's newsletter, we have quite a few goodies. Oshun's biography this month is on Denethor of the Nandor, an intriguing character so beloved by his people that they refused to take a new king after he died. Yet, like many Silm characters, Tolkien left large swaths of Denethor's life unexplored, and this month's biography is full of possible story ideas as a result. For the podfic this month, grey_gazania has recorded selections from Elleth's lovely ficlet collection "Many Journeys." And, of course, we have a list of stories added and updated during July, interesting articles from other sites, and announcements from groups outside of the SWG.

Many thanks go to those who create the content for the newsletter--Oshun, grey_gazania, Rhapsody, Russandol, and Angelica.