The Future of Slashy Santa: Same Exchange, New Dates!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Greetings, Writers!

Big news here at Slashy Santa HQ! In this [hopefully informative] update, we will be introducing a lot of new information:

• New Slashy Santa dates for 2008-2009
  
• New rules for the fic exchange
  
• An opportunity for *YOU* to create the new names for our exchanges
  
• Sign-up information for the upcoming Summer fic-fest.
  

Still with me? Good!

New Slashy Santa Dates for 2008-2009
After much consideration, the decision has been made to shift the Slashy Santa fic exchange away from the winter holiday season. Work, school, family, and travel obligations loom large for nearly everyone between the end of November and the New Year-- not to mention that multiple other fic exchange challenges, both within the LOTR fandom and beyond, run on a similar time frame... well, something had to give. We may have had a record number of participants this year, but we also had a record number of drop-outs, and it was no mean feat for Santa to make sure everyone had a gift last Christmas!

Henceforth, Slashy Santa will no longer be a winter holiday exchange, but rather a Valentine's Day exchange. It's mid-year counterpart will now occur in August so that we remain on a 6-month schedule.


New Rules for the Fic Exchange
I wish we didn't need 'em, but alas, we do. ALL of the old rules still apply. Hopefully, no one will find these new additions too restrictive.

• Only stories pairing Men, Elves, The Valar and/or Maiar (Wizards) will be accepted. No Dwarves, Hobbits, or Orcs except as supporting cast members. There just aren't enough willing writers to write romances involving hairy feet, beards, or creatures with cannibalistic tendencies.
  
  
• We WILL name names! If you default, your name will be put on a defaulter's list on the Slashy Santa website and/or LJ, and you will be banned from future exchanges. This, of course, is at the moderator's discretion. Obviously, emergencies arise, life happens, and extenuating circumstances will be dealt with as such: our intent is not to be cruel, but to remind participants that their commitment needs to be honored.
  
  
• People who agree to pinch-hit will be reminded that they should, unfortunately, be prepared to do so. Please do not agree to be a pinch-hitter if you cannot, in fact, pinch-hit.
  
  
• Manners are mandatory!! Just as you are required to turn in a finished, beta'd story, you are required to acknowledge the person who wrote for you in a timely fashion. If you're going to be out of town when the archive opens, consider making an LJ post to that effect, or alerting the moderator if you think it's going to be more than 3 or 4 days before you can get in touch with your writer. Even if you *hate* the story you are given-- and we certainly hope that's not the case!-- common courtesy dictates that you should at least say "Thank you for writing this for me." If you cannot gracefully thank the author who wrote for you, you may be asked to sit out the next round and contemplate the meaning of the word "Courtesy."
  

New Names for Our Exchanges
Since we'll now be opening our presents in February and August, "Slashy Santa" no longer seems quite appropriate. In a subsequent post, I will be soliciting your suggestions for new names which reflect the February/August or Valentine/Lammas seasons. Once suggestions have been collected, popular vote will determine the winners.


And last, but most definitely not least...
Sign-Up Information for our Summer Exchange!
It's coming up very soon, guys!! Mark your calendars!
Apr. 15- May 1: Sign-up period
May 15: Assignments delivered
July 24: Stories due
Aug. 7: Archive opens

Well, that's more than enough information for now. Hope all of you are as excited about (or relieved by) these new developments as the admin team is. We know a lot of you will miss the traditional Christmas smut, but we want *everyone* to be able to enjoy a more restful holiday season without one more deadline hanging over their heads... and like our motto says, 'tis ALWAYS the season for slash!!

Best wishes and high hopes for the upcoming summer slashing,
- Yr. humble admin.

Name That Smutfest!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

The Slashy Santa fic exchange needs a new name! (Why? you ask... Check out this entry for the news.)

It's up to YOU, dear readers and writers, to re-name our re-organized writing events. Our fic exchanges will now be held in February and August, so please put on your thinking caps and help us come up with a name that reflects these new times. Perhaps you've got a clever thought for a Valentine or Lupercalia name? Or are you thinking of our upcoming summer fic-fest-- Hot days, harvests, Lammas... it's all wide-open!! A play on words? A double entendre? A seasonal salute? A literary allusion? What sort of lusty, artistic, or heart-felt title would catch your fancy and inspire delicious works of slashy Tolkien goodness??

Here's how it works:

• 2 suggestions per participant. You can submit one for each season, or two for one season-- either way is fine!
  
• ANYONE can submit a name. You don't need to have been a Slashy Santa participant, past or present, to give us your input.
  
• Entries will be screened! Mystery is good!
  
• Entries will be accepted from April 2nd through April 6th (that's THIS Sunday, guys!)
  
• On April 7, a poll will be posted here in the Slashy Santa LJ and you will be able to vote for your favorite new names.
  
• On April 15, the day sign-ups for our Summer exchange begin, the new name-- along with the name of the winning namer-- will be announced. Excitement will ensue!
  

Feel free to pass this along to your friends and communities... the more, the merrier!