Fandom Snowflake Day 15

[narya_flame]

Challenge #15

In your own space, create your own challenge. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

Get warm and dry again after surviving today's apocalyptic deluge in Edinburgh.

No?

OK, on Day 6 I wished for an event for the smaller Tolkien canons (i.e. not Hobbit, LOTR, Silm/HoME), and...if you want the thing, make the thing, right?  I'm thinking along the lines of a low-commitment fic and art swap, but there are a few things giving me pause:

1) I don't see a logical space in the Tolkien fandom calendar for it.

2) I already co-mod a pretty big fandom event in the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang, which consumes my fannish life from May to September (and I wouldn't have it any other way, I love that event and I'm so proud of it).

3) Is there even any demand for an event like this or am I paddling the canoe on my own?  I know that the small canons can be requested in a lot of events, Tolkien and multi-fandom, but it's rare to match on them even in Tolkien-only events.

Thoughts, Tolkien friends?  If enough people are interested and I can see a way to make this happen in a fairly low-effort, low-stress manner, I might be willing to take it on.

Comments

[bunn]

If Innumerable Stars ends up not running this year, the chances of matching on the obscurer minor works would be even lower. I'd be interested in helping you paddle. I don't think amyfortuna has come to a final conclusion on IS yet though.

[narya_flame]

Glad to know I have a potential fellow paddler, at least! 😊

[muccamukk]

I don't know if this is helpful, but I'm in a rarepair fest with another five people, and it's going pretty well. As long as you have enough to do matching, it doesn't really matter if it's teeny.

[narya_flame]

That actually is helpful to know. Thank you!

[keiliss]

It doesn't need to be big to be successful and there's nothing quite like a special space for people who can't find the right fit elsewhere. I'm more mainstream Tolkien but I'd certainly promote something like this and I'm sure there's a place for it.

[narya_flame]

Thank you, Kei <3

[independence1776]

There's also the ability to run a prompt fest on AO3, which might be even more low pressure from a mod standpoint. ETA: But also no guarantee anyone will create anything.

[narya_flame]

That's true, I didn't think of that - although I seem to remember characters without canonical tags can cause a problem in prompt fests? Ah well, something to look into!

[grundyscribbling]

Not my canoe, but I'll happily help you launch it. (Meaning I will signal boost the heck out of your event should you decide to run it.)

As far as the calendar, my two cents would be 'just pick a time'. (Obviously if you're modding the event, it should be a time that works for you, so not during TRSB!) There's just about always something going on anymore, from all the _______ Week events to bigger stuff like TRSB, B2MEM, etc. People who want to do it will make time for it, even if that means they'll have to prioritize.

[narya_flame]

Thanks Grundy - and that's true re timing...I did wonder about November/December, there does seem to be something about the holidays...

[hhimring]

Well, given that this canon includes the Father Christmas Letters, there is a time that would suggest itself!
But of course plenty of other things are going on at Christmas already.

I see Indy has mentioned the possibility of alternative formats. Personally, I'd be more likely to participate if the format wasn't a swap, but I know I'm untypical in this.

[narya_flame]

Prompt fests seem like a popular option, plus it negates the need for matching (less hassle!) - and you have an excellent point re timing...

[keiliss]

^ this!

People can get an amazing amount of writing out for December challenges. Something about the time of year.... If you're not aiming for a 25k Big Bang, I doubt it'd be a problem.

[narya_flame]

Yes, people do seem to write a lot around that time, it's true...I might look into running a wintry prompt fest rather than a swap, in that case! 25k bangs would be a bit extreme for this, I think 😂

[spikedluv]

Good luck making this happen!

[narya_flame]

Thank you!