Sign-up template!

[nqdonne]

Hello all! I reckon it's not too early to post the sign-up template -- I know many people are already itching to get theirs ready!

Sign-ups will be August 15-22, 2008. Sign-ups are for EVERYONE, including those with a reserved spot. Proxy sign-ups ARE allowed if you can't make that window, but as sign-ups are NOT first-come first-served, there's less urgency to signing up early. Lottery drawing will be done and assignments will be sent within a week of sign-ups closing.

The Rules
1. Fanfic should be:

• At least 1000 words in length, sufficiently beta read/free of spelling and grammar issues. Artists have no minimum requirement, but should think of the "under 1000 words" equivalent as something that is merely a sketch or done in MSPaint. In either case, you should put real effort into your gift!
  
• That said, we are encouraging short fic -- you don't have to write a novel! Everyone loves a concisely written ficlet, so don't think you have to write 20,000 words to be a hit :D
  
• It should also contain any and all HTML that you wish included (such as italics). We will NOT go back and edit these in for you; your fic will be posted as it is received.
  
• Not part of a series, or a sequel to a fic that the giftee may not be familiar with.
  
• Based on the prompt originally assigned to you. No switching prompts/recipients or having a writer write fic for your art without consulting with the mods first.

2. There will be both a participant cap of 80 and a reservation vs. lottery system for this round. Anyone who has done the fest at least twice, and has never had their submission returned to them for major editing or rewrites is guaranteed a place in the fest if they want it. Others will enter a lottery.

3. We are using staggered submission deadlines again - those who have participated at least two rounds of the fest will have a later deadline than those who are new to the fest, or have only done it once. First timer's submissions are due by November 8. Second timer's submissions are due by November 15. Third/fourth time participants' (aka: the reserved spot people) submissions are due by November 22.

4. The mod assumes the right to approve and deny extensions (and multiple extensions) as she sees fit. Behavior from the past rounds of hd_hols will have a bearing on how lenient I am with your extension - if you strung us along last time, I am less likely to be generous. That said, I have never turned anyone down for an extension, but I am not afraid to boot someone who is stringing me along.

5. Anyone who dropped out or was kicked out of hd_hols round three is not eligible to participate. If you are not sure whether or not this includes you, please email me. Anyone who dropped out of round two, however, can have a second chance. Also, if you are known to be a frequent sign-up-and-runner, we may not allow you to participate.

6. Submissions should be emailed to hdhols at gmail.com. You can also contact NQ or Tara directly with comments and questions.

Please think very carefully before you sign up, and please only do so if you can make the commitment. This includes those who would like to reserve a spot.

Please read r_becca's guide to being a good fest participant for starters. Think about your own writing abilities, how fast/slow you write and how good you are at meeting deadlines, because there is nothing more frustrating to a mod than the flaky and inconsistent. We got really lucky in the last two rounds and most of you were fabulous - I'm hoping for more of the same!

Round four sign-up form

• Please fill in every required field, and if you are asking for art or have no preference please include some prompts that lend themselves to artistic interpretation. I've had some very frustrated artists report that their recipients prompts are all fic-specific. Give some visual scenarios/ideas, including if you've listed you'd like to receive either.
  
• Proxy sign-ups ARE allowed, so if you are going to be away during the sign-up period, you may ask a friend (or the mods) to sign up on your behalf.
  
• You MUST put your age/make an age statement. No one under the age of 18 can write/draw and/or receive NC-17 work. Those under 18, however, CAN participate.

Please note that you should use the field regarding Deathly Hallows preferences to note whether you'd like epilogue compliant fic, fic set during DH canon, after the end of the war but before the epilogue, etc. Basically give your writer/artist guidelines for how they should take into account Deathly Hallows canon when creating your gift. You are also free to note here that you'd like a complete AU fic that disregards DH altogether.

Name/LJ:
Email:
Age: please note if you will turn 18 before December 1.
Fiction or artwork (SUBMITTING):
Fiction or artwork (RECEIVING):
Have you participated before? If so, for whom did you write/draw?:

For the gift you would like to RECEIVE
Kinks, genres or special requests:
Squicks/Things you'd hate:
Common H/D Cliches you DO enjoy:
Common H/D Cliches you DO NOT enjoy:
Deathly Hallows/Epilogue/Next Gen preferences:

Two or three prompts for your gift(optional):
Name of someone you trust (and can keep quiet) that the person creating your gift can contact with questions about your preferences (optional):

For the gift you will be GIVING
Kinks/Things you will gladly write/draw:
Kinks/Squicks/Things you REFUSE to write/draw:
Highest rating you will write/draw:
What you will/won't write/draw as far as Deathly Hallows/Epilogue/Next Gen is concerned:
Your writing/drawing strengths, or genre you feel most comfortable writing/drawing:

This is the sign-up template only; DO NOT SIGN-UP ON THIS ENTRY. The official sign-up entry will go up on the 15th of August.

Please feel free to comment with any questions or comments.

(Reminder: cap/lottery information here, post announcing new format here)