#and again this is a conversation starter

[hillerskalibrary]

Event poll results!

(summary version)

So last week I opened a poll to check what kind of YR fandom events you guys wanted to see and the respondents were... how shall I put it... "very excited" is most applicable I think? ;)

Because I'm a nerd who likes to analyze the results but also doesn't want to chase her entire following away, I'm going to make two result posts:

This post, where I will summarize the results as succint as I can, and address some of the remarks and suggestions that I received. I'll also make a conclusion on what I would suggest to do - feedback on that is certainly welcome!

A second post (which I'll link when I finish it, most likely tomorrow or even after cause I'm slow as fuck) with some more graphs, percentages, observations, cause I don't know shit about statistics but that won't stop me from having fun with it!

Fair warning - it's pretty long. I just find it easier to explain a little about the decisions I'm (not) taking, both to invite discussion and because I don't want this to be a black box blog that does whatever and you never know why. That being said...

Ready? Let's go!

RESULTS

I received 72 responses, 36 writers and 36 readers.

The top 3 most wanted events by READERS is: Big Bang (89%), Theme Week (86%), and Weekly Challenges (83%). The event they were least excited about is Author Interviews (56%).

The top 3 events writers most want to PARTICIPATE in is, in order: Author Interviews (69%), Theme Week (64%), and Fic Exchange (61%). The events they DO NOT want to participate in are Author Interviews (25%), very closely followed by Big Bang and Advent (both 22%).

READERS were (very) slightly more excited about a Wilmon theme week rather than a general YR week. WRITERS clearly preferred a general YR week. For both groups, a YR women week comes in third, and rarepair week is fourth.

All types of weekly writing challenges suggested scored similarly.

(I know some of these seem contradictory, which I why I'll make the second post explaining how I calculated these rankings and why -for example- Author Interviews are both the most AND the least popular event for writers ;) )

SUGGESTIONS

A lot of people wrote in suggestions, which I was SUPER happy about (I closed the form now but if you have any more, please just hit my inbox or DM me at @hilliska). A few people also offered to help, which I'm definitely gonna hold you to when decisions are starting to get made! ;)

Many people were excited about possible collabs between writers and artists.

"What about a "finish your draft/wip" or "write a new chapter on a wip". I have so many languishing WIPs…" I think this is an EXCELLENT idea tbh - though we could incorporate it in the big bang by allowing wips as well. Also, as an FYI, there is also a (non-fandom-specific) Finish Your Shit-Big Bang that takes place every year (though this year's round is close to posting already) ;).

"I’d also love to see more Podfic in this fandom, but I don’t know how that could be an event." I have zero experience with podfic but this does sound (ha!) like it could be fun. Maybe someone has experience with this from a different fandom? (honestly I'd love to experiment with this so hmu)

"Authors sign up to take one shot requests or readers get to write a prompt. Or if readers could submit or vote on prompts or something? Or readers submit a song and author writes a one shot based on a song. Something like that where readers can be involved too :)" We could also easily incoporate this in a big bang - do a prompt bang or a reverse bang (fic based on art) for example? Or maybe involve readers in the weekly challenges, by suggesting tropes/words/... ?

"Write a comment on a fic-week!" Yessss!!!! I am like... 95% sure there is a tumblr-wide event for this already but I can't for the life of me find it. So I could signal boost that or yeah, we could just pin a day ourselves :).

"Group chat/watch" I'm afraid I'm not the right person to organize this kind of thing, but if you've been thinking of doing this and you were afraid no one would be interested - this is your sign!! ;)

"live writing event" Same as above - though I do think there's some discords where this happens already?

"Some sort of collab, where authors get to write a fic together." This could definitely be fun! There is currently one that originated on Twitter called Unlabeled - I don't know all the writers but I recognize at least @yourdemiurge, @skydragon05, @1-life-to-give, and @in-amor-veritas. Which obviously doesn't help if you're a writer wanting to collab, but at least there's people with experience in this fandom ;).

"Maybe a poetry week?" I don't even write poetry but I'm obsessed with this suggestion. Could also be a writing challenge? Not sure about a whole week either, but there's World Poetry Day in March so maybe that can be a mini-event?

"Something not fic centered? Like fanart, edits, cosplay etc." This is one of those things that I'm throwing out there for other people to run with, maybe, because. Well, I'm a writer and I know fic, but I really don't know much about the rest... Which is not to say I don't want to (help) run anything like this because it definitely could be fun, but it's a little out of my wheelhouse. But maybe @youngroyalsfanartarchive can help or knows people who would?

And now what??

Consider the below not as a definitive list but as a stream-of-consciousness conversation starters, so don't hesitate to send me your thoughts.

I will definitely do a Big Bang. Prompt-based or art-based or wip-based or something else remains to be decided, but this will happen. It will not happen NOW, however, because we don't know when season 3 will air. Big Bangs are big events, they ask a lot from writers, and if the s3 premiers at any time between signups and publications, it's going to make everything more difficult. But there was sufficient interest by writers to participate, so once we got a s3 date I want to put a timeline on this.

I'm talking with people about a possible YR women's week. The general/Wilmon week scored higher in the polls, but since we already had that in spring I'd like to switch it up a little.

I would like to do *something* for the anniversary of s2. Don't want to go regular theme week for this because of the above possibility, but maybe the not-fic-centered event could be good for this - we could do favorite episode/favorite non-wilmon character/... which are things that non-content-creators can also participate in by writing a short paragraph, reblogging gifsets/art of that episode/character, ... "Finish your wip" would also be a good one for this though :)

The people behind the 2023 Secret Santa will not organize one this year, but I don't really want to jump in that, necessarily, because there's enough other possibilities and they might be back. But a Valentine fic exchange could maybe work?

The advent calendar idea drew mixed reactions (maybe because it's less well known?) and while I do think it could be fun, there's enough other things that people are excited about, so I'm putting it in the freezer for now.

The weekly challenges also drew mixed reactions - both readers and writers were excited to see them happen, but only a third of writers said they would definitely/probably participate. Then again, half of them said they would POSSIBLY participate. Maybe because it's an ongoing thing, so they don't want to promise they'd participate EACH WEEK but only sometimes? So I'm not sure about this (also because it would significantly up the time required to maintain the blog). So I'd love more feedback on this to see which shape or form you guys would like this to take.

Fic recs scored solidly in the middle of the possibilities for both reader and writers. I wanted to include it because I was curious, but I'm a little hesitant to really do something with it, mostly because it often ends up being a popularity contest and. Well. We already know how to sort by kudos/comments on AO3. So I'm curious to hear other people's experiences on how to maybe circumvent that.

The Author Interviews were the most contested event - even (or rather *especially* among writers (and I secretly think it's hilarious the most wanted event by writers is the one that doesn't require them to write at all :D). I do think it could be fun (though I admit this is a format mostly geared towards writers) to help other writers to find other people to collaborate with, find betas, learn about different writing processes, ... And a self-rec feature would allow for fic recs without the popularity factor. So I'll most likely run this as a (bi-)weekly feature alongside the other events.

[stargazerbibi]

[ 2nd january, 2025 • 116/152 days ]

someone needs to teach me how to socialize cause i'm about to need those skills and getting to know people is NOT my forte, but i so don't want to mess this up help

-> AL notes (total: 3h00 - chapter 8 complete, 4 topics from chapter 9)

-> got back into reading Anna Karenina, by Leo Tolstoy

[whatthehali]

maybe this is bubbled over resentment from the people who haven't watched a pacers game all year having a lot to say about them, but I need people who haven't watched the hornets to shut up about lamelo

you cannot talk about his efficiency or “shot chucking” without talking about the coaching and the team around him. like i get that his assist and true shooting were down a lil this season but if ur just checking his career stats on statmuse or something u have no insight on WHY that would happen

[theromanticrationalist]

Sheldon: *laughing to himself* "I wish you can all be inside my head! The conversation is sparkling!" The guys: . . . Sheldon: "Fine! I'll tell you! A lichen is an organism made up of two separate species, fungi and algae. If you could merge with another species, which species would you pick and why? Hint: there is a right answer. None of you will get it." Raj: "Okay, I'd pick swan because the resulting hybrid would have the advanced industrial civilization of a human and the long graceful neck I've always dreamed of having!" Sheldon: "Wrong. The best organism for human beings to merge with is the lichen itself. That way you'd be human, fungus, and algae. Triple threat! Like three-bean salad." Leonard: "Give me one circumstance that would be useful." Sheldon: "Alright, picture this. A beautiful outdoor concert. Now, as a human, I appreciate Beethoven, as a fungus I have a terrific view growing out of a towering maple tree, and no thank you expensive concessions because as an algae, I'll just snack on this sunlight." Raj: "He got us again." Leonard: "No, he didn't." Raj: "Anyway, if its okay with you we should talk about Howard's bachelor party." Sheldon: "Well, seems bit of a let down after our lichen conversation, but what would you know, your half-swan." The Big Bang Theory 5x22 The Stag Convergence

[clumsypuppy]

28 for the ask game !!!!! ^_^

28: do you collect anything?

send me a number!! 💌

[newsies-united]

btw if someone tells you their name. you don't need to ask super specific questions if the name isn't traditional. by the way. just in case you were wondering.

[shadowedresolve]

"I apologize if my question is too sudden, but..."

Yusuke knows that he's sometimes seen as strange by those around him. And at times, it can be difficult for him to tell when what he wants to ask is too invasive, or otherwise a social faux-pas. To be honest, he doesn't usually particularly concern himself with how he'll come across, or how other people might feel about his curiosity - after all, if you want to know something, why not ask directly from the source? But when it comes to Ryuji, he wants to be a little more careful.

He's a friend, after all. One Yusuke happens to hold in high esteem.

"I've heard you talk about your mother before, but... what kind of person is she? It sounds like she's someone very important to you."

@electricea ( starter! )

[emergencycatboy]

big fan of when the person im talking to mentions that theyre shirtless or pantsless or naked or other for no reason i wish this happened ever slash serious

[ebitenpura]

.

[fexarii]

Hi Felix 😼😼 how are you silly billy 😼😼 🪲

HELLO HI ARI !! I've been doing alright, unfortunately got a cold tho so I'm a bit tired :"]

But I finished reading dungeon meshi and have been feeling inspired for creature design again so yay!!

(school tmrw tho, while I'm sick,, blehh)

^ (Literally me on such a personal level)

[butchsaint]

if you match me on hinge and say NOTHING in response to the message i sent with my like. you are. a bad person

[bookerathcmpson]

tag drop!

[lookwhatyoumademelou]

.

[launch-cronch]

b has begun on a quest to ferment soybeans to make natto (since we can't buy it anywhere) and so far has

tried cooking the beans in their overnight soak water

eaten from a spoon and dipped it back in the pot (i said that was a daring move for such a specific fermentation process; b panicked and reboiled them)

has let the cooked and cooled beans sit uncovered on the stove all afternoon and evening ("I'll add the starter later" babe the beans are about to do their own kinda fermentation if they haven't already)

[savingthrcw]

I desperately want to write but due to sleep deprivation I know that not only it will be hard to type, but that I will make mistakes and that's so much worse fgdlhfgk

[humanjarvis]

it’s 12:06 when the jingle of keys tells you he’s home. 

rubbing sleep from your eyes, you straighten your nightclothes and switch on the floor lamp, lighting his path through the midnight shadows. 

zayne enters the room just as you settle on the edge of the bed. his usual greeting, tired but warm, never comes. 

he needs prompts, sometimes. conversation starters. so you give him one. “long day?” 

no response. 

“did something happen?” you try again. “i missed you today.”

still, he doesn’t answer. but he does turn around. 

and zayne stands before you, looking at you—at your lap—with skittish uncertainty. 

“i’m sorry for waking you,” he rasps quietly, eyes flitting from your face to your lap before settling on the floor. 

“i’m glad you did. i said i missed you,” you reply, letting a fond smile grace your lips. 

you don’t repeat the question—you don’t need to. 

because when your eyes meet again and you beckon him forward, zayne sinks to his knees before you and, with a shuddering sigh, lays his head across your lap. 

fighting your instincts, you resist the urge to coo at him. he’s fragile, right now. vulnerable. and if your care comes off as condescension, he’ll deem those things unsafe. 

wordlessly, you pull him to your chest, running a careful hand through his thick onyx hair. and with the way he stays, it’s clear that silence was the right move.

moments pass, but zayne doesn’t calm; his breaths quicken, his body trembles. and when a low whimper leaves him, he abruptly retreats from your warmth, blinking profusely to no avail.

catching his reddened face in gentle hands, you stare into his teary eyes, swimming in sparkling pools of hazel. when your thumbs brush his cheeks, as tender as the smile on your face, those pools overflow.

as the first tears fall, you return him to your chest, stroking his hair between soft kisses. he’s quiet like this—how else would he be?—but his faint, muffled sobs pierce your heart like the loudest wail.

you don’t keep track of how long you hold him. for as long as he needs, you just do, letting the drops seep through your shirt and into your skin. 

but as his tears dry and breaths even, zayne still won’t relax. he grows more tense, more rigid, and you can feel the heat of his apprehension—feel his unease over breaking down on you like this. 

so you talk to him. tell him about your day, your mood, your plans for tomorrow—rerouting his mind until his shoulders slump from fatigue. 

he’ll tell you when he’s ready. and until then, you’ll wait. 

lulled by the comfort of your voice, zayne nuzzles further into your chest, where the soft vibrations mix with the steady pulse of your heartbeat. 

before long, sleep consumes him. it’s dreamless.