Monday, March 24, 2008

Story Updates + Mid-Month Nuzgul

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


The following members have a birthday this month. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Elena Tiriel (March, 14) requested, "I'd love a drabble about any character, event, place, or object from Tolkien's world that especially fascinates you... the (Middle-earth) sky's the limit!"

Vistula the Dunadan (March, 20) requested, " ...having spent the past nine months settling into a new - long anticipated - home, I'd love a drabble centered around a new home, or new place to live. And if you could slip my dear Samwise in it somehow, that'd be even sweeter."

Obsidianj (March, 24) requested, " I would like a drabble about either Aragorn or Boromir and if it would be possible to have both in one drabble that would make my day."


The following drabbles have been written in the past week:

The King’s Colors by Dwimordene for Obsidianj

Home Is Where The Heart Is by Larner for Jay (and Mothers everwhere)

If you have a birthday in March and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RECENTLY UPDATED STORIES


All of us writers love feedback. It is the lembas and miruvor that sustains us as we write our story, and leaving a few words about a story is always a nice thing to do, whether the story is new or old.

Every fifteen minutes HASA hilights a story chosen at random from the Reviewed and General stories in the archive. The current story is:

Essecarmë by Dawn Felagund
Curufin, the fifth son of Fëanor, is said to have been his favorite. Why did Maedhros get passed over for this honor? This story looks at Eldarin naming traditions and the family dramas they create.

Why not go to http://www.henneth-annun.net/ and check out the currently featured story?


Many talented writers are publishing every day. Check out these stories just added to HASA:

Reviewed Stories

Upon the Pebbled Shore by Peregrin Ionad
Upon the pebbled shores of the sea stand two brothers, but as the tide begins to turn the sound of the gulls will choose their futures. This is for my brother, who didn't get the ending he wanted.

Pierced by Nieriel Raina
Elrond receives a most grievous wound shortly after Celebrían’s departure from Middle-earth.

~*~

General Stories

The Adventures of Scaldo and Dwarf by Kitt Otter
Scaldo Chubb is a hobbit who wants nothing more than to eat for the rest of his days, until one horrible day when a rude traveler of no name drags him off into the unknown. At the mercy of an insane dwarf, Scaldo must face unseen enemies, hungry water, and even uncooked meals…

A Cat In King Elessar's Court by Agape4Gondor
A royal descendant of Berúthiel's cats spends time with us, reminiscing about life in Minas Tirith once a certain Hobbit arrives. Drama/humor.

~*~

Beta Stories
(Please note, you need to be logged in to view these stories.)

The Romantic and the Balrog by Lady Donalwen
Based loosely on the fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast, it tells the story of a bookish woman and the scary Balrog that lived in the nearby castle.

Leönalta by fremmet
A sad tale of how Legolas and Elladan became bonded mates.




And now for your mid-month nuzgul. Because the only way to get stories to read is for someone to write them, and that requires our fangy little friends.

Modern girl goes to Middle-earth...
...and takes up with Sauron! What would be the consequences of introducing gunpowder, artillery, modern military tactics, etc. - all on the side of evil? Points for introspection - don't just make her an ostracised [expletive] who wants revenge on the pretty people who ignore her, give her a valid reason for joining the dark side. Double points for tackling and/or overcoming the language barrier (contrary to popular belief, English was NOT spoken in ME!).

If you don't feel the tickle of little fangs in your ankle yet, there are many more potential stories just waiting to be written. Read all of HASA's many story prompts in our Nuzgul hutch @ http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/nuzgul.cfm.

Do you have a suggestion you'd like to see added to the hutch? Submit it using the “Submit a Story Suggestion” form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/members/challenge/suggest.cfm.

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASANews.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Resources

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


The following members have a birthday this month. If you're in the drabbling mood, why not write them 100 words as a birthday card?

Elena Tiriel (March, 14) requested, "I'd love a drabble about any character, event, place, or object from Tolkien's world that especially fascinates you... the (Middle-earth) sky's the limit!"

Vistula the Dunadan (March, 20) requested, " ...having spent the past nine months settling into a new - long anticipated - home, I'd love a drabble centered around a new home, or new place to live. And if you could slip my dear Samwise in it somehow, that'd be even sweeter."

Obsidianj (March, 24) requested, " I would like a drabble about either Aragorn or Boromir and if it would be possible to have both in one drabble that would make my day."

The following drabbles have been written in the following week:

Epiphany by Larner for Elena Tiriel
Star-Songs of the Eorlingas by Tanaqui for Elena Tiriel
The Legend of the Grey Riders by Jay of Lasgalen for Elena Tiriel
New Quarters by Larner for Vistula

If you have a birthday in March and would like a drabble about your favorite character or topic, you can request it here.




This week's focus:

RESOURCES


The HASA Research Library is a very useful resource for writers as well as for online discussions on book canon. You can find entries on characters, settings, events, and items, containing cited quotes about the item you are trying to find more information on. This portion of the site is available to both members and non-members at http://www.henneth-annun.net/resources/index.cfm.

Would you like to get involved with Resources? If you like researching and want to help develop this section of HASA you can contact the Resources & Research Library through the contact form at http://www.henneth-annun.net/about/contact.cfm.

What's new in Resources:

Timeline Events
Corsairs attack the South Road to Minas Tirith
Fëanor improves the written alphabet of Rúmil

Character Biographies
Rúmil of Tirion
Nahar
Lothíriel

Places
Ringló
Mounds of Mundburg

Things
Tengwar
Ainulindalë
Aldudénië

And always remember, grasshopper: the path of wisdom leads through proper citations. *grins*

Good luck researching your story! If you enjoy this section of the site please feel free to thank the researchers, listed at the bottom of every entry.

Until next time,
Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASA News.

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Challenges

NOTE: Please be sure you are logged in when clicking on the links.

HASA FUNDING UPDATE


No website is truly free. HASA does not display ads or charge for memberships, but there are still costs associated with running the website. The website depends on member donations to pay its monthly hosting fee of $150.00.

If anyone would like to make a donation, you may do so here.



MARCH IS TALE OF YEARS MONTH


Resource volunteers are pleased to announce that March is Tale of Years month! Each day, many of the events that occurred on that day in the Tale of Years will be featured on the HASA Welcome Page. Be sure to stop by and see what events from the Research Library are highlighted each day!



BIRTHDAY DRABBLES


There are no members asking for birthday drabbles for March. If you are a
March baby, go and request your drabble!

DRABBLE SUGGESTION: Jay of Lasgalen suggested:

It's not my birthday, but today (March 2nd) is Mother's Day here in the UK. How about drabbles with any mother and child of your choice?



This Week's Focus:

CHALLENGES


X takes the Ring - AU challenge – Closes March 25, 2008


This challenge states: I have seen a few stories over the years where for instance Galadriel takes the Ring when Frodo offers it to her. But what would happen if others were to take it, for any reason, good or evil? Aragorn? Boromir, Gandalf, or Pippin perhaps? Or Sam abandons Frodo at Cirith Ungol and goes on alone to try to destroy the Ring...

It wouldn't have to be a member of the Fellowship; maybe Barliman Butterbur finds a golden ring in the room the Hobbits used… or Bilbo loses it on one of his walking trips in the Shire…

These could be anything, serious, funny, dark; from drabbles to multi-chapter AUs, and anything in between.


Entries for this challenge include:
Answering the Call by docmon
A Lesser Treason by Jay of Lasgalen
Dark Elf by Jay of Lasgalen
Old Man Willow by Nath

If you don’t have a story written yet, you can enter the challenge with a placeholder and submit your story when it is ready.

Nuzgul Hutch

If you’re brave enough… venture into the Nuzgul hutch.

Oliphaunt Pen

Or, if none of those little buggers nip at your heel, it’s not too late to adopt an Oliphaunt. Just because its challenge is closed, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a little love.




Happy writing!

Hugs and Cookies,
Arandil

PS: Do you have something in particular you would like included in next week's announcement? If so, please email HASA News.