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!

[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.

[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.

[chaotic-binky.livejournal.com]

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

Hugs Binky xxxx

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.

[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**

[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*

[erviniae.livejournal.com]

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

[aglarien1.livejournal.com]

Huzzah! for all the new rules and timing!!

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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!

[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