On Our Minds
Re: Middle-earth Orc Fanfiction (middleearthorcfic)
Posted On: 03/11/10 9:23 PM
By: DrummerWench
In: Here Be Orcs
thelauderdale, I will keep my eye out for orc fics!
About irritating "heroes", I know I found Odysseus (on whom Garandir is partly based) annoying as all heck, catting about the Med while ol' Penelope is being a good girl at home... and his son. and his hound dog.
Thanks so much for your kind comments on my little tales!
DW
ET's Birthday Request
Posted On: 03/11/10 5:59 PM
By: Elena Tiriel
In: 2010 - HASA Birthdays
My birthday is March 14, and I've been racking my brains over what to request, until I stumbled upon an amusing paragraph from one of Tolkien's letters, which you can read in its entirety here.
In it, Tolkien goes into excruciating philological detail about the origins of a simple flower name (while disparaging "dogmatic scientists" and "meddlesome book-botanists" along the way)... and then goes on to lob a nuzgûl at himself.
So, I think my request is a drabble about Geeks being Geeks — whether you call them sages, scribes, lore-masters, healers, herb-masters, masters of tongues, jewel-smiths, Valar, or just The Wise.
Anything about what they (alone) see as important, or how they see others, or how others see them....
As always, if this doesn't excite your muse, any and all things Tolkienish would be much appreciated!
Thank you,
Barbara
P.S. Welcome back, Imhiriel!

2010 March Treasure Hunt
Posted On: 03/08/10 8:16 PM
By: HASA Challenges
In: Treasure Hunt Challenge
The hunt is on!
A new set of treasures has been released tonight for your treasure hunting pleasure.
This month, the focus is on a building in Minas Tirith where almost anything can happen - a tale, a spectacle, an historic event, a deal cut, a romance blossom. For all of you Dúnedain fanciers, here is an opportunity to bring a number of your favorite (or detested) characters together.
What to combine with this? Quite a bit. There is another great city on a hill that someone might think of whilst enjoying the pleasures of Minas Tirith. Perhaps a traveler ponders a wonder he has seen, or a horror long past. Perhaps a tale is told of a famous warrior and his great weapon, perhaps the future is considered in light of a tangled past.
If you are a logged in member, there are more treasures to combine with the main place. There are places of rath- that might come up in conversation, given recent events. Perhaps an answer to a question could be found. Rohan comes to mind. And then, perhaps, there is time for remembering things back home.
Post in this thread when you enter and again when you add a story to read. If you know you want to write a story, but aren't sure if you can have it completed by the closing date of the challenge, just enter a placeholder. Questions? Post them here!
HASA Challenges
PS - Be sure to check out the treasures for a glimpse of some new features in our Research Library. Elena Tiriel has been very busy!
Re: 2010 February Treasure Hunt
Posted On: 03/08/10 7:28 PM
By: Anglachel
In: Treasure Hunt Challenge
The February 2010 Treasure Hunt challenge has been converted to a Nuzgûl today, as it only has one entry, Aruthir's evocative Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay.
While the treasures are being changed for a new March set, they are still available for story writers.
Re: Middle-earth Orc Fanfiction (middleearthorcfic)
Posted On: 02/26/10 2:02 PM
By: thelauderdale
In: Here Be Orcs
DrummerWench:
Thanks for the Orc fic recommendation! It's gone to the list...
...as has Fairy Tales of Middle-earth, by the way. I finally read the most recent story, A Son of Eärendil. Garandir irritated me enormously, but I loved Tree and Star, and The Seeing Stones referenced "East of the Sun, West of the Moon," which is a favorite of mine. This is such lovely series.
Re: February 2010 Birthday Cards
Posted On: 02/24/10 6:56 AM
By: Imhiriel
In: HASA Birthday Cards Forum
I'm so, so sorry for being AWOL for so long!
I just set up (finally!) the birthday forum thread for February, in the new location Anglachel provided: go here!
This forum here will no longer be used: the new forum exists for birthday requests for the year 2010.
Perhaps we can still find some requests for the reminder of February; but in any case now that I'm here and have a bit of time, I have already set up the March thread (plus respective March Birthday Challenge).
Imhiriel
(contrite) Birthday Cards Volunteer
March 2010 Birthday Cards
Posted On: 02/24/10 6:53 AM
By: Imhiriel
In: 2010 - HASA Birthdays
Birthday folk: Is your birthday in March and you would be delighted by a little story gift from your fellow HASA members? Then state your request here in this thread. Create a birthday workshop story to collect your birthday cards in one place, and enter it into the March Challenge.
Authors: Let yourselves get inspired by the suggestions - a chance to be creative and to make a fellow HASA member happy at the same time! And don't forget to add your birthday cards to the birthday workshop story the recipient of your birthday card has - hopefully - created.
In case you need help or have a comment or suggestion, please post it here or e-mail me privately.
February 2010 Birthday Cards
Posted On: 02/24/10 6:35 AM
By: Imhiriel
In: 2010 - HASA Birthdays
First and foremost: I apologise very much for being so tardy with setting up the discussion thread! I had some problems in RL to straighten out (and I hope the worst of it is over for now)...
But now to the important things:
Birthday folk: Is your birthday in February and you would be delighted by a little story gift from your fellow HASA members? Then state your request here in this thread. Create a birthday workshop story to collect your birthday cards in one place, and enter it into the February Challenge.
Authors: Let yourselves get inspired by the suggestions - a chance to be creative and to make a fellow HASA member happy at the same time! And don't forget to add your birthday cards to the birthday workshop story the recipient of your birthday card has - hopefully - created.
Please take note of the fact that the workshop system has been overhauled - you might have to join it again for the upgraded HASA. Follow the above link - it will give you further instructions.
For further aid or comment, please ask me here or send me a private e-mail.
Re: Middle-earth Orc Fanfiction (middleearthorcfic)
Posted On: 02/21/10 9:17 PM
By: DrummerWench
In: Here Be Orcs
Hi, thelauderdale! Here's a little orc story I think is not in your delicious list:
Pink_Siamese's story "The Crier"
http://archiveofourown.org/works/62633
I liked it well; it's rather a different take on Orcs.
DW
Re: February 2010 Birthday Cards
Posted On: 02/20/10 12:07 PM
By: Anglachel
In: HASA Birthday Cards Forum
Yes, Nath, do that.
Also, even if someone didn't get a birthday request in during their birthday month, birthday stories can always be added to the Playlist for the year's birthday drabbles. You do not need to have entered the birthday challenge to add your stories to the playlist. The 2010 Birthday Present Playlist is now posted with the January presents. You can view it here.
To be added to the playlist, just join the Workshop for the current year's birthday presents (2010 birthday workshop is here. You must be logged in to view it) and add stories written for you or stories you've written for someone else. Each month, the Workshop administrator adds the new stories to the playlist.
There are 38 HASA members with birthdays in February. Use the Calendar of Events to see who is celebrating (Note - only members can see other members' birthdays). Is there someone you admire? Write them a drabble, leave a comment letting them know how much you like their stories, or send them an email wishing them a happy birthday. 
Anglachel