Current Thoughts

[oceanmyth]

- Wondering if it would be a good idea to write up a personal general fandom exchange list so that I don't wind up accidentally forgetting likes/dws when I sign up for things-- I'd like to get more involved with fests and exchanges, though I don't have the writing stamina for full bangs yet. Maybe a mini-bang.

- Trying to write an intro post for this account, and it's going very slowly. I have no idea what to include.

- I should practice my art more, I want to get good enough that I'm more comfortable posting and sharing. I like the rough sketch I did of a Gawain yesterday, but I'm nervous to try and draw something else in case I go through another patch where I feel like I'm worse than before.

- Thinking about the best way to try and construct a place for Arthuriana fandom to gather. I feel like it's out there, poking around/scrolling the tags on various fan websites prove it, but I can't tell whether the relative inactivity is actually due to size, or simply being spread out over multiple different sites, or just a different method of engaging with canon.

Okay so there are a lot more thoughts where that came from so I should probably split this off into a different post.

Comments

[lightbird]

People do often pin their 'Dear Author' letter posts once they enter an exchange, and then each time they enter a new exchange, they link people to that pinned post in their new exchange letters. As they get into new fandoms, interests change, etc. they can just update that pinned post.

I don't generally enter the exchanges, because offline life can get hectic for me and I don't want to default on people, so I don't have any examples, but if there's a particular fest you're interested in you can check out the journals of some of the other members.

I've been on DW for a long time and still never got around to creating an 'about me' post. I have that stuff in my profile instead, lol. I have one sticky post that's just my list of fanworks.

[oceanmyth]

Pinning a 'Dear Author' letter sounds like a good idea-- really I just need to collect my preferences in a place where I can refer back to them again. I get into a cycle of signing up for something because I think it'd be interesting, and then scrambling to figure out what *I* want out of a given exchange. It's that cycle of "Oh no, I don't know what I want" that generally scares me out of signing up for stuff for the most part.

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Wondering if it would be a good idea to write up a personal general fandom exchange list so that I don't wind up accidentally forgetting likes/dws when I sign up for things <<

Go for it!

>> I'd like to get more involved with fests and exchanges, though I don't have the writing stamina for full bangs yet. Maybe a mini-bang.<<

allbingo is currently running a drabble fest. Each month brings a new fest.

fandomcalendar lists all sizes of events, including mini-bangs.

You might also like this post on how to run a bang.

>> Trying to write an intro post for this account, and it's going very slowly. I have no idea what to include.<<

Consider frames like the Twitter Exodus Friending Meme or other friending memes. See friending_memes for more such ideas.

>> I should practice my art more<<

Go for it!

>> I want to get good enough that I'm more comfortable posting and sharing. <<

That's a good goal, but you might need to work on things like confidence or self-compassion in addition to technical art skills. Subscribing to other artists might help -- not everyone posts professional-level stuff, there are novices posting too.

>> I like the rough sketch I did of a Gawain yesterday,<<

Yay!

>> but I'm nervous to try and draw something else in case I go through another patch where I feel like I'm worse than before.<<

Art skill is part visual and part muscle memory. Both improve with practice. Yes, there are times you'll feel like you suck at drawing. Draw anyway. If you're not making any mistakes, you're not learning, you're coasting.

Or as Picasso put it: "If you hear a voice within you say, 'You cannot paint,' then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced."

There are lots of online sources for art prompts, and some for sketch practice that will give you pictures of poses. This still-life resource gives many subjects and why it is helpful to draw them:
https://web.archive.org/web/20220000000000*/https://www.studentartguide.com/articles/still-life-drawing-ideas

>>Thinking about the best way to try and construct a place for Arthuriana fandom to gather. I feel like it's out there, poking around/scrolling the tags on various fan websites prove it, but I can't tell whether the relative inactivity is actually due to size, or simply being spread out over multiple different sites, or just a different method of engaging with canon.<<

All of those are possible. It would be helpful if you could figure out which is more salient, as that would inform the best way to create a gathering spot.

However, it's easy to make a community on Dreamwidth. If you have a handful of friends interested in the topic, that's a worthwhile option.

Re: Thoughts

[oceanmyth]

Oh wow I was not expecting to get comments this long on my posts!(Not a bad thing, just a bit more culture shock from being used to micro-blogging platforms or Discord.)

I'll definitely check out allbingo, I love drabbles/short fics, the current fest looks exactly up my alley for some writing! I've been looking through the fandom calendar, nothing has really caught my interest yet-- I suppose its the consequence of being interested in smaller fandoms/fandoms that have decreased in activity over the years/fandoms that primarily host events on Tumblr. I might consider running a bang or two in the future, it looks a lot more manageable than I'd always thought.

Re: Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> Oh wow I was not expecting to get comments this long on my posts!(Not a bad thing, just a bit more culture shock from being used to micro-blogging platforms or Discord.) <<

Most comments tend to be short. However, requests for information or questions on deep topics can draw much longer replies. I just happen to be scanning for newcomers right now, because of the Twitter Exodus, and I want to help folks find what they need to enjoy Dreamwidth so they stay here and do things.

>> I'll definitely check out allbingo, I love drabbles/short fics, the current fest looks exactly up my alley for some writing!<<

Yay!

>> I've been looking through the fandom calendar, nothing has really caught my interest yet-- I suppose its the consequence of being interested in smaller fandoms/fandoms that have decreased in activity over the years/fandoms that primarily host events on Tumblr. <<

Do keep watching. I have seen fests there which focus on small fandoms, singly or as a group.

>> I might consider running a bang or two in the future, it looks a lot more manageable than I'd always thought.<<

As a small starting point, consider hosting a fest on allbingo. They only run one month, although folks can play any card at any time, and don't take a lot of effort. You can pick any topic, and if you're into several small/older fandoms then I recommend a single fest that would cover all of them. Some hosts like to offer multiple prompt lists so players can specialize or mix-and-match.

The 2023 community calendar will go up some time in November or December.