My top five seasonal communities.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I think in the past two years I have taken part in just about every single seasonal community there is. This is a very personal list in sense of overall enjoyment with a community. Communities where there is cross-pollination and exposure and exchange between members who freely comment on one another's work, mods who try to comment on most or all of the work in their communities--these are the things that can make a community have a special feel for me. In 2007, I'm cutting back on the time I have to give to seasonal communities, but all of these would make my list for those reasons. In short, some communities really party.


1. summer_of_giles is probably my top experience ever in a seasonal community and I'm not really much of a Giles writer. What struck me was the wonderful organization and passion of mod katekat1010. I think she commented on just about everyone's work at least once and I found that a lot of writers I hadn't met before not only commented on my day, but I enjoyed meeting them on theirs. It was the best seasonal experience I've ever had.

2. spring_with_xan was another fun community where the mods made an effort to fill the days and also comment on just about everyone's work. I met quite a few writers there I hadn't read before and I think it was a very fine experience.

3. winter_of_wes which sadly I don't think is running this year, was another great community for meeting people you hadn't been exposed to before. I actually wrote a piece there which was a one-shot of Wesley in my on-going Keptverse AU universe and expected that very few people other than my own flist would comment. I was delighted when that wasn't the case.

4. fall_for_spike is another community where the mods try to comment on every offering. Having done this myself, I know how exhausting it can be, even though it's very rewarding to be exposed to a lot of people's work.

5. buffyversetop5 is kind of a seasonal community in that it happens once a year. It has mods who comment on all the things shared and also offers a lot of exposure to new things in the fandom that people might otherwise not see.

Comments

[shapinglight]

Great list. I had no idea that winter_of_wes was still running last year.

It's great to know there are still so many active communities out there promoting the characters and encouraging the fans.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think all of these except winter_of_wes may be back in 2007, or we can hope, anyway, since they were all wonderful communities.

I'm glad you liked the list. I'd certainly recommend people sign on to any of these.

[yourlibrarian]

Oh, that's too bad :( I'd understood winter_of_wes was doing quite well and he's a popular enough character to carry a community. I can certainly understand mod burnout or people leaving the community but, like summer_of_spike, not why didn't they just turn the community over to new mods? Communities can be around for quite a while and people still don't stumble across them so it seems a pity when one has got lots of support that it just ends. Are there any other seasonal Wes plans that you know of?

And thanks for the kind words! And the list! One of the things that drew my attention was what you said about being involved in so many communities. It seems that in people's early days in a fandom they read and post to communities often, and then the longer they are around the less they do this. But what you said is so true about the cross-pollination and the staying open to new things. I think that really helps keep things active and interesting for the fandom as a whole (if not the fan herself). So thanks to you for doing that.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I don't know the mods at all for winter_of_wes so there's no way I could tell you what their plans are. I just looked at the dates from last year and didn't see any signs it was going to reopen, and yes, I do think it's a shame and I really believe if someone came along who wanted to do a Wes seasonal community, it would happen. It was very popular last year.

After I did autumn_of_angel, angelspike69 asked if she could use the concept for winter_of_angel, so that's one way a community may continue, although Autumn will be back next year and if we lost interest, I would try to turn it over to a new team, as I did with noel_of_spike. It's wonderful if these seasonal communities can be around for people the next year.

Yes, I'm afraid it is typical that we do take part less in things the longer we are around. Perhaps it's caution. In my own case it's a mixture of wanting to choose carefully what I give my time too, and also weighing what is enjoyable for me. If I could, I'd probably be a hermit on my own lj, you know, but people rather rely on me to keep some communities going, so I haven't yet found a solution to that. That's a challenge for 2007.

May this community be back next year and thank you for taking it on.

[yourlibrarian]

Right, yes, WoW should have been running already. A particular pity because Wes was one of those characters that was on both shows (and had such a great arc) so there was so much that could be done with him. I'm glad you had a chance to enjoy that. Luckily some characters like Spike and Angel can keep multiple communities going, which is also a good thing in case one doesn't continue. I hope the new ones this year do well and can have a good sophomore year too.

You know re: being in fandom a while I was quite surprised to see in the poll results that so many readers are actually fandom veterans. I knew we had quite a few, of course, but I thought more of the readers would be newbies. Like you said to Petzi below, a lot of times it's hard to get people to find a community and for newbies it's harder still so maybe that's why. (LJ has a lot of great features but the decentralized nature of it makes it really hard to get news to a whole group). As you said too, making people comfortable enought to join in and comment is a continual effort. I really tip my hat to people who do it in year round communities because I don't know how they manage. Keeping people engaged is a rare skill.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I would take part in a good Wes community. Perhaps I should go post that someone should think of doing one over at darker_wesley? I asked what the future was of spring_spangel and that resulted in people doing it last year, though I'm not sure it will be around this year unless some new folks take it on.

Maybe the reason for fandom veterans being so much a part of Buffyversetop5 is that there are less of us and so many are leaving this fandom to write in other fandoms that we are clinging to the good things. *g*

[yourlibrarian]

LOL! There certainly do seem to be a number of strikethrough and absent usernames around, but then they're more easily noticed than the new names popping up. I think the overall level of activity is not as high, no. But then all it takes is a look at some of the recs happening here (if not every day elsewhere) to see that there's still more a of a time shortage than creativity shortage. Plus who knows what will happen with some new canon this year and the 10 year anniversary? It took less than 24 hours for the new Xander icons to start appearing ;> Which in itself I find really fascinating because I think a lot of perceptions of that character have changed since the series ended.

Well we'll certainly be back for Classic Recs this year and there seems to be support for a 2007 session as well. I'm hoping maybe lillianmorgan will be around again for that. It's a year away still so it's possible. And yes, I think there's only so much one person should feel obligated to do but some nudging might not go amiss for some of these seasonal projects :>

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see LM back, but I'll be very grateful if you keep it going since I know it's tough to keep these things running, but you do a great job and I think have handled it beautifully this year.

[yourlibrarian]

That's very kind of you. I've missed her terribly and I'd like to think she'd be really pleased to see it doing so well this year.

You know, I was also just thinking (re: the Spangel and Wes communities) that maybe if neither is going to come around again this year that there be a seasonal AtS community? I think there will be a lot of Buffy excitement and maybe this spring will be a good time to make sure the sister show isn't overlooked. That way all the Spangel and Wes writers and artists still have a showcase.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I think a seasonal ATS community is a great idea. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it focused on Fred, Lorne, Angel, Wes, Cordy and Spike? I do agree the comic is going to make people want to do more.

You should consider opening one. If you find a few people to help out, it's not that hard. I'm sure that Kate or someone could do your layout and they aren't that hard to run.

[yourlibrarian]

Heh, well I so don't need another project right now My thesis isn't getting written - ACK!. If there were a team of people willing to work on it though I would be willing to co-mod one. But I don't think it's something I could leverage on my own. I did think though that it might lessen the work for some of those other community mods if they joined forces on a larger scope community.

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

"chuckles" You're pimping this community? Thanks for the props and it's really nice to see so many Buffyverse characters have their own special communities for fans.

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Haha! Yep, I am. I did so in my list of recs on my lj and I actually did so on noel_of_spike. I know it's going to seem odd to you, since we were both here last year, but I actually talked to a lot of people who had never heard of this one and came over this year. So I hope they've found a lot of great stuff!

[katekat]

*tackle!glomp* what you said is sooooo sweet!! thank you lady - it was great great fun to do SoG, and of course I be doing it next year (even if i'm in japan, darnit!). i'm absolutely delighted you had that much fun too! i was so worried that i was crazy for doing a seasonal comm since i'd never run anything more complex than an iconcontest, and it just delights me so much that you put it at the top of your list. Thank you!

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's wonderful! If you do Summer of Giles I will definitely be taking part. You really set a standard for the rest of us, so thank you.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

I am so pleased you enjoyed fall_for_spike! purplefeen and I try so hard to create an encouraging environment there!

May I add two seasonal communities you didn't mention that I think were top drawer? autumn_of_angel and noel_of_spike! Both of those were terrific places filled with fantastic fic and really well run!


Gabrielle

[jans-intentions.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed by the way you comment on all the entries. I know that's a lot of work, but I think it really makes a difference to the enjoyment of participants. Otherwise, they might as well just share their work on their own ljs.

hahaha, I'm glad you enjoy those communities. They were fun to create and both will run again this year. I'm looking forward to autumn_of_angel again this August.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Part of running a community is being supportive of everyone who participates and making them feel welcome and appreciated for their participation. So, whether you post Spike/Kendra or Spike/Wesley, Spangel or Spillow, I am going to read your work, look at your art, and thank you for being a part of things!

You did a fabulous job and I am already looking forward to autumn_of_angel!


Gabrielle