The Week That Was

[teddy_radiator]

Work continues to kick butt but pay bills. Fair enough. Another chapter of the novel is about to go vault-side, which is good.

Thursday night, TheHubs™ and I went to see the local theatre's production of Les Miz. It was the one we both auditioned for as the Thenadiers. It was an incredibly good local production - the scenery, costumes, effects, all superb. I spoke to the director (who also runs the theatre) and he said it was their greatest triumph, and I can see why. I was moved to tears more than once, and I wasn't the only one. Many friends of ours were in the cast, so we went back and congratulated them. Madam T was exceptionally good - I don't think I could have done anywhere as good a job as she did. Monsieur T was, however, a total flop. TheHubs™ could have blown him out of the water. He was, as many agreed, the big disappointment of the show. Oh, well.

Yesterday was TheHubs™ birthday, which we celebrated by spending all day at an outdoor gig, where his band played. The organiser had them start too early, which meant they were contracted to finish just as the real party crowd arrived. He broke down and asked them to play another two hours for extra money, which they did. It was a nice enough place (a swanky golf club's Kickoff to Summer party), but I was Billy No-Mates there most of the time. TheHubs™ did thank me for coming - he said it meant a lot to him, so that mollified me a bit. To celebrate, we went to our favourite local, very authentic Irish Pub today and had a great meal, which TheHubs™ got his age's percentage off his meal. At our age, we're really stealing from the restaurant on these deals. We're at that age where we can start enjoying Senior discounts (my mother says it's the ONLY perk of growing old), but we either forget or are too embarrassed to ask.

I'm very excited to be participating in the hp_silencio fest. If you don't know anything about it, please give it a look. It's a 'no-dialogue' writing fest, and some of the prompts are just wonderful. It's also a low-stress fest - 1K min, 5K max word count, and entries aren't due until August 31. The fest also states that, if you like a prompt but don't necessarily want to write the pairing indicated, you can change the characters as long as the prompter hasn't specifically said not to use them. I got my first choice, and I'm already well into it - it's one that my Muse really wanted me to do, and stgulik and I chose one another's prompts, just to shake things up a bit. I'm very excited about this, and encourage you all to give it a try. A thousand words is easy peasy!

I know the fandom is dwindling; it's an inevitable part of life that all good things must come to an end. I still enjoy writing in the fandom (I guess coming to it fairly late has something to do with it), and as long as I do, I plan on continuing to produce something, if only to learn to be a better writer. And I happily admit I enjoy it.

I will be in deep lurk mode next week - several Midnight work days ahead, which I am dreading, but hey, it's money, and money we need. I also desperately need a vacation. My mom is talking about paying for us to go down to the seaside for several days, and the thought makes my mouth water. Just a few days away would be heavenly.

Hugs to all who need them, and get on over to Silencio - you'll be glad you did. There's something there for everyone! ;)

Comments

[droxy.livejournal.com]

happy B-day to the hubs. I am still going to Misty con though. The activity in fandom is dwindling, but I think we will all remain HP fans. For me, work has been excessively onerous. Where I had times of really busy to medium busy it's been full bore all the time, and it kills me. I barely got promptfest done. I may post a poll to GS100. Not sure on that.

Although fandom has less activity I see more of it on FB than here. But I like it here on LJ. I just don't have anything that is drawing me in as a fandom. Instead I may just do historical costuming as that can go anywhere. =)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yes, we are both planning on Con this year, barring no crisis. And if the work keeps on like this, we'll be able to afford it, and we'll need the rest, for sure!

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

The fringe aspect of the fandom is dwindling, but the core is as strong as ever... so there are less of us, there are still many of us, doing what we love to do in that world. Can't wait to see you all at MistiCon.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That's what feels so right to me - this fandom struck a bell deep within me. It wasn't anything I would have predicted or sought out, but when it struck, it struck down deep, the very innermost part of myself. From that came this amazing web of friends who are now tethered to my heart in a way I have never experienced before. Never has anything like this happened to me before, and probably never will - that's why I know the importance of it. It was what I was waiting for to find myself, my Muse and my life purpose. It was the catalyst to help me come alive. At the end of my life, when people ask me what started it all, I won't say, Harry Potter. I will say, Harry Potter Fandom, and the people in it who lifted me higher than I ever dreamed of going. It may sound a little melodramatic, but that's how it feels in here.

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

Well said, this is how it was for Us, this fandom changed My Life, showed Me My Soulmate, and it's still giving... to those of us who are keeping things going

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

This! ♥ It's always strongest at the core!

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

True this!

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

~I am still going to Misty con though. The activity in fandom is dwindling, but I think we will all remain HP fans~

This :-)

I can't wait for Misti.

Now that I've begun writing original fiction, it's pretty much consuming most of my time, and then I've been enjoying the horror fandom... But I'll always love HP. There's nothing like it.

I hope that someday, somehow, all of us who are still HP fans will get to enjoy the additions to the Wizarding World together...

[droxy.livejournal.com]

Me too. I hope JKR writes another HP book. =)

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

It'll be interesting to see what happens after those Fantastic Beast films they're planning come out? The films could be very neat...

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Me too, dear. While I love writing my original story, I love the comeraderie and love of HP Fandom,and I love reading and writing fanfiction. We will be a Con, and can't wait to see you!

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be skipping all the way over to Misti! Well, metaphorically speaking, because I'll be driving ;-)

When I look at my little vials and bottles and curiosities and Potter books, there's sparkles around my heart, you know? This is magic that never dies ♥

[toblass.livejournal.com]

Happy bday to Trev! Sounds like it was a pleasant one and getting a deal on his meal is a good thing! And money for work is good, so as long as you aren't overworking, welcome the extra load and then enjoy the seaside later.
I think as long as we love hp and our ships, we're ok. Keep on writing, Teddy. And I will continue cheering us all on.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, sweetie! I know it's not as popular as it once was, but I still love it, and as long as DMuse wants me to write it, I will. But it means so much to know my friends are there cheering me on.

[stgulik.livejournal.com]

I gave Teddy her choice of five of the prompts, and she chose three of them. The mods gave her the first choice. It wasn't a prompt I submitted, AND it wasn't a Snape-centric prompt, but she'll do wonderfully!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you for having such confidence in me. I'm really enjoying working on my Silencio fic. It's a great fest.

[minaharker87.livejournal.com]

Thanks for bringing silentio to my attention. Your encouragement actually made me decide to be brave and give it a try. It's been ages (more than 10 years) since I've written anything, but I'm really looking forward to trying to write fanfic again!

Happy birthday to the hubs and I hope work won't be too stressful next week.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I am delighted and humbled at your words. Brava to you for being brave! I know you'll do an awesome job, and thank you for your well-wishes! ♥

[dragoon811.livejournal.com]

Glad to hear he had a good birthday!!

The fandom is dwindling? I'm actually surprised, I haven't noticed. I don't think I'll ever leave the fandom! Then again, I did join in the writing part a little late. I love Harry Potter too much to ever give it up, though, no matter how much "real life" intrudes.

I hope you do get a vacation, the seaside sounds lovely!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

Fandom is, unfortunately, dwindling, as many of our more veteran authors move on to original fiction or other fandoms. I have found my place here within HP fandom, and I don't forsee finding another fandom that speaks to me with such personal emphasis, but you never say never.

I came to it late as well, and many of the authors I fangurled over have moved on for quite some time, but I still love their stories and still find inspiration in them.

[dragoon811.livejournal.com]

I hope you stay for a long time. You inspire me to write. ♥

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

That is a beautiful thing to say, and the greatest compliment you can ever give me. Thank you for this. If I have in any way inspired you, I am so grateful. You are an excellent writer, and I know any fic you write is always going to be terrific.

[dragoon811.livejournal.com]

You do inspire me, Teddy!!! :)

And thank you so much, I hope I live up to expectations. :)

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Indeed, I still love the HP book series and the fandom itself, even if my creative endeavors seem to be in a completely different area now (cooking). Do you think there is a niche for Julia Child fanfic, LOL?

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I think there is a niche for any type of fandom you can imagine out there, sweetie! But in reality, I know what HP Fandom did for me. It was the catalyst Dahlra used to allow my eyes to be opened. He found the one thing that really snagged in deep, and he opened the world of it up to me. I don't like to make it sound like a means to an end, but it was for him.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Yes, were it not for HP, I don't know if I would have discovered my Muse. If so, it would have taken a lot longer. Getting into HP fandom really helped me take a quantum leap in every area of my life.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

As always, Mimi, my angel, you have said the words I don't possess. That is exactly how I feel. And once it happened, I knew it was what I'd been waiting to happen all along. Sometimes I'm said I wasn't younger when it happened, but perhaps I needed that mileage to help me to appreciate and use what I'd discovered.

[ex-logospil.livejournal.com]

~Getting into HP fandom really helped me take a quantum leap in every area of my life~

This! ♥ I wouldn't be where I am now, in every area of my life, if it wasn't for HP fandom.

[snarkysneak.livejournal.com]

Fandom won't die if we don't let it!!! Please keep writing!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

My feelings exactly! I am constantly encouraging my friends here and on FB to write, or draw, or participate in some way to keep the fires burning.I promise I will keep writing as long as my Muse tells me to!

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

The Fandom may be dwindling as writers move onto original fiction, but I am reading as much SSHG (and a few other pairs) as I ever have. My daily dose of the HP fandom makes me a very happy camper.

RL work has become much more involved than it was as newer and more regulation sets in. I've been doing this for 35 years and will be retiring in a few years, I guess. But my love for the science will never wane. And my love for Severus Snape won't either. Don't you stop writing, Teddy. I am working my way through my "list of fanfics to read," and there are some of yours still on my list.

Happy B'day to TheHubs. Give him a hug for me and keep one for yourself.

Loves ya,
Beffey

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Darling Beffey. I love writing SSHG, and I'm branching out into other pairings as well. I still love writing HP fanfiction, and as long as my Muse directs me, I'll continue doing it. I love my original stuff, but fanfiction has been good to me. I still love reading and writing it.

I'm glad that your love for your chosen field is still strong. As long as that happens, I think it's easier to put up with the red tape and other junk.

OT: Your story has been featured on the SSHG Quiz!

[morethansirius.livejournal.com]

This week quiz_sshg returns with the SSHG Prompt Fest Quiz! Your story, The Witchhiker's Guide to Beltane, has been featured on the quiz along with a quote and link to your story. Please accept this Featured Author banner as our thank you for sharing your story with SSHG fangirls everywhere.

Your Featured Author Banner
Come play the SSHG Prompt Fest Quiz!

Re: OT: Your story has been featured on the SSHG Quiz!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! You have made my day!!!