Basics & FAQ
FAQ:
What is a Big Bang?
I've heard this question a lot when others have asked me about other big bangs. In a nutshell, a big bang is when an author writes a longer/long fic (10,000 - 20,000 words minimum depending on the big bang) and an artist makes any type of art for them. This can include actual artwork (fanart), icons, fan mixes, fan vids and banners.
What fandoms are included in THIS Big Bang?
This is where things get fun. Any fandoms are included. All fandoms in some ways. Mostly this big bang serves as a good platform for ANY show that is set in some form of historical area, or even if it's fantasy, it seems as if it is set in a historical time (ie. "Game of Thrones", "The Lord of the Rings", etc.) It doesn't matter when in history, really, but try to not pick something that happened just last week. To the mods, "historical" can even include fandoms like "Tour of Duty", which was set during the Vietnam War. When others think "historical", they think "The Tudors". We are being a bit more loose with the term, because it can encompass a LOT. If you question if an idea you have qualifies or not, just ask here or send us a message. Alternate Universes of current fandoms set in a historical/fantasy historical setting are also welcome.
Can I write original fiction>
Oh definitely. If it's set in a historical/fantasy historical setting, feel free to sign up with it.
Where/when can I sign up?
Sign ups for betas, authors, cheerleaders and arists will start immediately. A full schedule will be shown below to show when the dates will close for each.
What if I don't write or do art? How can I still participate?
There a number of ways you can participate even if you do not wish to do so by writing or doing artwork. If you are a beta reader, the authors are going to need them as all fics must be beta read. If you aren't comfortable with that, all authors AND artists are going to need cheerleaders to keep them going as deadlines draw closer or they hit writer/artist block for whatever reason.
::Author Requirements::
What am I doing?
Your story is to be a minimum of 10K words and needs to be beta read. If you have someone that is your normal beta reader, great, if not we will have a post of people signing up to do just that.
What if I started a story? Can I use that?
For the sake of my sanity so I'm not having the check, if you've started posting it then no. If it's a story you've started writing but have not posted, that's fine. Gives you a leg up.
Can I write crossovers?
Yes you can. If you choose to have a story placed in the present, but with flashbacks, there need to be a significant amount of flashbacks. If you are taking historical figures and putting them in present day, this works but there needs to be some sort of flashback scenarios incorporated.
Can I write with a co-author?
Yes you may. Just be sure to include that in the sign up.
Can I write more than one story?
If you feel you can write more than one story in the schedule given, have at it.
Are there any restrictions to what I can write?
Your only restrictions are, quite literally, time. And not just how long you have, but *when* you write in or have significant flashbacks to.
::Artist Requirements::
How do I know what art I am doing?
When rough drafts start coming in, a post will go up for claims. It is a first come, first serve basis as to what you want to do. Then that story is taken off the list so others can not claim it.
What are the requirements?
Anything goes. Art, fan vid, fan mix. Just put some effort into the thought of the piece and that it goes along with what the author is envisioning. It doesn't do for the artwork to be way out in right field if the story is in left. A minimum of five songs is needed for a fan mix. One or two songs does not a fan mix make.
What if the one I wanted is taken?
First come, first serve basis. However, I will be taking a first, second, third and fourth choice so that hopefully you get SOMETHING you wanted.
What if there are more writers than artists?
If this happens, then I will extend the artist deadline and they can take on more than one story if they so wish.
What about the other way around?
Then we'll have more than one artist doing one fic.
Can I do more than one piece of art?
For now, no. Let's see how the ratio of author sign ups are to artist. We may need artists to do more than one if there aren't enough artist sign ups. But if there are enough, it's not fair for one author to have two artists when another doesn't.
::Schedule::
What is this schedule you speak of?
Author & artist sign-ups start: Immediately- start writing
Author sign-ups close: July 15, 2011
Artist sign-ups end: August 15, 2011 February 1, 2012
First check-in date: November 1, 2011
Second check-in date: December 1, 2011
Story summary due: January 1, 2012
Post for artist's to select begins: January 4, 2012
Rough-draft due: February 1, 2012
Posting-date selection begins: February 15, 2012
Final drafts and art due: March 1, 2012- posting begins
Why is there so much time?
Because real life has a tendency to REALLY suck and it allows people to have enough time to really get this done without pulling their hair out. Plus, since some of the dates are going into the holiday season, no one needs to be stressed out going in. Not to mention that the mod sometimes gets bogged down with real life and has every intention on posting but gets pushed back as well.
When you say rough draft, does that mean a finished, un-betaed piece?
If you are done by the rough draft due date except the beta portion, great. If not, a rough draft means 75-80% of the fic completed. And if you are getting to a point by the rough draft due date and you have 50% or less of your fic done, please tell me so I can get some cheerleaders on your side for encouragement.
What if I fall way behind? Can I change my posting date?
This is going to be a case by case basis. I don't want people rushing to me going "ZOMG I NEED MOAR TIME! HALP!" I'm willing to work with people, but if I have an influx, I may say no. I want to be as accommodating as possible, especially since it'll go over the holiday, but really? We are looking at almost 6 months to get this done. Unless you have a severe case of writer's block and/or a major thing happening IRL then it shouldn't be *too* difficult to get it done. And if you can't, ultimately, I'll work with you and move you to the end of posting if necessary.
Can I post early?
No, please. To be fair, we'll stick to the posting schedule and this means to your personal journal too. Just to be fair.
Questions? Ask in this post.
What is a Big Bang?
I've heard this question a lot when others have asked me about other big bangs. In a nutshell, a big bang is when an author writes a longer/long fic (10,000 - 20,000 words minimum depending on the big bang) and an artist makes any type of art for them. This can include actual artwork (fanart), icons, fan mixes, fan vids and banners.
What fandoms are included in THIS Big Bang?
This is where things get fun. Any fandoms are included. All fandoms in some ways. Mostly this big bang serves as a good platform for ANY show that is set in some form of historical area, or even if it's fantasy, it seems as if it is set in a historical time (ie. "Game of Thrones", "The Lord of the Rings", etc.) It doesn't matter when in history, really, but try to not pick something that happened just last week. To the mods, "historical" can even include fandoms like "Tour of Duty", which was set during the Vietnam War. When others think "historical", they think "The Tudors". We are being a bit more loose with the term, because it can encompass a LOT. If you question if an idea you have qualifies or not, just ask here or send us a message. Alternate Universes of current fandoms set in a historical/fantasy historical setting are also welcome.
Can I write original fiction>
Oh definitely. If it's set in a historical/fantasy historical setting, feel free to sign up with it.
Where/when can I sign up?
Sign ups for betas, authors, cheerleaders and arists will start immediately. A full schedule will be shown below to show when the dates will close for each.
What if I don't write or do art? How can I still participate?
There a number of ways you can participate even if you do not wish to do so by writing or doing artwork. If you are a beta reader, the authors are going to need them as all fics must be beta read. If you aren't comfortable with that, all authors AND artists are going to need cheerleaders to keep them going as deadlines draw closer or they hit writer/artist block for whatever reason.
::Author Requirements::
What am I doing?
Your story is to be a minimum of 10K words and needs to be beta read. If you have someone that is your normal beta reader, great, if not we will have a post of people signing up to do just that.
What if I started a story? Can I use that?
For the sake of my sanity so I'm not having the check, if you've started posting it then no. If it's a story you've started writing but have not posted, that's fine. Gives you a leg up.
Can I write crossovers?
Yes you can. If you choose to have a story placed in the present, but with flashbacks, there need to be a significant amount of flashbacks. If you are taking historical figures and putting them in present day, this works but there needs to be some sort of flashback scenarios incorporated.
Can I write with a co-author?
Yes you may. Just be sure to include that in the sign up.
Can I write more than one story?
If you feel you can write more than one story in the schedule given, have at it.
Are there any restrictions to what I can write?
Your only restrictions are, quite literally, time. And not just how long you have, but *when* you write in or have significant flashbacks to.
::Artist Requirements::
How do I know what art I am doing?
When rough drafts start coming in, a post will go up for claims. It is a first come, first serve basis as to what you want to do. Then that story is taken off the list so others can not claim it.
What are the requirements?
Anything goes. Art, fan vid, fan mix. Just put some effort into the thought of the piece and that it goes along with what the author is envisioning. It doesn't do for the artwork to be way out in right field if the story is in left. A minimum of five songs is needed for a fan mix. One or two songs does not a fan mix make.
What if the one I wanted is taken?
First come, first serve basis. However, I will be taking a first, second, third and fourth choice so that hopefully you get SOMETHING you wanted.
What if there are more writers than artists?
If this happens, then I will extend the artist deadline and they can take on more than one story if they so wish.
What about the other way around?
Then we'll have more than one artist doing one fic.
Can I do more than one piece of art?
For now, no. Let's see how the ratio of author sign ups are to artist. We may need artists to do more than one if there aren't enough artist sign ups. But if there are enough, it's not fair for one author to have two artists when another doesn't.
::Schedule::
What is this schedule you speak of?
Author & artist sign-ups start: Immediately- start writing
Author sign-ups close: July 15, 2011
Artist sign-ups end: August 15, 2011 February 1, 2012
First check-in date: November 1, 2011
Second check-in date: December 1, 2011
Story summary due: January 1, 2012
Post for artist's to select begins: January 4, 2012
Rough-draft due: February 1, 2012
Posting-date selection begins: February 15, 2012
Final drafts and art due: March 1, 2012- posting begins
Why is there so much time?
Because real life has a tendency to REALLY suck and it allows people to have enough time to really get this done without pulling their hair out. Plus, since some of the dates are going into the holiday season, no one needs to be stressed out going in. Not to mention that the mod sometimes gets bogged down with real life and has every intention on posting but gets pushed back as well.
When you say rough draft, does that mean a finished, un-betaed piece?
If you are done by the rough draft due date except the beta portion, great. If not, a rough draft means 75-80% of the fic completed. And if you are getting to a point by the rough draft due date and you have 50% or less of your fic done, please tell me so I can get some cheerleaders on your side for encouragement.
What if I fall way behind? Can I change my posting date?
This is going to be a case by case basis. I don't want people rushing to me going "ZOMG I NEED MOAR TIME! HALP!" I'm willing to work with people, but if I have an influx, I may say no. I want to be as accommodating as possible, especially since it'll go over the holiday, but really? We are looking at almost 6 months to get this done. Unless you have a severe case of writer's block and/or a major thing happening IRL then it shouldn't be *too* difficult to get it done. And if you can't, ultimately, I'll work with you and move you to the end of posting if necessary.
Can I post early?
No, please. To be fair, we'll stick to the posting schedule and this means to your personal journal too. Just to be fair.
Questions? Ask in this post.