Silmarillion Writers' Guild

B2MeM09: Day Thirty-One

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:34:00 GMT

Day Thirty-One

As a citizen of Middle-earth, one day you wake up with a choice: yesterday or tomorrow. Which would you pick and why?

( Icons and Banners )

Well, today is the last day of B2MeM for this year! I want to thank again rhapsody11, heartofoshun, and angelica_ramses, whose prompt-creating and icon-making skills are the reason that we could have this challenge this month.

But I also want to thank everyone who has taken the time to write, draw, create, or read and review B2MeM entries this year. You all are the reason that B2MeM has been such an enormous success this year! I thank you for sharing your talents with us this month--I have so enjoyed (and am still enjoying, because I have not caught up on all of them yet!) the entries for the challenge this month.

But, while today is the last day of March and, therefore, the last official day for B2MeM, please remember that you can continue sending your links, and I will continue posting them. If you're aiming for all thirty-one prompts, please try to finish by mid-April just so that we can get the banners out, but if you liked the prompts and want to work with them at a later date, they will remain on the SWG site indefinitely, so have fun! :)

I will be sending emails as people reach the thirty-one mark. If you do not hear from me (or one of the SWG co-moderators) within a few days of sending your thirty-first entry, please drop me a line. I've handled about 300 links so far this month and so am sure that I've made some mistakes. And spam filters can be malicious too. :) I and my co-mods are always reachable through the SWG site at moderator AT silmarillionwritersguild DOT org, or you can contact me privately at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Also, please remember that work does not have to be posted publicly to count. We do not want to penalize people who want to have work beta-read before publicly posting it or who just don't feel comfortable sharing. Just send us an email letting us know that you created an entry for that day (no, you do not have to send us what you did!), and we'll give you credit for that day.

Finally, one last time for the daily reminders for links: Now all thirty-one prompts and links to the entries written so far can be found here. (Forgive me, I did not get the list updated today! I will do so tomorrow!) And banners and icons for participants can be found here.

Thank you again for keeping the dream alive for another year! :) May the muses smile upon you!

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B2MeM09:: Day Thirty: Mercurial Monday

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 20:34:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Two--Mercurial Monday!

For Mercurial Monday, we offer B2MeM participants the choice of two prompts. Participants may choose whichever they prefer. In addition, the second prompt may be used in place of any other prompt in the challenge!

Think of an experience when you realised that you suddenly understood an idea, a skill, or a concept you had been struggling with--it might be something related to a class that you took or a specific skill you were trying to perfect it. Translate this moment to your Middle-earth character and capture this in a story, poem or piece of art.

Bob Dylan says "Don't criticize what you don't understand." Do you agree with this? Have you ever been criticized by someone who didn't understand you? Think or write briefly about this experience.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where unfounded criticism plays a central part.

( Icons and Banners )

I have updated the website with all links that I have received so far. I encourage all to check out the entries created so far--you will not be disappointed! :) You can find them here.

And icons and banners for participants can be found here.

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Nine

Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:57:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Nine

What if you have been falsely accused of something? Take that emotion and write a story or poem or create a piece of art what your character would do. What would he or she do: set the record straight or walk away or ...?

( Icons and Banners )

Banners and icons for participants are available here, and all entries created so far are linked here. (I was out of town for most of the day and so didn't get anything posted after mid-afternoon EST added yet but will do so first thing tomorrow! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Eight

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 23:38:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Eight

What's your favorite month of the year? Consider or write briefly about why this month is special.

Picture your character during this month, his or her activities or reflections. Try to cover this in a story, poem or piece of art.

( Icons and Banners )

Banners and icons are available for participants; both general banners and an icon and banner for each daily prompt are available. You can find them here.

I did not get a chance to update the list of responses for today, but what was posted through last night can be found here.

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Seven

Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:10:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Seven

Imagine this, a relative of your chosen characters passes on and lives your character a trunk. He or she opens it when...

Capture that moment in a piece of art, be it a drawing, story or poem.

( Icons and Banners )

Links to all of the entries created so far are here. And icons and banners for participants can be found here.

We've now less than a week left in B2MeM. As some of you know, participants who create something for all thirty-one prompts will get a special banner to commemorate their achievement. Since we're getting close to that time, I thought I'd offer some reminders.

You do not need to finish by 31 March. We understand that people have lives outside of fandom and that muses aren't always the most cooperative critters. However, we are requesting that if you're attempting the thirty-one-prompt "marathon," please try to finish my mid-April, just so we're not handing out banners until the Eighth Age. :)

Remember, if a particular prompt doesn't inspire you, you can do in its place any Mercurial Monday prompt that you have not already done.

You do not need to post publicly or "hand in" your work for this challenge. We do not want shyness, incompleteness, or issues with beta readers to prevent people from feeling that they cannot participate. Just drop us a line letting us know you've created something for a particular day; you do not need to send it to us or "prove" it in any way.

Likewise, please remember that multiple prompts can be included in a single work. Just let us know that you're doing this so we're sure to give you proper credit.

I will contact everyone who I believe completed the thirty-one prompts beginning in early April. If you finish all thirty-one and have not heard from me (or one of the other SWG co-moderators), please do feel free to drop me a line. I'm doing my best to keep up with what's being posted on various sites and mailing lists, but there is a lot (not all of it posted in places where I can easily grab a link), and I'm sure I've missed some.

And that concludes today's extra-long announcement. :) As always, questions and such can be directed to me personally (DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com) or to the SWG email account (moderator AT silmarillionwritersguild DOT org). Have fun and happy writing/drawing/creating! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Six

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:07:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Six

Think of a teacher who played a key role in your life. What qualities about this person influenced you? Write briefly about this person: a short character sketch, scene, or conversation involving her or him.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork about a character who educated his people in some way.

( Icons and Banners )

The daily reminders ...

If you would like banners or icons for participation, you can find them here.

And if you'd like to see and read what has been created so far, the links list is updated here.

(Remember, if you'd like your work added, either post a link on the relevant entry on this community or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com!)

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Five

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:02:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Five

What are your fondest memories of your childhood? And the saddest? Write briefly about a memory that is particularly powerful, whether it is happy or sad.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork based on those feelings and experiences
or
based on a character's memories.

( Icons and Banners )

I just finished updating the links list, so all entries created so far can be found here. Banners and icons for participants are available here.

Today is also the day Frodo destroyed the Ring in LotR and it is Tolkien Reading Day, so best wishes to all for today's myriad Middle-earth holidays! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Four

Mon, 23 Mar 2009 21:47:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Four

Choose your favorite line or quotation from a non-Tolkien source. It can be a book, movie, poem--anything you can think of!

Write down that quote.

Now create a story, poem, or work of art that relates to it somehow, either the quote itself or the meaning that you take from it.

( Icons and Banners )

~~I did not get the website updated today, but everything created as of last night~~ Yes I did! :) All entries posted in this community and on the SWG archive can be found here. (I did not get a chance to make the rounds of other archives--tomorrow! :) Banners and icons for participants can be found here.

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B2MeM09:: Day Twenty-Three: Mercurial Monday!

Sun, 22 Mar 2009 22:39:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Two Twenty-Three--Mercurial Monday!

You find an old dusty bottle and, when you pick it up, a genie pops out! What three wishes would you make and why?

Now, imagine that your character bumps into a genie (or a Middle-earth variation of it) and she offers to grant your character three wishes. What are the wishes and why would he and she wish for them?

Create an artwork, story or poem how your character mulls it over or goes about it.

What is the greatest sacrifice you can be asked to make? Think or write briefly about this.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters make their greatest sacrifice.

( Icons and Banners )

And the daily reminders ...

I am caught up with all of the links I have received and then some (including the one I just got in my inbox thirty seconds ago!), so all of the entries as of now (1044 EST) can be found here. Past prompts are here as well. If you'd like me to add your work to the list, please either leave a link (or post the work) in a comment on the relevant entry in this LJ community, or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Banners and icons for participants can be found here.

If you're just arriving and are wondering what the heck I'm talking about, the full project guidelines are on our homepage.

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-Two

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 21:42:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-Two

According to the Romans, the basic principle of the law is that agreements should be respected under all circumstances. Do you agree with this? Is there a time in your life when you had to break this principle? When someone broke an agreement with you?

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters are forced to break this principle.

( Icons and Banners )

I have just about all the links added to the webpage. (You all have been busy! :) You can find them, as well as past prompts, here.

Banners and icons for participants are here.

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty-One

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:54:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty-One

Describe a big storm from your memory and place it in Tolkien's world.

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art that reflects this impressive moment.

( Icons and Banners )

I did not get today's entries updated on the website, but everything I received as of yesterday can be found here. Remember, if you want your work added to the site, either leave a link (or post the whole work) in a comment to the relevant entry on this LJ, or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Banners and icons for participants can be found here.

Have fun and happy drawing/writing/creating! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Twenty

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:58:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twenty

We all have experienced this. Due to illness, a family event, work, you didn't have as much time to study for an important test as you needed or finish a project you promised to do. Think of a specific event that you went through of which you felt unprepared for and write briefly about the preparation that you were able to do, the reasons that you didn't get to prepare as well as you wanted, and of course, the outcome.

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art where a character is unprepared.

( Icons and Banners )

A few reminders ...

If a particular prompt isn't speaking to you, and you're trying to go for all thirty-one, remember that you can substitute one of the Mercurial Monday prompts that you chose not to do for any other prompt in the challenge. So, for example, if you chose "Tedious Work" for Day Two, if you write something for "Great Danger" for Day Two as well, that second story can count for any prompt that you don't feel inspired to do.

All of the entries created so far for which we have links can be found here. I added a lot of new ones tonight, so we are close to--if we haven't exceeded already--200 entries. (Wow!)

Old prompts are here as well. You have as long as you'd like to write for prompts, though if you're going for the thirty-one-day marathon, we do ask that you try to finish by mid-April so that we're not handing out banners till the Eighth Age of Arda! :)

Banners and icons, generously created by heartofoshun and rhapsody11, are available here for participants who wish to use them.

And, finally, if you'd like your work added to the list on our website, either leave a comment on the relevant entry on this community or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Have fun! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Nineteen

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 21:44:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Nineteen

If you could pass on three pieces of wisdom to future generations, what would they be?

Now, from the point of view of a character, what three things would this character want to pass on to his or her children and grandchildren? How similar are they to yours?

Write a story, poem or create a piece of art which reflects this.

( Icons and Banners )

We are getting really close to 200 entries created so far for this year's B2MeM! Check them out here.

Banners and icons for participants can be found here.

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B2MeM09: Day Eighteen

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 22:44:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Eighteen

Craft a story, poem or artwork where your character is in bed and he or she awakes to a future leader, heir, or current leader standing outside the window, staring into your character's face with a giant smile. What's going on?

( Icons and Banners )

I did not get a chance to get the website updated with today's stories, but all entries through yesterday are linked here. This is also where the old prompts live--remember, they never expire! :)

If you would like me to link your entry, either leave a link (or post the piece) in a comment to the relevant entry on this community, or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Banners and icons for participants are here.

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B2MeM09: Day Seventeen

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:55:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Seventeen

A stereotype is a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified and often offensive, used to describe a group. Think about a group that you identify with, either in your real life or in Tolkien's works, and write down at least three stereotypes that do or might exist about that group.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where characters break stereotypes.

( Icons and Banners )

The website has been updated with all of the links I have to this point; you can find all entries listed here. If you'd like your work added to the list or if I've made a mistake on your entry, please do let me know by either leaving a comment or sending me an email to DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Banners and icons for participants are available here.

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B2MeM09:: Day Sixteen: Mercurial Monday

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 22:49:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Two--Mercurial Monday!

Are you an adventurous person? Think or write briefly about the greatest adventure in your life.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters share an unexpected adventure.

What are your limits? What some things that you can't do? Won't do? Write down at least two of each and consider how you discovered these limits.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where a character discovers his or her limits, manages to respect his or her limits, or is pushed over his or her limits.

( Icons and Banners )

Today marks the halfway point of Back to Middle-earth Month. I was going to leave my acknowledgments till the end of the month, but I expect that by then a lot of us will be either reading the oodles of stories posted or sleeping off having written thirty-one of them, and I absolutely do not want the work of those who made this event possible to go unacknowledged.

A lot of people have remarked to me that they like the prompts and have found them inspiring or intriguing or fun to write. Gratitude for the prompts goes to my co-moderators Rhapsody and Angelica, who created the vast majority of them. I still don't know how they found or dreamed up some of the stuff that they did, but I'm very thankful for their insightful, thought-provoking, and sometimes quirky imaginations!

I had the wild idea, when first planning this project, that it would be really cool to have a different icon to go with each day's prompt. However, it was just that: a wild idea. We didn't have much time, and the amount of effort it would take to create thirty-one icons from scratch was more than I could spend. Oshun and Rhapsody are to thank for the gorgeous icons and banners that we have been able to offer participants. Thank you both for your effort and for sharing your talent with us!

And thanks to all who have promoted B2MeM on their own groups and communities. I know the LotR Genfic Community is with us, with special thanks to Dreamflower for making that possible, and that Nath saw to getting announcements posted on HASA. I know that other groups and individuals have gotten the word out as well, and I thank you. You all are the reason that we have had such a massive and diverse response to this year's project so far.

Finally, to everyone who is creating responses or who plans to create responses--thank you. This project has exceeded our wildest imaginings when we first started planning it in January, and the work I've seen so far has been nothing short of amazing.

Here's to the second half of B2MeM being as much fun as the first! :)

Finally, the daily reminders: Entries are being collected here (as are old prompts). To have your work added to the list, leave a comment on the relevant LJ entry, or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com. (ETA: I haven't gotten all of today's new work added yet. I will finish it tomorrow, promise! :) Banners and icons for participants can be found here.

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B2MeM09:: Day Fifteen: The Ides of March

Sat, 14 Mar 2009 21:18:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Fifteen--The Ides of March

In T.S. Eliot's poem "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock," the speaker in the poem poses the following question:

"Do I dare disturb the universe?"

Over the course of the poem, the speaker answers this question. Show a scene or experience in a character's life where she or he answers this question.

( Icons and Banners )

I should have all of the entries so far updated on the website here. Remember, if you'd like me to add your entry to the site, either comment on this journal or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com.

Banners and icons for participants can be found here! Happy writing/drawing/creating! :)

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B2MeM09: Day Fourteen

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 18:04:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Fourteen

What is your favourite season? Why?

Create your own story, poem or piece of art which shows what you like the most about your favourite season and how your character would appreciate (or not) the same things.

( Icons and Banners )

Entries written so far* can be found here. And banners and icons for participants are here.

* I had an SCA meeting tonight and so didn't get anything that was posted this evening linked yet. Tomorrow, I promise! :)

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B2MeM09:: Day Thirteen: Friday the 13th!

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:27:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

It's Friday the 13th! Time to get scary!

Day Thirteen--Friday the 13th!

What makes you the most afraid? How would you react if you had to face this situation? Think or write briefly about your greatest fear and how you would face it.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork where the characters have to confront their greatest fears.

( Icons and Banners )

As of this precise moment (March 12, 10:28 PM, EST), I have caught up the links list with everything that I have so far. If I have missed something or made a mistake, please let me know, and I will fix it as soon as possible! :)

If you'd like your work linked on our site, either post a link in the comments here, or email your links to me at DawnFelagund@gmail.com.

Rhapsody and Oshun have made beautiful banners and icons for B2MeM participants--if you'd like to use them, you can find them here!

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Wed, 11 Mar 2009 22:08:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Twelve

How would you define innocence? Write down at least three words or phrases that represent innocence for you.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where one observes or realises the innocence of herself or himself, someone else, or a group.

( Icons and Banners )

I haven't gotten to commenting on everyone's latest work yet--y'all have been busy! ;)--but I will. In the meantime, all of the entries I have so far can be found here. If you would like a banner or icon for participation, check here.

If you have no idea what I'm talking about and what is B2MeM and how can you play ... our homepage answers all of that and more. :)

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B2MeM09: Day Eleven

Tue, 10 Mar 2009 20:49:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Eleven

How do you define your sense of humor? Is your sense of humor something can be universally appreciated? Think or write briefly about a time when your attempt at humor was misunderstood, or when you misunderstood another person's attempt at humor.

Write a story, poem or create an artwork that shows different views of humor.

( Icons and Banners )

I have updated the list of links to responses so far--we now have more than 100 (!!), and they are excellent! You can find them here.

If it is banners and icons that you seek, check here. And many thanks to heartofoshun and rhapsody11 for donating their time and talents to making graphics for us!

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B2MeM09: Day Ten

Mon, 09 Mar 2009 21:20:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Ten

"Traveling is a fool's paradise. We owe to our first journeys the discovery that place is nothing."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Write a story, poem or create an artwork that proves or disproves this quote.

( Icons and Banners )

If you'd like to use a banner or icon, please find them here. For past prompts (remember, it's never to late to reply to one! ;) and for links to the replies done so far, visit this page here. I added more than twenty entries to the list tonight, so go check them out! :)

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B2MeM09:: Day Nine: Mercurial Monday!

Sun, 08 Mar 2009 20:34:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

On Mercurial Mondays, we give B2MeM participants the choice of two prompts. If you're going for the thirty-one-day marathon, if you also write for the second prompt, you can use it in place of any other day's prompt!

Day Nine

Think of a person that you admire. The person can be someone from history, from fiction, or someone that you know--anyone!

Write down three to five adjectives that describe why you find that person admirable.

Now write the opposites of those three to five adjectives.

Write or draw something from the point-of-view of a character who displays some or all of the "negative" adjectives on your second list.

In your opinion, what are the qualities that a hero must possess? Write down at least three of these qualities.

Now write a story, poem or create an artwork that shows those qualities in action.

( Icons and Banners )

If you'd like icons and banners for your B2MeM participation, check here. For past prompts, as well as links to the replies written so far, look here.

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B2MeM09: Day Eight

Sat, 07 Mar 2009 19:43:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Eight

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Is it? And ugliness? Is it also relative?

Write a story, poem or create an artwork where the contrast beauty/ugliness plays a central role.

( Icons and Banners )

Past prompts as well as links to the stories written in reply to them can be found here. Banners and icons for B2MeM participants can be found here. If you want to know what the heck is going on with this "B2MeM" thing, you will find the project description and guidelines (pretty straightforward) on our homepage.

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B2MeM09: Day Seven

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 23:15:00 GMT

Posted by: dawn_felagund

Day Seven

Imagine this! You are walking in the woods and sudden a tree whispers to you ...

What does it say? What is your reaction?

Capture this moment in a story, poem or piece of art.

( Icons and Banners )

As of almost-midnight EST, the website has been updated with links to everything that has been written so far for which I have a link. You can find these--as well as old prompts--here. If it is icons and banners that ye seek, check here. And, finally, Official Project Guidelines (which pretty much act to assure participants that, yes, you can do that ;) are up on our homepage.

Remember--post your entries or links here if you'd like me to add them to the webpage, or email me at DawnFelagund AT gmail DOT com. And do check out what has been written so far! It's awesome!

May the muses smile upon you! :)

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