HASA news - Donations, Birthdays, Stories

Story Pledge Challenge and donations

There have been 9 entries in the Sun, Shadow and Smaug challenge. We have two pledges for $5 per story, with a maximum of $70 for one pledge and $75 for the other. With 9 entries, this gives us a pledge total of $90 for the challenge.

Challenge entries will appear on the HASA home page for the next two weeks and pledges will continue to be accepted through that time. List your pledge in the pledges thread.

As of yesterday, Sunday, February 2, HASA has received $55 in regular donations for January, and has an outstanding hosting balance of $775. This includes the cost for January 2014.

As you know, HASA depends on donations from members and readers, both one-time gifts and subscriptions. Our PayPal account has three ways to donate:

• Monthly subscriptions - set up a monthly recurring donation in amounts from $5 to $25 dollars.
• Yearly subscriptions - set up a recurring annual donation in amounts from $15 to $50 dollars.
• One-off donations of any amount.

If you're a little short on spare change at the moment, donations of time are always appreciated. There's an archive full of stories just waiting for comments, authors who would love an email complimenting them on their work, challenges that need entries, playlists that need to be created, research that needs doing and forums begging for discussions.

February Birthdays
Is your birthday in February, and would you like a drabble about your favourite character or topic? You can request it here.

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at some stories written for previous requests.

January Stories
All 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 you read is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA highlights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. Read the currently featured story on our front page.

Many talented writers are publishing every day. In January:

---34 General Stories were published or updated.
---no Beta Stories were updated.
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view beta stories.)

Thank you for reading and writing at HASA. Enjoy!

HASA news - Birthdays, Challenges, Stories

Story Pledge Challenge
Why not take part in the January 2014 Story Pledge Challenge? Join in the fun: write a story or put up a pledge, or perhaps even both.

Following the course of the second Hobbit movie, the theme for this year is Sun, Shadow and Smaug. Bilbo journeys from the sunny slopes of the Misty Mountains into the deep shadows of Mirkwood, emerging from them to continue to the desolation of the Dragon. Gone are the certainties of the civilized Shire, evil lurks beneath the branches of the trees, and every step brings him closer to Smaug...
The Challenge: Write a story that is connected in some way with The Hobbit - the book or the movies - and that uses one or more of the three themes of the challenge - sun, shadow, Smaug - and post it on HASA. It can be anything you like as long as it ties in to something that happens or is mentioned or must have occurred given the events of the book or the movie. Of course there are some rules to the Challenge.

For authors:

• Your story must be a new story, never having appeared for the general public on any other web site
• Your story must be 500 words or more in length (combining drabbles is fine, length allowances made for poetry)
• Your story is posted exclusively to HASA in January while the Challenge runs

For those readers who want to pledge a donation:

• The pledge is per completed story posted to the Challenge - you can't specify that you'll only donate for an Elf story or one with Gollum in it, for example.
• A minimum of $1.00 per story
• No minimum on the total amount you're willing to pledge

Enter a story in the Challenge here.

The Story Pledge Challenge in the Forums: General discussion

Keep an eye out for the Entries and Pledges forums!

January Birthdays
Is your birthday in January, and would you like a drabble about your favourite character or topic? You can request it here.

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at some stories written for previous requests.

December Stories
All 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 you read is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA highlights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. Read the currently featured story on our front page.

Many talented writers are publishing every day. In December:

---15 General Stories were published or updated.
---no Beta Stories were updated.
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view beta stories.)

Thank you for reading at HASA. Enjoy!

HASA News - Challenges

In this week’s news: Birthdays and Challenges

Birthday Cards

January Birthday babies, there is still some days to go in the January Birthday Cards, so there's still time to write or request a drabble!

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at some older stories written as birthday cards.

January Story Pledge Challenge

The Story Pledge Challenge is still open! Find out more, enter the Challenge or pledge an amount to donate, and if you do, post to the Forum to tell people about it.

Don't forget: any The Hobbit-related story that you have posted at HASA this month can be entered. All we ask is that you don't post it anywhere else until February. Enter the Challenge and help keep HASA going.

Nuzgûl of the Month

Keep an eye out for the February Nuzgûl next weekend!

 

Thank you for reading at HASA. Have fun!

HASA News January 2013

Hobbit Story Pledge Challenge

The Hobbit Story Pledge Challenge is almost midway, so there is still plenty of time to make a pledge or read the entries so far. Come and join us in the forum. You can find the rules for the Challenge and enter a story here.

Reviewed Stories January 2013

Since the previous Bulletin, 2 stories passed through review while there are currently 10 stories waiting for reviewers. Make an author's day and review a story!

Member participation is crucial for reviews. The more people are involved in reviewing, the more different opinions are represented. Having more people involved also means that stories pass through review more quickly – which is good for everyone. If you are an active reviewer, why not go and check out a story?

Or, if you are a writer, take the plunge and submit a story for review; and when you do, please remember: Put one in, take one out.

By submitting a story for review, you are asking nine other members to read and evaluate it. So why not do for the other authors who have a story in review what you'd like other reviewers to do for you: check out one of the stories already in review and give it a read.

Becoming a reviewer

If you're not an active reviewer, but think you can spare a bit of time... – even if you just review one or two stories in a month, every review is welcome. If you are logged in, you can sign up here if you've been a member of HASA for thirty days or more.

Daunted by the idea of reviewing? Don't be, reviewing at its simplest comes down to asking yourself: "Would I recommend this story to someone?" Then, whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no', you can make a choice from the capsule reasons to clarify your decision. If you want to, you can add a few more words to convey what you (dis)liked about the story, but just the capsule reason is perfectly fine as well.

And remember: even if you think you're too critical or not critical enough: your review is only one of nine, and all points of view are welcome. Not every reviewer has to review every story and in the end it does all level out to a balanced judgement.

Reviewed story spotlight

These stories have passed through review since the previous bulletin. Congratulations to all authors; well done!

The Celeblas by Archeress
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 3rd Age - Post-Ring War
Summary: Two people, One meeting, leads to finding… an heir hidden away.

In need of a wife by Linda Hoyland
Rating: General
Genre: Romance
Era: 3rd Age – The Steward
Summary: Aragorn walks beneath the Birches.

Make an author's day, review a story or post a comment.

HASA news - Birthdays, Challenges, Stories

January Birthdays

Is your birthday in January, and would you like a drabble about your favourite character or topic? You can request it here.

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at stories written for previous requests.

Challenges

Just as Challenges come from Prospective Challenges, Prospective Challenges come from Nuzgûl, and Nuzgûl need attention to grow from tiny ideas into big stories. Step into the Nuzgûl hutch. The bunnies don't bite (much). And who knows what ideas you may come out with?

Story Pledge Challenge

The Story Pledge Challenge is live!  

A reminder of how the Pledge Challenge works:

Authors write original works, enter them in the Challenge, and promise to not post the stories anywhere except HASA for the month of January. For each story entered, readers pledge to donate a certain dollar amount, anything from $1 per story to however generous they are feeling, to HASA at the end of January. They can put a cap on the total donations they will give so they don't break the bank.

If you'd like to give a total of $100, you can say "However many stories there are, I will donate $100 and divide that amount evenly," or "I'll give $1/$5/$10/etc. per story, up to a maximum of $100."

--(Correction)

These are the rules for pledging:

• The pledge is per completed story posted to the Challenge - you can't specify that you'll only donate for an Elf story or one with Gollum in it, for example)
• A minimum of $1.00 per story
• No minimum on the total amount you're willing to pledge

--

The Story Pledge Challenge in the Forums:

Entries

Pledges

General discussion

The Nuzgûl of the Month!

The January Nuzgûl: write something for the Story Pledge Challenge!

December Stories

All 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 you read is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA highlights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. Read the currently featured story on our front page.

Many talented writers are publishing every day. In December:

--- 1 Reviewed Story was published or updated.

--- 27 General Stories were published or updated.

--- 1 Beta Story was updated.

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

Thank you for reading at HASA. Enjoy!

HASA News: Challenges

In this week’s news: Birthdays and the January Story Pledge Challenge

Birthday Cards

There is a day to go in the December Birthday Cards, so if you're very quick there's still time! Or perhaps your birthday is in January? In that case you can find the January birthday cards here... Don't forget to put in a request for a drabble!

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at some older stories written as birthday cards.

January Story Pledge Challenge

The January Story Pledge Challenge is open! Find out more, enter the Challenge or pledge an amount to donate, and if you do, post to the Forum to tell people about it.

Don't forget: any story that you post at HASA in January and that is in some way linked to The Hobbit can be entered. All we ask is that you don't post it anywhere else until February. Enter the Challenge and help put HASA in the black for 2013.

Here are some suggestions to help you along:

Book-based - backstories, side stories, after-happily-ever-after stories:

• Belladonna Took – what about those adventures?
• How did Thráin end up in Dol Guldur?
• Where does the Trolls' loot come from?
• Was Legolas at the Battle of the Five Armies?
• Did Bilbo and Aragorn/Estel meet in Rivendell?
• How did Gandalf, Saruman, Elrond and Galadriel root Sauron out of Dol Guldur?
• What did Bard do to re-establish Dale?
• When did Balin get it into his head to try and refound Khazad-dûm?

Movie-based (SPOILERS!):

• Write the back-story for a deviation from the book (Azog, the Elves of Mirkwood paying homage to Thrór, why is Thranduil riding a moose, ...)
• A recipe-fic involving Rhosgobel Rabbit
• The White Council meeting in Imladris
• Anything to do with Radagast
• The tunnel path to Rivendell
• Stone giants, what makes them tick?
• Gollum killing the goblin with a rock instead of strangling it

 

Authors, here are the rules for stories:

• It must be a new story, never having appeared for the general public on any other web site
• It must be 500 words or more in length (combining drabbles is fine, length allowances made for poetry)
• It is posted exclusively to HASA in January while the Challenge runs

 

Readers, here are the rules for pledging:

• The pledge is per completed story posted to the Challenge - you can't specify that you'll only donate for an Elf story or one with Gollum in it, for example)
• A minimum of $1.00 per story
• No minimum on the total amount you're willing to pledge

 

The challenge starts January 1, 2013 and runs through January 31.

Thank you for reading at HASA. Have fun!

HASA News - Birthdays, Challenges, Stories

HASA news - Birthdays, Challenges, Stories

December birthdays and links to the stories written or updated in November

December Birthdays

Is your birthday in December, and would you like a drabble about your favourite character or topic? You can request it here.

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at stories written for previous requests.

Challenges

Just as Challenges come from Prospective Challenges, Prospective Challenges come from Nuzgûl, and Nuzgûl need attention to grow from tiny ideas into big stories. Step into the Nuzgûl hutch. The bunnies don't bite (much). And who knows what ideas you may come out with?

Story Pledge Challenge

In January we will run another Story Pledge Challenge as a site fundraiser. No details on the theme for now, except that the Challenge will focus on The Hobbit.

A reminder of how the Pledge Challenge works:

Authors write original works, enter them in the Challenge, and promise to not post the stories anywhere except HASA for the month of January. For each story entered, readers pledge to donate a certain dollar amount, anything from $1 per story to however generous they are feeling, to HASA at the end of January. They can put a cap on the total donations they will give so they don't break the bank.  

If you'd like to give a total of $100, you can say "However many stories there are, I will donate $100 and divide that amount evenly," or you can say, "I'll give $1/$5/$10/etc. per story, up to a maximum of $100."

You can even put in very specific pledges, for instance, you can say you'll donate $10 for each story that focuses on Bombur, or very general ones such as giving $100 if there are 10 or more entries in the challenge, or something like that.

We will post more information about the Challenge in the next few weeks. Watch this space... (and the forums...)

The Nuzgûl of the Month!

The December Nuzgûl, Rivendell: Hidden Valley or Bulwark Against Orcs? can be found here, and will run until the end of the month.

Come on over to the Nuzgûl of the Month Workshop and join in the fun. If you've written a story for any of the previous months, don't forget to add it to the Playlist!

November Stories

All 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 you read is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA highlights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. Read the currently featured story on our front page.

Many talented writers are publishing every day. In November:

--- 1 Reviewed Story was published or updated.

--- 26 General Stories were published or updated.

--- No Beta Stories were updated.

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

Thank you for reading at HASA. Enjoy!

HASA news - Birthdays, Challenges, Stories

May Birthdays

Is your birthday in May, and would you like a drabble about your favourite character or topic? You can request it here.

Not sure what the birthday cards are about? Have a look at stories written for previous requests.

The Story Pledge Challenge

Here is a Challenge for authors and readers alike!

For each story posted to this challenge, readers pledge to donate a certain amount of money, up to a total amount the reader determines. Each story written for the challenge will be featured on HASA's home page.

There are already two entries and two pledges. Read all about it here and join the fun. Start writing now, or make a pledge (or even both)!

April 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 you read is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA highlights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. Read the currently featured story on our front page.

Many talented writers are publishing every day. In April:

--- No Reviewed Stories were published or updated.

--- 27 General Stories were published or updated.

--- 4 Beta Stories were updated.

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

Thank you for reading at HASA. Enjoy!

HASA How-tos - April 2012

How do I...

...add an item to the Research Cabinet?

The quickest way to get started with the Research Cabinet is to add a few items to it. It's as easy as finding an item to add and clicking a button!

1. Log in to HASA.
2. Go to the Resources section of the site.
3. Browse for a Research Library item you would like to add to your cabinet. The items you can add are:
   a. Timeline Events
   b. Character Bios
   c. Places
   d. Things
   e. Full Text Searches (Note - you have to save a search before you can add it to your Cabinet)
4. Once you have found the Library item you want to add to you Research Cabinet, look for the right-hand menu box labeled "Research Cabinet".
5. In the Research Cabinet box, click the "Add this [item] to research cabinet".
6. The page refreshes and the item is added to your cabinet.

At this point, you can leave the item loose in the Cabinet, add it to a Notebook, and/or create a Research Note to go with it; and we will look at how to do that in the next few months. The great thing about the research cabinet is that you can organise your information so that it makes sense to you.

The May Story Pledge Challenge

A HASA member recently sent in a proposal for a site fundraiser, and it is great! In short:

1. We use a Nuzgûl or Oliphaunt challenge, or perhaps come up with a new one.
2. The challenge starts May 1 and runs until June 1.
3. Authors write a story to meet the challenge prompt.
4. These challenge entries will be featured on HASA's home page in place of the usual reviewed stories as soon as there are three entries and will remain on the home page all during the challenge.
5. Readers will offer pledges for each story that is posted to the Challenge - they have to be a full story, not just a story placeholder.
6. For each dollar raised in story pledges, HASA's Secret Admirer will put up a matching dollar, up to $500.

Want to know more? Then come to the Story Pledge Challenge Forum. We look forwards to your ideas and thoughts! Or perhaps you already know you want to pledge an amount or have an idea you want to write for one of the prompts that have been posted…

HASA news - reviews (and more)

A HASA member recently sent in a proposal for a site fundraiser, and it is great! In short:

1. We use a Nuzgûl or Oliphaunt challenge, or perhaps come up with a new one.
2. The challenge starts May 1 and runs until June 1.
3. Authors write a story to meet the challenge prompt.
4. These challenge entries will be featured on HASA's home page in place of the usual reviewed stories as soon as there are three entries and will remain on the home page all during the challenge.
5. Readers will offer pledges for each story that is posted to the Challenge - they have to be a full story, not just a story placeholder.
6. For each dollar raised in story pledges, HASA's Secret Admirer will put up a matching dollar, up to $500.

Want to know more? Then come to the Story Pledge Challenge Forum. We look forwards to your ideas and thoughts!

Reviews

Since the previous Bulletin, three stories passed through review while there are currently 12 stories waiting for reviewers. Make an author's day and review a story!

As I type this, there are 12 stories waiting for your review (remember to log in before you follow the link).

Member participation is crucial for reviews. The more people are involved in reviewing, the more different opinions are represented. Having more people involved also means that stories pass through review more quickly – which is good for everyone. If you are an active reviewer, why not go and check out a story?

Or, if you are a writer, take the plunge and submit a story for review; and when you do, please remember: Put one in, take one out.

By submitting a story for review, you are asking nine other members to read and evaluate it. So why not do for the other authors who have a story in review what you'd like other reviewers to do for you: check out one of the stories already in review and give it a read.

Becoming a reviewer

If you're not an active reviewer, but think you can spare a bit of time... – even if you just review one or two stories in a month, every review is welcome. If you are logged in, you can sign up here if you've been a member of HASA for thirty days or more.

Daunted by the idea of reviewing? Don’t be, reviewing at its simplest comes down to asking yourself: “Would I recommend this story to someone?” Then, whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no', you can make a choice from the capsule reasons to clarify your decision. If you want to, you can add a few more words to convey what you (dis)liked about the story, but just the capsule reason is perfectly fine as well.

And remember: even if you think you're too critical or not critical enough: your review is only one of nine, and all points of view are welcome. Not every reviewer has to review every story and in the end it does all level out to a balanced judgement.

Reviewed story spotlight

These stories have passed through review since the previous bulletin. Congratulations to all authors; well done!

Love is a dance by Lady Demiya
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 3rd Age - Post-Ring War
Summary: One-shot. A scene in which Eomer begins to notice Lothiriel. Set in Eomer's perspective; his wants and desires. Book-verse. POST-WOTR.

The Flower King by WindSurfBabe
Rating: General
Genre: Romance
Era: 4th Age
Summary: Years after King Elessar's passing, the laughter and music of the elves do not grace mortal ears anymore. The woods stand silent ; the time of Men has come. But an elf lingers in his father's realm. His choice is finally made.

Breath of an Elf by Tanis
Rating: General
Genre: Drama
Era: 3rd Age - Ring War
Summary: Third Age - a tag, with permission from Neoinean, to her 1st Place Teitho challenge story, ...and it was done. A little comfort after all the exquisite hurt in Neoinean's fabulous story. Revelations of a personal nature, though revealed by coercion, will change the course of one's ...

Make an author’s day, review a story or post a comment.

HASA News - Reviews

Since the previous Bulletin, 3 stories passed through review while there are currently 10 stories waiting for reviewers. Make an author's day and review a story!

On a 'side-note', we're well over halfway with our December drive to put HASA in the black. A big thank you! to everyone who has donated. You rock!

On to reviews: As I type this, there are 10 stories waiting for your review (remember to log in before you follow the link).

Member participation is crucial for reviews. The more people are involved in reviewing, the more different opinions are represented. Having more people involved also means that stories pass through review more quickly - which is good for everyone. If you are an active reviewer, why not go and check out a story?

Or, if you are a writer, take the plunge and submit a story for review; and when you do, please remember: Put one in, take one out.

By submitting a story for review, you are asking nine other members to read and evaluate it. So why not do for the other authors who have a story in review what you'd like other reviewers to do for you: check out one of the stories already in review and give it a read.

Becoming a reviewer

If you're not an active reviewer, but think you can spare a bit of time... – even if you just review one or two stories in a month, every review is welcome. If you are logged in, you can sign up here if you've been a member of HASA for thirty days or more.

Daunted by the idea of reviewing? Don't worry, reviewing at its simplest comes down to asking yourself: "Would I recommend this story to someone?" Then, whether the answer is 'yes' or 'no', you can make a choice from the capsule reasons to clarify your decision. If you want to, you can add a few more words to convey what you (dis)liked about the story, but just the capsule reason is perfectly fine as well.

And remember: even if you think you're too critical or not critical enough: your review is only one of nine, and all points of view are welcome. Not every reviewer has to review every story and in the end it does all level out to a balanced judgement.

Reviewed story spotlight

These stories have passed through review since the previous bulletin. Congratulations to all authors; well done!

Silmarillion Chemistry by Barazinbar
General
Humor
Era: Other
Summary: The characters of the Silmarillion, according to a chemistry textbook. Featuring Feanor as a dipole-inducing cation, a very polar Curufin, and more!

Tales from the Rangers by Cirjin
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 3rd Age - Ring War
Summary: Shadowy figures roam the four Farthings of the Shire, stealing about on errands that cannot be guessed (or even fathomed) by the little locals. What could lurking Big Folk be up to? No good… no doubt, but not until little Robart Nortook stumbles into trouble does the real danger become clear! ...

When Bright Things Fade by Adonnen Estenniel
Rating: General
Genre: General
Era: 4th Age
Summary: After departing from the Golden Wood, Galadriel and Celeborn rest for a time in Imladris, where Celeborn reveals the doom that has laid heavy on his heart for some time, much to Galadriel's discontent.

Make an author's day, review a story or post a comment.

HASA Announcement - Funding Update, Challenges, Drabbles, & Resources

Hey guys,

There was a slight confusion between Arandil (the other volunteer who helps post announcements) and myself; we each thought the other was posting the weekly HASA Announcements. Sorry about that! Here's the highlights of what would have been posted the last two weeks, and I'll post the normal Sunday announcement starting this Sunday.

HASA FUNDING UPDATE

No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

Currently available funding: 285.50
To provide funding through: May 2008

Ang asked me to pass on the following message about the First Quarter funding drive:

"Since December 25th, when the drive started, site members and the public have donated $345. HASA's Secret Admirer has donated her original $200 pledge, and then has gone on to match every donated dollar for a total of $345. After Amazon and Pay Pal fees are deducted, this gives HASA $682.05 in new donations. Added to our base amount before the drive began, $203.45, HASA has a 2008 donation total of $885.50.

All three Quarter 1 hosting payments have been made, for a total of $450 in hosting costs. This leaves HASA with $435.50 for Quarter 2 hosting costs, only $15 short of all expenses through June."

[Please note, this amount of $435.50 was before the payment was made for the April hosting fees. 285.50+150.00 = 435.50]

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.

---

BIRTHDAY CARDS

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

RS (April 4th) requested: "My favorite character is Aragorn. I would love to see a relaxed and fun Aragorn... or Aragorn on vacation! Or maybe Aragorn and Arwen in an argument (there's no such thing as a perfect couple!)."

Ainaechoiriel (April 7th) requested: "In light of our now-started adoption process of a little girl from Russia[...], I request adoption stories. Please, not all Aragorn and Frodo[...] Anyway, orphans that needed care. And there were likely adults who chose to take them in. Let's meet some of them and find what's in their hearts. Interracial or intercultural is a plus.

Larner (April 13) requested: "Following a perceived insult of some kind, Frodo has determined to play a prank on his friend Aragorn. It can be anywhere along the road. [...] One of the others may warn Aragorn of his peril, and that he's in danger of retaliation by a master of retaliatory pranks."

Fliewatuet (April 29) requested, to mark her 40th birthday: "Since my all-time favourite character is Aragorn, I would like to read how he dealt with that age (or the Dunedain equivalent of 40). This can be anything from a birthday party to mid-life crisis. Though I wouldn't mind reading about your favourite character either."

The following drabbles have been written so far this month:

--- Symbols of Love by Larner for RS
--- Paranoia is Sweet Revenge by Vistula the Dunadan for Larner

If you have a birthday in April and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.

---

CHALLENGES

There are no challenges currently open. Why not propose a challenge at the Prospective Challenges Forum? If five people are interested, we can get a challenge going. Or, if you're looking for something to write, check out the Nuzgul Hutch. (You'll need to be logged in for that last link.)

---

This week's focus:

RESOURCES.

The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members here.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form here.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events:
--- Reinforcements arrive from the Outlands for the Siege of Minas Tirith (March 9, 3019 T.A.)
--- Elvensmiths of Eregion begin to forge Rings of Power (c. 1500 S.A.)

Character Biographies
--- The Brandybucks
--- Herb-master of the Houses of Healing

Places
--- Straight Road
--- Imloth Melui

Things
--- Palantiri
--- athelas

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Marta

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

HASA Announcement: New Quickie Challenge

BIRTHDAY DRABBLES

The thread for January Birthday drabbles is up. If you have a January birthday and haven't done so already, post your request here.

Imhiriel has a birthday this upcoming week. She requested,"I'd like to get drabbles from the PoV of something that normally has no voice - a tree, a building, an heirloom, a landscape, a constellation etc. - time or place don't matter, but the more unusual the PoV, the better."

The following drabbles were posted this week:

--- "Waiting" by Vilwarin for Imhiriel
--- "The Kindly Airs" by Dwimordene for Imhiriel

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FUNDING UPDATE

HASA is currently only funded through the end of January. If you would like to donate money toward future months' site fees, you can do so here.

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QUICKIE CHALLENGE

This Sunday is the fifth Sunday of December, which means it's time for another quickie challenge. In honor of New Year's Eve, this challenge focuses on remembrances. Write a story, drabble, or poem about a character remembering a past event. When you post the story, make sure you enter it in the challenge here and comment in the forum here.

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REVIEWS

There are currently nine stories in review. If you have been a member of HASA for thirty days, you are welcome (and encouraged!) to become a reviewer. Here are three sample summaries to pique your interest:

----- "As he leads Tuor to Gondolin, Voronwë learns of love, of fate, of fear... and most importantly, of hope. Contains mild slash, but is ultimately true to canon."

----- "What is seen of the Ringbearer from four different points of view."

----- "The War of the Ring is over, but memories remain. A vignette about life, death, and a date's irony."

HASA members, to see if there's a story you'd be interested in reviewing, check it out. (You'll need to be logged in.)

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And that's it! Have a good week.

Marta
(HASA Admin.)

PS - If you have an announcement you'd like included for next week, please email me.

Qtr. 2 Fund Drive Success

Current Qtr. 2 fund drive total - $200!

Goal - $160

3/10 - $25
3/11 - $20
3/11 - $10
3/16 - $10
3/17 - $25
3/17 - $10
3/17 - $100

Total Collected: $200

Distance to Goal: We are $40 above goal!

If you intended to donate, you can still do so. Your contributions will be applied towards Qtr. 3 funding.

Thank you to our donors!

Anglachel

Qtr. 2 2007 Hosting Fund Drive

HASA has fixed hosting costs of $150 per month. This pays all server and bandwidth costs and allows HASA to keep membership free and not accept advertisements.

At the end of each quarter, we ask for donations to cover the upcoming quarter's bills. In addition, HASA has a secret admirer who match every donation dollar for dollar up to $100 per month.

Our current balance for Qtr. 2 is $131. That's only $19 short for paying the April hosting bill.

Our fund drive goal for Qtr. 2 is $160. With matching funds and the current balance, that will pay all hosting through June 2007.

There is no minimum donation amount, and most donations are for $20 or less. Small amounts add up quickly, particularly with our matching funds system.

If you don't have money but do have some time to donate, we're always in need of volunteers.

Thanks in advance for your support!

Anglachel