snarrymod (snarrymod) wrote in snarry_games, @ 2006-05-24 18:37:00 |
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Current mood: | excited |
Special Open Letter to Snarry Games participants and fans
Original poster: djin7
We are nearly ready to present the Medals. But before we do, a huge-assed letter a few words from me, the mod, djin7.
I would personally like to thank every person who agreed to participate in this little idea for a fest. Everybody who took part in this is a star for putting their all into this project and I am both awed and humbled by the response of those of you who took the time to both participate and help.
While I was plotting and planning this fest over Christmas last year, I became more and more convinced that the Good Ship SS Snarry would pull through the choppy waters that was The Half Blood Prince and the closure of Detention.
I have been privileged to partake in (though recently shirking my responsibilities at) the rebuilding and reopening of the Snarry Archive, Walking the Plank. In doing so, I have witnessed some of the most astounding work ethic and compassion that I have ever seen, in real life or otherwise. The volunteers involved with that project, and particularly those who have many other fandom amd RL responsibilities, inspired me to do this, and taught me three very important things:
FANDOM DOES NOT RUN ITSELF.
Behind the scenes of every archive, mailing list, fest, contest, community and newsletter there is a person, or persons, who work tirelessly (in between busy real life responsibilities like full time jobs and looking after their kids and homes) to code, upload, post, research, skip=500, make and return dozens of emails, and pay fees for web space and lj accounts. All out of the kindness of their own hearts and the love of fandom, and often receive little or no fanfare for this work. Those behind-the-scenes people, the ones who don't have huge archives of beautiful art or famous stories, often aren't noticed until they make a mistake. They miss an issue of a newsletter, don't manage to make a deadline, make an error in coding or uploading, have website problems, and all of a sudden, everybody notices. I had likely been guilty of doing it myself until I became involved with Walking the Plank, and started this project. I have a very healthy respect now for all of those who volunteer their time and money to keep fandom moving and grooving, and it is that respect which made me stop to think, and offer, and DO. I am hoping to give a little back to all those folks who help keep every ship afloat.
This project was for them.
To them, I say again, THANK YOU.
FANDOM ALWAYS GETS BACK UP AFTER FALLING DOWN.
Every ‘ship that sails in the Harry Potter fandom has been sunk at one time or another: as a result of wank, popular authors leaving for other fandoms, closure of websites and/or communities. Canon throw a wrench in it? Every single ‘ship has had to pull itself up and out, to float again. Yet to me, this is very comforting. We shall always overcome!
FANDOM IS PEOPLE.
It's not characters from a book or a screen. It's real people, with real lives, and real wants and needs and hurts that need addressing. Sometimes the people who work for fandom, who make it the place we all want to hang out in, require rest and a break.
My Championship Teams went above and beyond the call-of-duty. They helped each other with betas, support, cheerleading, and pimping. The Alternates stood in for those who had to leave the Games, working their little fingers to the bone to get stories in that they didn’t anticipate having to write, using someone else’s chosen prompt. Kudos to them all! Thank you to all the most excellent writers, and their teams, who toiled over their outstanding stories to help make the Snarry Games a success!
Stay tuned for a special letter just for you, Champions, coming up later tonight!