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The Spring into Arda team will be running B2MeM again in 2025.
This year, the event will be basketball-themed, with participants signing up to Middle-earth basketball teams, although solo play will also be possible.
All the details can already be found on the dedicated Discord server.
ETA:
See now the Tumblr post here:
https://spring-into-arda.tumblr.com/post/774914448073818112/two-basketball-conferences-have-been-battling-for
Sign-ups for teams close on Feb 23, noon Central European time.
Also, the Angband teams in particular are looking for participants to sign up.
A daily prompt list for solo participants will become available later.
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Sticky: Welcome post
Are you someone who is participating in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
b2mem the first time this year and would like advice from someone who has participated before?
Or are you someone who is participating again and would like to ask fellow participants a question, vent writing frustrations, or talk about anything else related to the event? This community is for you.
In 2012, at the time of the first B2MeM Bingo, shadowbrides created an unofficial support community for those suffering from severe card addiction, b2memsupport on LiveJournal. That community continued in use, at least sporadically, until b2mem itself migrated to Dreamwidth.
I thought having such a forum available on Dreamwidth might be helpful this year.
[ETA: This DW community was founded in 2019, and I was happy to see that some participants found it useful. It will continue to be available during B2MeM in 2020. For more information (and rules), see the profile of the comm.]
[ETA/2: 2020 was the last year of B2MeM atb2mem on Dreamwidth. B2MeM is now run by a different team of mods, chiefly on a dedicated Discord, with linked AO3 collections.]
Icon of the community on LiveJournal:
b2mem the first time this year and would like advice from someone who has participated before?Or are you someone who is participating again and would like to ask fellow participants a question, vent writing frustrations, or talk about anything else related to the event? This community is for you.
In 2012, at the time of the first B2MeM Bingo, shadowbrides created an unofficial support community for those suffering from severe card addiction, b2memsupport on LiveJournal. That community continued in use, at least sporadically, until b2mem itself migrated to Dreamwidth.
I thought having such a forum available on Dreamwidth might be helpful this year.
[ETA: This DW community was founded in 2019, and I was happy to see that some participants found it useful. It will continue to be available during B2MeM in 2020. For more information (and rules), see the profile of the comm.]
[ETA/2: 2020 was the last year of B2MeM at
b2mem on Dreamwidth. B2MeM is now run by a different team of mods, chiefly on a dedicated Discord, with linked AO3 collections.]Icon of the community on LiveJournal:
Entry tags:
Week 3 and Week 4 Daily Prompts
Week 3
Optional weekly theme - Setbacks, Loss, Resilience
March 18 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a fic without dialogue | Experiment with woodcarving/sculpting/pottery | Try out a new pairing
March 19 ‒ Grief | Comfort | Rebound
March 20 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about an event in Tolkien’s world.
March 21 ‒ Failed Experiments | New Ideas | Recovery
March 22 ‒ Hope | Escape | Trap
March 23 – Community Sunday! Get together with friends for a live-reading session to celebrate Tolkien Reading day!
[There will be a live-reading session on the Spring into Arda Discord.]
March 24 ‒ Collapse | Reinvent | Bench
Week 4
Optional weekly theme - Rivalry, Competition, Victory
March 25 – Experimental Tuesday! Record a podfic | Create art that uses 2+ different media | Try out a new genre
March 26 ‒ Shot | Song | Creation
March 27 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a culture in Tolkien’s world.
March 28 ‒ Dunk | Hide & Seek | Water
March 29 – Theft | Emotions | Journeys
March 30 – Community Sunday! Tell us about your favourite part of Tolkien | Tell your favourite fan creators what you enjoy about their work | Say thank you to somebody who has made your fandom experience better in the last year
March 31 – Triumph | Hunt | Travel
Optional weekly theme - Setbacks, Loss, Resilience
March 18 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a fic without dialogue | Experiment with woodcarving/sculpting/pottery | Try out a new pairing
March 19 ‒ Grief | Comfort | Rebound
March 20 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about an event in Tolkien’s world.
March 21 ‒ Failed Experiments | New Ideas | Recovery
March 22 ‒ Hope | Escape | Trap
March 23 – Community Sunday! Get together with friends for a live-reading session to celebrate Tolkien Reading day!
[There will be a live-reading session on the Spring into Arda Discord.]
March 24 ‒ Collapse | Reinvent | Bench
Week 4
Optional weekly theme - Rivalry, Competition, Victory
March 25 – Experimental Tuesday! Record a podfic | Create art that uses 2+ different media | Try out a new genre
March 26 ‒ Shot | Song | Creation
March 27 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a culture in Tolkien’s world.
March 28 ‒ Dunk | Hide & Seek | Water
March 29 – Theft | Emotions | Journeys
March 30 – Community Sunday! Tell us about your favourite part of Tolkien | Tell your favourite fan creators what you enjoy about their work | Say thank you to somebody who has made your fandom experience better in the last year
March 31 – Triumph | Hunt | Travel
Entry tags:
Week 2 Daily Prompts
Week 2
Optional weekly theme - Test, Struggle, Progress
March 10 ‒ Conflict | Exploration | Windmill
March 11 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a poem | Experiment with a monochrome palette | Compose a short piece of music
March 12 ‒ Difficult Decisions | Darkness | Defense
March 13 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a place in Tolkien’s world.
March 14 ‒ Build up | Challenge | Block
March 15 ‒ New Horizons | Negotiations | Now or Never
March 16 – Community Sunday! Comment on a fanwork featuring poetry | Comment on/reblog art that doesn’t include people | Share your favourite trinkets that remind you of Tolkien’s works
March 17 ‒ Survival | Back-up | Endurance
Optional weekly theme - Test, Struggle, Progress
March 10 ‒ Conflict | Exploration | Windmill
March 11 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a poem | Experiment with a monochrome palette | Compose a short piece of music
March 12 ‒ Difficult Decisions | Darkness | Defense
March 13 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a place in Tolkien’s world.
March 14 ‒ Build up | Challenge | Block
March 15 ‒ New Horizons | Negotiations | Now or Never
March 16 – Community Sunday! Comment on a fanwork featuring poetry | Comment on/reblog art that doesn’t include people | Share your favourite trinkets that remind you of Tolkien’s works
March 17 ‒ Survival | Back-up | Endurance
Entry tags:
Week 1: Daily Prompts
Week 1
Optional weekly theme - Community, Fun, First Times
March 1 ‒ Coming home | Reunions | Missing somebody
March 2 – Community Sunday! Comment on a fanwork that was created over 1 year ago | Listen to a podfic | Rec your top 3 comfort fics
March 3 ‒ Chaos | Troublemakers | Out of Bounds
March 4 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a songfic! | Experiment with textiles | Try out an Alternate Universe
March 5 ‒ First Meetings | Games | Connections
March 6 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a Tolkien character.
March 7 ‒ Audience | Ball | Court
March 8 – International Womens’ Day! Create, comment, or recommend fanworks featuring women as main characters.
March 9 – Community Sunday! Read and comment on a story about a character you’ve never read about before! | Comment on/reblog art that features the colour purple | Listen to a fan song
Optional weekly theme - Community, Fun, First Times
March 1 ‒ Coming home | Reunions | Missing somebody
March 2 – Community Sunday! Comment on a fanwork that was created over 1 year ago | Listen to a podfic | Rec your top 3 comfort fics
March 3 ‒ Chaos | Troublemakers | Out of Bounds
March 4 – Experimental Tuesday! Write a songfic! | Experiment with textiles | Try out an Alternate Universe
March 5 ‒ First Meetings | Games | Connections
March 6 – Meta Thursday! Share your meta/headcanons about a Tolkien character.
March 7 ‒ Audience | Ball | Court
March 8 – International Womens’ Day! Create, comment, or recommend fanworks featuring women as main characters.
March 9 – Community Sunday! Read and comment on a story about a character you’ve never read about before! | Comment on/reblog art that features the colour purple | Listen to a fan song
Entry tags:
B2MeM begins
Daily prompts are now being posted to the Tumblr blog, which has also reblogged the first fanworks:
https://www.tumblr.com/spring-into-arda
March 1 - Prompts
Coming home | Reunions | Missing somebody
The optional weekly theme is: Community, Fun, First Times
https://www.tumblr.com/spring-into-arda/776798163812155392/march-1-prompts?source=share
(I won't manage to reblog these here daily, but I will try to reblog a few.)
The first fanworks have been posted to the AO3 collection:
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Back_to_Middle_Earth_Month_2025
https://www.tumblr.com/spring-into-arda
March 1 - Prompts
Coming home | Reunions | Missing somebody
The optional weekly theme is: Community, Fun, First Times
https://www.tumblr.com/spring-into-arda/776798163812155392/march-1-prompts?source=share
(I won't manage to reblog these here daily, but I will try to reblog a few.)
The first fanworks have been posted to the AO3 collection:
https://archiveofourown.org/collections/Back_to_Middle_Earth_Month_2025
Deadline for B2MeM team event today, also solo prompts
Today is the last day to sign up for the B2MeM team event.
The solo prompts for March have now been posted here publicly at SWG:
https://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/atwaw
(unable to link to this entry directly, scroll down the Around the World blog, if it is no longer at the top)
The entry also contains links for team sign-up, which do work even though the main link of the entry currently does not.
The solo prompts for March have now been posted here publicly at SWG:
https://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/atwaw
(unable to link to this entry directly, scroll down the Around the World blog, if it is no longer at the top)
The entry also contains links for team sign-up, which do work even though the main link of the entry currently does not.
Entry tags:
Cardolan Carnival Update
Details of the Cardolan Carnival now posted for B2MeM 2024 by the Spring into Arda team!
Minhiriath Midway (link)
Minhiriath Midway (link)
Step up, step in, let's see what you win! The Minhiriath Midway is full of games and fun! Spin the wheel, try your luck at the Crablor Grab, and see what prompts you get by the luck of the draw (or keep playing until you find something you like). You can use the Midway any time during March, and beyond!
Blue Ribbon Exhibition (link)
The Prince of Cardolan loves to acknowledge hard work and creativity. Enter your finest works into the Blue Ribbon Exhibition as an exhibition challenger. Challengers will compete against others for the title of Best of Cardolan in the categories they enter. All entries for the Blue Ribbon Exhibition are due by noon on June 1, 2024.
Dappled Dapper Pony Picture Coloring Contest (link)
The Dappled Dapper Pony Picture Coloring Contest (D²P²C²) is a very basic coloring contest event. Everyone starts with the same base image, and colors and embellishes their pony in whatever way they choose.
Dappled Dapper Drabbled Pony Race (link)
The Dappled Dapper Drabbled Pony Race is a team writing event which is being run as part of the Cardolan Carnival, a Back to Middle-earth Month 2024 Event. For groups of 2 to 6, three races will be run throughout the month.
Lost Treasures Quest (link)
Part of Back to Middle-earth Month is revisiting works that are already in the world -- old favorites and new discoveries. For the Lost Treasures Quests, you will be able to choose from leaving new commentary on works posted or written before 2020, making rec lists, working on WIPs (writing or art) that are at least a year old or more, or posting works currently unavailable publicly or at a new archive.
The Prince of Cardolan's Grand Gala
The Grand Gala is a live event held on Discord. During the event, winners of the Blue Ribbon Exhibition will be announced, games will be played, live readings will occur, and generally, it will be a grand time.
Additionally, B2MEM is an open event where ANYTHING you create during March counts! Feel free to add works you start, add to, or finish in March to the gallery! You can also host your own events -- let us know what you're up to, and we'll add your event to the list of festivities!
Timeline of Events
The Midway will open on February 24, 2024.
The Blue Ribbon Exhibition categories will be posted on March 1, 2024. Entries are due by noon on June 1, 2024. Winners will be announced at the Tarnin Austa event.
The Lost Treasures Quest gameboard will be available no later than Feburary 24, 2024.
The Grand Gala will take place April 12-14, 2024.
Posting & Viewing Works
Beginning March 1st, 2024, works can be posted to the AO3 collection. This collection never closes, so while the event will wrap by the end of April, you can always add works later as you are inspired and finish them. If posting on Tumblr, use the tag B2MEM24 to make your posts easy to find by our team for reblogs! You can join the Discord at any time!
Socially Speaking...
Want to chat with others about Spring Into Arda events? There are parties for B2MEM throughout the event and the server is open year round. Hang with other B2MEM participants, past and present, on the perpetual Discord (linked at the bottom of this page)!
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Admin Post: B2MeM 2024
B2MeM will return in March 2024, run again by the Spring in Arda team.
This year's title and theme will be:
Cardolan Carnival.
The Prince of Cardolan invites you!
Join us this March for a bunch of fun carnival games, haunted houses and more as we celebrate the 19th Back to Middle-Earth month!
More details to follow.
spring-into-arda.tumblr.com/post/739394346887020544/the-prince-of-cardolan-invites-you-join-us-this
This year's title and theme will be:
Cardolan Carnival.
The Prince of Cardolan invites you!
Join us this March for a bunch of fun carnival games, haunted houses and more as we celebrate the 19th Back to Middle-Earth month!
More details to follow.
spring-into-arda.tumblr.com/post/739394346887020544/the-prince-of-cardolan-invites-you-join-us-this
Entry tags:
Two B2MeM 2023 events : drabble duel and Eregion Art-a-thon
Cross-post from Discord:
DRABBLE DUEL
We need your help!
Glorfindel and the Girabbit have gotten into a fight about the true nature of drabbles, and now they no longer do their duties, because they cannot stop arguing.
Lord Elrond and Mr. Bliss are quite upset.
Luckily, the freckled fox has proposed a solution.
A competition, of sorts; a drabble duel, you could say.
Are you a writer who delights in the shortest of stories, the tiniest of tales?
Then come join us from March 17 to March 25, and help settle the debate!
( Read more... )Zhie has also written a charming little ficlet of Glorfindel's and Girabbit's argument (though those rules also include the ones for Spies in the Shadows players only) that you can find here.
Eregion Art-a-thon
Strange news have reached us tonight!
A portal has popped up in Edhellond, and it appears to link to the Museum of Eregion! Artists will be able to use this portal to send art to be featured in the museum.
Be quick about it though! It will only be open from March 17 to March 25!
The elderberry cat has suggested that it may be possible to use this opportunity to avert the fate of one of the greatest artisans of the second age, the Lord Celebrimbor himself.
We are calling all artists to make use of the portal and submit their art to the Museum of Eregion, and if perhaps… there are some subtle hints hidden in those arts that could alert Celebrimbor to his future fate, then who could possibly object? (Do make sure they are subtle, though. We would not wish Annatar to catch on!)
( Read more... )
DRABBLE DUEL
We need your help!
Glorfindel and the Girabbit have gotten into a fight about the true nature of drabbles, and now they no longer do their duties, because they cannot stop arguing.
Lord Elrond and Mr. Bliss are quite upset.
Luckily, the freckled fox has proposed a solution.
A competition, of sorts; a drabble duel, you could say.
Are you a writer who delights in the shortest of stories, the tiniest of tales?
Then come join us from March 17 to March 25, and help settle the debate!
( Read more... )Zhie has also written a charming little ficlet of Glorfindel's and Girabbit's argument (though those rules also include the ones for Spies in the Shadows players only) that you can find here.
Eregion Art-a-thon
Strange news have reached us tonight!
A portal has popped up in Edhellond, and it appears to link to the Museum of Eregion! Artists will be able to use this portal to send art to be featured in the museum.
Be quick about it though! It will only be open from March 17 to March 25!
The elderberry cat has suggested that it may be possible to use this opportunity to avert the fate of one of the greatest artisans of the second age, the Lord Celebrimbor himself.
We are calling all artists to make use of the portal and submit their art to the Museum of Eregion, and if perhaps… there are some subtle hints hidden in those arts that could alert Celebrimbor to his future fate, then who could possibly object? (Do make sure they are subtle, though. We would not wish Annatar to catch on!)
( Read more... )
B2MEM 2023: Prompt board open, etc.
The prompt board for B2MEM 2023 is open and is here on Google forms.
The AO3 collection is open and the organizers remind you: "the spirit of this event is that anything created during March qualifies if you say it does - at the core, March is a month to revisit and explore Middle-earth".
Team event for Spies in the Shadows is closed, but it can be still joined as solo player here.
The AO3 collection is open and the organizers remind you: "the spirit of this event is that anything created during March qualifies if you say it does - at the core, March is a month to revisit and explore Middle-earth".
Team event for Spies in the Shadows is closed, but it can be still joined as solo player here.
Spies in the Shadows: Team Event Extension through 2/21
Spies in the Shadows: Team Sign-up Extension! If you missed the deadline, you have a second chance to join the team variation of this one-time only fandom creation game celebrating Back To Middle Earth Month! Game dates are March 1-31 2023, and it will be played on private Discord server.
The form will close at end of day on February 21, 2023 (if it is still February 21 in your part of the world, you can still jump aboard the secret agent train). Sign-up form is found here ; More info on the event is found here (There is also a solo version for those who would prefer to be a solo secret agent.)
The form will close at end of day on February 21, 2023 (if it is still February 21 in your part of the world, you can still jump aboard the secret agent train). Sign-up form is found here ; More info on the event is found here (There is also a solo version for those who would prefer to be a solo secret agent.)
Entry tags:
B2MeM 2023, run again by the Spring into Arda team
Link to the Spring into Arda Website
Save the dates! Back to Middle-earth Month (B2MEM) returns for the 18th running of the annual event. This year’s main event is titled Spies in the Shadows, and all events will culminate with a mini virtual convention hosted by the Spring into Arda team.
(All events, with the exception of the classic prompt board, will use Discord as the main place of contact and communication. Discord is required for the team event and convention participation; it is highly recommended for the solo event.)
( Read more... )
For links to FAQs,Discord, AO3 Collection and sign-up forms, see the Spring into Arda website linked above.
ETA: Link to Spring into Arda on Tumblr here.
Save the dates! Back to Middle-earth Month (B2MEM) returns for the 18th running of the annual event. This year’s main event is titled Spies in the Shadows, and all events will culminate with a mini virtual convention hosted by the Spring into Arda team.
(All events, with the exception of the classic prompt board, will use Discord as the main place of contact and communication. Discord is required for the team event and convention participation; it is highly recommended for the solo event.)
( Read more... )
For links to FAQs,Discord, AO3 Collection and sign-up forms, see the Spring into Arda website linked above.
ETA: Link to Spring into Arda on Tumblr here.
Entry tags:
B2MEM 2022 Graphics Round-up
Entry tags:
B2MEM 2022 Fic Round-up NSFW edition
NSFW fics.
Links go to the AO3 collection.
Baby Talk by starlightwalking
Links go to the AO3 collection.
Baby Talk by starlightwalking
Beyond the Mist of Words by polutropos
Blasphemy by starlightwalking
Familiar Stranger by starlightwalking
Here and Now by starlightwalking
Separation by starlightwalking
the burning sky by starlightwalking
Truth of the Heart by starlightwalking
Entry tags:
B2MEM 2022 Fic Round-up SFW edition
[Links go to AO3]
Banners Caught High by RangerJedi67
Banners Caught High by RangerJedi67
Belladonna Took's adventure by Astrance
Coming home by daughterofshadows
Goldberry's Songs by CateWolfe
How I met your mother by daughterofshadows
It grows perhaps the greater by starlightwalking
Kortirion by Himring
Lullabies and nursery rhymes of Middle Earth by Astrance
morning after by starlightwalking
Musings of a Morning by RangerJedi67
overture of light by starlightwalking
Pulling a Thread by starlightwalking
Received with Joy by starlightwalking
Resurfaced by starlightwalking
Rolling Stone. by hennethgalad
Saturday Night in Angband by Astrance
Secrets in Stone by RangerJedi67
Skilled in voice and hand by tehhumi
Starlight, Moonlight, light my sky tonight by Himring
Sweet up-lockèd treasure by JazTheBard
The Fall of the House of Eluchil by KayleeArafinwiel
The Fools by JazTheBard
The Path of Dreams by starlightwalking
The Rainbow at the End of the Road by starlightwalking
the sighing wind by starlightwalking
The Ugly Truth by starlightwalking
This Duty is Mine by RangerJedi67
Thou mayst be false by JazTheBard
Three Hearts as One by JazTheBard
Wandering Woodcarver by Himring
Widow's Wife by starlightwalking
Winds of Change by Astrance
Writing by Candlelight by Himring
yonya by starlightwalking
Entry tags:
B2MeM Open Mics
Two B2MeM open mics are planned on the Spring into Arda Discord on 30 April and 1 May.
Entry tags:
B2MeM 2022 update
The AO3 collection now has 33 works in it.
There have also been (at least) two voicechat get-togethers for participants to discuss B2MeM on the Spring into Arda Discord server.
I have not been able to participate in these or post advance alerts here.
I believe at least one more of these is planned.
An invite to the Discord server can be found on the website.
There have also been (at least) two voicechat get-togethers for participants to discuss B2MeM on the Spring into Arda Discord server.
I have not been able to participate in these or post advance alerts here.
I believe at least one more of these is planned.
An invite to the Discord server can be found on the website.
Entry tags:
Other versions of two B2MeM prompt lists
Here are links to text-only versions of the General Prompts and Story Starters prompt lists.
They go to Google Docs.
They go to Google Docs.
Entry tags:
It is March and B2MeM has officially started
The first stories for B2MeM 2022 have been posted to the AO3 collection.
Check them out!
(For the prompt stalls, see previous post.)
Check them out!
(For the prompt stalls, see previous post.)
Entry tags:
Update to prompt stalls, etc.
March is getting closer, the uploading of prompts is now really almost complete and there will be a pre-claim prompt party on the dedicated Discord on Sunday.
Cross-post from the updated website, now including all the stalls:
Cross-post from the updated website, now including all the stalls:
Mathom Marketplace
2022's theme is 'Mathom Marketplace'. You can find the long list of 'what do' and 'how to' here.
Claiming of prompts and creation of stories, art, and other fun things for B2MEM begins on March 1st. Here is the list of prompts, grouped by type:
Artie Greenhands’ Studio (Art) (updated 2/24/22) [10 submissions]
Bingo Boffin’s Bingo Ball (Bingo Cards) (updated 2/17/22) [17 submissions]
Chubbs’ and Grubbs’ Snack Tent (Story Starters) (updated 2/17/2022) [30 submissions]
Gammer Diggle’s Odds & Ends (General Prompts) (updated 2/17/22) [169 submissions]
Harper Hornblower’s Harmonious Tones (Playlists) (updated 2/21/2022) [8 submissions]
Joy Gardner’s Big Mood Café (Moodboards) (updated 2/17/2022) [12 submissions]
Lightfoot’s Darkroom (Photo Prompts) (updated 2/22/2022) [40 submissions]
Proudfoot & Goodbody’s Costumes, Clothes, & Coiffures (Cosplay) (updated 2/24/2022) [6 submissions]
Twist Roper & Smith Clayhanger’s Crafting Workshop (Crafts) (updated 2/24/2022) [13 submissions]
Trade Show at Mrs. Bracegirdle’s Boutique
This is an opportunity to collaborate and/or exchange specific items in trade. Maybe you want to draw pictures of Frodo in Valinor and want someone to write a story for them. Maybe you have been working on a story about Indis' childhood, and are looking for an illustrator. Maybe you want to collaborate on a story about the first Dwarves in Middle-earth. You can post your trade offers here.
Posting & Viewing Works
Beginning March 1st, 2022, works can be posted to the AO3 collection. This collection never closes, so while the event will wrap by the end of April, you can always add works later as you are inspired and finish them.
Socially Speaking...
Want to chat with others about Spring Into Arda events? There are parties for B2MEM throughout the event and the server is open year round. Hang with other B2MEMers and Trade Show participants on Discord!