huinare | Entries tagged with fandom

I imagine most people this effects have seen the news already, but the Hennuth-Annun Story Archive will be closing at the end of this year.

I was not particularly active on HASA, but this is sad news nonetheless.

aliana1 is holding a public wake/appreciation post for HASA.

So I think I meant to try and solidify plans for this...well, quite a while ago...since it seemed there was some interest: I proposed the idea in January during the Fandom Snowflake Challenge (bit of discussion in comments).
Then I forgot about it.
So now I want to gauge again whether there's still interest. What better way to retain my tenuous grip on Tolkien-fic than by hosting a low-key challenge that generally fits my inclinations? =P

This pretty much sums it up:
- The theme would be anything that's overall dark/grim/horrific/sad, but it's up to you as an author to decide what fits. Mileage varies on what one considers dark (Melkor only knows I'd set the bar on that way too high--or low, if you will--if I tried to define what 'dark' is).
- No other rules, deadlines, contests, or anything of that sort; just a casual challenge that people may write for at any time during the month of June. I would host occasional update/discussion posts much like

aliana1 did for her 2013 Bechdel Test Challenge. That would be the extent of formalities.
- I'm still liking the name "Doom in June," but I googled it just now and it's also the name of some metal festival \m/. Anyone familiar with copyright thingies; could using the same name for a casual fannish writing thing potentially call an Issue down upon me or other participants?

Current Mood: devious

Day Fifteen

In your own space, create your own challenge. What’s something you want to see more people doing in fandom? Is there something fun you’ve tried that you think other people would enjoy if they gave it a go? Dare your friends to try it out, and have fun with it.

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Many have already challenged us all to review/comment more on others' work. This is a fine idea.

I'm not the type to suddenly issue a challenge, however, I will take this opportunity to throw out an idea which has occasionally surfaced in my brain: Would anyone be interested in a Tolkien darkfic/angst/horror/etc challenge at some point? I don't know what a proper name would be, but basically an "everything is bad and it all hurts" type thing.

~~Yeah I know I'm full of surprises and no one would ever have expected a query of that particular nature from me.~~

On that happy note, I hope everyone has enjoyed this lovely little challenge! =D

Current Mood: sick (yet again)

Day Twelve
In your own space, talk about what you think the future holds for fandom. What are your hopes and dreams for fandom? Do you have any predictions about what the next five years holds for fandom?

( The blurb that accompanied this prompt mentioned how the internet was a game changer in terms of fandom. Let's step this up technologically: what's the next "game changer?" )

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Day Thirteen
In your own space, talk about setting yourself a fannish goal. Big or small, it doesn't matter. Some great examples include: complete a bingo, sign-up for a Big Bang, write that fic you've been thinking about for years, podfic that story that you love, make a fanmix for your fandom, post that bit of meta or reclist you keep postponing. Maybe resolve to be better at leaving feedback, or answering comments.

Well, erm, seeing as how I barely wrote or read anything during 2013, my goal is just to write and read (+review) more. I actually do tend to review/comment on most of the stuff I read (at least in this particular venue where I know those whose stuff I'm reading). By which anyone who's seen my comments or dearth thereof can probably assess how little I read last year.

Day Ten
In your own space, create a list of at least three fannish things you'd love to receive, something you've wanted but were afraid to ask for - a fannish wish-list of sorts.

Day Eleven
Stretch yourself a little and try something new. Go play in a new fandom or with a new pairing or trope. Try creating a different kind of fanwork. Or check out some types of fanworks that are new to you.

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Day 10 (wishlist):

- Red Dragon: Dolarhyde and Reba. This is a pretty obscure one. Any links to fanworks of these two? I love the pairing, it's so creepy and sweet and ill-fated. Note: I don't gravitate toward sexually explicit material unless it's either really character-driven or really creepy (yes, you read that exactly right).

- Thuringwethil. Again, links to stuff or new stuff? Cough it up, people! =D I know more than one of you shares my fondness for Thuringwethil. See also note above.

- Crack!fic (or heck, serious fic if you could pull it off) based on my, er, fanwork for Day 11. Details below the cut.

Day 11 (new thing):

So I thought to myself: What is it in my main fandom (Tolkien) that I would never, ever draw? And then it hit me: A hobbit lass hugging a wee pony in a meadow, of course! The fact that this was done in 15 min at the bus stop in ink on lined paper emphasizes its technical incompetence (for I never draw equines nor children) appropriately.
( I am mortified. ETA - more so because I dated it 2013. I need to stop living in the past. )

Day Nine

In your own space, rec at least 3 fanworks you thought you wouldn't like (because they weren't your fandom or they pushed against your boundaries or you thought you just wouldn't be interested) but you ended up loving.

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"Thought I wouldn't like" is a bit strong (usually if I think I won't like something, I find that holds true...call me prescient or just stubborn).

So I'm altering this slightly to: fanworks I've loved and found very memorable and which are also not my typical fare for one reason or another.

- Chasing Mirages by Russandol. An intriguing novel focusing upon Mairon and Ëonwë in the second age. Explicit pairings are not typically my thing unless there is some seriously awesome character- and world-building also going on. Russa delivers on all counts.

- "The Revenger's Tragedy" by Linda Hoyland. A Haradric woman comes to Minas Tirith seeking revenge upon King Elessar. This is an Aragorn-centric and optimistic story (in terms of both characters and tone, I mostly go for darker stuff) with an engaging narrative.

- "Born Again" by Larner. Gandalf the Grey becomes Gandalf the White. I don't tend toward stories with overtly religious themes and happenstances--and, to be fair, I do recognize that yes, such stories would probably be more in keeping with the faith of the Professor himself--but this one was beautifully done.

Day Eight

In your own space, create a love meme for yourself. Let people tell you how amazing and awesome and loveable you really are.

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NOPE.

I will do this, but understand that it's out of sheer hubristic pride + OCD-driven desire to do each prompt in this challenge, and that I neither require nor expect nor even necessarily desire answers.

I do, however, require a certain fill-in-the-blank format, which is detailed as follows (that is, leave three words/short phrases):

Huin, I will never forget that time when _________. I am always vaguely uneasy that you will someday ascend to ________. Never stop __________.

Current Mood: annoyed

Day Seven
In your own space, create a fanwork. A drabble, a ficlet, a podfic, or an icon, art or meta or a rec list. A picspam. Something.

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I intended, for this, to write a story inspired a couple months ago by a song and living in my head since. That isn't what happened, as usual. Instead I drew Mairon as I imagine him in the as-yet-unwritten story. As might be expected, he doesn't have the most socially acceptable reasons for looking vaguely smug and contemplative.

Day Four

Comment to someone you haven't ever interacted with before or introduce yourself to someone you've interacted with and friend/follow them. Afterwards, leave a comment in this post with the equivalent of "I did it!"

Day Five
In your own space, talk about a creator. Show us why you think they are amazing.

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I'm counting Day Four done, as I'd inadvertently filled the prompt a couple times very shortly before it went live.

Day Five:
Gwenniel sprang first to mind, as I was recently checking deviantArt (which I don't do frequently enough) and found both art and writing by her that I really enjoyed. Gwen posts a lot of Tolkien--mainly Silmarillion--as well as Naruto (which I cannot claim any knowledge of). Her writing is insightful, and she has a distinctive art style with great use of soft colors and shadow. She writes/draws a lot of Elves, but, being what I am, I'm choosing something else to recommend:
Story: "Of Eru and Melkor" (philosophical and not-quite-rosy view of the nature of Eru)
Art: Thuringwethil. I love this character design!

Day Three

In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you did not create. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. See if you can rec fanworks that are less likely to be praised: tiny fandoms, rare pairings, fanworks other than stories, lesser-known kinks or tropes. Find fanworks that have few to no comments, or creators new to a particular fandom who maybe aren't well known or appreciated. Appreciate them.

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It's difficult to even know where to start, as I hardly suppose I need to disclaim. Eventually I decided to go with a theme to make choosing easier. Or rather, a character: Melkor!

- Melkor by Lindowyn. I appreciate this photomanip because Melkor looks scary (very, very similar to how I picture him) instead of like an attractive princeling. He also looks very broody (which is also how I imagine his character).

- "Strange Fire" by Dwimordene. A drabble series describing Melkor's sojourn in the south and interactions with the ancestral Haradrim. It has a very creepy-yet-sublime tone which I absolutely love. I am a total fangirl of Dwim's works about the Valar.

- "War of Wrath" by Belegur. "Melkor's capture and execution." Short and effective. I really enjoy Belegur's take on Melkor.

Day Two

In your own space, promote three communities, challenges, blogs, pages, Twitters, Tumblrs or platforms and explain why you love them. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

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- http://lauren-draws-things.tumblr.com/ Lauren frequently posts clever and diverting Tolkien cartoons under the tag "I'm Sorry Mr. Tolkien." Observe at right. --->

- http://b2mem.livejournal.com/ Back to Middle-earth Month, an annual month-long March event encouraging Tolkien fans to create and comment on new fanworks. The format is different each year. 2012's Bingo game was an overwhelming (almost overbearing, really) success which has remained with us to this day in both fame and infamy.

- http://saurongorthaur.blogspot.com/ This may be going against the purpose of promoting community, as this project is no longer active, but I wanted to share something that brought me hours of entertainment back in the day. I happened upon "Sauron's Blog," a cracked-out series of purported diary entries written by the maintainer of Periannath.com, sometime in 2007 which is right when the seeds of my 'verse were sprouting in my mind. Frankly I have to wonder how much subconscious influence this had on me. The earliest entries are more succint and pure gold.

#7: Eru's Big Joke

Date: Before the Beginning of Time
My Mood Is: grousing

[...] Great joke, Eru. You're a real peach. Show me something that finally gives meaning to my otherwise pointless existence, and then just take it away.

[I was a bit late in deciding to do this, so another one might pop up later today (officially Day 2). I'm having a hard time seeing "Snowflake Challenge" without thinking of trolls who like to call anyone who disagrees with them a "special snowflake," but I suppose I'll get over it.]

Day One

In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

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- "Saruman's Housewarming Party"
Drabble series written in Sep-Oct, 2011, for the Tolkien_weekly LJ community's "Facial Expressions" challenge. Featuring Gandalf, Radagast, an avian OC, and a disgruntled (?) Saruman. This is notable for: being the first fic I posted online and completed; wizards, esp. Saruman, which are one group of characters I'm known (in the event that I'm known at all) for; generally establishing the semi-humorous tone I tend to use when I'm writing about the Istari interacting with each other.

- Of Draugluin

Begun during the same era as the above in an attempt to write a short story (at the time, aside from those drabbles, I'd only ever written novels). Obviously that did not go as planned and it is still in progress...I swear I'll update it eventually!

In my 'verse, the being called Draugluin was originally a Maia. The tale chronicles how he ended up in his wolfish situation and what followed. Mairon does a lot of upstaging; Ancalagon and, er, someone who goes on to become one of the Ithryn Luin, put in significant appearances. Fairly dark, but the worst of the content warnings only apply to one specific chapter.

This is notable for: being the first fic I posted any of online; establishing a good deal of what occurs in my 'verse during the Years of the Trees; being my most typical work in terms of narration, mood, themes, devices, etc; the characters associated with Utumno and Angband, which are the other group I'm known (in the event that I'm known at all) for.

- "Finduileorn Sundered!"

Short crack!fic written for Back to Middle-earth Month 2012, a time of much wondrous insanity, in response to a particular prompt on the "crack!pairings" bingo card. This spoofs a gossip magazine article, speculating about the breakup of...well, I'll leave that up to you to infer from the title, or to discover by reading. This is notable for: placing first in the "Favorite Crack!fic" category in the Many Paths to Tread archive's 2012 Tree and Flower Awards.