Holmestice on Hiatus for Winter 2021

[holmesticemods]

Hello Holmestice Community!

Your mods, colebaltblue and sanguinity (starfishstar is on leave right now), have made the difficult decision to emulate our favorite consulting detective and take a hiatus. But unlike our favorite consulting detective, we'd like to offer a bit of an explanation.

We dearly and passionately love this exchange and community, but feel we cannot give it the attention and care it deserves for a winter round. Both of us have busy jobs outside of Holmestice, both of us have been impacted by the global pandemic, and both of us (like many of us!) find ourselves struggling to balance our lives at the moment. Holmestice is very labor intensive behind the scenes, and we do not want to deliver a sub-par experience. Consequently, we feel that the best thing is to place the exchange on a temporary hiatus. At the moment, this is a planned hiatus only for the winter round.

We considered other options: bringing in new mods, attempting to power through (perhaps in a reduced form) or changing the format. Unfortunately, none of these options were satisfactory. We really need a break (even training up a new mod is a substantial effort!), and we don't want to make changes that would lose the spirit of Holmestice.

Although we're not making any promises, we currently plan to take some time during the hiatus to do some housekeeping and maybe host some low-key activities. We are planning on having a summer round in 2022, but we will make an announcement in the spring regarding that.

We're sorry to miss you this fall and winter, but hope to see you all again in the spring!

Best,
Colebaltblue and Sanguinity

Comments

[fleetsparrow]

Thank you for the post and I hope you can get some relaxation in between the everything going on. We’ll still be here when Holmestice returns!

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much; that's a comfort to hear! We'll def look for you come spring.

In the meanwhile, we've decided to host a promptfest this winter for those who feel the itch; more details to come.

[penaltywaltz]

Running my own high intensive fandom events, I feel you on this. I may not be able to participate next summer (it runs right in the middle of my biggest fandom event), but anything you do this winter I'm game for! ::hugs:: Take care of yourselves first. We'll be fine.

[holmesticemods]

Thank you! And yes, running a full round is a chunk of work. And however worthwhile or satisfying we might find it, this time the bandwidth simply wasn't there.

But for those who feel like it, we're going to go ahead and host a prompt-fest this winter, plus an AO3 collection for fills, treats, sequels, whatever. More details to come.

[trobadora]

Oh no, I'm so sorry to hear that! Holmestice is such an institution, I really hope it'll be back in spring. But while I'm sorry you need the break, I'm glad you're taking it when you need it! *hugs*

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much! We really hope to be back in the spring for a full round, too.

In the meanwhile, we're going to host a prompt-fest this winter; more details to come.

[graycardinal]

Count me as definitely on board when the exchange returns (and available as noted under separate cover for possible interim Things).

And the lack of a formal round may not prevent me from writing something Holmesian over the holidays - it occurs to me that one or two of my past works left room for further development, and while direct sequels are impractical during a formal round, they might be both possible and welcome during a hiatus.

[holmesticemods]

Excellent! We're going to open an AO3 collection Dec 1 - Dec 31, for prompt fills or treats or sequels or whatever Holmesian thing participants would like to share with each other, if that's of interest to you.

[write_out]

I was already planning to step aside for this round myself for the same reasons you listed. I am glad that you all will be taking a much needed break as well! I appreciate all of your hard work and look forward to the exchange resuming when you're ready to bring it back.

[holmesticemods]

It turns out there are quite a few of us who are feeling overwhelmed this fall/winter. We had no idea!

Take care, rest up, and we hope to see you in the spring!

[gardnerhill]

You've been working like a trooper. Please don't feel bad about everybody needing a break. (As you may have conjectured from my own absence, I've been doing a bit of a hiatus myself this year.)

[holmesticemods]

Thank you, and may your hiatus bring you all the rest and renewal you need!

[rachelindeed]

I'll be sorry to miss the fun of this exchange over the winter, but I'm very, very happy that you all are doing what's right for you and not making life harder than it needs to be right now. This sounds like it will hopefully help protect yourselves from burnout so that the exchange can come back as strong as ever in the future :) Wishing you all the best in the coming months, in fandom as in life <3333

[holmesticemods]

Thank you! Everyone's support and kindness has been wonderful.

And based on some other suggestions, we're going to host a prompt-fest this winter, plus open an AO3 collection for fills, treats, whatever. So those who want to get a bit of festive or creative on still can. :-)

[spacemutineer]

Sympathies from ACD Holmesfest mods. We know all too well how much work is involved on the back end when times are good, let alone now. Take a good break and come back strong when you can.

[holmesticemods]

Thank you. When we were considering our options, we were comforted to know that you had gone on hiatus and made it work.

[language_escapes]

I am so glad you're taking a break! You've worked so, so hard, and you definitely should take the time you need to rest and recharge and focus on IRL things. You're amazing, and I'm happy you're making a decision to prioritize your own health right now. Sending hugs!

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much for your kindness and support, and hugs back to you!

[iwantthatcoat]

I am so relieved. I love Holmestice. I want to do every Holmestice. But I barely made it through summer and I was heartbroken I would have to bow out for the same reasons y’all cited above. So. Thank you for what, for me at least, was a fantastic read of the state many of us find ourselves in right about now.
I love you all. Thank you. And, G_d willing, I will be back on here next summer.

[holmesticemods]

Your message was immeasurably cheering; we were so worried about disappointing people that it never occurred to us that others might also be feeling the overwhelm, too. (I mean, obvs, we're not cheered that you are feeling pressed! But you know.)

Take care, and looking forward to seeing you in the spring!

[mightymads]

It’s sad to see this announcement since Holmestice is one of Christmas hallmarks, but life isn’t easy nowadays, so having no time/energy is so relatable and understandable.

Re: low key activities, perhaps there could be freestyle posting time during the whole December? Like, anyone can bring to the table whatever they can, Christmas-themed or not, and post on any December day?

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much!

Excellent suggestion, thank you! We're going to open a prompting post in October, and then open the comm and an AO3 collection in December for posting fills, treats, sequels, whatever. More details to come!

[venusinthenight]

Take that well-deserved break!

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much!

[vulgarweed]

By all means, take a well-earned break! You do such a great job and I can well imagine how much work it is. I'm up for whatever low-key activities there may be, and looking forward to it in the Spring. Be well and rest up!

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much for your support!

[happyeverafter72]

While I'm sad that the winter round isn't happening, I absolutely understand your reasons for taking a break. Take care of yourselves!

[holmesticemods]

Thank you. In the meanwhile, we've decided to host a prompt-fest this winter for people who have a creative/festive itch. More details to come!

[sanspatronymic]

PHEW! I'm glad I'm not the only one feeling in need of a hiatus... echoing the others, I was also planning to bow out this round. I'd be down to help out with a low-key winter activity and/or be on the shortlist for future mod training!

I hope you both get some well-deserved rest and/or a chance to do things that involve fewer spreadsheets.

[sanspatronymic]

*uses and/or twice in the span of two sentences* i can haz good writing skillz

[holmesticemods]

It is a comfort to know we're not the only ones feeling the overwhelm! (I mean, it'd be lovely if none of us were? But we were so worried about disappointing people, it didn't even occur to us that some might view the announcement as a relief.)

And thank you for offering yourself up for mod training! We appreciate it immensely. We'll almost certainly want to use the spring round to train up at least one new mod.

Low-key winter activity: we're going to host a prompt-fest and open up for posting of fills, treats, sequels, whatever. Absolutely no pressure for anyone to participate in any way; just opening a playground for those who want to use it. :-)

A suggestion for a low-impact small event

[vulgarweed]

Maybe something like a kink meme/prompt meme post? People can comment with ideas of Holmesian fandom + something they'd like to see, and others can choose prompts that appeal to them to create for, if they want. No pressure all around.

Re: A suggestion for a low-impact small event

[holmesticemods]

That's a lovely idea, thank you. We'll go ahead and put up a post for prompts around mid-October, plus open an AO3 collection for fills. An oppty to play for those who feel moved, and hopefully no pressure for anyone, including us.

[oldshrewsburyian]

Thanks for all the work you do! Hope you enjoy the equivalent of some time in Cornwall, or deciphering some manuscripts, or even researching coal tar derivatives. And I'm also up for something low-stakes this winter.

[holmesticemods]

Thank you so much!

Low stakes this winter: we're going to host a prompt-fest, and also let people post fills/treats/sequels/whatever. No pressure for anyone, but opening a playground for anyone who wants to use it.