Hello all!

I didn't have a chance to think of a challenge, so let's just chat :) If you're not on board, feel free to come and join us!

Please pray for those in CT involved with the elementary school shooting.  Truth, I've been crying all morning. I cannot fathom someone doing something like this.

The numbers keep rising. I feel so helpless, and went in to wake up The Offspring just so I could hug her.  My first response was to go pick up The Midget from school.

Interactive part:

How do you respond to a tragedy like this?

(EDIT: CF Title changed for propriety)

I want to see your Christmas tree! Please post a pic!

My ff friend from the UK sent a pic of hers and it was fun to see the differences. (Hers bein' all fancy-like and mine looking a bit more...eclectic? Kid-decorated?)

Anyway, show me yours! And from what country, if you don't mind saying.

hi! do feed a tree as long as you're here, won't you?

so it's the freeforall. this means you can start campfires about anything, no recs or permission required. no nakedity or cussin' on the front page is all i ask. oh, and next week? starting thursday, the freeforall will last until past the new year. that's right, kiddos! plan on posting away. i'm gonna do a holiday photo scavenger hunt next week, too- no prizes or anything because mama wtvoc is broke, but it'll be for fun and to satisfy your voyeuristic needs. make sure your instagram accounts are updated.

now, let's talk gifting. 

tell us who you still need to buy for and we'll offer suggestions.

tell us what you bought for people to give us ideas.

tell us you are a grinch and are resorting to thievery this year, with or without the roast beast.

tell us we should check our western christian privilege and that not everyone celebrates christmas.

idk man, let's talk about the spirit of the holidays and someone for the love of pete tell me what to get for my mother-in-law this year.

lego darth claus in his sleigh with four tiny tauntauns fyt:

Hey everyone, usually in fanfictions Mike is either protrayed as the lovesick student that lusts after Bella and/or an abusive asshole. I was wondering if there's any fanfictions where he's just a normal nice, cute guy (in the book, he was described as "cute" and even popular) and Bella is the one to have a thing for him. Kind of like a role reversal. It doesn't have to be Mike/Bella pairing in the end (like Edward would have to fight to win Bella's affection or something). They can just be close friends or whatever. Either way, I'm kinda interested in this since the usual Mike-lusting-after-Bella/being-a-creep thing is getting too cliche now. 

My rec is The Movement of the Earth: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6297728/1/The-Movement-of-the-Earth

Mike in here is hilarious, and he's protrayed as a typical cute guy, so maybe something like this?  

Thanks everyone! :) 

Hey all!

So today I started a blog dedicated to critiquing fanfiction, books, movies, art and the like. Specifically Twilight fanfiction but I'm open to anything you might suggest. This means:

I have a twitter now. I deleted my old one as I had nothing to talk about, I would love to be able to follow some of you and maybe bug you one day.

Also, if you have a story you would like me to talk about in said blog send me a tweet or a comment on the blog! I'm at http://nonsuckfics.blogspot.com/

Since I'm pretty new to playing critic I'd appreciate any advice you could give.

MY REC: (I've been informed that everyone in Potterland has read this but I thought wth?) It's called The Mirror of Maybe, maybe you've heard of it.

http://www.greyblue.net/MidnightBlue/story.php?storyid=2

Harry Potter - The Exhibit will be in NYC through April 2013.  

I received an online announcement about the exibit and a 20% off coupon for their online store.

To use the coupon, enter code HARRYPOTTER20 During Checkout 

I wish I could take the kids to go see this in person.  Alas, it' would be a ten hour drive.  To make it interactive, if you could go anywhere over the holidays where would you go?

My rec:

Her Strength to Survive - Intelligence Operative Bella Swan is thrown into the middle of hell as her mission through war torn London disintegrates around her. Follow her struggle to survive for the man she loves and the child she refuses to believe is gone. ONE SHOT set in London during 1944
Twilight - Rated: M - English - Romance/Drama - Chapters: 2 - Published: 12-3-11 - Bella & Edward - Complete

I missed the weekly Help Desk so I will do it this weekend.

My silly injury-prone son was in the ER. FUN! (/sarcasm)

This is the campfire of Self Promotion:

THE PIMP CAMPFIRE.

Tell us about what you or a friend write. If you beta something fantastic, let us know. If you are hosting a contest, tell us about it.

Don't be shy! Give us a link. Give us a sample. Show us your banner.

We want to read what you write!

i remember reading camp which is about the most research fanfic. can somebody help me to find it? coz i want to re-read it again to find recs for my friend who is still fanfic virgin :) she will travelling to usa next week n need something to read in a long flight. i want to give her the best fanfic so she didnt think i only reading MOTU kind of fic all the time. thx so much for ur help. im sorry for any grammar or whatever mistake in this camp. 

my rec is http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6205248/1/The-Second-Son-Of-A-Duke

So... I saw The Hobbit last night and was fangirling just about ALL night long! I WANNA TALK HOBBIT!

Have you read the book? Were you a big fan of LOTR? What were your expectations before going to see the movie, and what is your assessment after seeing it?? (More questions inside!)

Oh, and who knew that hot dwarves existed? Exhibit A:

(expect more spammage of this hottie inside)

It goes without saying that this CF WILL include "spoilers". If you have not yet seen the movie, feel free to join the conversation, but do so at your own risk!

Someone recommended this book in the last "what are you reading" CF, and I'm about half-way through it.

It is so surreal to read this book.  It's sort of like reading an abridged "history of us."  I am assuming that the author is completely outside of the fandom (although not sure of that ... anyone?).  Assuming he is, it's interesting to read "our" story as told from someone who doesn't have a foot on either side of the line that was drawn in the sand re: Icy, Fifty, MOTU, and p2p in general.

If you haven't read this but would like to, it currently downloads on Amazon for $2.99.  

Does it make you feel strange to have "our" fandom under the microscope in the media?  Has the success of Fifty Shades and the ensuing media hype caused you to out yourself as a fanfic reader, or has it pushed you farther into the fic closet?  Do you think we have seen the last of the changes this phenomenon has wrought on the fandom, or do you think there will still be fall-out we can't yet imagine?  Your thoughts, please. 

I'm posting this really early b/c I won't be around my computer when the show comes on. So anyway...

IT'S TIME TO GET READY FOR THE MIDSEASON FINALE!!

THAT MEANS NO MORE TVD UNTIL NEXT YEAR!

COME ON IN AND DISCUSS WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHAT YOU THINK WILL HAPPEN IN THE TONIGHT'S EPISODE!

WILL JEREMY TRY TO KILL HIS SISTER AGAIN?

WILL BONNIE STOP BEING SO JUDGY? (probably not)

WILL CAROLINE FINALLY DITCH TYLER AND GO FOR KLAUS?

WILL THERE BE MORE DELENA SMUT? (OMG LAST WEEK'S EPISODE)

WILL STEFAN JUST GO BROOD SOMEWHERE ELSE?

AND WHERE IN THE WORLD IS ELIJAH?
 

YOU KNOW THE DRILL CAMPERS.

THERE WILL BE SPOILERS FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO CAN'T WATCH THE EPISODE AT 8PM EST.

LET'S GET READY FOR ANOTHER EPISODE THAT WILL BE SURE TO LEAVE US GOING "WTF. WHAT JUST HAPPENED?! WHAT?!"

For some reason I really feel the need to discuss this amazing woman. Maybe because I've been heavily immersed into Muse, and I can completely see why she credits them as her main source of inspiration. "Cause Matt's lyrics? Absolutely in line with the oh so appealing Edwardian angst.

I like the way she talks in interviews, no matter how adamant she seems. I feell like I owe her so much for helping me escape rl for a while. And I can't remember her saying bad things about others, even though many (even her favorite band)  have said all kinds of things about her. Yes, I was not happy with Jacob, and BD, and not getting enough Edward, but I still feel very grateful to this woman. Can't help but wonder how she must be feeling being the target of so much criticism/ridicule

Thoughs/feelings on SM?

Award Season is my favourite time of the year.

All that judgment in the air makes for a happy Christmas and New Year.

Golden Globe 2013 nominations are as follows:

For best motion picture, comedy or musical, the nominees are:
• The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Les Misérables
• Moonrise Kingdom
• Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
• Silver Linings Playbook

For best motion picture, drama:
• Argo
• Django Unchained
• Life of Pi
• Lincoln
• Zero Dark Thirty

Best performance by an actor, comedy or musical:
• Jack Black in Bernie
• Bradley Cooper in Silver Linings Playbook
• Hugh Jackman in Les Misérables
• Ewan McGregor in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
• Bill Murray in Hyde Park on Hudson

Best performance by an actor, drama:
• Daniel Day-Lewis in Lincoln
• Richard Gere in Arbitrage
• John Hawkes in The Sessions
• Joaquin Phoenix in The Master
• Denzel Washington in Flight

Best performance by an actress, comedy or musical:
• Emily Blunt in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen
• Judi Dench in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
• Jennifer Lawrence in Silver Linings Playbook
• Maggie Smith in Quartet
• Meryl Streep in Hope Springs

Best performance by an actress, drama:
• Jessica Chastain in Zero Dark Thirty
• Marion Cotillard in Rust and Bone
• Helen Mirren in Hitchcock
• Naomi Watts in The Impossible
• Rachel Weisz in The Deep Blue Sea

Best TV series, comedy or musical:
• The Big Bang Theory
• Episodes
• Girls
• Modern Family
• Smash

Best TV series, drama:
• Boardwalk Empire
• Breaking Bad
• Downton Abbey
• Homeland
• The Newsroom

For full list, go here: nominees

Do you love award season as much as I do? What are some of your favourite looks from past years on the red carpet? Are you excited by the nominees? Do you think a nominee has been overlooked?

Let's chat!

I came across this article and thought it would be a good conversation over here at the forest.  I've been vocal on my feelings toward P2P stating that a story line can exist beyond the "twilight" realm and that an author creates and owns their plot, etc.  I think this article is really good in showing an authors perspective and the different between a 50 Shades nightmare and the "right" way to P2P, I guess you could say, if you believe there is a right way.

Either way, it's an interesting read :)

http://jamigold.com/2012/12/fan-fiction-to-published-book-a-case-study/

Sorry, I don't know how to make the link pretty, just paste the link :)

To make this interactive, do you think this should be qualified as a P2P based on the new book and the authors ideas?  I'm saying no, it's a stand alone, but I tend to have that feeling about a lot of P2P.

P.S. I fed a tree while I was here, you should too :)

eta: livestream for your ease and pleasure

Anybody else watching the concert for Superstorm Sandy? Kristen Stewart just introduced Bon Jovi and she looked LIKE HELL. Sunken eyes, greasy hair, pasty skin, veiny hands.

My husband knows nothing about Twilight and he said "Whoa, that girl is on some hard s***. She needs to change her lifestyle or she won't last much longer." (Unfortunately, he's seen a few friends go through addiction, so he isn't totally talking out of his butt with that comment. Not that you can really tell through a screen, of course.)

Otherwise, the tunes are freaking awesome. Don't forget to donate if you can.

AvengeRanger Edit: Keep the language clean on the front page, per the Rules. Thank you. (Yes, even in a direct quote.)

So, this Sunday I was supposed to attend a concert of this amazing gal here in Brazil.

But unfortunely, her father, Indian sitar Ravi Shankhar (who influenced George Harrison to do that amazing arragement for Norwegian Wood) passed away yesterday and she had to cancel her Brazilian tour to be with her family.

Not gonna lie, I'm bummed. I was really, REALLY looking forward to her concert, especially considering how amazing her new album is, but my heart and prayers go out to her. It must be a tough time for her right now and I hope she has a good support system.

So, to make this interactive: did you lose a loved one recently? How did you cope? Is there any song that reminds you of this loved one?

To Norah (and expecting these gentlemen to come to Brazil ASAP)

free $10 gcard when you spend $50 at target

just click here and print the coupon. you have to install a coupon downloader to do so.

you're welcome. feed a tree for me in exchange.

now, you all know i'm a deals queen.

so let's talk about current sales prices or any super sweet price matches, coupons, internet finds, or whatever you've found this week for your holiday shopping. mama still has a few people to buy for.

also, if anyone has that braun $15 off coupon they'd like to mail to me in the next day, i'd appreciate it.

new tuneage fyt:

i wanted everybody else in the world to know 

i wanted everyone to know you're the girl for me.

i wanted everybody else in the world to know it

that i ain't ever gonna let 'em take the life from me.