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.

Comments

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

Yay for naming of names! As someone who got shafted 2 years in a row, I applaud that. I'm very happy that a pinch hitter graciously agreed to write me a story this year, as opposed to last year, when I got nada.

I'm excited about writing and glad for the time-shifts. Well done!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Glad you're psyched! Change isn't always easy-- and not always welcome-- but hopefully these changes will be for the best!

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I think Valentine's Day is great. I have trouble writing to prompts, I also am an Olympic-class procrastinator and suffer from chronic writer's block, yet I've managed to finish my stories because of the obligation. So I am not put off by the proposed measures to solve the problem of people agreeing to write stories and not doing it. Perhaps there should be a method of encouraging writers, if they sense there is big trouble ahead, to notify the administration as early as possible and get a replacement earlier.

It occurred to me also that, although I have never volunteered to be a pinchhitter because I have trouble enough finishing my own, if someone began a story and absolutely could not finish it, that I might (a very qualified might) be willing to take an unfinished draft, re-cast it to suit my taste/inclination, and finish it.

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

We'll definitely make every effort to work with writers who find themselves flailing. It's been our experience that the ones who come to us and say "Help! I'm stuck!" are the ones who take advantage of extensions when they are offered and make good on their participation... it's the ones who sign up and then disappear completely until the day stories are due and say "Oh yeah-- I won't have a story for you. Ooops." that we're trying to combat. None of these measures are meant to be punitive for people who are making a good-faith effort. Tough love! :D

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you're going to name and shame in future, and the mention of manners was very welcome.

I know we're few in number, but for some of us August has no connection to summer or Lammas, it's the end of winter - I hope the name will take that into account?

Jan/Feb is the busiest time of my year, plus I struggle to write in winter, so I'm reluctant to commit to an August swap, but I see your problem, and perhaps it will work out well for the northern hemisphere.

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Well, "Santa" isn't exactly an inclusive concept when you get right down to it, but no one batted an an eye over it. Ultimately, it's just a name, and really shouldn't be considered a means of excluding anyone's personal beliefs or geographic location.

"August LOTR Fic Exchange" is, while descriptive, utterly uninspiring. Please, please, please feel free to submit any non-seasonal, non-holiday-related names you can think of... The naming will be done by popular vote, so the best way to make your concern heard is to throw your proverbial hat into the ring.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I'd guess 'Slashy Santa' wasn't a problem because, whether we celebrate it or not, Christmas happens at the same time all over the world? The same can't be said for summer *g*. As for it being 'just a word'... I think the point I was trying to make is that something called the Summer Heat Fic Swap (god, that's awful) would seem beyond strange to me in darkest July.

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

I like the bit about manners and naming names. No idea about a new name though.

Hugs Binky xxxx

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

No idea about a new name though.

You sure about that? There's still time! :D

Firmly sticks tongue in cheek

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

While we're at it, it's also good form for authors to reply to the notes of thanks and other feedback with a nice 'thank you'.

I realise that some comments may seem odd or even like back handed compliments but the important thing is to remember that someone took the time to read your fic AND comment and no one is perfect. In these cases, I find that getting my head out of my ass dramatically improves my perspective - I recommend it.

Re: Firmly sticks tongue in cheek

[minuial_nuwing]

What she said, even without the tongue. **snort**

Re: Firmly sticks tongue in cheek

[talullahred.livejournal.com]

lol - it does make speach a little difficult... ;)

Re: Firmly sticks tongue in cheek

[jaiden-s.livejournal.com]

Sometimes, though, folks like the view of their own rectums. ;) It's nice and warm and dark up in there.

Re: Firmly sticks tongue in cheek

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

While we're at it, it's also good form for authors to reply to the notes of thanks and other feedback with a nice 'thank you'.


Absolutely! Duly noted!

[minuial_nuwing]

I am all for a Wall of Shame, and also for using it at the mod's discretion. Life really does happen, and I realize that there are circumstances which can truly prevent someone from fulfilling their obligation. There are also people with no sense of responsibility, and they all seem to sign up for Slashy Santa! Good call on the courtesy, too.

I am completely without inspiration, name-wise.

**hugs**

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

There are also people with no sense of responsibility, and they all seem to sign up for Slashy Santa!

Alas, yes. And those are the people who will end up wearing the Scarlet Letter (and by that, I am not referring to some steamy missive between Legolas and Elrohir!). Our intent is not to penalize those who have been sideswiped by circumstance, but those who sign up, refuse to respond to admin emails, and then suddenly reappear frantically at 11pm the night the stories are due.

[phytha.livejournal.com]

As much as I'll miss my x-mas presents, you're right, there are quite a lot of swaps in Decamber, and nothing at all in summer.

I agree with you in everything you wrote about courtesy. I've never found anything but understanding and help whenever I had to ask for some more days to get my fic ready and I honestly can't find words for people dropping out without notice. Not only for the recipients of a story, but also for writers (at least for me) who make up their minds to write a fic the recipient will like. It happened to me a couple of times, and as much I love to write, it left a shallow taste in my mouth.(sorry for my rambling, but I just had to mention it, forgive me?)*hugs*

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

There is at least one LOTR fic exchange that will be happening during the Xmas season, and there may soon be another-- you certainly won't lack opportunities there!

And it's the unfortunate experiences like yours that have forced us to take a stronger stance with drop-outs-- we don't want anyone left in the lurch!

[erviniae.livejournal.com]

How about the Semianual Slashy Fest-a-thon? :P

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

You do realize that I am totally adding this to the list of possible names, right? :D

[(Anonymous)]

oh noes!!!!LOL

[erviniae.livejournal.com]

Oh noes! LOL

[aglarien1.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! for all the new rules and timing!!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

*relief!*

I was a bit afraid I'd be lynched, to tell you the truth.

[wdnsdyschld.livejournal.com]

I agree with the majority of the new stuff, but am saddened that the list of acceptable pairings has to be shortened, although I do understand why the decision was made. I enjoyed participating in the last three and have met some lovely people in the process.

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

We knew it would disappoint a couple of you, but unfortunately, there only were a couple of people who wanted anything other than Elves, Men and Valar, and with every exchange, it grew more and more difficult to find people who were willing to write Hobbits and Dwarves. caras_galadhon runs a holiday fic exchange which I believe is still open to all races...It's certainly worth investigating!

[ennorwen.livejournal.com]

Oh Captain, My Captain! I'm with you all the way on these changes. Especially the naming of names. I know how difficult it is to put all of this together - and to have drop-outs with no consequences always seemed strange to me.

I'm also grateful for the date changes. Christmas time (though wonderful to give and receive a "gift" then) was always difficult - not so much in the writing, but in the reading and giving every story the full attention it deserved. (It also enables me, perhaps, to play at Yuletide!)

And I loved what you said about feedback and especially to one's writer. I never understood that - not responding to someone who has given you a gift of their heart and soul (writing is NOT easy!) -

Hmmm. Names. Alliteration for August may be a little difficult. But February? How 'bout Fucked In February? Um, no. Okay. Going back to the drawing board on that one.

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Hmmm. Names. Alliteration for August may be a little difficult. But February? How 'bout Fucked In February? Um, no. Okay. Going back to the drawing board on that one.

Heeee! We're not getting to many takers on the name challenge-- if you're not careful, I just might throw that one it! ;D

[koulagirl666.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately I think I'll have to sit the August round out as the writing period is smack bang over midyear exams.
I hope it goes well for everyone who does participate.

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry to hear that-- you've been one of our superstars! But alas, needs must when the devil drives, as they say... I hope you'll join us again for the February event!

[koulagirl666.livejournal.com]

Aw shucks.

If I knew when my exams actually were I could sign up as I might have a week or so of holidays, but I wouldn't want to sign up and then not have enough time to write something decent. I will be able to do pinch-hits after the writing deadline, but of course I won't be needed. Right?

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Because there there will be no drop-outs this time! (er... wishful thinking.)

[koulagirl666.livejournal.com]

Well, if someone does do the unthinkable you know where I am...

[ex-fimbreth.livejournal.com]

I am all over this like cheap on suit. The end of the year has always been the worst time for me. As always, I'm your gal if you need support in any way!

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

You better believe I will be taking you up on that.

[red-lasbelin.livejournal.com]

I can see why this was changed, but it was The major fandom christmas swap in the slash part of fandom - all the rest were much smaller or pairing specific.

The seasonal spirit will be missing as well. Not entirely sure how this will work as those are some of the quietest times in the fandom? People generally are off doing RL things.

I'm aware there's a large majority of American people in this fandom, I myself being one of them, but it is multinational and I think making notes about the possible seasonal differences and generally being aware of that would be courteous to the other people involved?

Red

[kenazfiction.livejournal.com]

LOTR_SESA (http://community.livejournal.com/lotr_sesa/profile) has been running for a few seasons now, and I believe Zhie is planning on resurrecting her winter exchange as well, so there are two options for you right there which will be loaded with seasonal spirit.

Considering the number of complaints-- or, perhaps more appropriately stated, frazzled and stressed-out emails-- I received wherein people were desperately trying to juggle the real-life obligations of the winter season with writing their Slashy Santa fics (and in many cases, trying to write for other winter fic exchanges as well), as well as then number of comments and private emails I have received in the last week since these changes have been announced, the general (and not strictly American) consensus has been that they are relieved that the dates have been shifted.

I am really not understanding how I'm being discourteous to the non-American contingent of fandom by making a schedule change. Can you elaborate on that, please? If it's a question of the exchange name being to Northern Hemisphere season-centric, than by all means please help us think of alternatives. The naming "contest" (such as it is) is open to one and all, and the voting will also be open to everyone.