Just Create - Kaiju Edition
14 June 2025 16:22![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
silvercat17 posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
justcreateWhat are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky
The Friday Five for 13 June 2025
12 June 2025 17:25anais_pf posting in thefridayfiveThis week's questions were suggested by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
pleepleus.
1. What item would you be embarrassed for people to know you own?
2. What is something you splurged on just for you?
3. What is something that you own with no real world value that is priceless to you?
4. Do you collect anything?
5. What item belonging to a friend/family member do you covet?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
pleepleus.1. What item would you be embarrassed for people to know you own?
2. What is something you splurged on just for you?
3. What is something that you own with no real world value that is priceless to you?
4. Do you collect anything?
5. What item belonging to a friend/family member do you covet?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
Still Alive, Still Breathing, Still not Giving Up
12 June 2025 14:37nyykiOkay, I think the first rough draft of Déjà vu 3: Presque Vu is done. I don’t do rough drafts much at all, because I tend to know what I want to say and how to get there, but this one is sort of like a fighter jet flying over Europe and passing all the small villages at supersonic speeds, so I’m sure there’ll be places where I’ll want to expand on things or put in scenes I skipped. It sits at 303 pages right now, the shortest of the trilogy. This one is the most science heavy of the three, though less involved in quantum mechanics than in information theory. I have no idea for a cover yet.
What’s next? No idea. I think there’s a decent probability that I’ll spend some time working at short lengths, and I’ve got the dribbling’s of another His Majesty’s Lieutenant Inspector Peep story rolling around in my head, but there’s also the possibility I’ll get back to the Holly and the Wizards novels – at least with those I’ve got clear book covers in mind for them.
One of the frustrating difficulties is that I’m feeling isolated again. It’s been worse this year, though I was spared the dark days of early April this time around. Digital communication doesn’t have the full range of experience in person interaction does, and this is my primary digital forum save for the PBEM games I’m in, which are doing the Summer Lag because so many people are taking vacations and spending more time outdoors instead of inside with their computers for company. The quarter century noniversary of my divorce is coming up in twelve days, so that’s something, and since I’ve had to Any Port in a Storm my reading choices I’m dealing with three-dimensional characters in formula plots with happy ever after terminations. And why does it seem to be the mandatory thing to have a love triangle in a YA or NA novel? That is, like totally, so done to death. Is it aimed at female readers because they put themselves in the place of the female lead and the idea of having two males both wanting her is somehow attractive? And while I’m at it, what is the fascination of guys with facial hair? Is it some sort of virility dynamic, or a mountain man fantasy, or something I’m missing because I like smooth faced faces that won’t scrub my skin like a nylon dish scrubber? Maybe it’s in the same league with that forearms thing.
So yeah, my head is giving me difficulties again. But still…
Like one on a lonely road, who walks in numbness defined,
And having looked ‘round walks on, and looks no more behind,
‘Cause she knows that nobody, nothingness, is all that she will find.
Sort of sums it up for me right now. Excuse me while I find something else to distract me from this mood – it’s so useful to be able to pull the wool over my own eyes when I need to.
What’s next? No idea. I think there’s a decent probability that I’ll spend some time working at short lengths, and I’ve got the dribbling’s of another His Majesty’s Lieutenant Inspector Peep story rolling around in my head, but there’s also the possibility I’ll get back to the Holly and the Wizards novels – at least with those I’ve got clear book covers in mind for them.
One of the frustrating difficulties is that I’m feeling isolated again. It’s been worse this year, though I was spared the dark days of early April this time around. Digital communication doesn’t have the full range of experience in person interaction does, and this is my primary digital forum save for the PBEM games I’m in, which are doing the Summer Lag because so many people are taking vacations and spending more time outdoors instead of inside with their computers for company. The quarter century noniversary of my divorce is coming up in twelve days, so that’s something, and since I’ve had to Any Port in a Storm my reading choices I’m dealing with three-dimensional characters in formula plots with happy ever after terminations. And why does it seem to be the mandatory thing to have a love triangle in a YA or NA novel? That is, like totally, so done to death. Is it aimed at female readers because they put themselves in the place of the female lead and the idea of having two males both wanting her is somehow attractive? And while I’m at it, what is the fascination of guys with facial hair? Is it some sort of virility dynamic, or a mountain man fantasy, or something I’m missing because I like smooth faced faces that won’t scrub my skin like a nylon dish scrubber? Maybe it’s in the same league with that forearms thing.
So yeah, my head is giving me difficulties again. But still…
Like one on a lonely road, who walks in numbness defined,
And having looked ‘round walks on, and looks no more behind,
‘Cause she knows that nobody, nothingness, is all that she will find.
Sort of sums it up for me right now. Excuse me while I find something else to distract me from this mood – it’s so useful to be able to pull the wool over my own eyes when I need to.
Bionic Queen!
9 June 2025 13:37mdehnersSo, today I've had my 1st bionic bit installed. Couple weeks ago I went in for a temp pain reducing implant into my spine and it went better than expected...so I decided to get the permanent one installed. It's been a couple hrs since I got home but, so far so good. 'Course, we have pain meds;>!
It's set at pretty low until next week when I go in to get it calibrated. Then I can adjust it to my needs. The funky thing about it is that you wireless charge the charging pack like a phone then wear a belt with the pack until the inside bit is recharged. Too bad I can't just sit on it like my phone does;>....
Just took a pain med so I'll check back tomorrow with an update.
FridhR,
Pat
It's set at pretty low until next week when I go in to get it calibrated. Then I can adjust it to my needs. The funky thing about it is that you wireless charge the charging pack like a phone then wear a belt with the pack until the inside bit is recharged. Too bad I can't just sit on it like my phone does;>....
Just took a pain med so I'll check back tomorrow with an update.
FridhR,
Pat
Call for Fandom Promo Post Volunteers
8 June 2025 10:40grundyscribbling posting in innumerable_starsCalling all fans of our "small" fandoms! Many people are aware of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and Rings of Power. But there are many more fandoms in Innumerable Stars, and we have a special place in our hearts for the small fandoms.
Last round's promotion of the "small" fandoms was a success. We not only had more nominations for those fandoms, we also had more fanworks for them! So we are planning to do another round of promo posts this year - ideally fresh ones, not just recycling last year’s posts.
We're looking for volunteers willing to write a promo post for one or more of the fandoms on our small fandoms list - meaning any fandom with less than 100 works posted to AO3. We'd also be very excited if anyone wants to promo the fandoms newly added this round - unlike the others, they don't have any posts from previous rounds to fall back on if there are no volunteers.
The promo posts will be posted on Tumblr and Dreamwidth to get people looking at the fandoms in advance of nominations. Your post should answer the following in your own words:
Note: If you would like to suggest a fandom to be added to Innumerable Stars, now is the time! We are open to adding fandoms based on material written by Tolkien or media adaptations thereof. (Musicals, operas, movies.) We do not add new fandoms once nominations open.
Our small fandoms list is below. Bolded fandoms are new this year - we really need promo posts for these fandoms! The links in most cases go to the works for the fandom on AO3; in a few cases, they go to the work itself. Please note the numbers were accurate at the time the list was compiled, but it's possible more works may post before nominations begin.
( Fandoms List )
Last round's promotion of the "small" fandoms was a success. We not only had more nominations for those fandoms, we also had more fanworks for them! So we are planning to do another round of promo posts this year - ideally fresh ones, not just recycling last year’s posts.
We're looking for volunteers willing to write a promo post for one or more of the fandoms on our small fandoms list - meaning any fandom with less than 100 works posted to AO3. We'd also be very excited if anyone wants to promo the fandoms newly added this round - unlike the others, they don't have any posts from previous rounds to fall back on if there are no volunteers.
The promo posts will be posted on Tumblr and Dreamwidth to get people looking at the fandoms in advance of nominations. Your post should answer the following in your own words:
- Summary - what is this fandom about?
- Why should I check out this canon?
- Where can I get this? (The mods are able to assist somewhat with this.)
- What fanworks exist already? (We have links to the tags on AO3, but people who are into the fandom can probably add a bit more - you probably know better than we do if there is more to be found and where.)
- Optional: provide an image (The image must be either your own work, or a stock photo/other image that allows posting - no copyrighted images, please.)
Note: If you would like to suggest a fandom to be added to Innumerable Stars, now is the time! We are open to adding fandoms based on material written by Tolkien or media adaptations thereof. (Musicals, operas, movies.) We do not add new fandoms once nominations open.
Our small fandoms list is below. Bolded fandoms are new this year - we really need promo posts for these fandoms! The links in most cases go to the works for the fandom on AO3; in a few cases, they go to the work itself. Please note the numbers were accurate at the time the list was compiled, but it's possible more works may post before nominations begin.
( Fandoms List )A bit of a reprive for my Fiber Arts Focused Friends
7 June 2025 18:16nyykiMy editor, lanalucy, told me before we started an editing session today that Michaels is taking the retail coverage space Joanne's vacated. They're getting in inventory to sort of incorporate a Joanne's into their stores (they already have some machines and other things in their stores now), and if you log into their web page there's a link that'll show up if you're a Joanne's customer directing you to additional information (not sure how they know someone is a Joanne's customer). So that's going to be an option for y'all, and for those not in the local area and thus denied the joy of Perth street you're not stranded. Joanne's was going to try to tough it out as an online store, but they didn't know how they'd manage that because of their problems, but since Michaels is stepping up to the plate they've decided not to go down that road.
I hope this provides some hope for y'all.
lanalucy, told me before we started an editing session today that Michaels is taking the retail coverage space Joanne's vacated. They're getting in inventory to sort of incorporate a Joanne's into their stores (they already have some machines and other things in their stores now), and if you log into their web page there's a link that'll show up if you're a Joanne's customer directing you to additional information (not sure how they know someone is a Joanne's customer). So that's going to be an option for y'all, and for those not in the local area and thus denied the joy of Perth street you're not stranded. Joanne's was going to try to tough it out as an online store, but they didn't know how they'd manage that because of their problems, but since Michaels is stepping up to the plate they've decided not to go down that road.I hope this provides some hope for y'all.
just Create - Laptop Edition
7 June 2025 12:59silvercat17 posting in justcreateWhat are you working on? What have you finished? What do you need encouragement on?
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky
Are there any cool events or challenges happening that you want to hype?
What do you just want to talk about?
What have you been watching or reading?
Chores and other not-fun things count!
Remember to encourage other commenters and we have a discord where we can do work-alongs and chat, linked in the sticky
Innumerable Stars 2025 - Overview
6 June 2025 00:04grundyscribbling posting in innumerable_starsWelcome to Innumerable Stars!
This is our tenth year. We're trying something a bit different this year - we'll do a single brief explainer post, then do separate posts about Nominations and Sign-Ups. (We're trying to make it simple to find the information you need, and easy for people new to the event to get the gist.)
What is Innumerable Stars?
Innumerable Stars is a low-pressure, low-key Tolkien fanworks exchange. The event is run on AO3, so you will need an AO3 account to participate.grundyscribbling and elwinfortuna are the event moderators. If you want more of a flavor of the event, see the About & Links post.
What are the key dates?
Nominations Open: Sunday, 03 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Nominations Close: Sunday, 17 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Sign-ups Open: Sunday, 17 August 2025, 11:59 PM UTC
Sign-ups Close: Sunday, 31 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Assignments Due: Sunday, 05 October 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Our full 2025 schedule is posted here, and in the unlikely event of any changes, that is where updates will be made.
How does Innumerable Stars work?
There are three phases of the event - Nominations, Sign-Ups, and Assignments.
In Nominations, we create the tagset for the exchange by submitting characters, pairings, and worldbuilding elements participants are interested in seeing. The only requirement to participate at this stage is a valid AO3 account. No sign-up is required, and you are not committed to do anything more. There will be a post no later than one week before Nominations open explaining Nominations in full.
In Sign-Ups, participants commit to creating a fanwork, and submit their requests (the things they would like to receive) and offers (things they are willing to create for.) There will be a post no later than one week before Sign-Ups open explaining Sign-ups in full. This post will also cover expectations regarding assignments so that everyone signing up has all information before making requests or offers.
The mods then match the requests and offers, and send out the Assignments. An assignment includes ALL the requests from the participant you are matched with, but you are only required to create for one of them - it is up to you which one. The period to create the fanwork for your assignment is 5 weeks. (The participant you are assigned to create for will not necessarily be creating for you.)
There is a short period after the assignment due date for the mods to ensure all fanworks have been received, and then the collection opens and squeeing commences.
What are the requirements?
Better editorial control - if we need to update a post, we know there aren't versions in circulation that aren't up to date.
Is there a way to get in touch with the mods other than here or Tumblr?
Yes, you can email us, innumerablestars.exchange at Gmail dot com.
This is our tenth year. We're trying something a bit different this year - we'll do a single brief explainer post, then do separate posts about Nominations and Sign-Ups. (We're trying to make it simple to find the information you need, and easy for people new to the event to get the gist.)
What is Innumerable Stars?
Innumerable Stars is a low-pressure, low-key Tolkien fanworks exchange. The event is run on AO3, so you will need an AO3 account to participate.
grundyscribbling and elwinfortuna are the event moderators. If you want more of a flavor of the event, see the About & Links post.What are the key dates?
Nominations Open: Sunday, 03 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Nominations Close: Sunday, 17 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Sign-ups Open: Sunday, 17 August 2025, 11:59 PM UTC
Sign-ups Close: Sunday, 31 August 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Assignments Due: Sunday, 05 October 2025, 8:00 PM UTC
Our full 2025 schedule is posted here, and in the unlikely event of any changes, that is where updates will be made.
How does Innumerable Stars work?
There are three phases of the event - Nominations, Sign-Ups, and Assignments.
In Nominations, we create the tagset for the exchange by submitting characters, pairings, and worldbuilding elements participants are interested in seeing. The only requirement to participate at this stage is a valid AO3 account. No sign-up is required, and you are not committed to do anything more. There will be a post no later than one week before Nominations open explaining Nominations in full.
In Sign-Ups, participants commit to creating a fanwork, and submit their requests (the things they would like to receive) and offers (things they are willing to create for.) There will be a post no later than one week before Sign-Ups open explaining Sign-ups in full. This post will also cover expectations regarding assignments so that everyone signing up has all information before making requests or offers.
The mods then match the requests and offers, and send out the Assignments. An assignment includes ALL the requests from the participant you are matched with, but you are only required to create for one of them - it is up to you which one. The period to create the fanwork for your assignment is 5 weeks. (The participant you are assigned to create for will not necessarily be creating for you.)
There is a short period after the assignment due date for the mods to ensure all fanworks have been received, and then the collection opens and squeeing commences.
What are the requirements?
- Fanworks for Innumerable Stars must be a minimum of 500 words or a nice sketch on clean, unlined paper. (Note that we welcome various artistic mediums, so artists, please translate 'nice sketch on clean, unlined paper' to your medium.)
- Participants must abide by any Do Not Wants listed in their assignment.
- Participants will create for one of the requests listed in their assignment; it is their choice which one to create for.
- Participants will comment on the fanwork created for them after the collection opens. If they feel they cannot leave any positive comment, they will bring the issue to the mods.
- Participants will be respectful of others. This is a welcoming, inclusive event.
- Fanworks must be the creator's own work, without any use of generative AI, such as MidJourney or ChatGPT.
Better editorial control - if we need to update a post, we know there aren't versions in circulation that aren't up to date.
Is there a way to get in touch with the mods other than here or Tumblr?
Yes, you can email us, innumerablestars.exchange at Gmail dot com.
The Friday Five for 6 June 2025
5 June 2025 15:38anais_pf posting in thefridayfive1. Have you ever been to summer camp?
2. Have you ever made a s'more?
3. Have you ever slept under the stars (no tent/tarp)?
4. Have you ever had a member of the opposite sex sleep over at your house?
5. What type of bed do you have (queen, twin, bunk, etc.)?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!
2. Have you ever made a s'more?
3. Have you ever slept under the stars (no tent/tarp)?
4. Have you ever had a member of the opposite sex sleep over at your house?
5. What type of bed do you have (queen, twin, bunk, etc.)?
Copy and paste to your own journal, then reply to this post with a link to your answers. If your journal is private or friends-only, you can post your full answers in the comments below.
If you'd like to suggest questions for a future Friday Five, then do so on DreamWidth or LiveJournal. Old sets that were used have been deleted, so we encourage you to suggest some more!