2015 Circle of Friends stories

[aadler]

 
This year’s Circle of Friends Remix — at cof_remix — is now finished (though sroni may tack on another story if she ever recovers it from her crashed computer). jedibuttercup was a new participant this year, and this was her first full-story remix (she had previously taken part in a drabbles-only remix); the results, I would say, speak for themselves.

The listing is as follows:
    • jedibuttercup: remix of dragonyphoenix, with “For They Shall Be Comforted”
    • dragonyphoenix: remix of sroni, with “The Letters” [Part 1”, Part 2”, Part 3”]
    • sroni: remix of eilandesq, with “Give Me Three Steps”
    • eilandesq: remix of velvetwhip, with “Regrouping”
    • velvetwhip: remix of aadler, with “Déjà Without a View”
    • aadler: remix of jedibuttercup, with “Tea and Oranges”

Originally it was set up so each participant would be remixed by someone who had never remixed him/her before, but we had one person drop out (real-life pressures, I believe), so eilandesq was once again remixed by sroni. What the heck, they like each other.

I recommend that anyone who hasn’t already done so go check out these stories, and offer your appreciation to the authors. I thought velvetwhip did a nice job remixing me (there was real power and real tragedy in “Déjà Without a View”); jedibuttercup’s first full-scale remix was expertly crafted, and dragonyphoenix did a nice job under some unexpectedly trying circumstances (referenced in my LJ and hers).

Comments

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

I've really enjoyed the stories I've caught up with so far, and the rest are on my 'to read' list.

Thank you as always for putting this ficathon together.

[aadler]

Always happy to be of service. Maybe next year we can get you to come play in our sandbox.

[sparrow2000.livejournal.com]

I have to say I’m always really interested to read remixes, but I find the idea of doing one myself incredibly daunting, but never say never. The last couple of years I’ve been in the middle of transatlantic moves at this time of year, but who knows, next year I might even be stationary! :)

[aadler]

We’ll probably try to aim for a little earlier next year — July, maybe — so for the next several months you can exercise your imagination a bit. Any time you’re reading a story that interests you, ask yourself: How would I tell this story if it were mine to tell? What would I do with this idea if I’d been the one to have it? What different approach might produce an entertaining counterpart to the story that’s already here?

No guarantees you’ll enjoy a remix if you ever do one; I’ve turned out a few drabbles, and been basically satisfied with the result, but found that drabbles themselves simply don’t give me that much pleasure. If it turns out that you DO like remixing, though, it’s really fun.

[velvetwhip.livejournal.com]

Remixing you absolutely terrified me because your stories are so perfect and so outside my comfort zone. You have no idea how relieved I am that you don't hate what I wrote!

Your Tea and Oranges was outstanding!


Gabrielle

[aadler]

The boost to imagination that I get from remix requirements has made remixing one of my favorite activities. Which is something like what you said, only now it’s like the remix IS my ‘comfort zone’.

The other day you called me ‘legendary’. Today you say my stories are perfect. If you’re not careful, you’ll make me egotistical.

(That hysterical laughter in the background is everyone who has ever actually known me in person.)

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Looks like a good turnout. :)

[aadler]

sroni and I originally intended to have an upper limit of ten or a dozen people per remix event, simply because we figured that was about as many as we could handle properly. As it happens, we’ve never really approached that limit; seven is the max number we’ve ever fielded, and that only twice (and the second time, one dropped out to make it six again).

It’s fun and it’s comfortable and it’s worked out nicely enough, but in the five years of cof_remix, we’ve had only a dozen people total, and half of those only did one round. We’re always on the lookout for new blood, then, and usually enjoy the results when we get it.

You should seriously consider giving it a go next year. I’ve enjoyed enough of your material to think of you as a very likely candidate.

[snogged.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much.
I will definitely consider it.

[aadler]

Good enough for now.

(Of course, next year I’ll probably be insisting that you promised.)