Reading Room XII

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Our story for next weekend's Reading Room is
...A Rainy Night in Soho by Kitty Fisher, hosted by byslantedlight
Read it at:
Circuit Archive
Hatstand
ProsLib

After that, here's the deal. Only one person replied to my request for story suggestions for the December Reading Room of short Christmas Stories that people voted for (and suggestions for previous weeks have been pretty sparse too). I chose next weekend's story myself as a relatively random non-Christmas but November-seasonal story. I don't mind hosting the story discussions if no one else wants to post, but I really could do with a bit of help here! If no one else is able to even suggest stories they'd like to discuss, then I'm going to end the Reading Rooms with the final story listed below (I'll move it to the week before). I just can't do it all by myself - it stops being fun, and becomes work and worry that I'm letting people down if I don't do something. Granted I'm slightly burned out by having posted a Reading Room, created a Dialj challenge, and then organised and sent out the FandomCard challenge all on the same weekend as having three jobs of work to do, but I don't think I'm being entirely unreasonable in being disappointed here... is there no one out there who can even suggest a story or two? I'm sorry, but help out, or lose the Reading Room people!

ETA - thank you so much golden_bastet and sagittas (and cim3745 on the other post) for suggesting stories - we have a list up to Christmas now, which makes me happy because now I can just sit back and enjoy it all with you!

Reading Room Schedule
Week 1 - weekend of Friday 13th September - The Return by Ellis Ward - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 2 - weekend of Friday 20th September - A Widening Gyre by Rebelcat - hosted by firlefanzine
Week 3 - weekend of Friday 27th September - Transport Cafe by Elizabeth Holden (Fajrdrako) - hosted by paris7am
Week 4 - weekend of Friday 4th October - Endgame by Tarot - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 5 - weekend of Friday 11th October - Uriah by Verlaine - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 6 - weekend of Friday 18th October - A Different Game by DVS - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 7 - weekend of Friday 25th October - Decrescendo by Erushi - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 8 - weekend of Friday 1st November - Where the Worms Are by Pamela Rose - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 9 - weekend of Friday 8th November - Bodie's Letter by Ellis Ward
Week 10 - weekend of Friday 15th November - Whisper of a Kill by Lois Welling - hosted by gilda_elise
Week 11 - weekend of Friday 22nd November - Wishbone by Omnishambles - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 12 - weekend of Friday 29th November - A Rainy Night in Soho by Kitty Fisher - hosted by byslantedlight
Week 13 - weekend of Friday 6th December - Join the Queue by Lizzie - hosted by firlefanzine
Week 14 - weekend of Friday 13th December -There's an Old Mill by O. Yardley - hosted by cim3745
Week 15 - weekend of Friday 20th December - Tin Soldier by Foxcat - hosted by macklingirl

Comments

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Here are a few seasonal stories:

• THE COW'S CHRISTMAS - http://hatstand.slashcity.net/elspeth/cowxmas.html
• CHRISTMAS WISHES - http://hatstand.slashcity.net/zed/cwishes.html
• Four Times Bodie Might As Well Have Said ‘I Love You’, And One Time He Actually Did - https://discoveredinalj.livejournal.com/168388.html
• THE SNOWMAN WITH THE DARK COAT - http://hatstand.slashcity.net/castalia/snowman.html (more winter than holiday, and a bit long, but I'd really like to discuss this with folks)
• An Elf By Any Other Name
• Not a Very Silent Silent Night - http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/0/nota.html
• Tin Soldier - https://discoveredinalj.livejournal.com/199809.html

Not 100% sure some of these haven't been in Reading Rooms past.

Also, there's a "four times" story about elves (which plays with the trope), but I can't find it right now to make sure it's appropriate.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hi - and thanks for replying, and the list of stories.

The problem isn't that I can't find Pros Christmas stories - I have lists and lists of them, at Palelyloitering, and here in the CI5hq index and all. The thing that takes a bit of time is choosing one. As you say, perhaps checking that it's not been discussed before (although that's no reason why we shouldn't discuss it again), and deciding whether a story might be "appropriate" or not. It all takes a bit of thought - quite a lot of thought, if you're me, cos I tend to try and think about things from all angles, where other people might just think I like this one. What I really really need is just for people to pick one!!

Way back when, I put as an option that we could just random stories for Reading Room in general and choose that one, or have whatever story came next in the Paper Circuit folders I have, but people voted that they wanted to choose stories specifically... only there's not alot of choosing going on!

So... which of those fab stories (or any other *g*) would you like to add to the Christmas Reading Room list...? So that I don't have to think about any tiny bit of the process except editing it in, please? I'm rather at my limit of okay-let-me-organise-that-for-you, I'm afraid!

[golden-bastet.livejournal.com]

Oh, dear - got that wrong.
I will try again.

How about Tin Soldier, then?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Perfect! You're a star, thank you!

I'm sorry - I'm just not capable of any more of that level of thought right now! Choosing! Deciding! Ack! You know, all I really want to do is sit down and put a Pros dvd on... I was waiting for an appointment today, and there was nothing that I could do or had to think about, so I opened a notebook and wrote a page of a Pros story. It was bliss... Just being given some Pros (even in my own head) and not having to do anything with it except enjoy it! *g*

[sagittas.livejournal.com]

How about Lizzie's "Join the Queue" (http://www.thecircuitarchive.com/tca/archive/13/jointhe.html). It shouldn't be very long if I remember correctly, if this may help. I love longer stories, but maybe alternating them with shorter ones may help, especially since you're doing most of the work.
Also, I, personally, don't mind if stories are already been discussed before. Sometimes, points of view and feelings can change over the years.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent choice, I've added it in - thank you!

I love longer stories too, but I think alot of people are struggling to read them for the weekly reading room. It seems like everyone has so much more to do outside fandom these days - it's sad!

I agree with you too about re-discussing stories. I've often been amazed to re-read a story and find it a completely different experience the second (or even third or fifth or tenth!) time around.

ETA - you wouldn't like to host this one, would you? *g*

[sagittas.livejournal.com]

I'm sure all of us are very much interested but you're right about struggling due to personal commitments. I'm trying to follow every week, unfortunately I'm not able to comment very much. And I really love long stories but right now I'm really struggling with the time to read them. I'll try to remember and suggest shorter ones, at least.

ETA - you wouldn't like to host this one, would you? *g*

You see I'm not really reliable right now but if I'll be available at the time maybe I could help in the discussion itself, if you'd like, since I believe that part of the tiring work for you is answer all the comments every week. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

No worries - I just thought I'd ask! (I try to remember to ask in case anyone's shy about offering *g*)

I think another issue is that there are fewer of us around too - if a bunch of people suddenly have a real-life stressful weekend or whatever, then it doesn't leave anyone to take up the slack!

It would be fab if you were around for the discussion (just in general *g*). I'm very aware that my own stupid life gets in the way of my replying to everyone's comments - I'm more just setting people off chatting at the moment, and trying to jump in where I can. Luckily there are some fab interested and interesting people who do like to chat, and they're not shy about chatting with each other, so that's good. But I really do need to do better... I still owe at least two replies to comments from yesterday, and I must get there... but then I had to post this for today, and ack!

And now, back to my day-job... (night-job the way I do it!)

[sagittas.livejournal.com]

I think another issue is that there are fewer of us around too

I'm afraid you're right about this, but another issue is that most fans and fansites are migrated elsewhere and fan groups are less close these days and it's more difficult to stay in touch all at once (my Starsky & Hutch fandom on LJ has become a phantom, mostly migrated to Facebook, that is a place I dislike very very much, and I feel quite out of it sometimes to be honest).
Luckily the Pros Fandom may be small but it's pretty much alive to these days and almost never boring and silly to my opinion. These discussions are an example.

I still owe at least two replies to comments from yesterday

Well, speaking of bad etiquette, I still owe a couple of replies myself from the "Uriah" discussion... so you manage pretty well if you ask me :-)

Anyway I'll try to stay around more, I'm still following and enjoying how much I can!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

most fans and fansites are migrated elsewhere and fan groups are less close these days and it's more difficult to stay in touch all at once
And in turn, you're right about this! That's exactly why there are fewer of us in one place. Some people decided to go to DW instead, or find Fb more convenient, or prefer the ease of simply clicking to "share" other people's pics on Tumblr, or whatever - and suddenly fandom is splintered into so many different pieces. Even A03 has played a role in this, because it caters for people who want to gather all their feedback in one place and so encourages people who use it to post links to their stories in other forums on lj instead - and suddenly no one is commenting in the lj communities any more, which look like ghost towns. Communities are being replaced by individual convenience - here in fandom as in the outside world... argh!

I guess we can just all keep trying our best, and hope that people will eventually gather together again...

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

Speaking of stressful weeks, here in the US, Thursday is Thanksgiving. People meaninging to cook a sizable turkey are already defrosting it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah yes - your ritual sacrifice, with pie. *g* I must admit that I get all tangled up with the whole destruction of indiginous culture thing, and find it hard to say happy Thanksgiving, but apart from that bit - have a good time!

[firlefanzine.livejournal.com]

You're right with what you are saying... :-O

And I'm really sorry!

....I could host Join the Queue.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you so much! I don't mean to complain or sound needy, but I'm really struggling to keep up sometimes, and even tiny things like suggesting stories is helpful! If no one else is able to help, then there will be a day when all my efforts just collapse and nothing is left - and I'd hate that to happen when I know people are enjoying the actual discussions so much!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

I'm so, so sorry. You're absolut right with what you said. I now it can't be an excuse, but I don't know where my time is. One moment I switch off my alarm clock and when I looked on my clock again, it's time to go to sleep. Where have my days gone? I didn't even read! I hate this busy time of the year.

But I promise I'll do better. I could host Tin Soldier at the 20th of December. :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

You've just described exactly what seems to happen to me! I end up going to bed at night feeling like deja vu - that nothing's really happened that mattered in the daytime, and every moment is just me going to bed... I'm like that so much of the time with my current Job 1, but it's worse when there's Job 2 and Job 3 as well. And of course doing all the jobs means that I never have a chance to do anything constructive about changing all those jobs!

I don't mean to complain, but I know people want and enjoy the reading rooms, and it would be such a shame for them to have to vanish because I can't keep up, just for the sake of a tiny bit of help like suggesting stories!

And thank you so much for offering to host! *g*

[ali15son.livejournal.com]

I have been following and reading etc....and enjoying your discussions but at the moment i feel like i'm looking in on the fandom from the touchlines and not really a part of it, besides i never know if i'm welcome or not because when you lose friendships on here it's hard to get back into an active role.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Well, as I've said before you're always welcome at the comms that I mod. It can be hard to join in with things again when you feel like that - I know exactly what you mean, I've been bished and bashed in all directions by various people in fandom at various times, but there are so many genuinely lovely people in Pros that as long as you're friendly and treat them well, will be friendly and treat you well back. It's just a case of venturing out a couple of times, and remembering that they're out there and happy to chat to you.

I'm glad you've been enjoying reading the discussions. Come to the Reading Room next weekend, comment on the story, and I promise that you'll see! People don't always agree, because we all have our different ideas and opinions and favourites, but it's a very friendly chat, and a lovely reason to think about our lads!

[macklingirl.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I've read it by accident two or three weeks ago. *g*

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Excellent timing! *g*

[jat-sapphire.livejournal.com]

How about P R Zed's "Comfort and Joy" series? The first 5 are on the Circuit Archive. All 7 are on Archive of our Own. I have the first 5 URLs, can look up the other two or the series "home" page for all 7.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

The only thing about that is that we're back in novel-length territory, which some people would struggle to keep up with. All seven parts comprise 67,000 words, which might be too much for a Reading Room... Mind you, most of that's made up of number 7, so we could perhaps do the first six...

How do I sign up for this?

[bodie24.livejournal.com]

Hi,

This sounds like fun! And I'm an avid reader, so I'm up for the challenge. How do I sign up/join the reading room discussion? What format does the discussion have? ie. Is it live/chat room or is it comments on here over a weekend? And, if it's the former, Is it UK timezone friendly?

Thanks

Bodie24

RE: How do I sign up for this?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Hi Bodie24 - nice that you can join us!

It's very simple to join in - just join and watch ci5hq (go to the comm's user info page when you're signed into your lj account, and you should see a button that says something like "join". A pop-up will ask if you want to watch the comm too - say yes!), and then all posts from the comm will pop up on your lj friend's list. You can read and jump in to comment whenever you like then.

The discussion post is usually put up on a Friday (sometimes Saturday) and then people have the whole weekend (and longer, there's no time limit actually) to join in, commenting and replying whenever they like!

Because it goes on over a whole weekend, it's definitely UK timezone friendly. We also tend to work on lads'-time (UK time) anyway (though it's not usually relevant) - and because I personally live in the UK that's also the timezone I use to post - and it will be me hosting this weekend's discussion!

You can click on this tag to find other reading room posts, and see how it's worked in previous weeks: https://ci5hq.livejournal.com/tag/reading%20room

And feel free to ask me any questions, any time. *g*

Re: How do I sign up for this?

[bodie24.livejournal.com]

Brilliant! Thank you.

I'm off to do some reading :-)