I think there's still some confusion as to how the comm works.

Anyone is free to WATCH the community, but only artists and authors who are participating in the 2009 Challenge will be allowed to JOIN the community. We do it this way because we use locked posts for things like final check-ins, art polling and logistics/planning.

So -- for my sanity, PLEASE STOP TRYING TO JOIN IF YOU'RE NOT AN ARTIST OR AN AUTHOR. I promise you won't miss anything important like the stories or art, which will be announced in a public post.

It's time for Roll Call #1! This is to gauge your progress...where you're at, where others are at, and to kinda keep track of your progress.

Anyone else watching, please feel free to jump in and encourage a writer for a moment if they have an idea that sounds kinda kickass, or if it seems like someone's discouraged.

ROLL CALL!

- What pairing (if any) are you writing?
- What's your basic plot?
- What's your word count so far?
- Which of these descriptions best describes how you're feeling about your story?

a) (fantastic!) We're cooking with gas. Dinner is going to be om-nom-nom!
b) (not so hot!) Somewhere around 38,999 words there will be a melt-down of some kind. I am sure it will be very devastating. And wrap up things nicely. I'M JUST HOLDING ON TILL I CAN KILL *EVERYONE*, OKAY?!
c) (asi-asi! (translation: okay!)) Warm fuzzies abound, but things might get a bit rocky. Soonish.

Extra question (if you feel like sharing, that is):

- What's the part of your story that you're most looking forward to writing? (You can be vague so as not to spoil a...er, climax. *g*)

Next check-in will be July 30th, or thereabouts -- your mod will be at a con, so it might be later. Or earlier. ::handwaves:: You might want to have *at least* 5,000 words by then. *g*

Also? I'm turning off mail notifications on this post -- if you need me to see something, or have a question, feel free to PM me. I'll do my best to keep up with comments, but I'm counting on you guys to police yourselves. Play nice, and remember that character/pairing/genre bashing is not allowed.

There has been an uptick in people asking for membership in the comm -- unless you are a writer or an artist for the CURRENT CHALLENGE, I will reject your membership request. Please don't take it personally -- we use locked posts to take care of comm business, and it's easier for the mods to keep track of what's going on if we don't have a lot of extraneous commenting from non-authors and non-artists.

We are pleased to welcome the following authors and artists to sgabigbang for the 2009 Challenge! (If you signed up, and we somehow missed you, please comment below.)

( 2009 Authors and Artists )

This will be the last PUBLIC POST for a bit now, so it's really important that all authors and artists join and watch sgabigbang.

( Check here to make sure you're not on the list! )

A note: if you are not an author or artist, I've rejected your request to join the comm. It's nothing personal -- just policy. We promise you won't miss anything important!

Sign-ups for AUTHORS and ARTISTS are officially closed.

Give me a day or so to finish recording who's doing what, and to get everyone signed up on the comm, and we'll start to organize support groups.... If you asked me a question, or needed help -- don't panic. We'll sort things out, and get you signed up.

CHEERLEADERS, BETA READERS and WEB HELPERS -- please continue to sign up! We need your help, and I'll be coming back to you in a week or so....

Y'all have about an hour and a half to sign up for this year's Big Bang as an AUTHOR or an ARTIST -- pass the word, get off the fence, come and play!

Sign-ups CLOSE at MIDNIGHT Eastern Standard Time on May 29th (that's today!)

SIGN-UPS END MAY 29TH @ MIDNIGHT EST. That's tomorrow, folks!

Please go HERE for updated lists of AUTHORS and ARTISTS who still need to JOIN/FRIEND the sgabigbang comm....

Please go HERE for updated lists of AUTHORS and ARTISTS who still need to JOIN/FRIEND the sgabigbang comm....

Please go HERE for updated lists of AUTHORS and ARTISTS who still need to JOIN/FRIEND the sgabigbang comm....

UPDATED LISTS as of 5/25/09

OMG YOU GUYS! In less than 24 ~48 hours about three days with about a day left in sign-ups, 60 84 101 126 authors/co-writers and 26 40 50 61 artists have signed up!

The following AUTHORS need to join (and watch) the comm:
( author names behind the cut )

The following ARTISTS need to join (and watch) the comm:
( artist names behind the cut )

ETA: If you're not using the same user name that you signed up with, you have to link together the name you used to sign up for the challenge, and the name you are using to join the comm -- either drop a comment here, or PM gblvr....

WE ARE A GO FOR SGA BIG BANG 2009!

(To that end -- we did a bit of housekeeping, and removed members, so that we can start fresh. If you're playing again this year, you are welcome to rejoin the comm as soon as you sign up!)

For those who've never played before, here's how the SGA Big Bang works: Writers write a story of at least 40,000 words, and a fannish artist or vidder reads the story and creates something based on it. Everything (art, stories, vids, etc.) is hosted in an archive; when everything is ready the archive goes live, resulting in you going blind from trying to read all these huge stories and checking out all the fantastic artwork and vids. Sounds fun, right?

Our proposed schedule is as follows:

May 22nd: Writer/Artist sign-ups open.
May 29th: Writer/Artist sign-ups close.
August 14th: 15,000 word check-in.
September 29th: COMPLETED story drafts are due.
October 1st: Stories go to artists.
October 14th: Final copy of stories submitted to the story database. No exceptions will be made.
November 2nd: Art, vids, etc., due.
November 12th (or 13th): Site goes live.

Every month, there will be at least one check-in post and one group SGA Big Bang chat for fun. We will poll on the community to figure out a time that will work for the most people.

::takes a deep breath::

Still with us? Good, now to the sign-ups. To keep this straight, and to keep your mods from going CRAZY (er...crazier?) we're going to split the sign-ups into the following groups:

If you are an AUTHOR who wants to sign up, GO HERE.
If you are an ARTIST who wants to sign up, GO HERE.

Not a writer or artist? We have ways for you to play along as well:

If you want to submit PROMPTS for others, go HERE.
If you are offering to BETA READ, go HERE.
If you would like to be a CHEERLEADER, go HERE.
If you're a SKIN DESIGNER or interested in CODING, go HERE.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the third and final year the challenge will be hosted on the sgabigbang/SGA Big Bang site.... We want to go out with a BANG as it were, and think it's good to wrap up now, while we still have the energy and enthusiasm to do it well.

That should cover everything! If you have any questions, just leave a comment on this post, so that either svmadelyn or gblvr will see it.

(You can check out the 2007 challenge HERE; the 2008 challenge is HERE. Banners, linkback buttons and icons are HERE!)

Skin Designer: You must be able to do both CSS and skin graphics if you'd like to help out. Our fabulous website guru is returning for more, so they'll tell you what to do!

Coding help: Basically, you'd help with coding stories and in any other way the Web Designers need you.

If you would like to sign up as a skin designer or a coder, copy and paste the text from the box below, and replace ANSWER HERE with your response.

<b>User name/Pseud:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Email:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Skin Designer or Coder?</b> ANSWER HERE

If you would like to sign up to be a cheerleader for this year's writers - in that you're available for a bit of pre-reading, for bouncing off some ideas, some, you can DO THIS TIGER sentiments, copy and paste the text from the box below, and replace ANSWER HERE with your response.

<b>User name/Pseud:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Email:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>What pairings/genres you're willing to read:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>IM contact (if you're comfortable):</b> ANSWER HERE

Please note: This is different from beta work - no editing required or anything, just a willingness to hand-hold and give people the will to live through the writing of their stories!

This is the beta reader sign up post for the 2009 sgabigbang; most people will already have their own beta reader, but hey, maybe they want to try someone new. Furthermore, there is a requirement for a minimum of two beta readers per story for this challenge, so they well could need your expertise! To volunteer, copy and paste the text from the box below, and replace ANSWER HERE with your response.

<b>User name/Pseud:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Email:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>What pairings/genres you're willing to read:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>What are your strengths as a beta reader?</b> ANSWER HERE <b>What kind of turn around time can someone expect from you?</b> ANSWER HERE

Please note: There will be enough beta readers to go around. To ensure the best quality story, we ask you to not beta for more than one (or possibly two, you'll know your own time commitments best) stories. The ONLY exception made is if somehow, someone finishes a month early, and you want to help out.

In the years past, we've offered specific prompts mostly because we were interested in seeing what people could do with the same starting point, and it's fascinating to watch the paths diverge. This year, we want the challenge to go out with a BANG - we want you to write the story of your heart, the thing you never thought you'd manage to write in SGA. Our show is gone, but our fandom's still here, and instead of a Season Six premiere, we hope you'll help celebrate the five awesome years we had with SGA by making this a great challenge.

If you're stuck, here are some suggestions:

Write a story based (however loosely) on one of the prompts in the comments. (This means you can also give prompts (hint, hint).)

Or....

What do you think happened to the expedition in the Vegas!verse? Tell us what happened when they first went to Pegasus; tell us what happens after they meet John; tell us what happens when they go back to Atlantis. Or make up your own alternate universe, and tell us what happened to *them.* (gblvr loves this idea.)

Or....

Cliches. svmadelyn really loves those. FORCED TO BE MARRIED. SEX POLLEN. WHOOPS, BODY-SWITCHING. ALIENS MADE THEM DO IT. And so on and so forth.

Okay, so you hate cliches and alternate universes. Write something set post-season 5. Yes, anything. We love this idea -- give us the season they took away! SEASON SIX FROM A FAN FOR THE FANS.

None of the prompts below, or suggestions we've made ringing your bell? That's okay. JUST WRITE SOMETHING. ANYTHING. That's right. Disregard all the above prompt suggestions and write what *you* want!

ETA: There is no CLAIMING, per se. The structure of the SGA Big Bang Challenge allows more than one writer to use the same prompt; in fact, we encourage it -- we like to see where two different authors will go from the same starting point!

So, you're interested in doing art for someone's SGA Big Bang story. Sweet. Here's what you need to know:

All completed story drafts are due September 29th; on October 1st, we'll post a list of titles and summaries, along with pairings and/or warnings. When our writers submit their stories, we also have them detail a bit in brief about what kinds of art they enjoy/do not enjoy. We think it's important that you feel safe in knowing that your art is the sort of art your writer just loves.

You won't know which author you'll be doing art for until after all of our prompts have at least one artist assigned.Claiming will be first come-first served. Once you have a story, you'll have a month to read and then complete your art: we welcome vids, manips, drawings, collages, digital paintings, movie-style posters, book covers -- you name it, we'll probably take it!

We ask that you not discuss your assigned story with anyone else, so as to not spoil the surprise for everyone else.

If you want to play, here's what we need from you:

Copy and paste the contents of the box below into a comment, and replace instances of ANSWER HERE with your response. Once you've done that, go join sgabigbang -- be sure to friend the comm as well, as membership and friending are required for check-ins and reminders.

<b>User name/Pseud:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Email:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>What type of art you might do:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Are you willing to pinch hit if needed?</b> ANSWER HERE <b>If yes to pinch hitting, are there any pairings, etc., that you can't do art for?</b> ANSWER HERE

PLEASE NOTE: Sign-ups will be open for one week -- May 22nd to May 29th.

In past years, the challenge has been split into genres and pairings, but this year, we decided to lump everything together -- gen, het, slash -- (almost) everything goes, and everyone signs up in the same place. This challenge is open to any writer who wishes to participate, but you must read 1 through 5 below and agree to follow the guidelines listed.

Participation Guidelines for Writers/Co-writers -- READ THIS! THERE WILL BE A QUIZ! (~just kidding!)

1) Stories are to be 40,000 words, minimally.

1a) You must adhere to these coding guidelines -- there are NO EXCEPTIONS! (We're telling you about them now so you can do them as you go along.)

2) You must have your story beta read by at least two people. If you do not have a beta, there will be a list of betas ready and willing to help you! (Prospective betas, please note that we ask you not to beta for more than one (or possibly two) participants in this challenge.)

3) Your story cannot have appeared anywhere on the net already. If you already have a couple thousand of words of it up, we won't count that, but you must take it off the internet completely for the duration of the challenge.

4) You may not post your story anywhere online until one week after the challenge website goes live.

5) (ALMOST) ANYTHING GOES! Gen, het, slash, threesomes and moresomes; crossovers, alternate and parallel universes, and mash-ups with other sources; backstories, future fic, what-ifs and forks in the road. The sky is the limit!

5a) Having said that, if you feel you need a prompt (or if you have one running around that you aren't going to use), go here: 2009 PROMPTS POST

So -- if you still want to play, here's what we need from you:

Copy and paste the contents of the box into a comment, and replace instances of ANSWER HERE with your response. Once you've done that, go join sgabigbang -- be sure to friend the comm as well, as membership and friending are required for check-ins and reminders.

I have read guidelines 1-5! I'm up for the challenge! <b>User name/Pseud:</b> ANSWER HERE <b>Email:</b> ANSWER HERE <b> I'll be writing:</b> ANSWER HERE with your pairing or GEN, if you're going pairing-free


PLEASE NOTE: Sign-ups will be open for one week -- May 22nd to May 29th.

Since I just got four emails about it this morning - did you all create a secret cabal or something? *g* YES, there definitely will be a sgabigbang this year, with a slightly different timeline than last year's. 'Cause yes, I am crazed enough to run this and boxofmagic at the same time.

Watch this space in a couple of weeks once we have the timeline and structure figured out! :D I'll be asking for some suggestions, input and opinions THEN, (not NOW please, wait for yours truly to get some better internet next week.)

In which I am so very grateful to gblvr and a small explanation for why.

I don't have a much to say about The Water Grinds the Stone at this point.

When I finish and post a story, I go through my files and purge everything but the final product. The only thing that gets saved are cut scenes, which are put away to be cannibalized for other stories. It's sort of a psychological ceremony necessary to free my brain for the next thing. It means I'm utterly worthless at writing introductions, summaries, blurbs or DVD commentaries.

gblvr has been kind enough to do a commentary for me, however, as well as creating the lovely artwork that goes with the story. That's more interesting than me telling you to read it anyway. Because I'm rather biased, after all.

The story covers events in two galaxies spanning fourteen years. Told from the point of views of John Sheppard and Rodney McKay, it tells their personal stories in all their flawed glory after the Stargate Program is disclosed to the public on Earth, along with the story of what happens to Atlantis and Earth afterward, and crosses over with SG-1 in a big way.

Inspirations for The Water Grinds the Stone were dossier's story Te Domum, Venit Hesperus, Ita Canus Filla, two songs, Indigo Girls' Left Me a Fool and Star's Your Ex-Lover Is Dead. That much I remember, but it isn't the story I thought I was going to write.

It's definitely a better story than I started out to write,though, thanks to the beta efforts of dossier, rez_lo, and mirabile_dictu and they have my everlasting thanks.

In case you want to test the waters:

Excerpt

If that doesn't persuade you, do check out gblvr's art and tell her how fantastic it is. Because it is.

Artwork

The first part of gblvr's commentary. (Clocking in at approximately 240,000 words means there will be two posts. eta The story is that long, not the commentary! Ooops.)

Commentary

Intrigued?

The Water Grinds the Stone


*I was supposed to post this yesterday, but luckily tielan posted instead, so I'm usurping her spot in the line-up guiltlessly. Thanks tielan!