Round 3: FAQ
Round 3 of the Vampire Big Bang is open for sign ups. This post contains all the information about this challenge. Please read the answers carefully before asking an additional question in the comments. If you need to contact the mods privately you can email them at vampirebigbang@gmail.com.
The Basics
What is a big bang?
A big bang is a fic challenge based around long fics (the word minimum's for these challenges vary from 5,000 to 50,000 words). Artists and mixers then sign up for the fics based on anonymous summaries and it's all posted in a staggered posting schedule.
How do I sign up?
Individual sign up posts will be posted for authors and artists/mixers on April 23rd.
What is the schedule?
Author sign-ups start - April 23rd, 2012
Checkpoint #1 - May 26th, 2012 (OPTIONAL)
Author sign-ups end - June 8th, 2012
Checkpoint #2 - June 23, 2012 (OPTIONAL)
Checkpoint #3 - July 28, 2012 (OPTIONAL)
Rough Drafts Due - August 30th, 2012
Artist Claims Open - September 1st, 2012
Artist Checkpoint - September 22nd - September 29th, 2012
Final Fic and Art Due - October 3rd, 2012
Posting Starts - October 12st, 2012
What fandoms are allowed?
This challenge is a multi fandom challenge, so any fandom is welcome (large or small) as long as the story is about vampires. You are welcome to interpret the vampire mythology in whatever way you want. Just as long as you focus on making the story about vampires it’s accepted.
You are welcome to include other kinds of mythology but the vampire aspect and/or character(s) must be the focus of the story.
Are original stories allowed?
Original stories are ALSO allowed in this challenge, so stories do not have to be fandom based. You can write an original vampire story if you are inclined.
What is a checkpoint?
Acheckpoint is a post where author’s (and artists/mixers) can check in about their current status. The author checkpoints are used for encouragement and motivation only, and aren’t mandatory. We do use the information to keep track of where author’s are at in a spreadsheet.
Why is the artist/mixer checkpoint mandatory?
The artist checkpoint is mandatory because we are going to use it to make sure author and artist/mixer have been in contact with each other. It’s open for a full week, so any artist/mixer that doesn’t check in and doesn’t contact us will be defaulted from their assignment and a pinch hitter will be arranged for them.
We want to make sure pinch hitters have enough time to collaborate with an author before posting.
For Authors
Can I write gen?
Absolutely! This challenge is open to gen, slash, femmslash, het, threesomes, moresomes etc.
What is the required length?
Stories must be a minimum of 10,000 words and there is no maximum.
Can I signup twice or co-write a fic?
You can definitely sign up for writing two stories as long as you are sure you can complete both. You may also cowrite a fic. For cowriting please have one person sign up for the both of you.
Can I use a fic I've already started?
Yes, as long as the story is not fully complete and has not been appeared anywhere online (either in part or in full) you may use it in this challenge. If you have a specific example or question regarding this you can ask in the comments or by sending us an email describing your issue and we'll be able to give you an answer.
What should my rough draft look like?
Your rough draft should be at least 8,000 words or 80% done. It should have a clear beginning, middle and end. This way your artist and mixer can have a full story to work with in order to create art or mix. It does not however need to be the completed fic.
How should I submit my rough draft?
Email your rough draft in a .doc format to vampirebigbang@gmail.com. It may take a little while for us to email you back, but we will email you with a confirmation once we've processed your information and have added it to our spreadsheet.
What should I include in my header when I submit my rough draft?
Your header must include the following, in this format:
LJ Username:
Current Word Count:
Percent Complete:
Title:
Fandom:
Type: (gen, slash, het, crossover - put all that apply)
Rating:
Characters/Pairings:
Warnings (sexual context, non-con, violence, strong language, characters death, etc - if there is anything in your fic potential artists should be warned about include it)
Summary: (try to write 1-3 paragraphs, please no more then 3)
AN EXAMPLE:
LJ Username: chosenfire28
Current Word Count: 11,111
Percent Complete: %100
Title: First Bite is the Deepest
Fandom: Avengers
Type: Slash, Het, Femslash
Rating: NC-17
Characters/Pairings: Tony/Steve, Thor/Jane, Natasha/Pepper
Warnings violence, gore, temporary character death
Summary: What happens when Steve becomes a vampire and starts changing the other Avengers?
Information about how to turn in your rough draft, final draft, and how to post your story will be given closer to the deadlines for each.
What should I warn for?
Other warnings are up to you, but please note that warning for rape, dub-con, incest, graphic self-harm/suicide, underage sexual activity, and character death is absolutely mandatory. If you are unsure of what to warn for or have a question regarding a specific part of your fic please feel free to ask the mods via email or by comment. Please err on the side of caution when warning.
If you feel warning may spoil part of your fic you can place the warnings behind blacked out or whited out text using the following code:
YOUR WARNINGS
How do I post my fic?
You may post your fic on either your own personal journal, your writing journal or a personal website. The journal MUST be unlocked but can be at Archive Of Our Own, InsaneJournal, Dreamwidth, Livejournal, or JournalFen and your website must be publicly accessible. Then it should be posted to the community using our master post format as posted below. Please note that you must also post your art and mixes and link to those as well as indicated in the master post format.
Below is the master post format that you can use to post your fic. This will be posted again closer to the posting date as well.
Title:
Fandom:
Pairing:
Word Count:
Rating:
Warnings:
Summary:
Notes (if applicable):
Art Post by
Mix Post by
Your subject line should be formatted like the following: Title, Pairing, Fandom, Rating.
Example: First Bite is the Deepest, Tony/Steve, Avengers, NC-17
For Artists/Mixers
How do I claim a story for art/mix?
On August 18th, 2012 members locked posts will go up, one for artists and one for mixers. You will make your claim at these posts, the information how will be included in the post.
Can I claim more than one story?
You will be able to claim only one story in the initial round of claims. After 48 hours if any stories still remain artists/mixers will be able to make a second claim out of them.
A fic has already been claimed, can I still claim it?
We want to make sure every fic gets an artist attached to it so if a fic is already claimed for art and you are an artist, please choose another one (the same goes for mixers). If you end up having significantly more artists/mixers than authors, and there are artists/mixers who have not claimed after everything has been claimed once, we will reopen stories to be claimed a second time.
What are the requirements for art?
Art can be a drawing, a cover, a manipulation, a wallpaper, a vid, a fanmix, a combination of all these and anything in between. It can be based on a particular scene in the story or representative of the overall story. Artist’s are only required to make one customized piece of art for the story.
What are the requirements for a mix?
A mix should be a minimum of 10 songs, there is no maximum. Your zip file also MUST include a .txt tracklisting. Additional things such as a cover/back and detailed explanation of songs are encouraged but not required.
How do I upload my mix?
You should upload your .zip of all the songs and the tracklist to a hosting service such as Megaupload, Mediafire, Box.net or Sendspace. The link should then be sent to the mods. You may also upload your individual tracks IN ADDITION TO your uploaded .zip.
Can I claim a story for art and mix?
Yes you can! You still have to make the claim in the right post (for art in the art post, for mix in the mix post).
I'm available for pinch hitting, how do I let the mods know?
In the event that we need a pinch hitter for art/mix a post will go up requesting pinch hitters. Comments will be screened and summaries/fics will be sent out via email instead of by claiming on a public post. This keeps everything anonymous.
If you have any questions, feel free to either comment here or email the mods at vampirebigbang@gmail.com