I Have Written Some Things!

[dawn_felagund]

Well, when it rains it pours, in a good way this time. Some of you might remember a few weeks ago when I had mad deadlines for things and was biting my fingers till they bled (how I react when stressed out!). Both being due simultaneously meant that they were both published within the past two days

Comments

[ysilme]

Congratulations on all accounts! :o)

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! It's been an exciting weekend. :)

[lindahoyland]

Love your article on the founding of the SWG. I truly appreciate all you do for fandom. I don't think all the tales of M-e will ever be told.

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! It was surprisingly difficult to write. When Curtis, the editor, asked me at Mythmoot if I'd be interested in writing it, I of course agreed right away, thinking it'd be a quick and easy piece to put together. HA. I angsted over it for weeks before sending it off. The SWG and Tolkien fandom are so important to me, I wanted to do right by them both.

[indy1776]

I'm looking forward to reading the Mythprint article when you put it on HL.

Your article on the SWG is lovely, Dawn.

Though this line made me boggle: "the people who won’t join because Fëanor’s mother is listed on the site’s character list as Míriel Serindë and not Míriel Þerindë."

Seriously? People won't join the SWG because it uses the spelling used in the Silm itself rather than in an essay that most people probably haven't even read?

Your conclusion brought a smile to my face. I want to quote the penultimate paragraph in its entirety.

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you so much! *blushes* It was surprisingly difficult to write. How to distill ten years and so many people and experiences into an article? Curtis the editor didn't put a word limit on me, but I didn't think he'd exactly appreciate "SWG: The Epic Journey!!" either! :D

Seriously? People won't join the SWG because it uses the spelling used in the Silm itself rather than in an essay that most people probably haven't even read?

Yes, seriously. And your reasoning is the same as ours. The character list was generated from the Index of Names when the site was first built; we will add characters from UT or the HoMe, of course, but the base list is from the Silm. Since we're a Silmarillion group, it isn't fair to expect people who have read The Silmarillion but don't have access to (or want to read!) UT and the HoMe to boggle through names from those texts in place of names from the Silm. I am more interested in being friendly to newcomers to the Silm than smoothing the perceived emotions of fictional characters

[indy1776]

You are very welcome! I'm not surprised it was difficult to write; things like that always are because they mean so much.

it isn't fair to expect people who have read The Silmarillion but don't have access to (or want to read!) UT and the HoMe to boggle through names from those texts in place of names from the Silm.

That is exactly what I thought. And I'm one of those people who uses HoME as reference, not fun reading. (*looks at the reread* *laughs semi-hysterically* I honestly hadn't read most of the drafts before it; I got HoME for the essays.) And there are times I'm tempted to use the Silm names despite the Quenya versions being more accurate to the location.

I am more interested in being friendly to newcomers to the Silm than smoothing the perceived emotions of fictional characters.Me, too. They're fictional; their opinions don't matter in the slightest. But on the politics side of things, at least two years ago, that's how some fans on Tumblr were identifying themselves as Fëanorians: they used the thorn whenever possible in

[dawn_felagund]

But on the politics side of things, at least two years ago, that's how some fans on Tumblr were identifying themselves as Fëanorians: they used the thorn whenever possible in all seriousness.

I didn't want to say where this particular inquiry about the spelling of Miriel's name on the archive had come from but ...

;^)

When things like that happen, I always view it as the SWG (or MPTT/B2MeM/whatever) just not being a good fit for that person/people. And that's fine! It won't be for everyone. We don't take sides in fictional politics, for one. And one of our priorities is making newcomers to the Silm feel comfortable and want to keep reading/discussing/learning. If the former is something a person cares about and the latter doesn't matter to them at all, they're just not going to find us a good fit for their needs. Recognizing that early on is probably best for all parties involved.

[dreamflower02]

Congratulations, dear! Both articles are lovely. The one about the founding of the SWG is very moving, and the Feanor one gives me thinky-thoughts. There may be Comments later!

(((hugs)))) Ten years! And MPTT is coming up on six! Wow!

[dawn_felagund]

I remember when I started in Tolkien fandom and HASA was just turning four. I was like, "Wow ... that's so long to be around." And now I'm the founder of a decade-old group and a mod on one creeping up on six. Wow indeed! :)

Thank you for reading both and your kind words. I look forward to any comments you may have! :D

[periantari]

wow congrats! Will check them out when i can! =)

[dawn_felagund]

Thank you! :) It's been an exciting weekend to be sure!