Welcome to the 2020 Reader’s challenge! This year’s challenge is about upping your 2020 reading game in a big way. Below you will find 20 prompts (for 2020) to challenge you to get outside of your comfort zone when it comes to reading fanfic! Hopefully it will broaden your horizons and push you to read something you never would have clicked on.

Who knows, you may uncover a new favourite genre or author, get a fresh perspective on a character or see an event in a whole new light! Part of the challenge is also leaving feedback for the author which is great for growing our community and sharing the love around.

How it works:

1. This is a yearlong challenge that runs from now until the 1st of January 2021
2. There are 20 fic prompts to this reading challenge. You may read any fic that fits the prompt
3. To be eligible for this challenge you need to sign up by stating your intent below. In your post you will need to copy the list of the challenges
4. Once you’ve read a fic that meets the challenge, edit your original post with the title of the work next to the prompt. Also leave a short review of the fic next to the prompt, This will help keep track of your progress and let others know about the great fics you've found
5. Make sure that you also share the love in the fic itself and let the author know on their fic what you loved about their work.

Prompts -


1. A fic by your favourite* author

2. A fic with two or more authors

3. A short story/one shot

4. An old favourite*

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character

6. A challenge winner

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else

8. A fic with exactly four words in the title

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided

10. A fic with OCs as the main characters

11. A fic by a new^ author

12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try

13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show

14. A fic with a great first line

15. A fic whose main character is an OC

16. A fic whose title catches your attention

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title


* - Favourite = something that you really enjoy reading, or would absolutely recommend to other people. The one you used to check for updates all the time (or still do).

^ New author = someone who has joined in the last year.

Good luck and happy reading!

 

Ooh, this is very cool indeed! Kind of a treasure hunt for reading and reviewing! I'm game to give it a go; I've copied in the list below.

Just to check: this only counts for fics that we read and review in 2020, but the fics themselves can be ones from before 2020, right? And I guess you'd like us to link to the fics we read when we add them to our list? (Or to the reviews we leave on them?) Again, just want to make sure I understand how this is supposed to go.

---

1. A fic by your favourite* author—I may have to abstain from this one; I have more than one favorite author.

2. A fic with two or more authors—From Slavery to Aristocracy by @Adalia-Durron and @Anedon . Navigating the ins and outs of a culture not your own can be scary, even deadly—but with someone you love by your side, you'll make it through!

3. A short story/one shot—Devil on My Shoulder by @Eryndil. A one-shot in a different and unusual format: the voices Anakin hears from his two very different mentors throughout the Prequel Trilogy.

4. An old favourite*—The Beginning of Honor by @Raissa Baiard. Wonderful origin story for Zeb Orrelios, taking place during his youth on Lasan—and the story that jumpstarted my own fanfic engagement with this remarkable character!

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character—The Dark Jedi by @Oddly_Salacious. Part of the ongoing and very intriguing Mardo and Bess series. Bess is the eponymous dark Jedi of this story (who isn't really that dark in the strict sense), this time on a solo mission, and she is a Gotal. (Oddly's stories are some of the few I've come across with a protagonist of this species!)

6. A challenge winner—Don't Be Afraid of the Dark by @divapilot , well-deserved winner of the OC Revolution 2016 Summer/Autumn/Winter Challenge, which responds to not just one but two (2) challenge prompts with flying colors.

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else—Written in Sand by @CaraJinn, her excellent and far-reaching Obi-Wan diary from last year, which came very highly recommended to me by @Kahara .

8. A fic with exactly four words in the title—If It Takes Years by @Jâd Sphera for snarky, spicy L/M on Myrkr by a real L/M maven!

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided

10. A fic with OCs as the main characters—Dr. Vertti, I Presume? by @Gamiel. A group of university professors is about to go in search of a colleague lost in the Unknown Regions. All the characters are OCs (and one, the title character, is borrowed from @Raissa Baiard), and all, as far as I can tell, are female.

11. A fic by a new^ author

12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try

13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show—Even Ground by @brodiew. It features Ben Skywalker and Vestara Khai and is in a part of the Beyond era I don't know well, but brodie's trademark combination of tender sincerity and witty banter is a pleasure to read in any era!

14. A fic with a great first line

15. A fic whose main character is an OC—Outrage by @Cowgirl Jedi 1701, a delightful moment of emotion (title says it all) starring a new (to me) OC with a very long name!

16. A fic whose title catches your attention—Terrarium Takeover, a hilarious one-shot by @devilinthedetails, in which a young Qui-Gon, much to his master's dismay, brings the outdoors indoors...

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday—An Unexpected Jawa by @wicket1138 , begun in October 2019. The beginning of an epic adventure with a Jawa protagonist—can't believe I missed it the first time!

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019—The Winter Queen, by @Pandora , a fairly-far-future story of a cultured young schoolteacher about to begin a new job in a rarefied, hierarchical society that’s been set up on—Hoth!

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title—One Love, One Lifetime by @WarmNyota_SweetAyesha . NSWFF (Star Trek), featuring Amanda's thoughts and feelings as she's on her way to become Sarek's life mate—and inspired by a beautiful song!

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title—Meaning and Purpose by @Jedi Master Kenobiwan, in which Obi-Wan finds himself in a Galaxy Not Far Away! Marked “Obi-Wan/OC” in the thread title, which of course caught my attention as an aficionado of EC/OC ships.

 

This sounds like fun! I’ve been meaning to do better at commenting and reading, so sign me up, too!
———————
1. A fic by your favourite* author: A Private Place (MMM #8; Zeb/OC romance; pre-Rebels)

2. A fic with two or more authors
3. A short story/one shot : Great Minds and Sweet Plans! H/L One-shot for MMM
4. An old favourite*
5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character
6. A challenge winner
7. A fic recommended to you by someone else
8. A fic with exactly four words in the title
9. An intimidating fic you have avoided
10. A fic with OCs as the main characters
11. A fic by a new^ author
12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try
13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show
14. A fic with a great first line
15. A fic whose main character is an OC
16. A fic whose title catches your attention
17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday
18. A fic you meant to read in 2019
19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title: Stolen Moments and Balcony Kisses
20. A fic that states a relationship in the title

 

Questions! Sorry for taking so long to get back to you. Normally the boards notify me for everything but not this thread

• You can read fics from any year (including the Classics board if you want to go back that far) but they have to be ones you've read this year.
• If you could link the fics when you review them that'd be great (or even just link them for yourself pre-review so you know that you've done that category).

I like treasure hunt! Wish I'd thought of that for the title now! Although you could see it a bit like Pokemon too - gotta read them all!

 

Realised I hadn't done my own list too so here it is

Prompts -


1. A fic by your favourite* author

2. A fic with two or more authors

3. A short story/one shot

4. An old favourite*

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character

6. A challenge winner

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else

8. A fic with exactly four words in the title

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided

10. A fic with OCs as the main characters

11. A fic by a new^ author

12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try

13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show

14. A fic with a great first line

15. A fic whose main character is an OC

16. A fic whose title catches your attention

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title

 

Prompts --

1. A fic by your favourite author

2. A fic with two or more authors

Power versus Passions

This is by Anedon & Adalia-Durron. It's a wonderful diary entry featuring two amazing original characters.

3. A short story/one shot

4. An old favourite

OMG, it will be until my last breath too!

Perfect - An L/M AU

By the unparalleled Irish_Jedi_Jade

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character

6. A challenge winner

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else

8. A fic with exactly four words in the title

Romance Among the Stones

by Findswoman -- because ... Garashul

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided

10. A fic with OCs as the main characters

11. A fic by a new^ author

This is a brand-spanking new author:

In Another World

By the-505th

12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try

13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show

14. A fic with a great first line

15. A fic whose main character is an OC

16. A fic whose title catches your attention

Too Many Cats

by JediMaster_Jen

The title says it all!

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title

Silly Love Songs
by amidalachick
A sweet ficlet collection!

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title.

 

Prompts -


1. A fic by your favourite* author
2. A fic with two or more authors
3. A short story/one shot
4. An old favourite*
5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character Seven Seconds by @Thumper09 . In addition to being a bang-up exciting story, the protagonist, Lt. Kutoka, is a Duros pilot.
6. A challenge winner
7. A fic recommended to you by someone else
8. A fic with exactly four words in the title Hanging by a Thread by @brodiew. This is a wonderfully layered introspective look at what it took for Ben Solo to climb that cliff wall in TROS.
9. An intimidating fic you have avoided
10. A fic with OCs as the main characters
11. A fic by a new^ author
12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try
13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show
14. A fic with a great first line
15. A fic whose main character is an OC
16. A fic whose title catches your attention
17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday
18. A fic you meant to read in 2019
19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title Love in the Country by @Cowgirl Jedi 1701 . A sweet, romantic moment between two lovers (but I won't tell you who!)
20. A fic that states a relationship in the title

* - Favourite = something that you really enjoy reading, or would absolutely recommend to other people. The one you used to check for updates all the time (or still do).

^ New author = someone who has joined in the last year.

 

Prompts -


1. A fic by your favourite* author
2. A fic with two or more authors
3. A short story/one shot
4. An old favourite*
5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character
6. A challenge winner
7. A fic recommended to you by someone else
8. A fic with exactly four words in the title
9. An intimidating fic you have avoided
10. A fic with OCs as the main characters
11. A fic by a new^ author
12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try
13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show
14. A fic with a great first line
15. A fic whose main character is an OC
16. A fic whose title catches your attention
17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday
18. A fic you meant to read in 2019
19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title
20. A fic that states a relationship in the title


* - Favourite = something that you really enjoy reading, or would absolutely recommend to other people. The one you used to check for updates all the time (or still do).

^ New author = someone who has joined in the last year.

 

Let's hyper this drive and kick mynock tail. Punch it, Chewie!

1. A fic by your favourite* author

02/07/2020 (reviewed): Shot in the Dark (AU ROTJ: H/L, Luke, Anakin, OCs) 2/3 by @Ridley Solo --while it's difficult to name a single favorite author (like Wodehouse, Milne, Allende, Burroughs, Doyle,...), this was the thread I most watched and will recommend to others for its what-if character study. ​

2. A fic with two or more authors
3. A short story/one shot

01/24/2020: Terrarium Takeover (Qui-Gon and Dooku Humorous Oneshot) by @devilinthedetails ​

4. An old favourite*

TIE!
01/30/2020 (reread): Two Girls and a Man in Red (OCs, Fanon Roulette challenge)—author's (very belated) thanks by @Findswoman --rich character development. A good study on how to write characters, dialog, and interpersonal relationships.
02/07/2020 (reread): The General's Wife (AU): Hux, OC (drama) by @divapilot --this has influenced some of my tones/ moods. Pretty grounding stuff.​

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character

01/24/2020 (reread): Family Is What You Make It (KOTOR | Mission Vao's observations of others | fic-gift for Findswoman) by @Ewok Poet​

6. A challenge winner

02/19/2020 (reread): Star Wars One Sentence Challenge Stories by @Raissa Baiard​

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else
8. A fic with exactly four words in the title

01/26/2020: Aftermath of the Awakening by @EGKenobi​

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided
10. A fic with OCs as the main characters

01/29/2020: Till the Shades Lengthen (OCs, vignette, introspection; tie-in to Shaman, Traveler, Oracle) by @Findswoman ​

11. A fic by a new^ author
12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try
13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show

01/24/2020: "Tyger, Tyger", Jacen Solo & Ezra Bridger, One-Shot by @Mira_Jade​

14. A fic with a great first line

02/19/2020: Lord Vader's Limpet (AU, humor/fluff; Vader/Ben Skywalker) by @frodogenic --a 2008 piece that is truncated, but it has a memorable opener.​

15. A fic whose main character is an OC

01/29/2020: Fish Out of Water (Rey, OC Ansyn Turlock) humor flash fic [OTP Challenge] by @brodiew​

16. A fic whose title catches your attention

01/26/2020: Knights of the Old Republic: The Scars of War by @SabyneAmberle​

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday

01/25/2020: "The Winter Queen" | A gothic romance from the future of Hoth | Reposted by @Pandora​

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019

02/12/2020: "Tricks of the light", a Krennic Halloween one-shot (19 BBY) by @AzureAngel2​

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title

01/27/2020: The Gods Who Love the Sky by @GregMcP ​

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title

02/07/2020: Something in Kylo Ren's shoe--A Millicent the Cat story--Complete by @gizkaspice --sure, it's a stretch on relationship the traditional sense (i.e., "something is in shoe"), but this story is simply too hysterical to not have in this list.​

 

Alright, this sounds like a great way to get back to reading more widely.

1. A fic by your favourite* author

2. A fic with two or more authors

3. A short story/one shot

4. An old favourite*

5. A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character

6. A challenge winner

7. A fic recommended to you by someone else

8. A fic with exactly four words in the title

9. An intimidating fic you have avoided

10. A fic with OCs as the main characters

11. A fic by a new^ author

12. A fic you’ve been meaning to try

13. A fic that is outside your favourite time period/show

14. A fic with a great first line

15. A fic whose main character is an OC

16. A fic whose title catches your attention

17. A fic that started in the month of your birthday

18. A fic you meant to read in 2019

19. A fic with love, kiss or hug in the title

20. A fic that states a relationship in the title

 

@Briannakin, @mavjade, and @Mira_Jade: I just was wondering, would it be possible for this thread to be stickied? Since it's updated by people editing their own posts rather than adding new posts, I'm concerned it's going to fall back from the front page fairly quickly and become hard to find for those who wish to update their lists. Thanks much!

 

OK, thanks, Mira! Sounds like a good idea, so here goes:

For no. 5, "A fic starring a Twi'lek or non-human character," I have just reviewed The Dark Jedi by @Oddly_Salacious, whose main character, Bess Heiger, is a Gotal.

Also, for no. 10, "A fic with OCs as the main characters," I reviewed @Gamiel 's Dr. Vertti, I Presume?, in which a group of university professors is about to go in search of a colleague lost in the Unknown Regions. All OCs (one of whom, the title character, is borrowed from @Raissa Baiard ) and all (as far as I can tell) female.