xf_bigbang, posts by tag: 2009 - LiveJournal

WOW! This year, we've got 34 writers signed on to produce 33 new pieces of X-Files fanfiction!

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We've also had 19 people say they might need betas, so now is a great time to head over to the Beta post to sign up to help a fellow Banger out!

So, tomorrow posting begins for the 2009 XF Big Bang. We've got 14 stories and, I think, 10 pieces of artwork coming in over the next few weeks and I'm really looking forward to reading and viewing them all. Congratulations to everyone who completed pieces for this year's Bang. It's no mean feat writing 20,000 words - or coming up with artwork to go with that - so you should feel really proud of yourselves.

Now for the technical bit: I've given all writers and artists posting access so can you please check that you're able to post to the comm by creating a new post in your journal and making sure you have xf_bigbang in the 'post to' drop down menu (don't hit the 'post' button though). If you don't have posting access please let me know as soon as possible so I can give it to you.

I've also sent invites out to those writers and artists who aren't members of the community so when you get those please join as soon as you can. If you're not already a member of the community it's important you join as soon as possible; I won't be sending out any more invites or reminders.

There's a master list of posting rules and info on which dates fic and artwork should be posted here. Please remember when you need to post because I won't remind you.

If you have any problems or questions either drop me a message here or email xfbigbang@gmail.com.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone who's taken part. As frustrating as plot, characterisation and dialogue can be at times, I hope you've had as much fun as we have. And please, remember to give feedback; it's what makes the fandom world go round.

We're creeping ever closer to the final deadline of October 26th, when fic and artwork should be finished. Completed fic and artwork should be sent to xfbigbang@gmail.com on the deadline so that we know there'll be something to go out on each of the posting dates.

On your posting date, fic and artwork should be posted somewhere online and linked to from a post in the XF Big Bang community (posting privileges will be set up on November 1st for all writers and artists, so don't worry if you can't post to the community before then). If you aren't a member of LiveJournal you can email the mods with the link to your work and we'll post it on your behalf.

Posts should contain:
# Your lj user name/Author/Artist name. The one you signed up with.
# Your final title (both fic and artwork).
# Story and artwork rating, and pairing, if there is one.
# Your summary.
# Any warnings the reader might need to know about (non-con, death, animal torture, I don't know... you know what people warn for!)
# Any notes you might wish to add for the reader's perusal *g*.

Posts should be tagged with your name, the title of your work and the words 'xf_bigbang 2009'.

Emails have been sent to all writers and artists with information about posting dates on them. A master list of dates is below, but if you haven't had your email, please let me know and I'll resend it.

Remember that fic and artwork should not be posted anywhere else before your posting date.

As always, any questions can be sent here, to the email address, or to omg_xf_bigbang.

Masterlist of Posting Dates

2nd November
A Tell-Tale Truth

3rd November
The Quiet Limit of the World
Hidden Reflections

4th November
Before the War

5th November
Amazing Grace
Machines of Freedom

6th November
The Ghosts of Thurmere Hall

7th November
Disappear

8th November
Queen of Hearts

9th November
Resist or Serve

10th November
Take A Walk Down Lonely Street

11th November
Lovers in Friends

12th November
Life Reclaimed
The Refugium

The summaries and claims post went up last week and 8 of the 14 stories have been claimed. That means that there are still 6 stories needing artists to come up with illustrations, videos, dustjackets or other artwork for them.

We were asked a while ago whether we'd allow authors to also sign up as artists, though not for their own fic. The answer was a yes - if needed. Since the summaries and claims post has been up for a while now and we need more artists, we're opening up the artists sign-up.

Rules for Artists:

You will create at least one piece of art or a video to accompany one of the Big Bang stories.

Art can be any type you wish: original illustration, cover art, photo manipulation.

You will be able to post your story on your own journal or site, and we'll create a master list of links and summaries at the community.

Art cannot be posted anywhere prior to your assigned posting date.

Claims can only be made by artists at the moment. We may be able to allow writers to illustrate a story as well, but that depends on how many stories and artists we have. If we are able to do this, a sign up post will be made.


Important Deadlines:

Your final piece must be completed by October 26th. You may provide us with a link to the art or video or the art file itself.

The posting window will be between November 2nd and November 13th. The moderators will contact you with your posting date


If you're an author and would like to claim a story to create some artwork for you'll firstly need to sign up here and then claim the story you wish to illsutrate here.

Once you've done that you'll be sent a message with your artist's name and contact details.

Any questions please leave a message here, drop us a line on xfbigbang@gmail.com or comment over at omg_xf_bigbang.

So, the first draft deadline has been and gone, the artist sign ups have finished and it's time for the stories to be claimed!

Claiming a Story:

Summaries will be claimed on a first come, first served basis.

Each summary will be given a number. I will add comments to this post with a number in the subject title. This number will relate to the summary. If you want to claim that summary, reply to the relevant comment.

Once the summmary has been claimed, no one else can take it.

If two people claim a summary at the same time we will use the timestamp to determine who got there first.

Once the summary has been claimed, you'll be given the author's name and contact information.


Rules for Artists:

You will create at least one piece of art or a video to accompany one of the Big Bang stories.

Art can be any type you wish: original illustration, cover art, photo manipulation.

You will be able to post your story on your own journal or site, and we'll create a master list of links and summaries at the community.

Art cannot be posted anywhere prior to your assigned posting date.

Claims can only be made by artists at the moment. We may be able to allow writers to illustrate a story as well, but that depends on how many stories and artists we have. If we are able to do this, a sign up post will be made.


Important Deadlines:

Your final piece must be completed by October 26th. You may provide us with a link to the art or video or the art file itself.

The posting window will be between November 2nd and November 13th. The moderators will contact you with your posting date


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I know many of you have been waiting for this information... just HOW do you submit your fabulous first drafts?

That's right, for those of you who haven't been following omg_xf_bigbang or have been hiding out under magnetite rocks or something, we are almost to the first big deadline of this challenge. More exciting than a New Year's kiss, right?

First drafts of ALL FIC are due September 10th. (And to all you over-achievers who already are finished? Go ahead and send 'em in right now! We reward prepared Agents with some nice alone time with the pretty, A.D., 'kay?)

Here's what you need to know about submitting your draft:

1. The deadline for your submission is September 10th. As long as it's September 10th wherever you are when you send it, you're on time.

2. Absolutely no extensions past September 10th. We need to get things moving with the whole art assignment part of this, which is going to take some time, hence the deadline.

3. What we will need from you on September 10th:

Send an email to xfbigbang@gmail.com and include the following:
# Your lj user name/Author name. The one you signed up with. (Very important!)
# Your final title.
# Story rating. And pairing, if there is one.
# Your summary. (You just need about a paragraph or so to give the artists an idea of what your story is about. So, be complete. Yet succinct. Also, please indicate if your story is gen, het, slash, or some combination thereof.) Need help? Here are some tips.
# Any warnings an artist might need to know about when choosing a story. (non-con, death, animal torture, I don't know... you know what people warn for!)
# Your first draft of no less than 20,000 words. No exceptions. It must be in a word file, and please send it as an attachment to your email. (No one is going to see it but the mods, and we're only looking for word count and story completeness. Once your summary is claimed the artist might ask to see your draft for more inspiration, but we'll leave that to the two of you to work out.)
# Please note, this draft is NOT THE FINAL DRAFT. Some folks have not had time for a full beta. That's FINE. You'll still have a full month and a half to polish your epic. We just need to see that you have a beginning, middle, end, and the bits in-between, and at least 20,000 words. Subplots can still be jiggered, adjectives massaged, scene order twisted, and porn scenes expanded (especially this one!). ;)

4. On September 15th we will post final titles and summaries (without the authors' names attached) for artist claiming.

5. Your final draft must be completed by October 26th. This is also the due date for all art and vids..

6. We will make a staggered posting schedule starting November 2nd. Don't worry about this now, because we're going to make the schedule after we see how many stories have been turned in. You will have plenty of notice!

Because this is so important, I'm going to say it again, in all caps: THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS, FOR ANY REASON, TO THE SEPTEMBER 10th DEADLINE. (Even for you're pathetically procrastinatory, totally earnest mods. Whimper.)

So that's it. Finish up, don't panic, and have fun! You guys are doing awesome, KEEP GOING! Let us know if you have any questions, either here, by e-mail, or at omg_xf_bigbang.

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September 10th is also the deadline for artist sign-ups! The one exception for this will be those who signed up as authors but would like to create art for a story (not their own). Authors will be given second crack at signing up to make pretties for stories. If you haven't signed as either an author or an artist, but would like to create a video or other piece of art for one of our epics, please sign-up here before the end of September 10th.

An email was sent out yesterday to every writer who's signed up for the Big Bang challenge to make sure the email address you've given us works. We've had replies from a few people (which is great), we've had bounce backs from others (which is less great) and we're still waiting for confirmation from a few more (which is to be expected).

If you're one of the few who haven't replied to us can you check your inbox and fire back a quick 'got the email, this address is fine' so we know that we have the correct email address for you? All communication regarding the XF Big Bang project will be sent to that email address - you can see why it's so important.

As you know, it is a requirement that all entries in The X-files Big Bang have a beta reader. Beta readers act as sounding boards, editors, and cheerleaders for authors by helping them get a first reaction to their story. A good beta reader is essential to the generation of most quality fiction. While authors are free to work with existing betas or ask close friends, at least 30 of the authors who signed up have indicated that they may need help finding a willing beta reader.

The purpose of this post is to help them with just that. If you are interested in putting some time into the Big Bang project, please consider helping as a beta reader! Reply with the information below, if interested.

Rules for Beta Readers

1. You will help edit at least one piece of 20,000+ word X-files fanfiction between the dates of June 2nd and October 26th.
2. You are willing to communicate over e-mail with the author.
3. You may already be signed up as an author or artist for your own work, but, if an artist, you agree not to creat art for a story you've betaed.
4. Betas may also be a member of the general fandom otherwise not connected with this Big Bang challenge.
5. You agree not to talk about the plot or the author's name of the story you beta, until its published date.
6. You agree to have your name attached to the project.

Important Deadlines

You must sign-up to participate by September 15th.

Authors will contact you based on your comment below.

The final piece must be completed by October 26th. Make sure any personal time constraints will not conflict with any final revisions.

To Sign Up

Please comment below with the following information:

<b>LJ username:</b> <b>Email where we can reach you:</b> <b>How many 20,000+ fics could your realistically help with?:</b> (The following will help authors find a beta who is compatible with their personal needs.) <b>What are your strengths as a beta (e.g. Grammar, Characterization, Story Background, Research, Cheerleading, etc.)?</b> <b>What is your weakest point as a beta?</b> <b>Do you prefer to beta for slash, gen, or het?</b> <b>In which fandoms could you expertly beta a crossover?</b> <b>What story ratings are you comfortable with (e.g. G, PG, Pg-13, R, or NC-17)?</b> <b>Any story kinks you <u>can not</u> work with (e.g. rape, insest, character death, chia pets, torture, etc.)?</b>

To Claim a Beta

If you see a beta profile that you think would work well with your story, please logout and comment anonymously to the post with something like "GLOMP" or "CLAIM!"

Then e-mail the beta at their contact e-mail to see if they are interested.


Thanks for participating! Don't forget to check out omg_xf_bigbang for support!

Eeek! Writer Sign-Ups are closed and we have 54 writers signed to write 53 stories! That's over 1,000,000 promised new words of X-files fanfiction!

( Here are some break-downs of the sign-ups.Collapse )

If you signed up, you will be receiving an e-mail in the next few days to make sure we have your contact information correct. Be on the look-out!

Also coming soon will be the sign-up post for beta readers. As 30 authors have indicated at least a possible need for an outside beta reader, I'll try to get this up as soon as possible!

Remember, Artist Sign-Ups are open until September 10th!

Sign-ups have been open for less than a week and we already have 30 writers and 10 artists! Yay! Sign-ups are open until June 1st, so be sure to advertise to your friends and loved ones! Our prompts and inspiration post is still going hot and heavy for those looking to feed their muse... 51 comments at this time!

We've heard it said that, 'pimpin' ain't easy,' and we aim to make your life as easy as we can... with that in mind, here are a choice of four pimp banners/buttons that you may use on your journal profiles/pimp posts and... anywhere really. Oh, but did you see we got a mention on BigLight? Big hello to anyone stopping by from there.

Quick Links:
F.A.Q.
Writer's Sign-up
Artist's Sign-up
Prompts and Inspiration
Support Community

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