The Birthday Project - OPEN - The Old Reviews Lounge Forum

Topic: The Birthday Project - OPEN

First off, to avoid unnecessary complication, this Birthday Project is Reviews Lounge exclusive. That means, we're not running it concurrently with any other forums - just because the basic logistics of such an operation are highly impractical.

Anyway, on to the Project itself:

THE THEME

This time, we're going back to basics again. I'm giving you a word, and using that word, I want you to write a oneshot. The interpretation is completely open (just like the Rainbow Project), particularly as it was such a pleasure last time to see the complete diversity of responses!

Predictably, your word (or theme) is

birthdays

simply because the Reviews Lounge is approaching its first birthday on April 21st and I thought this would be a nice way to celebrate (I think we'll also have a review-drive, just like the Superbowl Challenge again, if anyone wants to run it?)

CHARACTER NOMINATIONS

As per usual, I'm asking you all to nominate the character you'll write about.

There will be no double nominations; however, like last time we may open a second round of claims if there's some demand for it. We'll see!

Please note: If someone has the character you wanted to write about, tough cookies. Choose another.

All characters must be canon. However, they can be from any era whatsoever. If you're really desperate to write an OC, pick a canon name that we know nothing about. Good examples of names such as those would be Emmeline Vance, Mary Macdonald Amelia Bones, Benjamin Fenwick and Newt Scamander. Basically, any random name you have ever seen published in a Harry Potter book is acceptable.

Character claims close April 30th.

SUBMISSION

For everyone who's not familiar with RL projects, we ask you to submit your piece for collaboration, as published on our profile page. The email to do so is

You're also welcome to post the story yourself; however, I strongly encourage you to tell your readers the story is posted elsewhere. It avoids any unnecessary trouble for us!

This project will be accepting submissions from April 1, 2008. (None before that, thanks very much!)

There is no deadline for this project; however, we do ask that you turn it in within a reasonable time period. I don't want to be receiving submissions for this one in 6 months!

When submitting your story via email, PLEASE remember to tell us your penname, the title of the story, and the pairing. It makes things a lot easier for Cuba and I when the time comes to load!!

I've probably forgotten something (it usually happens) so please keep an eye open for any updates!

And, to start off the claims:

If the character you want to write about appears on this list below, tough, its already been claimed. Please choose another!

Similarly, please select your character carefully. Changing claims often becomes quite messy, and it's something we'd all prefer to avoid!

Current Claims:

Ginny Weasley - Lexie

Andromeda Tonks/Black - Cuba

#1 Mar 26th 2008, 12:08am . Edited May 22nd 2008, 5:00pm

Cuban Sombrero Gal

Change your character again Lexie? And I thought I was the unorganised one. I'll run the fic drive if you want, and yeah ... happy writing people.

#2 Mar 26th 2008, 12:12am

Yeah. Usually I have a gut feeling.... but this time I don't.... anyway.... I figured I'd go with someone I haven't written great lengths about before. I like Ginny, she's fairly awesome =)

#3 Mar 26th 2008, 12:18am

the-original-hufflepuff

Huffie claims Nymphadora Tonks! ;P

EDIT: crap, didn't see the whole 'claiming before April 1st = no-no' thing. Sorry, should've read it all properly :S.

EDIT #2: Haha, read it wrong again! So I still claim Tonks.

#4 Mar 26th 2008, 12:58am . Edited Mar 26th 2008, 1:04am

I have a 100 000+ word story called "Birthdays" already - can I submit that??!

No?

Okay then.

Dammit, there are four people I want... (And I'm so predictable, you can probably guess them.)

Katy wanders off to get breakfast and think about this.

Okay, I've thunk. I want Molly, Fleur and Percy, but I want George more.

George Weasley please.

#5 Mar 26th 2008, 1:50am . Edited Mar 26th 2008, 2:05am

Avindara Nirvene

Am I allowed to claim anyone now, as I haven't turned in my Valentine's thing? :)

If yes, Teddy Lupin, please ;)

#6 Mar 26th 2008, 3:48am

McFlyFan101

Can I have Neville Longbottom please?

#7 Mar 26th 2008, 3:49am

Haha Katy - I know you have Birthdays - didn't mean to steal your idea, it just seems an appropriate theme to kick off next month's celebrations! Sorry =) needless to say, We Fully Expect Something Original =P (as difficult as that might be, I have faith...)

Nothing in the email before April Fools, Huffie (Think of our kicking off as a lovely birthday present for Fred, George and Wit!). You can start writing now if you so please!!

If the character you want to write about appears on this list below, tough, its already been claimed. Please choose another! Similarly, please select your character carefully. Changing claims often becomes quite messy, and it's something we'd all prefer to avoid!

Current Claims:

Ginny Weasley - Lexie

Andromeda Tonks/Black - Cuba

Nymphadora Tonks - Huffie

George Weasley - Bad Mum

Teddy Lupin - Ani

Neville Longbottom - McFly

#8 Mar 26th 2008, 4:15am

Sadie Lovegood

Sadie wants to claim Sirius Black!

#9 Mar 26th 2008, 4:34am

-Defier of Reason-

Yay! another project :D Anyway, I was going to try for something I haven't tried before... but... I'm not so sure. I'm thinking Lily Evans - but then I feel like Ron :D. It's so difficult!!

Lily...Ron...Lily...Ron... Lily... *brainstorming*

RON! Haven't written Ron yet... I like his awkwardness :D

so, I'm claiming Ron Weasley please!! :)

#10 Mar 26th 2008, 4:34am

Actually, I find it rather interesting that the majority of the marauder-generation characters haven't been claimed yet; Lily, James and Remus are often snatched up very quickly! (It's good - it means, I think, that everyone's branching out a little more)

#11 Mar 26th 2008, 4:57am

Elledreamer

Ahhh this is really good. I want to participate in this one! I'm a little disappointed Ron has gone but what you gonna do? In that case I'd like to claim:

Seamus Finnigan please!

Yes...that might be interesting to write.... :)

#12 Mar 26th 2008, 5:38am . Edited Mar 26th 2008, 10:12am

CharliRaverBaby

Cedrella Black please. xD

#13 Mar 26th 2008, 6:35am

HaruhiXHikaru

I CLAIM LUNA LOVEGOOD- LUNA LUNA LUNA LUNA LUNA

#14 Mar 26th 2008, 8:21am

It's okay, Lexie, I knew you weren't stealing my idea really. I think submitting my fic as a oneshot might be a bit much - not to mention the fact that it's not exactly one character centred!

#15 Mar 26th 2008, 9:03am

I'm not branching out - I love the Weasleys too much!

#16 Mar 26th 2008, 9:04am

sylphides

Hey, i'm fairly new and have never participated in any of these, but it sounds interesting so I'll give it a shot! Um...can I claim Draco Malfoy?

#17 Mar 26th 2008, 9:15am

Sandshrew777

Uh oh, most of the popular characters are getting swept up...I guess I'll continue my schtick and try for a lesser-known one.

I'll take on Lavender Brown, please, and heaven help me. :p

#18 Mar 26th 2008, 9:37am

TomOrli BloomingWell

I know that I haven't given in my Easter one but I think that I've just gotten a sudden epiphany for a possible 'Birthday' story. Can I claim Scorpius Malfoy?

#19 Mar 26th 2008, 9:46am

Pinky Green

Pinky claims Lily

Can you include a pairing in the story?

#20 Mar 26th 2008, 9:48am

Pinky Green

Current Claims:

Ginny Weasley - Lexie

Andromeda Tonks/Black - Cuba

Nymphadora Tonks - Huffie

George Weasley - Bad Mum

Teddy Lupin - Ani

Neville Longbottom - McFly

Sirius Black - Sadie

Ron Weasley - Defier

Seamus Finnigan - Elledreamer

Cedrella Black - Acid

Luna Lovegood - Maria

Draco Malfoy - sylphides

Lavender Brown - Sandshrew

Scorpius Malfoy - TomOrli BloomingWell

Lily Evans/Potter - Pinky

Lily Potter II - Gilly

And also, can you please please bold your claim. using the "B" tool when you post.

#21 Mar 26th 2008, 9:52am . Edited Apr 15th 2008, 12:29pm

Princess Gillybean

Lily Potter 2nd please.

#22 Mar 26th 2008, 10:46am . Edited Mar 26th 2008, 10:47am

Perspicacity

Hey, I'll play. Could I please have Hedwig?

#23 Mar 26th 2008, 11:06am

KristyT23

Ron and George are already taken, so I'll pick Harry Potter

#24 Mar 26th 2008, 11:39am

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

Can I claim Hermione Granger ?

#25 Mar 26th 2008, 11:55am

Heart4Happiness

Petunia Evans/Dursley, please!

#26 Mar 26th 2008, 12:57pm

ChrissyWhissy

Yes, I got here on time!

Severus Snape, please

#27 Mar 26th 2008, 1:04pm

Demoiselle Kyota

Kyota claims Katie Bell. XD

#28 Mar 26th 2008, 1:46pm

respitechristopher

Hi there!

Albus Severus Potter for me, please :)

#29 Mar 26th 2008, 2:24pm

Cuban Sombrero Gal

Pairings can be included, Pinky, but they shouldn't be the entire point of the story. We want your character to shine through as an individual, but if that involves a pairing, that's ok.

#30 Mar 26th 2008, 2:46pm

Awww! I was to late, both George and Katie are taken :(

Okay so I'll claim Fred Weasley maybe this will stop him from taking over one of my other stories.

#31 Mar 26th 2008, 3:09pm

LOL, mackgirl. I bet it won't. I'm a bit afraid he's going to take over my George one.

#32 Mar 26th 2008, 3:17pm

LOL and I'm afraid George might take over this one to get back at Fred for taking over his story. I think I have an idea though for this as long as George doesn't take over.

#33 Mar 26th 2008, 3:19pm

I have an idea for mine too. It'll be interesting to see if they're anything like each other.

#34 Mar 26th 2008, 3:20pm

It will be interesting, it'd also be kind of freaky if they are similar.

#35 Mar 26th 2008, 3:21pm

Yeah. "Get out of my brain" kind of thing! I have a title for mine already, but I ain't telling.

#36 Mar 26th 2008, 3:23pm

Actually I can't wait to see what you guys do with Fred and George... Considering how broad the subject matter is, and all!!

PLEASE REMEMBER TO BOLD YOUR CLAIMS SO WE CAN FIND THEM

Current Claims:

Ginny Weasley - Lexie

Andromeda Tonks/Black - Cuba

Nymphadora Tonks - Huffie

George Weasley - Bad Mum

Teddy Lupin - Ani

Neville Longbottom - McFly

Sirius Black - Sadie

Ron Weasley - Defier

Seamus Finnigan - Elledreamer

Cedrella Black - Acid

Luna Lovegood - Maria

Draco Malfoy - sylphides

Lavender Brown - Sandshrew

Scorpius Malfoy - TomOrli BloomingWell

Lily Evans/Potter - Pinky

Lily Potter II – Gilly

Hedwig - Perspicacity

Harry Potter - KristyT23

Hermione Granger - WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

Petunia Evans/Dursley - Heart4Happiness

Severus Snape - ChrissyWhissy

Katie Bell -Kyota-chan

Albus Severus Potter- respitechristopher

Fred Weasley - mackgirl

Regulus Black - Bonnie

#37 Mar 26th 2008, 3:23pm . Edited Mar 26th 2008, 3:45pm

I don't have a title yet, but I've got a plot worked out which I'm not telling either.

#38 Mar 26th 2008, 3:24pm

Elledreamer

Oh, I wanted to ask, are there any restrictions of length? I mean, obviously you don't want an epic but It'd be helpful to know how much space I have to write in (if you get what I mean) :)

#39 Mar 26th 2008, 3:26pm

Well.... a oneshot please (so we're assuming a sensible length). Basically, anything up to..... I'd say at an absolute max 8000 words. The length of a single, sensibly sized chapter, down to anything from a drabble upwards. Obviously, if it's two lines, we'll ask for more too.

Just... something of a reasonable length =)

#40 Mar 26th 2008, 3:28pm

Elledreamer

Well yes I knew it was a one shot but that's fine, I doubt it'll reach that length anyway! Thanks a lot...

#41 Mar 26th 2008, 3:31pm

bonniedoll

Trust Huffie... =P

OMG, nobody's claimed Bella! For once. ^^ Hmm... to write angsty crap, or not to write angsty crap? (That is the question...) Okay, I choose... *cue drumroll* Regulus Arcturus Black! So, angsty crap. ^^

#42 Mar 26th 2008, 3:39pm

mustardgirl1128

Oh wow, this was started today, and already zillions of characters have been claimed!

*ponders*

Can I have... Kendra Dumbledore please?

#43 Mar 26th 2008, 4:59pm

It's amazing how quick the claims go, isn't it? I'm glad I got in early!

#44 Mar 26th 2008, 5:02pm

bonniedoll

I never get in early enough, I'm terrible! ^^ I'm gonna have to get in early one of these days and nick Tonks before anyone else snags her... *glares* =P I was probably in bed, I've been so lazy this holiday. =D

#45 Mar 26th 2008, 5:04pm

Perspicacity

I'm just happy I nabbed Hedwig before the rush. I couldn't bear having to deal with writing a story about... Pig.... *shudders*

#46 Mar 26th 2008, 5:19pm

LOL. Poor little Pig.

You could have had Hermes.

#47 Mar 26th 2008, 5:27pm

WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

I came on here, hoping that I could snag Ron . . . but alas! Twas not meant to be!

I was kinda surprised that Hermione was still up for grabs.

#48 Mar 26th 2008, 5:29pm

I can't wait to see what you do with her!

#49 Mar 26th 2008, 5:35pm