2022 schedule and an announcement

[worldbuildingmod]

Nominations: Tuesday 4th-Monday 10th January
Sign ups: Friday 14th-Monday 24th January
Assignments out by: Friday 28th January
"Default deadline": Friday 11th March
Assignments due: Friday 18th March
Works revealed: Friday 25th March
Creators revealed: Friday 1st April

Everything will take place at 0755 UTC (except creator reveals, which will be at 0655 UTC, due to the clocks changing).

After a lot of consideration, I have decided that the 2022 round (the sixth overall) will be the last time Worldbuilding Exchange runs; I'll write a comment in reply to this post with more detail for those who want it.

Comments

[worldbuildingmod]

My reasons for stopping Worldbuildingex are entirely personal. A lot of things have changed in my life in such a way as to leave me much less time for exchanges in general and modding in particular. If all goes to plan, I am expecting some even bigger changes in 2022 that are likely to have even more of an impact. I nearly made an announcement like this last year, but didn't want to be making major decisions (on anything, to be honest, let alone what is ultimately a hobby activity) at the height of the pandemic. Having had another year to think about it, though, I've decided that I definitely need to step back. I did consider putting the exchange on hiatus rather than outright stopping, but the chances of me coming back to it on even a medium-term timescale seemed low enough that it was better to be certain about it, both for participants' sakes and my own.

I imagine there will be some who think I should try to pass the exchange on as a going concern, so to speak. There may even be some people who would volunteer to take it over, and I will admit that I did think about reaching out to a few individuals to see if they would be interested. However (and again after a lot of thought), I have come to the conclusion that I am much more comfortable with the idea of a new worldbuilding-themed exchange taking as much or as little inspiration from this one as its mod(s) wanted it to. So if there is anyone out there who wants to do that, please take that as encouragement to start planning for 2023 and permission to take whichever bits you think work well from worldbuildingex.

[silveradept]

Thank you for the notification, and for thinking of yourself and your own needs in comparison to running the exchange.

[worldbuildingmod]

Thanks! It was a hard decision - I've had a great time running the exchange - but it really wasn't going to be sustainable after this year.

[lirin_lirilla]

You've always been so thoughtful about the way you run this exchange, and that thoughtfulness continues to shine through here. Of course it's always disappointing to lose a favorite exchange, but I'm glad you've made the decision you needed to make and are taking wise care of yourself.

I'll be looking forward to one last year of this exchange, and hoping to finish strong! (Though of course with hopes that perhaps someone else might throw their hat in the ring down the line.) Thanks for five-going-on-six wonderful years!

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you! I'm very much hoping to finish on a high.

[morbane]

If there is anything I could do to be of assistance for the current round, please let me know! And either way, thank you so much for running this for several years - it's been a delight.

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you! :D

[isis]

Thanks for all you've done with this exchange - it's been awesome. Consistently a highlight of my exchange year!

I would be interested in starting up a replacement! I am already discussing it with potential co-mods, and may contact you for help if that's okay.

(and I hope your big changes are positive!)

[worldbuildingmod]

That sounds great; do let me know if there's anything you need.

interested co-mod

[withinmelove]

Hello! I saw your comment discussing running a replacement since worldbuilding under the current mod is ending. I am very interested in assisting in the role of co-mod or an assistant/helper role! I would love to see a similar exchange take place. Worldbuilding is so much fun. If I can be of help I would be happy to DM with you to discuss what role you and your co-mods are looking for to help this idea come to fruition!

Re: interested co-mod

[isis]

Thanks for the offer! I'll keep you in mind when I start figuring this out (which won't be until after this current round is over).

[fawatson]

I will miss this story exchange which I think is quite unique and very worthwhile; but I can also appreciate that running any exchange involved a huge amount of work and there comes a time when any Mod needs to move on. Thank you for doing it for one last year and good luck with your future plans.

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you!

[reeby10]

Thank you for all your hard work on this exchange! It's been a lot of fun :) As someone who has stepped down for modding before for personal reasons, I know that's a hard decision and I appreciate you being so open about it. I hope that the upcoming changes in your life are positive and lead you to even better things!

[worldbuildingmod]

Thanks!

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for running all these years! It's always a bit sad when an exchange you like stops running, but you need to do what's best for you.

One request: If someone steps up and offers to continue running worldbuilding-focused exchanges (as I see someone already floated in another comment) would it be possible to promo them on this dreamwidth, so it's easier for us to find?

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you. And yes, definitely willing to promote other things as appropriate.

[zabbers]

Thank you for your great work running this exchange! It was my first multifandom exchange, and my good experience with it launched me into a wonderful world. All the best!

[worldbuildingmod]

That's great to hear; thank you!

[yvannairie]

:'((( Having just gone through a really big upheaval in my own life, I completely understand and I really, really hope everything goes well for you in the future.

Despite only having participated twice, this is definitely my favourite exchange because it's the one that lets me write to my strengths, and I've always enjoyed lurking the comment chains because everyone participating just gives me those good vibes, y'know? So I hope a new exchange will take up the mantle.

I'm also really happy that we'll always still have the collections from the previous rounds, too. Seriously, thank you for everything you've done so far, and let's have a good time one last time.

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you!

[narya_flame]

All the very best with everything and thank you for making this event such a wonderful experience. (I was actually going to sit it out this time, but since this is the last one, I may well change my mind and take part!!)

[worldbuildingmod]

Thanks! I'm really glad people have enjoyed it and I do hope this year goes well - but please don't feel under any pressure to take part.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for running six iterations of this exchange. It's been great.

[bunn]

Whoops, logged out. A second thanks, logged in!

[worldbuildingmod]

Thanks!

[crantz]

Thank you so much for running this exchange one last time! It's been a wonderful one.

[worldbuildingmod]

Thank you! :D