Orienteering Post

[bbb_mod]

Hello bandomfolk! Sign-ups are progressing nicely; we'd love to see more people sign up, and we're very excited about the enthusiasm we've been seeing. Thank you.

Since there are so many people who are new to Bandom Big Bang, we thought we'd work on providing some basic information and tips on how to get through BBB season without your brain exploding from stress. Also, motivation and encouragement, which most people find useful.



During this first phase, we're going to be concentrating on writers and podficcers, because they are starting their projects now (but don't worry if you haven't yet). If you're a mixer or an artist, you are encouraged to help cheer the others on and share your own tips and tricks.

And we'd like to start by asking you a few questions so we can figure out ways to best help participants. Cut and paste the questions into a comment - anon or anon and signing your name is fine, as well. This post will also be available on Tumblr, if you're more comfortable there.

<b>Have you started your project yet?</b> <b>Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)?</b> <b>What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project?</b> <b>Favorite flavor of ice cream?</b>

By "help," we're talking about things like this (by no means a comprehensive list):

sprinting/word wars
weekly venting post
weekly cheering post
having a partner or group to be accountable to
a first reader
a beta
setting smaller goals with rewards
goalposts
brainstorming
word associations
chat groups
picture/gif inspiration
three digits (http://nanowrimo.org/forum_comments/3314659)
music/lyrics inspiration
character snapshots
plot snapshots
how to be a good beta
how to create conflict in your story
how to write an interesting sex scene
epithets - good or bad?

If you have additional ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments. *twirls everyone in this bar*

Comments

I'll start...

[akamine_chan]

Have you started your project yet? Yes, sorta.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? I tend to need sprinting partners and first readers and being accountable to someone.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Pumpkin Pie ice cream from Stewart's.

[neelacuda]

Have you started your project yet? yep! finished planning and got 10% written :)
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? yep, as said above
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? someone to make me work and also a first reader to tell me it's not completely horrible
Favorite flavor of ice cream? hazelnut

[turps]

Have you started your project yet? No. I haven't even signed up yet /0\

Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? No.

What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? My trusty beta readers/people who I trust to tell me if my ideas suck. Though having an actual idea would be a good start.

Favorite flavor of ice cream? Anything with chocolate is good with me.

[darkangel_0410]

Have you started your project yet? Yup, I'm only at maybe 2%, though.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes, it's almost all plotted out, too.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Well, I've already got a beta and a first reader -and, trust me, they can make me buckle down and get to work, lol- so, I guess some kind of encouragement is always good. Or something like that, lol.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Chocolate Therapy by Ben & Jerry's.

[sperrywink]

Have you started your project yet? Not even a glimmer
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Kind of? It's not well-fleshed out, though.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? I have no clue. *flails*
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Anything chocolate.

[heyhoolou]

Have you started your project yet? I have, yep! Well, writing at least, and a general outline, but I still need to micro-plot the rest and obviously finish plotting.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Hahah, yep.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Hmm, mostly someone to bounce ideas of and to cheer me on and give me critisism throughout the writing process; thankfully I already have someone for that ;)
But it'd also be rad to have some 'how-to' posts, where we could maybe exchange tips and tricks of the trade?
(also, epithets are shit.)
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Chocolate!

[chibifukurou]

Have you started your project yet? No, still in planning stages
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Brainstorming/First Reading
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Strawberry or Mint Chocolate Chip mostly (If anybody can recommend a good non-dairy based ice-cream in either of these flavors please let me know)

[dapatty]

Have you started your project yet? I have re-read SO MANY stories in prep because HOW IS CHOOSING.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? I've probably narrowed it down to about 5 potential stories for podfic. I'll try to use a complex number system or close my eyes and point to the fist one to record. Because that's a good system, right?
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? A sprinting buddy and maybe a cheerleader because why is editing.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Jeni's goat cheese with red cheeries ice cream but any kind of chocolate is pretty rad too. :D

[glitteryv]

Have you started your project yet? I'm nearly done with the outline. :D?
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? I've got two and have yet to make up my mind on which one to tackle for Wave 1.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Venting and Cheering weekly posts, having someone(s) to be accountable to, sprinting (but not word wars. *is weird*)
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Grape Nut

[vonraphael]

Have you started your project yet? Yes. I am pretty far, but not as far as I want to be.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? A BETA! Also, help with conflict and just generally making things interesting.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? I'm old school, plain old chocolate for me.

[rannyfighter]

Have you started your project yet? yes
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? absolutely
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? a beta. And I would really appreciate some help with simple information. A person with first-hand experience could save me from hours of googleing.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? vanilla

[vonraphael]

If you don't mind me being nosy, what kind of first-hand experience?

[rannyfighter]

Well, it doesn't have to be really first..first-hand :)
Maybe just a knowledge :)
Small things about babies, a few months old before they start walking or talking. Maybe some rules about adoption. NJ. Traveling and quarantine from doctor's pow.
Paris. Streets, places to go, young people. Not young people. French language, the informal one. Art. The famous cemetery.
WWI and the Western front, WWII and Western Europe.

[vonraphael]

Well I know a little bit about Paris. But I've done quite a bit of studying on WWII, mostly from the German perspective (what it was like in Germany, Hitler's rise to power, etc.)
I'll answer any questions I can.

[synner23]

Have you started your project yet? Yes!
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes! :D Super excited too!
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? A first reader. Someone to hold me accountable. XD
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Coffee.

[poppyblue]

Have you started your project yet? No :c
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? I don't really have it planned out but I know I wanna do a bullets era mcr thing?
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? word wars or a writing partner I guess
Favorite flavor of ice cream? green tea.

[panicparade]

Have you started your project yet? Nope. I really need to.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Again, No. I just went through my WIP's and well, they suck. So.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Ooh! So many options! I actually really find word wars very productive. Also, a beta, having a group to be accountable to, a first reader and help with how to write an interesting sex scene (yes, please.)
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Chocolate. Any kind of chocolate.

[argylepiratewd]

Have you started your project yet? Yes...several times /o\
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Magic. Don't have any of that lying around? Okay...somewhere (or someone) to whine at because writing is haaaaaaard, brainstorming help, cheerleading, a first reader, and a beta or twelve. And probably more things.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Cherry Garcia

[ailis_fictive]

Have you started your project yet? If by started you mean "made some decisions and poked gingerly at", yes.

Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes. Possibly too many

What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? Listening beta. Also possibly someone to be a sympathetic ear if my editing process gets out of control.

Favorite flavor of ice cream? Easy to find: Mint Chocolate Chip. Assessable with effort: Ben and Jerry's Coffee Coffee Buzz Buzz Buzz (with hot fudge, please. Still much missed: Stewarts Mint Marcy (like Mint Chocolate Chip, only better. No green dye, fudge swirl and mini peppermint patties along with the chips. It's been over five years, and I still drool. Damned seasonal flavors.)

[akamine_chan]

Stewart's makes the absolutely best ice cream. Pumpkin Pie and Espresso Therapy and oh my, yes.

(When I get home from work in a couple of hours I'll put on my mod hat and answer your question about podfics...)

[ailis_fictive]

Oddly, I have not tried Stewart's Pumpkin Pie yet--one of the local ice cream shops had a version and I loved it, but I keep ending up at Stewart's in "give me chocolate or give me death" mode.

(Thank you!)

[cockzero]

Have you started your project yet? yep, im about 80-90% done c:
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? yep
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? maybe a beta or a first reader so check for spelling errors that always slip past me
Favorite flavor of ice cream? b&j's cookie dough

[porphyrophobiac]

Have you started your project yet? Nope, but I have the main idea sketched out in my mind.
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? Yes.
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? A beta reader probably (I've never had a full-time beta before) and just general advice about how to structure posts on DW (I'm still new to this site).
Also, if anyone has in depth knowledge about the 1940s, you would prove invaluable and I would be forever in your debt.
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Ben & Jerry's Chocolate Fudge Brownie

[slbrew.livejournal.com]

Have you started your project yet? yep! ive planned out the story and have a rough beginning
Do you have a story idea (or selected a fic to podfic)? yes
What kind of help do you think you need to complete your project? A first reader or a beta
Favorite flavor of ice cream? Cookie dough all the way :D