Challenge Dear Diary Challenge 2021

Please check the Reminders Post (following after the index posts) for information specific to this year's challenge.

The Dear Diary Challenge was originally created in 2007 by the_wandering_shadow, and made into a yearly challenge and competition by MsLanna. This will be the fourteenth year running! The sock—for those of you who may not know, that is an account created for the purpose of running a challenge--is currently run by Kahara and Pandora.

Note: If you have any questions about the challenge, be sure to check the rules. You may find that your answer already lies within.

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What is the Dear Diary Challenge about?
For our purposes, we are defining a diary as a first person narrative, usually intended to be private, that covers anything from day-to-day events to reflections on the past and present.


Teh Rulez:


1)
The objective of this challenge is to keep a journal going for an entire year. You can write the diary of an original character or canon character, Star Wars or non-Star Wars, droid or Killer Alien Robot--or even Yoda’s lightsaber. While you will be writing this journal for a year, your character’s story can cover a shorter or longer period of time; they can go days or even months without an entry. Do what you want. The TOS is your only limit.

Half-Marathon Diary: As with the past few years, there will be two half-year challenges: the first will be from January 1-July 1, and the second from July 1-December 1. In this case, the challenge will be to keep a diary going for six months. All other rules will continue to apply.

Continuing Diaries: This is a noncompetitive category for those diaries from previous years’ challenges that remain works in progress. There will not be a minimum number of required entries (given the noncompetitive nature) but if it helps you to have some reinforcement, we encourage you to write one entry per month, the same as the official challenge.

2)
No posting (or writing) until the clock strikes midnight, your time zone, on January 1, 2020. You can use entries written before this date as extras, but they will not count towards the competition. And of course, you can plan and outline as much as you want before that.

Half-Marathon Diary: For the second half-marathon, the start date will be July 1, 2020.

3)
The deadline for posting the first two entries is January 31, 2020.

Half-Marathon Diary: This deadline will apply to the first Half-Marathon; for the second, the deadline for the first two entries will be July 31, 2020.

4)
The goal is to write a minimum of twenty-four entries for the entire year, with at least one entry a month. You can, of course, have as many entries as you want—but remember that this is a year-long challenge, so pace yourself.

Note: Diaries with two or more narrators are allowed. The number of entries for each narrator should be a minimum of 24 (just like any other), and your entries for each narrator need to keep up with the posting schedule the same as for an individual diary.

Half-Marathon Diary: For the Half-Marathons, you must write a minimum of twelve entries--but again, you may have as many entries as you want.

5)
There is no minimum or maximum length limit for the entries. Write a paragraph, write pages, or write a haiku. Just do it.

6)
Please PM the sock Diary_Challenge_Sock when you update your diaries. Though not required, it would help if you could also provide a link to each new entry in the PM. It makes the checking process go much faster!

If you have a diary in the Continuing Diaries section—or the general Out of Competition Category—please PM when you update as well. We will be updating both these noncompetitive sections in the index.

7)
We are the keepers of the documents, namely the Indexers. If you fail to update for a month, we will send you a reminder and give you another week to update.

This means seven days from the missed month update, not seven days from the date of the PM.

For example, if your diary was last updated on March 3, and you haven't updated in 31 days, your updates are due April 3. You then have your 7 days until April 10 to update. This is regardless of when you get the warning PM, which is just a reminder for you.

8)
Since we are tweaking the rules slightly from the past, you are now allowed to miss three total updates throughout the year (and not make them up) without being disqualified.

However, if you miss your monthly post and don't update after the extended 7 days then you're out of the competition portion of the challenge.

You can, however, label your diary as Out of Competition. This means that the story will not be eligible to win at the end of the year, but it is still listed with any other active diaries that are out of competition.

Alternately, you can also let your story be moved to the Dead Diaries category, which is for diaries whose authors have no intention of continuing. Unless we're asked by the author to put something in Out of Competition, this is the default for stories that haven't updated three times.

9)
We are not presently having discussions and mini-challenges, the way we have in previous years' challenges. This may yet change in the future, but for now, we're not planning on it.

10)
Voting for the winner will be in the first two weeks of January. Everybody may vote, so invite your readers and others you know here to do so. (For example, a line in your signature is a good way to let lots of people know about a Resource event.)

Rules originally written by MsLanna. Current version written and revised by Kahara and Pandora, with input from Briannakin, jcgoble3, and Ewok Poet.

Old Challenge Threads:
Dear Diary Challenge 2007
Dear Diary Challenge 2008
Dear Diary Challenge 2009
Dear Diary Challenge 2010
Dear Diary Challenge 2011
Dear Diary Challenge 2012
Dear Diary Challenge 2013
Dear Diary Challenge 2014
Dear Diary Challenge 2015
Dear Diary Challenge 2016
Dear Diary Challenge 2017
Dear Diary Challenge 2018
Dear Diary Challenge 2019
Dear Diary Challenge 2020

 

2021 Index

The index will be sorted by era and title. The color coding is as follows:

Green= within the updating schedule for the full-year challenge
Purple and Maroon=within the updating schedule for the half-marathons
Red = one month without update, you have 7 days to update, or you're out of the challenge
Blue = Out of competition. Diary is currently still being updated.

Before the Saga

The Ground Quakes and Trembles by devilinthedetails. Updated 2021 May 1

If Only by Kit'. Completed 2021 June 26


The Saga

On the Edge of the Empire by Anedon. Updated 2021 August 30

The Coruscant Crusade by Jordan1Kenobi. Updated 2021 July 1

While the Charcoal Smolders by Mechalich. Completed 2021 December 27


Beyond the Saga

Emergencies by earlybird obi-wan. Completed 2021 December 18

Dear Daddy by CaraJinn. Completed 2021 June 26

Where do I go next? by Adalia-Durron. Completed 2021 June 17

Bylines by Thumper09. Completed 2021 June 6

Hi Kiddo by CaraJinn. Completed 2021 June 26

Diary of an investigator by earlybird-obi-wan. Completed 2021 December 18


Sequel Trilogy


Non-Star Wars

Hither & Yon: An Eventful Sojourn in Middle-Earth by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha. Completed 2021 November 17

Lyberfunk, a Cyberpunk 2077 Story by moosemousse. Updated 2021 February 19

My Game Plan, Actually by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha. Completed 2021 November 17

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Continuing Diaries

Out of Competition

Living with a Nightsister by Anedon. Updated 2021 March 31

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2020 Index

The index will be sorted by era and title. The color coding is as follows:

Green= within the updating schedule for the full-year challenge
Purple and Maroon=within the updating schedule for the half-marathons
Red = one month without update, you have 7 days to update, or you're out of the challenge
Blue = Out of competition. Diary is currently still being updated.

Before the Saga

Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan by devilinthedetails. Completed 2023 November 15

The Saga

Outcast by CaraJinn. Completed 2020 December 20

A Drop in the Bucket by Mechalich. Completed 2020 December 23

Worries of a Mother in Uncertain Times by Lady_Misty. Completed 2020 December 12

Beyond the Saga

Realizing my Heart's Fondest Dream by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha. Completed 2020 December 1

X-Wing Pilot by earlybird-obi-wan. Completed 2020 December 17

Powers vs. Passion by Adalia-Durron and Anedon. Completed 2020 June 27

Through His Eyes by Briannakin. Updated 2020 July 18

Sequel Trilogy

Non-Star Wars

Picard's Diary by RX_Sith. Updated 2020 June 15


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Continuing Diaries

Out of Competition

"Being with the enemy" by AzureAngel2. Updated 2020 January 18
From Dusk to Dawn by Anedon. Updated 2020 February 24
Far From Home by divapilot. Updated 2020 February 22
In That There That Isn't Here by Mira_Jade. Updated 2020 February 28
No Perfect Way by DarthIshtar. Updated 2021 January 2
Death Watch: The Journal of Praetor Orto by Volund Starfire. Updated 2020 April 16
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Past Challenge Winners

2007: Under Duress by VaderLVR64

2008: Freedom in Bondage by Alexis_Wingstar and A Mother's Journal by BigFatty

2009: Dear Tam by DarthBreezy

2010: Cherished Moments - Then, Now, and Always by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha

2011: Downward Spiral: The Diary of Syal Antilles by Lane_Winree

2012: Artoo's Frazzled Circuits: The OT Diary by Hazel

2013: Artoo's Frazzled Circuits: TTT Diary by Hazel

2014: The Journal of A Very Married Talon Tantiss by Jedi_Lover (First Place)

The Journal of Jax Pavan by Ewok_Slayer and Journal of a Forgotten Child by Briannakin (Second Place)

2015: Turn Your Face to the Sun by JadeLotus and The God of Second Chances: The Journal of Breha Amidala Solo by divapilot (First Place)

Notes for when you are older by Kahara (Second Place)

The Chronicles of I-5YQ by Ewok_Slayer (Third Place)

2016: Letters Never Sent by Ewok Poet (First Place)

The Journal of the Former Emperor's Hand by Carlos Danger (Second Place)

2017: Doaba Ke'demii: The Diary of a Young Comradette by Ewok Poet (First Place)

Memory Books and Personal Logs by Lady_Misty and The Journal of Talon Tantiss: [Part 5]-Secrets Revealed Vol 2 by Jedi_Lover (Second Place)

2018: Full Year Diaries: Memory Logs by Lady_Misty (First Place) and Team guy by earlybird-obi-wan (Second Place). January-June Half Marathon: "Raising the enemy" by AzureAngel2 (First Place) and Sibling Snark & Sweetness and Long & Winding Path by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha (Second Place). July-December Half Marathon: Shaman, Traveler, Oracle: Journal of an Exile of Lasan by Findswoman (First Place) and Crisis of Faith by TheRynJedi and (Not) The Ballad of Ronen Syndulla-Jarrus (and Noemi Bridger) by Raissa Baiard (Second Place).

2019: Full-Year Diaries: Written in Sand by CaraJinn. July-December Half-Marathon: The Journal of Ronen Syndulla-Jarrus, Jedi Action Hero (or Something) by Raissa Baiard.

2020: Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan by devilinthedetails and Realizing my Heart's Fondest Dream by WarmNyota_SweetNyesha.

 

Reminders:

*If you are writing a diary inspired by any recent Star Wars media, remember to observe the boards spoiler policy. It's worth checking if it was released in the last year or so, because sometimes the spoiler thing applies for some time.

*As we are still living in Interesting Times (to put that mildly) and may be for some time yet, we have decided to continue with our present relaxed deadline requirements. Basically: we will not be removing diaries from the index for missed updates, but you will need to have at least the minimum number of required entries at the end of 2021 to be eligible for the competition.

*We are also going to give our non-competitive category, Continuing Diaries, another go this year. Just as a reminder, this is for diaries from previous years' competitions that remain in progress, with the goal of encouraging writers to continue work on them. There is so much focus in writing challenges on brand new and shiny and sparkling projects--and not near enough on finishing them once the honeymoon period is over. But with challenges such as WIPtober on tumblr, and our own WIPmonths on the boards, this is beginning to change and this is our part of that.

*And that is all. If you have any questions or suggestions, post them here in the thread, or send a PM to either the sock or one of the hosts.

 

I actually have an idea for a diary this year! I'm going to be basing it on Cyberpunk 2077. It'll hopefully be a highlights reel of what I do in the game. Could be fun.

 

Maybe put The Searcher as a continuing diary? Because I still plan to finish it, but the muse needs a kick in the butt.

 

Voting for the 2020 Challenge (due Jan 31st 2021)

As the new year begins, so does voting for the diary challenge. Congratulations to all who participated in 2020! The continued interest, effort, and creativity people put into writing diary stories every year is deeply appreciated.

We have five full-year diaries eligible for voting this year and two eligible half-year diaries that are currently the de facto winners of their half-marathons.

(If @Anedon, @Adalia-Durron, and @Lady_Misty would like to be in a half-marathon competition we can add that. But we'll need to know in the next couple of days. So if you're one of those authors and want to have voting on your stories, please PM @Pandora and/or @Kahara or comment in the thread quick!)

How to vote

PM the sock with the title and author of your favorite diary challenge story. (It's difficult, but it does have to be just one!)

Reminders based on some questions in past years:

* You do NOT need to be a writer in the challenge or even someone who has posted in this forum before to vote.
* You do NOT need to have read all of the stories to vote
* You do NOT need to have read all of the story you picked.

That's pretty much all. Feel free to ask any questions in this thread!

List of diaries eligible for voting:

Full-Year Diaries

Diary of a Very Sympathetic Padawan by devilinthedetails.

A Drop in the Bucket by Mechalich.

Outcast by CaraJinn.

Realizing my Heart's Fondest Dream by WarmNyota_SweetAyesha.

X-Wing Pilot by earlybird-obi-wan.

Voting will close on January 31, 2020 at 11:55 PM North American Mountain Time.

 

I have started a new diary Emergencies
It will be updated at least twice a month

 

Oh, what the... I didn't intend to participate this year since I didn't have any remotely good ideas, but after writing a oneshot with Grogu and seeing several "Dear Daddy" memes it might be fun to write a "Dear Dad" diary for the little guy. Make it a first half year diary and if I get really into it I may expand later on as I did in 2020?
I will add the link for first entry later on when I have actually written it.
...
"Dear Daddy" has now got its first very tiny claw written chapter.

 

@Adalia-Durron, no judgment here, it was... a year. Will keep it as is then.

 

Part of me wants to do this, part of be knows that I already have waaaaaaayyy too much on my plate.

Humph sigh


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Alright - so I’m going to do the half year challenge with Taeyn as my character. Never written first person before so this should be interesting


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As an author I know you're going WHAT AM I THINKING? But as a reader, I'm going

I thought 2021 would be a spillover of 2020 with a scarcity of diaries due to DRL but we're getting some really great DDCs

 

I'm not quite sure how this will go, but what the hey. I'll try a Jan-June Half-Marathon with Hallis Saper (EU Legends character introduced in Starfighters of Adumar).

 

Currently thinking about a diary tying into my recent Jacen/Tenel Ka AU, but undecidet yet.

 

All I can say to that is SQUEE! @Anedon you and @SiouxFan have made "Jacen" endearing to me again. !!

 

Thanks
Glad we could do that.
That said my diary idea cyrcled more around Nyssa and would be a companion piece to possible future J/TK stories.

 

Sorry for the doublepost posted my first chapter of:
Living with a Nightsister
My attempt at this years half Marathon.

 

I have begun a full year diary in the NSWFF side.
[Tolkien] Hither & Yon: An Eventful Sojourn in Middle-earth