Support Groups! (WRITERS ONLY, everyone else can ignore this post.) (original) (raw)

We're close to finalizing sign-ups on the last two sections of our challenge (again, JOIN and FRIEND this comm if you are writing/doing art), so I want to get started on forming up our support groups. Last year, in order to promote a feeling of comrades in arms in the community, I encouraged writers to break themselves up into little subsets of our challenge here, so that they could set up a little e-mail chain to check on their progress/encourage one another/harass one another, etc. Each group could interact as much as they wished.

It can be a really good way to get to know your fellow challenge writers, and let's face it--if any challenge were worth bitching over, it's probably going to be this one. This is just meant to be an additional resource for you to call upon. Sometimes working with new people can be really invigorating. You don't necessarily have to read each other's stories - that'd be nice, optimal really - but you can complain and cry or ask for whatever help you need, like StoriesAnonymous or something.

Make it into what you need; anything goes with the groups.

Now, this year, because of the amazing VOLUME of writers, we'll do these a bit differently.

** If you want to be a member of a support group, and you know people already in this challenge, one member can comment with the names of the people in their group. (ie, email each other and come report back to me.) No more than 5 or 6 people per group, please.

** If you want to be a member of a support group, and you don't know many people in this challenge, you can talk amongst yourselves in comments - introduce yourself, (talk about what you want to write/what you'd like from a group, etc.) see if anyone comments back and form up that way. Again, no more than 5 or 6 people, please. (And once you find your group, make one comment with all your names that I will see. *g*)

** If you want to be a member of a support group, and you don't know many people in this challenge, but the thought of introducing yourself in comments is omg NERVEWRACKING, I will happily assign you to groups. FILL OUT THE FOLLOWING POLL IF SELECTING THIS OPTION.

(PLEASE NOTE: I reserve the right to mix you up ACROSS SECTIONS, so long as I'm following the parameters of the poll. *grins* YAY UNITY. I'd actually love to mix people up a bit more, but I also totally understand the desire sometimes to talk with the people who really love your favorite pairing.

So make sure you're filling out the poll in the most accurate way possible, or find yourself your own group in the comments section - say directly what kind of people you're looking for; I don't care. *g* (No pairing bashing, obviously.) Let's have a controlled free-for-all. Emphasis on 'controlled'.)

** If you are a lone stallion and have no interest in a support group, you can skip over the rest of this post. (Also: It's totally fine if you don't want a group! Some people like writing alone! Whatever you are comfortable with is the point here.)

We'll have roll calls at least biweekly where members of your support group can report in on everyone's progress.

Or some such thing. We'll figure it out as we go, have some way to make this fun. I want this to be a cool experience for all of you, not something where you're feeling alone, miserable, and googling 'voodoo' at 3 in the morning to use against us.

There is also a list of ready and willing cheerleaders for each section of the challenge. You can find them in the 'cheerleaders: the cheering section' tag at the side. I *strongly encourage* you to use them. If you know your group members are swamped, and you just want someone to tell you you're not hideous, these people have signed up their time and encouraging skills all for you. Take them up on it! If you're not going to be a member of a smaller group here, this is especially useful for you.

Or if you're in the 'other het/other slash' section, you can certainly go through the sign-ups page and comment to the people there writing in your pairing to see if there's any interest (OT4 people especially, I'm looking at you) - MAKE THIS WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE. There's small subsections within the other het/other slash section pairings-wise that could easily be converted into groups, should you all choose, or we can mix this up quite a bit.

I leave it in your hands. This poll is open until Sunday to get in our last Saturday sign-ups. I will post my random assignments on Monday. I want all support groups finalized on Monday, so get them together by then.

POLL IS CLOSED.

If you want me to randomly assign you to a group, pick the following that best describes you:

I am writing Gen in the Sheppard/McKay and Gen section, and I want to be assigned with people writing Gen.

I am writing Sheppard/McKay in the Sheppard/McKay and Gen section, and I want to be assigned with people only writing Sheppard/McKay.

I am writing Sheppard/McKay in the Sheppard/McKay and Gen section, and I want to be assigned with people writing slash.

I am writing Gen or Sheppard/McKay and I don't care who's in my group; I'll take anyone.

I am writing in Het in the Other Slash/Other Het section, and I want to be assigned with people writing Het.

I am writing in the Slash in the Other Slash/Other Het section, and I want to be assigned with people writing Slash.

I am writing in the Other Slash/Other Het section, and I don't care who's in my group; I'll take anyone.

I am writing in the Sheppard/Weir section, and I want to be assigned with people writing only Sheppard/Weir.

I am writing in the Sheppard/Weir section and I want to be assigned with people writing Het.

I am writing in the Sheppard/Weir section, and I don't care who's in my group; I'll take anyone.