Round 2: Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Once Upon a Time Holiday Exchange?
Once Upon a Time Holiday Exchange is a fic & media exchange! Participants fill out a form with their likes and desires, and what they can make, and then are matched up with another participant. Then near the holidays works are posted anonymously and then revealed after the holidays pass.
- What characters and pairings are allowed?
All of them! This is an all encompassing fest, so participants can write and create for any characters in the Once Upon a Time universe.
- Should my gift be holiday-themed?
Not necessarily. Your giftee will state in their form what they are looking for, and they might be looking for something holiday themed. If they don't, then it's up to you! Just go where the prompts lead you. But both gifters and giftees should keep in mind this is an all-inclusive exchange, and the other person might celebrate a different holiday than you. Not everyone is familiar with all holidays, so it is better to keep it more generic where possible.
- What can I make? What are the requirements?
Participants will be able to sign up requesting Fic or Media (which includes all of the non-fic options). Participants can also sign up for "either" if they have no preference for which to receive.
Here is a breakdown of all the accepted gifts you can make for your recipient and their minimums:
Fic: 1000 words
Art*: 1 piece
Icons: 10 icons
Graphics*: 3
Fanvid: 2 minutes
*For art, this is specifically hand-created works. Paintings, drawings (whether in a physical medium or digital medium (eg, with a tablet)), etc.
*For graphics, this is specifically for computer edited graphics. This includes wallpapers, manips, large graphics (such as Tumblr-style), and headers.
- Are there any restrictions on pairings I request in my sign up?
No, you could just put one character or pairing if you choose. However, it would be great if you could include more for matching purposes. It could be difficult to match you if you just put one character and no one else is offering to do works for that character, so please keep that in mind when signing up.
- Am I obligated to do exactly what my giftee wants, to the letter?
This is supposed to be a gift exchange, so please keep in mind you are writing to make someone else happy! :) I will be matching up people based on interests as closely as I can. You may be assigned someone who specified a pairing you are not particularly good with; this is why it's important to fill out the section of the sign up form in the area that asks what you definitely CANNOT write. Otherwise, please try your best to please your giftee, and remember that someone else is going to be out there working hard to give you a good gift as well!
- What sort of prompt should I put in my sign up?
Participants are allowed to request 3-5 prompts. Prompts can be as vague or as specific as you like. They can be a word, phrase, song lyric, a link to a song, a piece of art, a line of dialogue you would like included in fic, a story idea, colors or themes you would like included in art, etc. If you want holiday themed gifts, the prompts area is the place to specify that. Prompts give your gifter an idea of what you would want and gives them a direction to go in.
- Do I have to follow the prompt(s) for the gift I make?
I do ask that you try to at least use one of the prompts given, you absolutely don’t have to use all of them. You don’t have to follow the prompts though if you are unable to. If you aren’t able to please try to stick to your giftees likes and dislikes.
- What is the timeline?
Sign ups open: October 20th, 2013
Sign ups close: November 3rd, 2013
Assignments set out: November 8th, 2013
Mandatory check in: November 25th, 2013
Gifts due: December 6th, 2013
Pinch hits go out: December 7th, 2013
Pinch hits and extensions due - December 15th, 2013
Posting begins: December 17th, 2013
Reveals and master list poster: January 10th, 2013
- How will posting work?
All fics will be posted by the chosenfire28 (this way if an account is deleted the gift will not be lost). Do not post your story/art anywhere else before the reveals. After the reveal/masterpost is up you are free to crosspost your story/art wherever you like. This is a secret santa type challenge so please do not reveal your recipient to anyone. Also, to prevent people from linking a story to specific authors, stories can't be part of a previously posted series.
- How should I send in my gift?
Send your finished fic to the mods at ouatexchange@gmail.com. Subject should be as follow:
Submission: Title (recipient's name)
The heading information must have the following formation:
FOR FIC:
Title:
Recipient:
Author:
Characters/Pairings:
Spoilers:
Rating:
Word Count:
Warnings:
Summary:
Author's Notes:
FOR ART:
Title:
Recipient:
Artist:
Characters/Pairings:
Spoilers:
Rating:
Pairings:
Medium:
Warnings:
- When will the gift I made and my gift be posted to the community?
Starting December 17th gifts will be posted to the community by chosenfire28 in a staggered schedule till December 25th. Your username will not be included in the gift and all information in your author’s note will be edited to not give your identity away (so any beta credits, etc). Anyone is free to comment on the gifts made - and strongly encouraged to to support the makers.
- When will I be able to post the gift I make?
Once reveals go up (on January 10th) you are free to cross post your gift wherever you want! (your journal, AO3, communities, etc).
If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in a comment at this post, email them to ouatexchange@gmail.com, or PM chosenfire28.
- What is Once Upon a Time Holiday Exchange?
Once Upon a Time Holiday Exchange is a fic & media exchange! Participants fill out a form with their likes and desires, and what they can make, and then are matched up with another participant. Then near the holidays works are posted anonymously and then revealed after the holidays pass.
- What characters and pairings are allowed?
All of them! This is an all encompassing fest, so participants can write and create for any characters in the Once Upon a Time universe.
- Should my gift be holiday-themed?
Not necessarily. Your giftee will state in their form what they are looking for, and they might be looking for something holiday themed. If they don't, then it's up to you! Just go where the prompts lead you. But both gifters and giftees should keep in mind this is an all-inclusive exchange, and the other person might celebrate a different holiday than you. Not everyone is familiar with all holidays, so it is better to keep it more generic where possible.
- What can I make? What are the requirements?
Participants will be able to sign up requesting Fic or Media (which includes all of the non-fic options). Participants can also sign up for "either" if they have no preference for which to receive.
Here is a breakdown of all the accepted gifts you can make for your recipient and their minimums:
Fic: 1000 words
Art*: 1 piece
Icons: 10 icons
Graphics*: 3
Fanvid: 2 minutes
*For art, this is specifically hand-created works. Paintings, drawings (whether in a physical medium or digital medium (eg, with a tablet)), etc.
*For graphics, this is specifically for computer edited graphics. This includes wallpapers, manips, large graphics (such as Tumblr-style), and headers.
- Are there any restrictions on pairings I request in my sign up?
No, you could just put one character or pairing if you choose. However, it would be great if you could include more for matching purposes. It could be difficult to match you if you just put one character and no one else is offering to do works for that character, so please keep that in mind when signing up.
- Am I obligated to do exactly what my giftee wants, to the letter?
This is supposed to be a gift exchange, so please keep in mind you are writing to make someone else happy! :) I will be matching up people based on interests as closely as I can. You may be assigned someone who specified a pairing you are not particularly good with; this is why it's important to fill out the section of the sign up form in the area that asks what you definitely CANNOT write. Otherwise, please try your best to please your giftee, and remember that someone else is going to be out there working hard to give you a good gift as well!
- What sort of prompt should I put in my sign up?
Participants are allowed to request 3-5 prompts. Prompts can be as vague or as specific as you like. They can be a word, phrase, song lyric, a link to a song, a piece of art, a line of dialogue you would like included in fic, a story idea, colors or themes you would like included in art, etc. If you want holiday themed gifts, the prompts area is the place to specify that. Prompts give your gifter an idea of what you would want and gives them a direction to go in.
- Do I have to follow the prompt(s) for the gift I make?
I do ask that you try to at least use one of the prompts given, you absolutely don’t have to use all of them. You don’t have to follow the prompts though if you are unable to. If you aren’t able to please try to stick to your giftees likes and dislikes.
- What is the timeline?
Sign ups open: October 20th, 2013
Sign ups close: November 3rd, 2013
Assignments set out: November 8th, 2013
Mandatory check in: November 25th, 2013
Gifts due: December 6th, 2013
Pinch hits go out: December 7th, 2013
Pinch hits and extensions due - December 15th, 2013
Posting begins: December 17th, 2013
Reveals and master list poster: January 10th, 2013
- How will posting work?
All fics will be posted by the chosenfire28 (this way if an account is deleted the gift will not be lost). Do not post your story/art anywhere else before the reveals. After the reveal/masterpost is up you are free to crosspost your story/art wherever you like. This is a secret santa type challenge so please do not reveal your recipient to anyone. Also, to prevent people from linking a story to specific authors, stories can't be part of a previously posted series.
- How should I send in my gift?
Send your finished fic to the mods at ouatexchange@gmail.com. Subject should be as follow:
Submission: Title (recipient's name)
The heading information must have the following formation:
FOR FIC:
Title:
Recipient:
Author:
Characters/Pairings:
Spoilers:
Rating:
Word Count:
Warnings:
Summary:
Author's Notes:
FOR ART:
Title:
Recipient:
Artist:
Characters/Pairings:
Spoilers:
Rating:
Pairings:
Medium:
Warnings:
- When will the gift I made and my gift be posted to the community?
Starting December 17th gifts will be posted to the community by chosenfire28 in a staggered schedule till December 25th. Your username will not be included in the gift and all information in your author’s note will be edited to not give your identity away (so any beta credits, etc). Anyone is free to comment on the gifts made - and strongly encouraged to to support the makers.
- When will I be able to post the gift I make?
Once reveals go up (on January 10th) you are free to cross post your gift wherever you want! (your journal, AO3, communities, etc).
If you have any questions please feel free to leave them in a comment at this post, email them to ouatexchange@gmail.com, or PM chosenfire28.