Christmas in July challenge?

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone!

I would like your opinion please. A couple of people have approached me about running a Christmas in July themed fest. We will definitely still be back later in the year for the proper holiday season, but I want to know what you all think of something fun being run at the end of July.

Christmas in July is basically an excuse for people to get together, having parties and such when they may not ordinarily be able to get together in December. We all know Draco, Harry and Neville have their birthdays in June and July.

We also know that the end of the war was never dealt with in DH, it went straight to the epilogue. What would happen if say Hermione was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and was forced to attend a party of some description, but can no longer deal with crowds because she panics and freaks out. How does George deal with losing Fred? Or you could go with a fluffier option of everyone just having fun. Harry and Draco are having a combined Birthday party and inviting all their friends and family. You get the idea.

So my question is this:
Are you interested in a Christmas in July challenge?

How would you like us to handle it, do you want to be able to post your own entries when you're ready like hp_kinkfest was run?

Would you like to have prompts like we did at Christmas or would you rather just have a theme and write what your muse tells you just involving the theme somewhere?

How long would you like the challenge/fest to run for?

Would you like the minimum word count abolished, so you can write 100 word drabbles etc.?


All opinions, suggestions will be gratefully received and considered.

Comments

[lovesmymovement.livejournal.com]

So then, out of curiosity, would it just be DH-compliant fics then? :)

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

No, you could write whatever scenario you liked.

If it becomes prompt based, obviously you write something that fits the prompt, but if it's just a theme you can do whatever you like within the theme.

Does that make more sense?

[lovesmymovement.livejournal.com]

Yup, makes much more sense now. :D

[astopperindeath.livejournal.com]

but technically we didn't *have* to follow prompts last time. why would we this time?

i'm so glad you ended up liking my idea!!!

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

I still have to see if I can get some co-mods so I don't do my head in trying to keep up with everything.

We did have prompts last time, but it wasn't a 'claim a prompt to write it' style, it was more 'here are the prompts use them however you like' style.

So far the response has been positive, so it looks like it will go ahead.

[astopperindeath.livejournal.com]

*raises hand to volunteer*

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

You rock! Thank you sweetie!

[bootsy-mine.livejournal.com]

Are you interested in a Christmas in July challenge? I'm always interested in anything that results in additional Draco fanfic.

How would you like us to handle it, do you want to be able to post your own entries when you're ready like [info]hp_kinkfest was run? I'm a sucker for when the posts are anonymous and you get to see who wrote what at the end, it's rather exciting. *wow, my life must be really dull since that is one of the things I get excited over*

Would you like to have prompts like we did at Christmas or would you rather just have a theme and write what your muse tells you just involving the theme somewhere? I love prompts, especially when they're like the fic exchanges where you get to write for someone (it could be a "secret Santa" in July)

How long would you like the challenge/fest to run for? I like to have time to write *cough procrastinator cough* so I'd love as much time as possible, maybe 4 to 6 weeks.

Would you like the minimum word count abolished, so you can write 100 word drabbles etc.? Not me, I like it when fests are a minimum of over 1,000 words. There are some majorly talented people who can write a drabble for 100 words and it is awesome and has meaning but sadly I am not one of them.

Hope this helps you.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Our normal minimum word count is 500 words but there is no maximum limit. There also isn't a list of shame if people put their names down and don't follow through for whatever reason, so if you're a procrastinator and RL gets in the way there's no worries there.

Thanks for your suggestions, I really appreciate it!

[rebism.livejournal.com]

So is it a Christmas fest being run in July, or a fest about "Christmas in July in the Potterverse"?

I'm not sure what you mean by prompt-based and challenge-based, but the two types I have in my head are either claiming from a list of prompts, or being assigned a request and writing for the person who requested it. My thoughts on these options are:

If it's claim-a-prompt:
- Given I'll be studying at the time, I fully endorse no minimum word count. Those wordy folk can still write 10,000 fics, but those of us who, well, can't, can still have some fun too.
- I suggest post-when-you're-done, and once you've posted, you can claim another unclaimed prompt. (Similar to minerva_fest, I think)

If it's write-to-a-person's-request, it seems a bit rough that someone could get just a drabble, so maybe a minimum word count, but nothing too dramatic! Depending on the mods' availability, I'm happy with the "mod posts all after deadline, reveals done later" style.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

What i mean is: write to a theme e.g summer fun or harry's birthday. Or write to prompts submitted by people whether their name is next to the prompt i havent decided yet.

The Christmas in July idea doesn't necessarily mean 'Christmas' its more euphamism about getting together & having fun with family & friends whether it be for a special occasion or not.

Our normal minimum word count is 500 words, and no maximum word limit. The reason i suggested not having a minimum word count is because there seems to be a fair few fests happening at that time of year.

We aren't an exchange fest so there wouldnt be any added pressure because you have to write or draw to someone else's idea. If people submit prompts then it will probably be like at Christmas, there will be a list & you can use as many as you like to create your fic/art, & more than one person can use the same prompts.

I hope that makes sense & answers your questions. :)

[bk03.livejournal.com]

I'm interested, but not sure about the Christmas in July idea. Never really heard about it before now.

I'd go with being able to post your own entries. That way if you're a quick writer, you can post your story when your finished and not have to wait.

Go with prompts like we did at Christmas. There's an overall theme like Summer or something, and people can submit prompts and scenarios that authors can pick from.

Time would depend on the format, but 2 to 3 months at least.

I say get rid of the minimum word count. If someone wants to write 100 word drabble, I say let them.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Christmas in July info (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_in_july)
The posting your own entries idea would save me a lot of headaches trying to organise posting schedules and finding who wrote what to create the masterlist at the end of the fest.

Timeline wise, I'm hoping to have things finalised in the next couple of weeks and people can start working on their entries whenever they like from there with posting probably starting at the end of July.

Thanks for your suggestions, I really appreciate it!

[amorettea.livejournal.com]

I think casual is best for summer. No minimum word counts. General themes rather than specific prompts. At least, should my muse come back from Mars or wherever the hell she has been for the past year, that's what I would like.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

You participated at Christmas didn't you? Maybe I just saw your name in comments on entries or something.

Anyway, the last time we ran this it was a 500 word minimum word count, using as many prompts from the lists as you liked and it had a general theme of the December holidays. We are very laid back anyway, but I think since there are going to be a fair few other fests during July/August that either having no minimum word count or reducing it would be a way to go.

Thanks for your suggestions, I really appreciate it!

[maevemist.livejournal.com]

I am all for a July minifest.

I really like the idea of post DH myself but that's not to say it HAS to be canon compliant.

I liked the 500 word minimum. 100 words minimum wouldn't take much effort but 1000 words can be difficult for me when I am writing Plot what Plot?. (Not to be confused with Porn without Plot)

I liked the prompt grab from December and also like anonymous posting but I realise how much work that entails for the mod-aka-you.

Summer Parties sounds like a pretty good theme in my opinion. I already have several mini idea's that could work.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Yay! I'm glad your muse wants to play already!

No the fics/art definitely don't have to be canon compliant, where would Harry/Draco or Remus/Sirius get their fun otherwise.;D Or any other non canon couple for that matter,

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions hon, I really appreciate it!

[moonlitdark.livejournal.com]

Sounds like fun!

I like the idea of no minimum word count, cos I like to see how much I can fit into 100 words. :D Would there be the opportunity to submit art?

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

I'd love you to submit one of your sketches!

Thanks hon!

[moonlitdark.livejournal.com]

Yay! :)

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

It sounds like fun, although I hopefully won't be able to participate in anything in July :P You know why, bb.

[brissygirl.livejournal.com]

Just because you won't be home doesn't mean you can't write something before you leave. ;D

Posting won't be until the end of July anyway, and you'll only be away for a month right?

[girlofavalon.livejournal.com]

I'll only be able to post in August, actually :D

[rose-starr.livejournal.com]

I'm in!

I'd vote for lowering the word count to 100, though, for drabbles to be included (you might have more participation)!

Prompts work for me, as does posting on our own (although I'm okay with coming up on our own and mod posting as well)! :)

[terrayn.livejournal.com]

I'm certainly interested. Although sign-ups will have to be soon, right? If this thing's going live in July, I mean. :)