Completed: 2008 Winter Festival
Hosted by Little Balrog

Stories and Art Are Available!

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The 2008 Winter Festival is now over.  Please come back next fall to take part in the 2009 Winter Festival.  In the meantime, there's always Screw Yule...

 

What is the Winter Festival?

It is a three-part festival: firstly, it is a trading of drabbles between writers; secondly, it is a writing of fanfics by those who seek a challenge; and thirdly, it is a display of winter themed art.  In the participant section, there is also a place to show off winter and holiday themed stories and art from years past.

It is a combination of the Dream Elf Stocking Stuffer Het Swap and the LOTR All Slash Christmas Swap, with the added elements of the challenges.  (Meaning neither the Dream Elf nor LOTR All Slash swaps will take place, as the swap here combines those).  Screw Yule will still take place at Little Balrog in January.

Do I need to be a member of Little Balrog to participate?

No, silly, Little Balrog's not just a yahoo group, it's a whole big ol' site now (and already a year old to boot!) You just need to sign up through this site and you can come and play (though, we'd love it if you did join us in the gutter).

How does the Drabble Trade work?

Each participant fills out the request form.  Once all forms have been received (the deadline to sign up for the trade is Sunday, September 14th, 2008), each participant will be assigned to write at least three drabbles (between 100 and 2000 words each... we are being flexible on the 'drabble' definition) for the person they have been given.  Participants will know who they are writing for, but they will not know who is writing for them, until the release date (Wednesday, December 24th, 2008).  All Drabble Trade stories MUST be in by Friday, December 19th!  This is so that everything can be formatted for the site in time for the release.

How does the Winter Writing Challenge work?

For those who are interested in writing a longer piece, or want to do something in addition to the Drabble Trade, the Winter Writing Challenge does not have a length limit.  It also does not add the pressure of writing for someone else, meaning, if something comes up and the participant cannot finish the Winter Writing Challenge, no one will lose out on not getting a story, as would happen with the Drabble Trade. The deadline for stories is Friday, December 19th, 2008.  Winter Writing Challenge stories, unlike the drabbles, will NOT be posted ahead of time and will all be released on Wednesday, December 24th, 2008.

How does the Winter Art Challenge work?

For those who are interested in creating a piece of art, the Winter Art Challenge is for you.  It also does not add the pressure of creating something for someone else, meaning, if something comes up and the participant cannot finish the Winter Art Challenge, no one will lose out on not getting something, as would happen with the Drabble Trade.The deadline for art is Friday, December 19th, 2008.  Winter Art Challenge pieces, unlike the drabbles, will NOT be posted ahead of time and will all be released on Wednesday, December 24th, 2008.

I want some het stories, and some slash stories, and some gen stories! 

When you register, you can specify that you would be willing to accept any of the above, and get a mixed group from the person writing for you.

Can I register more than once?

You can.  It does mean that you will have to write for more than one person -- of course, then you'll get more presents under the tree.  It depends on whether or not you think you can handle the double or triple load.  You will need to fill out the survey part for the trade (completely) for each, and include everything in the same email.  If you have questions, please send them before sending in your survey.

Important Dates

All participants in the Drabble Trade must register by Sunday, September 14, 2008.  This is nearly a month earlier than the previous registration, in order to alleviate the need for extensions. You will receive your assignment by Wednesday, September 17, 2008.  If you drop out of the Drabble Trade, you will end up on the naughty list.

All participants in the Winter Writing Challenge must register by Friday, December 5, 2008.  The earlier you register, the more time you will have to work on your story.  If you drop out of the challenge, you will not end up on the naughty list.

All participants in the Winter Art Challenge must register by Friday, December 5, 2008.  The earlier you register, the more time you will have to work on your art.   If you drop out of the challenge, you will not end up on the naughty list.

All entries are due in by Friday, December 19th, 2008!  Entries may be turned in sooner than the last day, and it is encouraged that you don't wait until the last minute to send your entry due to technical errors that may occur.  Entries will be available for viewing by Wednesday, December 24, 2008.  Stories and art may not be released to other archives, lists, or anywhere else online until December 25, 2008. 

All stories and art must be new works, that is, this can't be a work you already started prior to getting your assignment.

For more information, click on the rules tab to the right.  Read all of the rules before you sign up!  To register as an author or artist, select the sign up tab.