2013 Season of Writing Dangerously--Sign-Ups Open!

[dawn_felagund]

ETA: Comments on this post are now closed, as the event is over and the amount of spam being posted on this post is driving me crazy.

Starting on the Solstice, June the 21st, and running all through the Equinox on the 23rd of September, we invite Tolkien writers and artists to participate in the Season of Writing Dangerously!

• Ever had a story that always remained on the backburner and you never had time to finish?


• What about that NaNoWriMo novel that needs the finishing touches, be it editing or writing those final pages or chapters?


• Or that challenge piece that you always wanted to finish but you never met the deadline for?


• Or all those tantalising and muse-inspiring B2MeM prompts you wanted to write, but you had no time for because real life interfered?

We offer you the chance to get started on them! During the Season of Writing Dangerously, you can tackle those pieces you always wanted to write or finish. You don't have to pledge to finish; instead, you set your own goals to make as much progress as you think you can handle. Once you set your goal, we'll help cheer you on and participants will all receive a very special award at the end of the Season! (See below for more details on this very special award.) With whatever goal you want to set, we take you as seriously as you take yourself. It is your party; we only pass out the invitation to play!

The Very Special Award: This year, we wanted to offer an extra-special prize to encourage our participants to make the dash to the finish line! On September 23, we will make a post for those of you who meet your goals to celebrate and, of course, download banners and icons to show off your success. At this time, winners will also be able to request a piece of artwork or a story to go with a project they worked on for the Season of Writing Dangerously. For example, if you finish that novel that is collecting dust, you might want an illustration of one of the scenes. If you make progress on a painting, you might want a story to go with it. During October, our volunteer writers and artists will work to make your visions come to life!

How to Sign Up as an Author/Artist

If you'd like to sign up for this year's Season of Writing Dangerously, please leave a comment on this post. Include the name you'd like to be called and the goal you'd like to accomplish in the next three months. OpenID, anonymous comments, and logins from other sites LJ recognizes are all acceptable.

ETA: Writers, word counts are not the only acceptable way to declare your goal. You might want to finish a story, add a certain number of chapters, or write x number of stories. In these cases, you might not know your word count! :) That's fine. Remember, any goal that is related to a Tolkien-related creative project is acceptable. /ETA

Some people can't or don't want to use LiveJournal. If this is the case, please email us with your goal at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.

Banners and icons for use by our 2013 Season of Writing Dangerously participants can be found here!

Frequently Asked Questions

So there is no minimum or maximum word count?
Nope! You set your own goals, be it 50 to 100,000 words or even more! Goals not centered on a word count--writing five new chapters or finishing the editing on a story--are also acceptable--it's your choice! What we will offer is an award when you achieve your goal. Since you will be the one writing, you get to state what you find doable to achieve. Your goal can be anything.

I'm an artist, not a writer. How do I participate?
Artists are welcome to play as well. Only instead of a word-count, you get to state what piece(s) you would like to finish, rework, or start.

I'm not setting a goal for myself, but I want to help cheer on everyone else. How can I help?
We will need help at the end of the Season from writers and artists who want to help us make the custom prizes for this year's very special award. We will post a sign-up in August, and winners will make their requests during the final week in September. If you want to be sure you don't miss the post, contact us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org, and we'll alert you as soon as the post is up.

We may also need help making banners, graphics, and other things to help cheer on participants. Email us if you'd like to help with this.

And don't forget to stop by our weekly Season of Writing Dangerously motivational posts to cheer on and support this year's participants!

Why do I have to declare my goal on a public LJ entry?
This is to help you in your word count, by making a public commitment, and so our mods can contact you to claim your award if you win.

What if I don't have a LiveJournal? Can I still participate?

Yes, absolutely! You can leave a comment on the sign-up post using another social media account, like Facebook or Twitter. We also allow anonymous comments (one of the mods will have to approve your comment before it appears, so don't worry if you don't see it right away.) If using LJ is a problem for you for whatever reason, you can also email us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org, and we'll make sure you get signed up.

Can I complete more than one story, artwork, or project?
Absolutely! The sky is the limit!

Does my story or artwork have to be Silmfic specifically?
As with many of our other events, like Back to Middle-earth Month, we welcome sign-ups from every corner from the Tolkien sandbox. The projects you work on do not have to be Silmarillion-related. However, stories and art posted to our website or community should be Silmarillion-based. You are welcome to share links, excerpts, and other details about your project on our weekly Season of Writing Dangerously posts, so long as they are Tolkien-related.

Can I write anything? Poetry, short stories, drabbles, essays, novels, novellas ... anything?
Yes! Anything Tolkien-related is fair game.

When is the last day for sign-ups?
You can sign up at any time.

What happens if I know I'm not going to make my goal?
You can lower your goal with no penalties whatsoever at any time. Simply add a comment to the sign-up post with your new goal.

Who will be making the very special awards at the end of the Season?
Any writer or artist is eligible to help with this. We welcome participants who want to keep their creative inertia going to sign up, as well as writers and artists who didn't participate this year. Please email us if you think you might be interested, and as more information becomes available, we'll make sure you're informed.

Comments

[silver-trails.livejournal.com]

I want to write a story about Fingon and Maedhros, but do I have to set a word count? I want it to be a long story. I've had it in my mind for a long time, so I would like to gather the small pieces I have in my comp and write a story with them.

[dawn_felagund]

You do not have to set a word count. Setting a goal to write a particular story that's been on your mind is a perfectly acceptable approach! :)

[ladyelleth.livejournal.com]

I'd be lying if I said I didn't wait for it, but now that the post is up I'm bouncing around again, so here goes my signup, with the following projects (in no particular order):

Edit and/or rewrite The Darkest Season: Book I: roughly 2,000 words of rewriting

Finish The Beautiful Ones: 15,000 words
Finish sequel to In the Bleak and Early Morn: 5,000 words
Finish Acquiescence: 3,000 words

Write assignment for Not Primetime: 1,500 words minimum
Write assignment for Sultry in September: 1,500 words minimum
Write Our Share of Night to Bear: Nerdanel-and-OFC-centric (post)-Darkening fic for a combination of the Arda Underground SWG prompt and tolkienbigbang: 20,000 words

That's an estimated 48,000 words, and because I like round numbers, I'll put my total goal at 50,000 words, with additional fic if I end up using the amount of or fewer words than in the estimates above. I'm probably being overambitious, but if 50,000 words are possible for NaNo, they ought to be possible for SoWD as well. I also want to post, or begin posting, all these (with exception of the bigbang, which does not end until after SoWD) to SWG and AO3.

[dawn_felagund]

I have to say that I'm excited over the excitement! :D I'm so glad we ran this again and that it's serving as a good excuse to bring more Elleth!fannish!goodness to the world. :)

[zdenka]

I'm so happy you're doing this! I have to think some more about what my goal should be, though.

[dawn_felagund]

That's perfectly fine. There's no deadline for setting a goal. :)

[independence1776]

It's up! It's up!

My goals:

~ write, edit, and post my final RAFA ‘verse story.

~ post all of my LJ-only stories on SWG. (I have a plan so as not to overwhelm the "most recent" list.)

~ write the first draft of my other B2MeM 2013 story.

[dawn_felagund]

Sounds like an awesome plan! Let us know if you want to post a bunch of stories that you don't want on Most Recent; we can do some database magic to backdate the stories. :)

[ladybrooke]

Awesome!

My goals (for now):

1.) Finish at least 25 stories. This will barely be a dent in the epic backlog of stories, but it will at least make me feel better. That's about two a week, which is possible, as long as almost none of them morph into 20,000+ word stories, and most stay in the 300 to 5000 word range.

2.) Finish posting to Ao3, post at least a few more to SWG (without overwhelming the most recent).

3.) Attempt the July CampNaNo with my HP/Tolkien crossover.

[dawn_felagund]

Wow! Brooke, you always amaze me with your energy. :D

Oshun signing in with my goals

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

1) I intend to finish my chap-fic Five Times That Nerdanel Said 'Yes' and One Time She Did Not (http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=1066).
2) I intend to sign up for the Sultry in September Slashy Fic Swap and write that story.
3) I would like to draft the next chapter of my novel Mereth Aderthad (http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewstory.php?sid=378).

[dawn_felagund]

I am selfishly looking forward to 1 and 3 especially ... ;) (And I'm sure I'll love 2 as well!)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Maybe this will force me to finish those 2012 B2Me fics!!!!

I can't get too ambitious because I'm already cleaning up and posting last year's NaNo fic and I've signed up for Sultry in September -----
I'll aim to:
complete 12 B2Me pieces (ten edits and two unwritten prompts), which will then bring the number posted on my website to 18.

(and maybe I'll tidy up all those Maglor ficlets next year)

[dawn_felagund]

Hearing from so many people at this year's B2MeM about their unfinished B2MeM-related pieces is what inspired us to run this again. ;) Good luck!

[huinare.livejournal.com]

I. Finish Istari, circa 1040. I'm guessing that's another ~5,000-10,000 words but I'm most concerned with just finishing the poor thing.

II Write three more chapters for Of Draugluin. Probably about ~12,000 words.

[dawn_felagund]

Pledging to finish or add x number of chapters is a perfectly fine goal, even if you don't know the word counts. :) Good luck with it!

[thrihyrne.livejournal.com]

I want to write at least 4000 words a month on "Steer By the Stars," my Númenorean story about Aldarion and the obsessed later-generation cleric who discovers his trove of journals. I started this thing 10 years ago. I know I want to write it, so this is my time to declare the minimum number of new words I aspire to put on paper over the next 3 months. for hosting this once again!

[dawn_felagund]

You're very welcome! And wow! Something that's ten years in progress--I'm glad we're providing a good excuse to keep working on it. :)

[houkakyou.livejournal.com]

Hey, why not?

I've never really participated in anything like this, but my inspiration has slowly been trickling back so I'll set some goals that shouldn't be too hard to complete.

Writing:
- Post at least three new chapters to The Distant Ages (http://archiveofourown.org/series/47615)
- Finish a second story for the Seven Stones for Seven Sons (http://archiveofourown.org/collections/sevenstones) collection
- Write a post-Oath chapter for Shifting Waters (http://archiveofourown.org/series/47409)
Art:
- I've had a particular scene with Elrond, memory!Elros, and the twins in my head for a while but I can't seem to get a satisfactory start on it. I really need to get around to it!

There we go :)

[dawn_felagund]

I'm glad you're joining us! :) Best of luck with your goals ... I hope the inspiration keeps coming!

[mantledmooselk.livejournal.com]

This is going to help so much with procrastination...

Current goals:

Writing:
-Write/edit/post at least 5 chapters (I have no clue about the final length) of my Maglor and Finrod story.
-Write at least 15 one-shots (at least 200 words in length)

Art:
-Work on portraits: get at least 5 done.
-Draw "Snapshots" of the addition of each of Feanor's sons to the family.

[dawn_felagund]

I hope so! I'm a procrastinator too, so I know the feeling ... and the value of actually having a concrete deadline to work toward. Good luck! :)

[grey_gazania]

Yay, it's here! :D

- edit and post the rest of my Caranthir 5-times fic
- complete, edit, and post at least chapters 2 and 3 of the Gil-galad genderswap
- Easterlings! Write and post at least one piece for Ulfang & Family, whether it's a stand-alone or the first chapter of that mess that's been floating around in my head
- make some more vocabulary and start working on the grammar for the Easterlings' language (that's fair game, I hope?)
- finish that Daeron fairytale thing from 2012 B2MeM
- and maybe a few other 2012 B2MeM things, but I'm going to leave it open-ended for now, if that's okay

[dawn_felagund]

It's here! \0/ And, yes, open-ended is perfectly fine. You can revise your goal anytime you want. :)

[myaru.livejournal.com]

I'm game! Maybe this time I won't get a surprise hand injury.

Goals:
1. finish my Elrond and Maglor fic, no particular word count. Just getting it done will be an accomplishment the way I'm going.

2. finish this Finrod fic I'm working on right now for lotr_community, which I most definitely am not going to be able to turn in on time.

3. write the Tirion fic (also about Maglor).

4. come up with some solid ideas for "Maglor in the East," if possible.

[dawn_felagund]

Woohoo! Good luck and hope there's no surprise injuries ... o.O

[ellynn-ithilwen.livejournal.com]

Will there be sign-up for cheerleaders, like the last time?

[dawn_felagund]

The cheerleaders unfortunately weren't heavily utilized last time, so we've decided to try things differently this time around. We're trying for more community-oriented "cheerleading": We're going to have weekly inspirational posts (sometimes with goodies) and of course the prizes at the end. We're definitely looking for volunteers to help with all of this, if you're interested. :)

Volume 106/Issue 9

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User caras_galadhon referenced to your post from Volume 106/Issue 9 (http://middleearthnews.livejournal.com/393002.html) saying: [...] and sign-ups will be available on June 21! ~2013 Season of Writing Dangerously--Sign-Ups Open! [...]

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

Hi, this would be my first attempt at this. For short call me Flair.

I am coming from the LOTR background but I do love the Silmarilion. However, I don't feel that I can write something on that level.
Therefore here is what I'd like to attempt for the very first time.

Write a LOTR background story and draw pictures to go with it. I have never really earnestly attempted that before.

I can't say how many words or chapters there going to be but I will attempt to add to each part posted at least two drawings.

Would that work???

When am I allowed to start with the challenge???

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

We might host it, but anything Tolkien related is welcome! Enjoy!!

[moetushie]

Goals:

General -- Concentrate on finishing longer works over wriitng oneshots. (Unless the mood strikes me, that is.)

Specific:

- Finish "Racing Towards the Start" (Though the six chapter limit might have been a lie I told myself.)

- Finish "Maybe This Time", my Turin/Beleg long fic that started off live as a noir AU. But really, when the canon has outlaws already, what's the point? Currently ~7K. It will probably be finished when Beleg dies or something.

- Sort out my Maglor-in-history story (wherein he is Shakepeare's best leading lady, sorry boys.) Refine outline.

- Write the next two acts of "The Tragical History of Maeglin, the Prince of Gondolin", the Silm/Hamlet fusion.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Not to discourage you. But every chap-fic I have ever written has been longer than planned, whether in number of chapters or word-count. I am so looking forward to longer works from you. You are killing me with the Shakespeare! I want those. Your Macbeth story is one of my favorites of yours and of Macbeth stories in general. Maeglin-Hamlet fusion is perfect. Does sound morally ambiguous, however (in the best of all possible ways).

It will probably be finished when Beleg dies or something.

!!! A girl after my heart!!! Always a good place to stop!

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I would dearly love to write the story about Oropher and baby Thranduil escaping Gondolin with Voronwe and Legolas being born later for which I've long had the rough draft. I'd really like to at least get the first chapter written.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I am getting all excited reading people's proposals.

[dawn_felagund]

*sigh* What to do, what to do for a goal?

Okay ...

-Take stock of what I have archived at the SWG and add at least half of what's missing.

-Archive at least 10 stories with AO3.

-Write five short stories (3,000+ words each).

-Write an essay on Tolkien's cosmogony and submit a proposal for the Mythguard Institute conference in December. O.O

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Awesome goals Dawn!! And that proposal for the conference *looks around for her pom poms*

[burning-night.livejournal.com]

After a lot of deliberation over what I could set myself that I might actually complete...

1. Write my assignment for Not Primetime (quickly xD)

2. Write my assignment for Sultry in September

3. Edit and complete that pesky potluck challenge fic

4. Attempt to write somewhere between half and all of a first draft of my modern AU Silm

5. Write something to start off my modern!fem!Silm AU

I probably won't get half of this done, but I'd love to try :)

[dawn_felagund]

Good luck with it! :D You can always revise your goal if you need to. We definitely allow that. :)

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

I have only three weeks off in this period, but I committed myself to some writing things. So here it goes

* write that MPTT flf that is due soon
* write my sultry in september story (no prompt yet)
* edit/beta quite some chapters for the only author I am still beta-reading for
* maybe, very very very maybe write/edit some chapters for my nanowrimo Tolkien stories (which can be Bard Rising or Wiseheart or Star Wanderer).

*pfew*

[dawn_felagund]

Yay! Those look like awesome goals! (I just signed up for SiS too. I'm figuring that can be one of my five stories. ;)

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

I would like to get through at least Part One of a massive story revision, in the hopes of being ready to post some things in the Fall. Is that too vague?

[dawn_felagund]

Not at all! Best of luck with it! :D

[elliska.livejournal.com]

I don't usually do these challenges, but I need a kick in the pants, so:

I would really like to get back to an Oropher story that abandoned years ago. My goal is to get six more chapters of Dawn of a New Age posted. That'd be two a month, which, for me, is pretty ambitious. :/

[dawn_felagund]

Well we're glad to have you! :) And if it proves too ambitious, you can always revise your goal. But I hope the muse is kind and you get your six chapters done!

[sivanshemesh.livejournal.com]

Just a Simple Mistake Chapter 13 approx 3.5-4k
Aragorn the Evil Chapters 5+6, no words limit.
His Last Adventure B2ME Bingo cards, to finish the whole story.
Fear, Elrond, Fear! Adding another part + interlude - approx 2k
Fight to Live! Chapter 2
Imrahil and the Toddler finish chapter 2.
Adding another part to my series Elfling at War story number 4.

That's it for now, though i'm sure after i will finish some of it, i might add some more... busy me... lol

[dawn_felagund]

You can always revise your goal if you wish to add more! :)

[jedimasterstar.livejournal.com]

Hi! This is my first time doing this. I'm jedimasterstar and hopefully I can get quite a bit done.

My goal is to write at least 10,000 words so I can at least get a big chunk of my Tolkien Big Bang story done.

[dawn_felagund]

Welcome! We're glad to have you. :) Best of luck in meeting your goal!