Teddy Radiator

If you are not on the SSHG Promptfest, may I direct your attention to the gorgeous art piece there today. It's called Crescendo, and while it's NSFW, it's not really rated NC-17, either. What it IS is a beautifully drawn portrait of our lovers being, well, lovers. It's touching, and beautifully drawn, and blissfully erotic. Please give the MA some real SSHG love.

It's been a great Maundy Thursday, which I know is a bit of an oxymoron in the ecumenical sense, but hey, I'm a simple little agnostic so what do I know?

But seriously, folks.

( All The Things & Picspam )

Today is the final day of the sshg_promptfest, and I have to say it was completed in grand fashion. Please have a look at the sweet story and incredible art of There Was A Crooked Man.

It is short and sweet and soft, and the art that accompanies it is some of the finest in our ship. To me, it embodies the true heart and soul of why I fell in love with the SSHG pairing in the first place. I regret not participating this time, but this truly inspired me and gave me a real hankering to write.

Where Is Everyone? Folks, it's the last day to claim prompts at sshg_promptfest - and there are still over 150 prompts left on the shelf! That's a very high number.

Let me challenge you: if you aren't an sshg fan, why not try a short fic, or art? If you are new to sshg or to writing or drawing fanfiction, why not give this fest a go?

We are a happy bunch of fangurls who thrill to new writers, new artists, and new ideas.  The deadline is tonight at midnight, EDT. You can find these prompts HERE.

Have a look, and take a chance.

I'm issuing a challenge myself to anyone reading this has a different ship or doesn't write or art for sshg that often:

If you claim a prompt and submit an entry, I will write you a 1500 word fic based on YOUR prompt, and your pairing. I mean, ANY pairing. ANY. All you have to do is tell me after the promptfest, and I'll do it.

I'm ready to rise to your challenge - are you ready to rise to mine?

There are still some blinding choices out there - it was sooo hard to choose my number one choice but thankfully, I was able to have loads of alternates. Go on, you know you want to. Let's make this annual SSHG fest the best on LJ - because this ship has the best, most talented and imaginative writers on LJ.

I just want to thank all the participants of this season's sshg_promptfest. It was a terrific fest, full of new authors and artists, and some of us older guard. SSHG is my OTP, and I do love it. I do not exaggerate when I say that it changed my life, and I defend it and champion it and want it to continue to thrive for many years to come. Special thanks to iulia_linnea for her mind-bending mod work to make it all happen with the smooth precision of swiss clockwork.

I had an absolute pants-squeeing fun time writing my fic, The Witchhiker's Guide To Beltane, for jenidralph. As always, stgulik, the Queen of betas, was so instrumental in making this a story I could be proud to submit. She is my partner and my right arm; I cannot express adequately how important she is to me. Thank you, Jules, for all your tough love, your hilarious asides and brilliant suggestions.

As with any story of any length, it becomes a learning experience, and this was no exception. It taught me that I could work under pressure to finish, and I could self-edit when I needed to. Jules is gradually teaching me that I don't have to be so flippin' verbose. I'm not there 100% yet, but at least I'm starting to recognise when to shut up and let the character alone.

We are also planning on starting the sequel to Droxy's Folly this year, and I can't wait. Working together with Jules is a blast in any capacity, but creating a new story together is so much fun it shouldn't really be legal.

I was also gifted with two incredible works as well, which delighted me to no end. lemonade8 rendered the delicious Sultan Snape, which made lights go off inside my head. The details in the art are just so sensual and exotic and evocative, and Snape is so bad he makes me shiver (OMG he's holding a Whip! Be still my flaming knickers). She and I are planning another illustrated story this year, and I'm looking so forward to that.

Also, the too-gorgeous-to-be-believed celestialbeing1 sent the rest of my underclothes up in smoke with her outrageous Talk Dirty To Me, a story so tailor-made to my kinks and perversions it was as if she downloaded my own personal toy closet from my brain. It was love told in my language, and I enjoyed every word of it - several times.

By the way, I am finishing up my sshg_newbies gifts in the next day or so, and hope to get those out to my patient recipients. And I truly haven't forgot, christev, that I owe you a story. I'm at the point where I've earned my three-way badge in Perv Scouts and I'm ready to make this one work.

And the final word on Prompfest: There were so many amazing stories and art that completely floored me and thrilled me. PLEASE go and give these talented creators some comment love. Let them know how much you love SSHG, and how much you appreciate them. Our beautiful ship is still the pride in these waters, and we who sail on her are in their capable hands.

The sshg_promptfest has posted it's first offering of the season and it is spectacular - go and give some love for this Mystery Artist for Nights of Wandlore.

Okay, I know that some of my friends are a little hesitant, but I am urging you, begging you, to go to sshg_promptfest right now, and pick a prompt and write/draw/craft/cook/sing whatever!

There are still so many awesome prompts waiting for you to go and claim them. It's so easy, and really, all of us have creative strengths. It doesn't have to be an epic; it can be a poem. It can be a song! There are prompts that would allow you to create a recipe for food, or make dolls to represent the characters, or a crosstitch or crochet or knitting item. I've seen people put together scrapbooks for a prompt. Last time someone created jewelry.

Everyone has the ability, and the need to create. If you're not sure what your medium is, or how to use your medium, just go through the prompts - one of them is waiting for you. This is a magnificent opportunity to play to your strengths with a pairing and a fandom that loves originality and cleverness when putting together something for a prompt.

You CAN create. You can give a treasured gift to someone. You can do it! Don't hesitate, don't doubt; just go there now, and create. The world is waiting to hear your story, no matter how you choose to tell it. Open up your heart to inspiration; it will give you a feeling of accomplishment like no other. Don't be afraid.

Prompts start September 8 - I know some of my friends out there were bemoaning not participating in the last one - here is your chance to shine!