Sunday, July 29, 2007

Announcement for July 29-August 4

No members have requested birhtday drabbles for this week. But: August babies, the thread for you to request a birthday drabble is up! If you'd like people to write you a 100-word story on a topic of your choosing, hurry on over to the HASA Birthday Cards Forum.

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This Week's Focus: "Quickie" Challenge.

A while back, HASA had something called the "on-list challenge." Some of you may remember them; basically they are like normal challenges, only they have shorter time limits and are intended to be answerable in a shorter number of words.

So, in that finest tradition of nuzgul-flinging, HASA will be having these challenges from time to time. And this week is one of those times. >:-E

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HIDE AND SEEK

Middle-earth is full of stories of capture and escape. Sometimes they are seeking a lost relic or heirloom, or a bit of lore. (The Feanorians' quest for the silmarils, anyone? Or Boromir's search for Rivendell's location?) Other times, the story lies with the people trying to escape capture, or keep some relic safe. Much of Frodo's and Sam's story in The Lord of the Rings is about this type of escape.

Your challenge is to write a story, drabble, or poem, about a character trying to find something or someone (or keep it hidden). The thing in question can be an actual object or person, or it can be a secret that some characters might want to expose. You can write a drabble, poem, or story, up to 1,000 words.
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Enter your answers to this challenge in the Hide and Seek Challenge, and be sure to tell us about your story at the Prospective Challenges forum.

CHALLENGE ENDS: August 6.

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Happy writing, and see you all next week!

Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email melayton@gmail.com.

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

As many of you know, I make announcements about HASA not just at this blog but at a LiveJournal blog: HASALJ. While basic LJ accounts are free, there are some nice features you get with a paid account. Some anonymous donor recently bought a year's worth of paid subscription for the HASA LJ blog.

Thank you, anonymous! And thank you, everyone who has given to HASA over the years. Even if you haven't donated financially, if you're reading this post, odds are you have given HASA your time and creative energies.

*blows kisses* Thanks for all your support!

Marta
(HASA Reporter)

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Announcements for July 22-28

The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

VILWARIN (b-day: July 25) requested "Aragorn in a state of emotion. Preferably with halbarad in their earlier years, but I'm open for others as well. Rating can be anything, and I'd read het as well as slash."

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This week's focus: FORUMS

One of the best ways to get involved at HASA is through our forums. People are discussing research questions and stories as well as having fannish squees regularly there.

Some useful forum links (you must be logged in for all of these):

http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/forums/index.cfm
"On Our Minds" displays the ten most recent posts in forums open to all HASA members. It's a good way to catch up on what you've missed, though the page can move quickly when lots of forums are active at once.

http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/forums/latest.cfm
If you've been out of touch for longer than a few days you might want to use the "One Month of Posts" page. This page has just what it sounds like: a list of forums that have been posted to in the last month, beginning with the most recently updated.

http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/workshop/workshop_list.cfm
Workshops are specialized writing communities. They allow you to share stories you aren't ready to post to the whole site, and many have interesting forums attached to them. Explore workshops to find a group of members interested in similar topics.

Now, here are some of the most recently-updated threads in HASA forum. Don't be shy. If any interest you, why not jump in?

Allee's Fics
Subject: To Dwell Among Strangers

HASA Birthday Cards Forum
Subject: July 2007 Birthdays

MEFA – The Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards
Subject: Final List of Hard-to-Reach Authors: Urgent

Elena Tiriel – Star Gazings
Subject: Fell and Fair Drabble Series (Current)

Here's hoping this week finds you having many interesting discussion about all things Tolkien. Because, really, you were trying to cut back on sleep anyway, right?

Until next time,
Marta

PS- Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email melayton@gmail.com.

Monday, July 16, 2007

New Stories at HASA

*waves* My name is Marta and I am a new HASA volunteer who will be posting here about areas of the site that have been recently updated. Every week I will focus on a new area of the site. I hope you will find this useful.

---Announcement for the Week July 15 to July 22.---

The following members have birthday this week. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Cheryl (Bday: July 18) requested: "I would be very appreciative (and I'm sure quite a number of kindred spirits out there *ahem eruwestial... dawn... arandil...ahem*) if someone would write me a drabble entitled 'WET ELVES'. Any genre, rating, etc is fine. Mwaheheh. 'Twould be a truly capital birthday gift indeed."

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This week's focus: RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES

All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is

Gimcrackery by Nienna --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=1178

Gimcrack' is a rather odd word, isn't it? Ever wonder how it came to be? Probably not. Well, for those of you who have, here is the explanation...

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?

Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories --- http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/story_reviewed.cfm

Hands of the King by Anglachel --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=1073

Finduilas of Dol Amroth married Denethor, future Lord Steward of Gondor, for some very specific reasons. A different take on their marriage. (Rating: Adult)

Measures of Time by Raksha the Demon --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=7044

The passage of time is a dance in which all mortals move at different paces; but the Princess of Ithilien rages against the changing rhythm. (Rating: General)

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General Stories --- http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/story_general.cfm

A New Day by Oshun --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=6757

After Thangorodrim, Fingon and Maedhros resolve to heal the divisions among the Noldor. Slash. (Rating: Adult)

"Journeys" by Aria --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=7026

One of our favourite minstrels goes wandering in the south during the Fourth Age, and finds something strangely familiar. A story of hope unlooked for. (Rating: General)

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Beta Stories --- http://www.henneth-annun.net/stories/story_beta.cfm

(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

"The Tenant From Stradle" by Larner --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=6419

When Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee were ennobled on the Field of Cormallen, Gondor and Arnor granted them lands held in the King's name for their maintenance in keeping with the customs of the lands. And now a farmer formerly from Staddle learns he must have permission from the Lord Iorhael in order to remain where he has begun excavating a new smial and setting up a farm for himself and his family. (Rating: General)

"The Pillar Perished Is" by Imhiriel --- http://henneth-annun.net/stories/chapter.cfm?stid=7027

On the passage to Middle-earth, Fëanor’s thoughts are no less turbulent than the Sea. (Rating: General)

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And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Of the Finding of the Silmaril --- http://henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/challenge_detail.cfm?NGID=56

What might happen if Maglor's Silmaril was found? During the Ring War, after the Ring War, during human history, in modern times? Who might want it, what might they do with it, how might it change the course of history?

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch @ http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/nuzgul.cfm.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the "Submit a Story Suggestion" form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/suggest.cfm.

Happy reviewing!

Marta

Sunday, July 1, 2007

July 2007 Challenge Bulletin

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

Birthdays!

Post your request at the Birthday Cards Forum

July 2 - TariElfLady would like a birthday drabble or ficlet about Legolas, Glorfindel, the twins or any other of the Elves from the First Age on.

July 12 - Marta has become very interested in the politics of Gondor. So I would love a story about any "ruling family" in Gondor's or Dol Amroth's history, where they have to make a decision where there were larger political concerns in addition to what they might have wanted to do. I would love any moment in Gondor's history, starting with the Faithful settling it in the Second Age up through Faramir's and Aragorn's families in the Fourth Age. Though if you write Denethor as an unloving or especially as an abusive father I just may have to release the hounds. I would especially love at least one Kinstrife-era piece if anyone is so inspired to take on that family feud.

July 25 - Vilwarin desires something with Aragorn in a state of emotion. Preferably with Halbarad in their earlier years, but I'm open for others as well. Rating can be anything, and I'd read het as well as slash.

Also, don't forget to create a story for the birthday card workshop. This lets others put drabbles they write in an easily accessible location. Enter your story in the challenge for JULY drabbles. All birthday stories will also now be listed in a master playlist. Gandalfs apprentice will enter all stories into the playlist, which will be available for public viewing. (There are instructions on how to do all this at the top of each thread in the Birthday Cards Forum; if you need help just ask the Workshop Manager, Gwynnyd.) Any questions, contact Gandalfs Apprentice at:

gandalfs_apprentice(at)comcast(dot)net

If you aren't at your usual computer, you can send GA an email through HASA, too.

New Challenges

One for the One Ring to rule them all

  • Celebrating HASA's fifth birthday
    On July 1 HASA celebrates its fifth anniversary/birthday.

    To honor our site and the folks who make it so special, how about writing a drabble, poem, ficlet--or for that matter, drawing a picture--featuring the number 5, wood (for the fifth wedding anniversary), and/or a red gem (the July birthstone--Narya, anyone)? Pick one, two, or, for the adventurous, all three: five, wood, red gem.

    Post your contributions in this special thread AND in your own story. I will be making a playlist where they will be grouped together.

    The challenge closes on July 31.

Open Challenges

Three for the kingdoms in old Arnor (Arthedain, Cardolan, Rhudaur)

  1. Seven Deadly Sins
    Closes July 10 2007
    Write seven pieces of fiction, one for each of the Seven Deadly Sins
    • Envy
    • Wrath
    • Lust
    • Sloth
    • Gluttony
    • Pride
    • Greed
    Pick 1-3 characters or pairings of your choice, and include the same characters in all seven pieces.

  2. When Brothers Are Not So Close
    Closes September 1, 2007
    There are four options:
    1. Write the brothers as cool or distant
    2. An argument that needs to be resolved
    3. An AU with an outside force separating the brothers and how it might effect canon
    4. Explore the relationship outside of canon.
    You could include cousins or other people who share a brotherly bond.

  3. New Members 2006 - 2007
    Closes October 29, 2007
    This is a challenge for new members. By definition, a new member is any member who has been a member for fewer than four months or who, at the time of reading this, has written three (3) or fewer Tolkien fanfics.
    Choose one of the following - there are choices from any Age, from "The Hobbit," from "Lord of the Rings," from "The Silmarillion", from "Unfinished Tales", and three choices from the Peter Jackson "Lord of the Rings" - movies.

Keep a New Year's Resolution

HASA Challenges Team