Announcement: 2022 plans, and call for new mods

[holmesticemods]

Hello Holmestice!

Thank you so much for the very wonderful prompt fest over the winter! It was a delight to see so many prompts and stories come out of that. I think it was a wonderful engagement of the community as well, despite the lack of a formal exchange.

About that…

After much conferring, sanguinity and I (colebaltblue) have decided not to run a summer round of Holmestice. We WILL do another prompt post and open the community and AO3 group to sharing and gifting, but we will not be running the full exchange this summer solstice.

We have also reached the difficult decision that we are both bowing out of Holmestice. Things have changed a lot for us both in the last twelve years, and as for a lot of us, these past two years have been full and challenging in ways that have affected our ability to commit to the community.

That said!

We WILL have a winter Holmestice round celebrating the winter solstice of December 2022! (Sign-ups will open in September!)

We have two options. If someone(s) would like to step up and take on the community of Holmestice with the intention of running it moving forward, we will run that round as a training round for the new mod team. If not, then we will make December 2022 our Last Bow and step down gracefully, with full hearts and fond memories.

Thank you all, we could not have done it without you.

Hopefully we'll see you around this summer for another prompt fest and after that for a full round this winter.

If you're interesting in taking over the community, please reach out to us at holmesticemods@gmail.com

-the mods

ETA: Wow, we are pleased and moved by how many people have volunteered to take over the exchange! Thank you so much, and we'll be replying to everyone soon!

Comments

[bererjs]

I took part a few times and I enjoyed it immensely. Thank you so much for running it all these years and making it the fun and inviting fest that it was. <3

My heart wants me to apply for the mod position but my time won’t allow me to do so. I hope you’re able to find someone that gives it the same love and attention you both did.

[vulgarweed]

I cannot thank you enough for all you've done for this fandom over the years. This is one of my favorite exchanges and the mods deserve so much credit for how smoothly it runs and how welcoming it is.

Take your bow - well done! There will be multiple ovations.

[penaltywaltz]

I would like to volunteer to run Holmestice. I currently run wipbigbang in the summer, but if I could run a summer round with the open prompt exchange format and then the winter round as a proper exchange, I could keep it going. I have a mod team on WIPBB that is a great help with the day-to-day stuff, so I can give a summer round enough attention, I think.

[trobadora]

Thank you for running Holmestice for so long!

And damn, now I'm tempted. I really want Holmestice to continue ...

[rachelindeed]

I felt a pang when I read this, but only because you have both been so very marvelous over the years and have imparted so much of your spirits into the warmth of this community. I'm glad you're both taking care of yourselves and stepping away with fondness still in your hearts for the project.

I am grateful for all the lovely years in which I got to enjoy this exchange. I hope it may continue in some form, and send very best wishes to anyone who is considering taking the reins!

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks for letting us know your plans. You absolutely have to tend to your own lives and selves first - we'll survive.

Afraid I can't step up at the moment, but I will continue to read and contribute to this site.

[redders]

Thank you so much for your 12 years of work! <3

[happyeverafter72]

Thank you so much for all of your hard work in organising Holmestice. I'm glad that you're both stepping out with love in your hearts still for the exchange.

[mightymads]

Thank you so much for all your hard work and effort! Holmestice has become an indelible part of the Holmes fandom. It is always a pleasure to engage in it as a reader even when I can't participate. I hope Holmestice continues. Again many thanks for running it!

Just wanted to say Thank You!

[helloliriels]

This has been so much fun, every time! I wanted to say thank you for hosting it!! And I hope it does get carried on? Let me know if you need any fill-ins. Even for an eve on helping with stuff? 💕 HUGS!!!

[starfishstar]

My feeling when I read this post was actually gladness – I know from up close how unbelievably hard you both work on this exchange, what extraordinary love and attention you pour into it, and also how stressful it's been in the last couple of years. You love Holmestice so much, and it shouldn't have to become a thing that exhausts you! So I'm glad for you both that you've made this decision, (very) bittersweet though it is. Holmestice truly is one of the best exchanges out there, and you both have been so much of what made it that way, and – gosh. I am very grateful for you. <3

I'm still not in any kind of place to be able to help or take over modding (as you can tell from that fact that it took a month for me to even get a chance to come back here and comment...); I was going to offer to help a bit again for the winter round if I can, but it sounds like you've got a bunch of people who might be interested in taking over, and training them is a much better use of your winter round time! That said, barring any further catastrophes I'll hopefully be around for that round and could lend a bit of a back-up hand if needed.

And in any case, I will absolutely plan to participate in your Last Bow round. It's gonna be a party. :D

So much appreciation and affection for you both!!