FAQ (Round 2)
Frequently Asked Questions
These are short answers to questions we frequently get. Please read the Round 2 Rules for more information.
What is accepted?
- Any fandom, including real person fiction (RPF)
- All ratings
- Any genre
- Crossovers and fusions
- Original characters in existing fandoms
What is not allowed?
- Works in a language other than English
- Original Content
- Previously posted stories
Why is Alternate Universe Bingo English only?
This is to make it easier for the mods. We are unable to moderate submissions, answer questions, or offer prizes for entries we can't read.
Is a fill limited to fic only?
No. While fic is used as a shorthand you are not limited to fic. Bingo squares can be filled with fic, art, icons, recs, picspams, vids, podfic, mixes, or meta. If you come up with something else you want to use, PM au_bingo_mods or email the mods (aubingomods@gmail.com.)
What are the requirements for a fill to count?
The minimum requirements are:
Fic - 500 words
Art - medium sized (at least 320x240)
Comic - 5 pages
Icons - set of 10
Rec post - 10 recs (any combination of fandoms)
Podfic - 500 word fic
Picspam - 20 pics
Vids - 30 seconds with explanation
Mix - 10 songs with track list and explanation included
Meta - 1000 words
You can, obviously, write/art/vid MORE than that, but not less.
What are the rules for mixes?
1. Mixes are a minimum of ten songs. They must be uploaded to mediafire, megaupload, or another long term hosting site. Mixes must be in a zip/rar file.
2. Cover art is optional, however you must include a track list with an explanation of how each song fits your alternate universe prompt.
3. When posting to the comm, do not link directly to the download. Link to your own post with tracklisting and download links.
What are the rules for vids?
1. Vids are a minimum of 30sec. They must be hosted on a long term, public site such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
2. You must include a short explanation of how the vid fits your alternate universe prompt.
3. When posting to the comm, do not link directly to the vid. Link to your own post that has the explanation and either embeds or links to the vid.
Can I write a chapter fic to cover multiple prompts?
No. Each prompt must have its own distinct fill. You may not use a multiple chapter story to fill multiple squares.
Can I write a series?
Yes. However each story within the series must stand-alone and have a clear beginning and end. A story in a series cannot be used to fill more than one prompt.
Can I write, vid, etc. as part of a team?
You can sign up as a team but you cannot split the prompts between you. All fills in a bingo must be co-created if you sign up as a team.
I have a story posted previously that fits one of my prompts, can I use it?
No, everything for the bingo should be newly written and tagged as written for au_bingo since the goal of the challenge is to create more fanworks.
Can I combine my au_bingo fill with a fill from another challenge?
Yes, as long as it is a new post, is clearly labeled as being for au_bingo as well as the other challenge, will be posted during the round, AND that the mods of the other challenge are okay with it.
Can I post my bingo story to newsletter communities and such?
Yes, of course. As long as the fills are labeled for au_bingo when originally posted, they will be accepted for submission for a bingo.
Do I post every thing I've made for the bingo to the community?
No. You only post, following our template with links to individual fills, to the community when you have completed a bingo or extra. Posting single fills to the community is not allowed and will be rejected.
I dislike my card and want a new one, can I request it?
To request a new card you have to finish at least one bingo on your current one. Remember that you don't have to fill all prompts in your card or be stuck with it until March. Fill out the bingo you're most comfortable with and then you can request a new card to play with.
I've submitted a line bingo and now want to do a blackout on the same card, can I just fill the missing squares?
No. You'll have to write new stories for the squares you've used in the previous bingo. You can reuse the square however many times you like, but only if you fill it anew every time. If you do that we'll count points both for your previous bingo and your blackout.
I've completed a bingo but I don't want to ask for a new card, I want to continue playing with this one. Can I do this?
Yes, absolutely, as long as you're making new fills for the previously used prompts.
Can I make a fill that covers several squares at once?
Unless you're doing extras, no. Even if your fill answers two or more prompts at once, you still can only use it to cover one square.
Can I use multiple fandoms in a bingo?
Yes. A bingo does not have to be all in one fandom - ex: you can submit 2 RPF, 1 Pokemon, 1 Star Trek and 1 Buffy fills in the same bingo. You also do not have to have all the same content in a bingo. You do not have to do all fic, or all art to make bingo - ex: you could submit 2 art, 1 mix and 2 fic to make a line bingo.
There are some prompts that I don’t want on my card. Can you just leave them off?
Some AU prompts simply won’t work for some people. If your fandom of choice is Star Trek, it could be hard to fill a space prompt. Additionally, some prompts may be triggering for some people. Therefore, please look over the list of prompts the cards are made from. When you sign up, if needed, you can indicate up to five prompts to be vetoed so we can give you a card without those.
If you need more than five prompts vetoed, please contact the mods by PM or email ( aubingomods@gmail.com) and we will work with you to make sure you have a suitable card.
I don't understand what my prompt means and I'm confused by it.
Please check the prompt list post. You can also PM or email the mods and we'll be happy to discuss it with you.
I don't like some of my prompts and I can't write/draw/vid/etc. them, what can I do?
All prompts are open to interpretation. For example, “space stations“ can vary from a character being working or living on a space station to a character dealing with another character going to a space station or even a character finding out that space stations exist in their world. If you’re writing in a universe which already has space stations, the characters could find themselves on an alien space station or their space station could have an AU purpose such as going from a exploratory space station or a stationary shuttle port or a major space-based colony station.
Some of these prompts are bound to force you out of your comfort zone; half the challenge of this bingo is thinking of these prompts in new ways.
Can I still do a crossover, even if it’s not for an “alternate fandom“ prompt?
Yes. If you want to put your characters in the Harry Potter universe for the “magic“ prompt, you can. But you don’t have to, you could create your own magic elements for your characters. “Alternate fandom“ prompts require you to create a fusion or crossover with another fandom.
What if I only work in one fandom and don’t want to do a crossover / fusion?
If your prompt is one of the “alternate fandom“ prompts, you are required to specify another fandom for a fusion/crossover. It doesn’t have to be a large or well-known fandom. If you have a specific question about the fandom you want to specify, please PM or email the mods.
What is the wild card square?
It's a card for which youchoose a alternate universe prompt from the list of prompts. It is not a blank square. You still have to fill it if it's in your bingo, just with the prompt of your own choosing.
I have a question that isn't answered here.
Please be sure to read the Rules and comments here. If your question still hasn’t been addressed, you can either leave it as a comment to this post with Question in the subject heading or email/pm the au_bingo_mods (aubingomods@gmail.com).
These are short answers to questions we frequently get. Please read the Round 2 Rules for more information.
What is accepted?
- Any fandom, including real person fiction (RPF)
- All ratings
- Any genre
- Crossovers and fusions
- Original characters in existing fandoms
What is not allowed?
- Works in a language other than English
- Original Content
- Previously posted stories
Why is Alternate Universe Bingo English only?
This is to make it easier for the mods. We are unable to moderate submissions, answer questions, or offer prizes for entries we can't read.
Is a fill limited to fic only?
No. While fic is used as a shorthand you are not limited to fic. Bingo squares can be filled with fic, art, icons, recs, picspams, vids, podfic, mixes, or meta. If you come up with something else you want to use, PM au_bingo_mods or email the mods (aubingomods@gmail.com.)
What are the requirements for a fill to count?
The minimum requirements are:
Fic - 500 words
Art - medium sized (at least 320x240)
Comic - 5 pages
Icons - set of 10
Rec post - 10 recs (any combination of fandoms)
Podfic - 500 word fic
Picspam - 20 pics
Vids - 30 seconds with explanation
Mix - 10 songs with track list and explanation included
Meta - 1000 words
You can, obviously, write/art/vid MORE than that, but not less.
What are the rules for mixes?
1. Mixes are a minimum of ten songs. They must be uploaded to mediafire, megaupload, or another long term hosting site. Mixes must be in a zip/rar file.
2. Cover art is optional, however you must include a track list with an explanation of how each song fits your alternate universe prompt.
3. When posting to the comm, do not link directly to the download. Link to your own post with tracklisting and download links.
What are the rules for vids?
1. Vids are a minimum of 30sec. They must be hosted on a long term, public site such as YouTube, Vimeo, etc.
2. You must include a short explanation of how the vid fits your alternate universe prompt.
3. When posting to the comm, do not link directly to the vid. Link to your own post that has the explanation and either embeds or links to the vid.
Can I write a chapter fic to cover multiple prompts?
No. Each prompt must have its own distinct fill. You may not use a multiple chapter story to fill multiple squares.
Can I write a series?
Yes. However each story within the series must stand-alone and have a clear beginning and end. A story in a series cannot be used to fill more than one prompt.
Can I write, vid, etc. as part of a team?
You can sign up as a team but you cannot split the prompts between you. All fills in a bingo must be co-created if you sign up as a team.
I have a story posted previously that fits one of my prompts, can I use it?
No, everything for the bingo should be newly written and tagged as written for au_bingo since the goal of the challenge is to create more fanworks.
Can I combine my au_bingo fill with a fill from another challenge?
Yes, as long as it is a new post, is clearly labeled as being for au_bingo as well as the other challenge, will be posted during the round, AND that the mods of the other challenge are okay with it.
Can I post my bingo story to newsletter communities and such?
Yes, of course. As long as the fills are labeled for au_bingo when originally posted, they will be accepted for submission for a bingo.
Do I post every thing I've made for the bingo to the community?
No. You only post, following our template with links to individual fills, to the community when you have completed a bingo or extra. Posting single fills to the community is not allowed and will be rejected.
I dislike my card and want a new one, can I request it?
To request a new card you have to finish at least one bingo on your current one. Remember that you don't have to fill all prompts in your card or be stuck with it until March. Fill out the bingo you're most comfortable with and then you can request a new card to play with.
I've submitted a line bingo and now want to do a blackout on the same card, can I just fill the missing squares?
No. You'll have to write new stories for the squares you've used in the previous bingo. You can reuse the square however many times you like, but only if you fill it anew every time. If you do that we'll count points both for your previous bingo and your blackout.
I've completed a bingo but I don't want to ask for a new card, I want to continue playing with this one. Can I do this?
Yes, absolutely, as long as you're making new fills for the previously used prompts.
Can I make a fill that covers several squares at once?
Unless you're doing extras, no. Even if your fill answers two or more prompts at once, you still can only use it to cover one square.
Can I use multiple fandoms in a bingo?
Yes. A bingo does not have to be all in one fandom - ex: you can submit 2 RPF, 1 Pokemon, 1 Star Trek and 1 Buffy fills in the same bingo. You also do not have to have all the same content in a bingo. You do not have to do all fic, or all art to make bingo - ex: you could submit 2 art, 1 mix and 2 fic to make a line bingo.
There are some prompts that I don’t want on my card. Can you just leave them off?
Some AU prompts simply won’t work for some people. If your fandom of choice is Star Trek, it could be hard to fill a space prompt. Additionally, some prompts may be triggering for some people. Therefore, please look over the list of prompts the cards are made from. When you sign up, if needed, you can indicate up to five prompts to be vetoed so we can give you a card without those.
If you need more than five prompts vetoed, please contact the mods by PM or email ( aubingomods@gmail.com) and we will work with you to make sure you have a suitable card.
I don't understand what my prompt means and I'm confused by it.
Please check the prompt list post. You can also PM or email the mods and we'll be happy to discuss it with you.
I don't like some of my prompts and I can't write/draw/vid/etc. them, what can I do?
All prompts are open to interpretation. For example, “space stations“ can vary from a character being working or living on a space station to a character dealing with another character going to a space station or even a character finding out that space stations exist in their world. If you’re writing in a universe which already has space stations, the characters could find themselves on an alien space station or their space station could have an AU purpose such as going from a exploratory space station or a stationary shuttle port or a major space-based colony station.
Some of these prompts are bound to force you out of your comfort zone; half the challenge of this bingo is thinking of these prompts in new ways.
Can I still do a crossover, even if it’s not for an “alternate fandom“ prompt?
Yes. If you want to put your characters in the Harry Potter universe for the “magic“ prompt, you can. But you don’t have to, you could create your own magic elements for your characters. “Alternate fandom“ prompts require you to create a fusion or crossover with another fandom.
What if I only work in one fandom and don’t want to do a crossover / fusion?
If your prompt is one of the “alternate fandom“ prompts, you are required to specify another fandom for a fusion/crossover. It doesn’t have to be a large or well-known fandom. If you have a specific question about the fandom you want to specify, please PM or email the mods.
What is the wild card square?
It's a card for which youchoose a alternate universe prompt from the list of prompts. It is not a blank square. You still have to fill it if it's in your bingo, just with the prompt of your own choosing.
I have a question that isn't answered here.
Please be sure to read the Rules and comments here. If your question still hasn’t been addressed, you can either leave it as a comment to this post with Question in the subject heading or email/pm the au_bingo_mods (aubingomods@gmail.com).