Faith-orientated ficathon?
What would this ficathon be about?
There isn't enough fic out there celebrating the faiths of all our favourite characters. For that matter, given recent world events, there isn't enough understanding out there of other people's beliefs, full stop. In this fic challenge, you'd write about a character's relationship to their faith. It doesn't have to be something we see on-screen, and they don't have to be uber-religious. We're not all going to write about Shepherd Book, for instance - but how did Mal Reynolds lose his faith? Inara was lighting candles in a temple in Serenity - how does she relate to her beliefs? President Bartlet's faith is well-explored, but what about Zoe's, or Ellie's? How does Sisko square his own religious beliefs with being declared an Emissary of another people's faith? For that matter - how does Lister feel about being Cloister?
This would be a ficathon where we look at faith - lightly and irreverently, or deeply and with warmth - and see what part it plays in the lives of our favourite characters.
What would this ficathon involve?
Well, currently, showing an interest! The thought was to run an ideas-based gift exchange, along the format of: "I'd like to see birth rituals/thoughts, with characters X, Y, and Z from fandom A, or characters F, G, H, from fandom I, or any characters from fandom K" The options would be clarified a little, of course, and it would depend on how many people signed up.
Isn't writing about religion scary?
Well, I won't bite! Fandom seems terrified of even breaching the subject, and that is just unnecessary. Come write about Sayid or CJ or Kira Nerys. We'll all be doing it, right alongside.
Where is my handy poll?
Right here!
Poll #364 Interest in a faith-orientated ficathon?
Open to: All, results viewable to: All
Would you be interested in participating in a faith-orientated ficathon? (i.e. one focused primarily on a character's relationship with their faith?)
Yes! Definitely, wild horses couldn't keep me away!
0 (0.0%)
No, are you crazy, this is a recipe for disaster! 0 (0.0%)
Maybe, depending on the format. 3 (75.0%)
Maybe, depending on when it takes place. 2 (50.0%)
Some other answer that I shall expand upon in the comments. 0 (0.0%)
What format should the ficathon have?
A gift-exchange with a limited number of fandoms/characters. 0 (0.0%)
A gift-exchange with an unlimited number of fandoms/characters. 0 (0.0%)
Prompt-/claim-based. 4 (100.0%)
Some other format that's clearly better 0 (0.0%)
Should 'created' faiths be included e.g. the Minbari faith in Babylon 5 or the Bajoran faith in Deep Space Nine?
No. The ficathon should be limited to existing/historical faiths and not include 'created' ones. 0 (0.0%)
Yes! It's about faith, whatever its forms! 4 (100.0%)
No preference. 0 (0.0%)
Some other stroke of brilliance, to be detailed in the comments. 0 (0.0%)
When should the ficathon take place?
October/November 0 (0.0%)
December/January 2 (66.7%)
January/February 1 (33.3%)
Some other combination of months that would be far, far better. 0 (0.0%)
Please leave thoughts etc in the comments, I'd be interested in seeing what people think!
xposted to LJ
One of my favourite posts of his is still this one. When I read back over it, it's just this feeling of peace and calm, despite the fact that the world is falling apart around them. Sometimes I wish I had that kind of faith.
Anyway, this sounds like a neat fic-a-thon. Unfortunately, I have to add the blanket disclaimer that I probably won't finish anything unless it's during Christmas hols. :(