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swrarepairs2024-09-14 09:07 am
sassysnowperson) wrote in swrarepairs2024-09-14 09:07 am
SW Rares 2024 Rules and FAQ
Welcome to Star Wars Rares 2024! Your main mod this year is sassysnowperson, with nightingalesighs providing invaluable support as the assistant mod. The schedule is largely the same - but we are changing the nomination categories. Please read the rules and the upcoming nominations post carefully, even if you have done this exchange in previous years!
I can't wait to see all the works that will come out of this year's exchange!
Main Exchange Info
AO3 Collection • Tag Set • Discord Server Invite • Sign-Up Form [coming soon] • Readable/Searchable Request Summary [coming soon]
Schedule
Nominations - September 14-21 11:59 PM EST (may open early on the 13th)
Sign-Ups - September 25 - October 6 11:59 PM EST (May open early)
Assignments Out - October 7 9:00PM EST (May send earlier)
Assignments Due - December 1 11:59PM EST
Work Reveals - December 8 11:59PM EST
Author Reveals - December 15 11:59PM EST
New to exchanges? Feeling overwhelmed? We've got a new Exchange 101 post, it might help to read through that, then come back here for instructions specific to the 2024 exchange.
Nomination Requirements
• All nominated pairings/moresomes must have fewer than 250 fics on AO3 that are completed, in English, and over one thousand words.
• Every participant will be able to nominate 20 ships in 10 fandom categories. Fandom categories must be the ones listed in the nomination guidelines post.
• Characters from any corner of the Star Wars universe are welcome. This includes Legends and the new EU as well as the movies and TV shows.
• Crossovers are allowed. So long as the pairing includes at least one or more character(s) from any Star Wars property, it's good for this exchange.
• Nominations will be by broad star wars fandom categories, including a special fandom category for crossovers with non-Star Wars properties.
• There will be four possible work mediums: fic, art, podfic, and vids.
• See the nominations post [coming soon] for full nominations instructions.
Sign-Up Requirements
• You must have an AO3 account to participate.
• Mod reserves the right to delete signups from participants with proven track records of bad behavior such as bullying, harassment, or writing spitefic.
• Mod also reserves the right to delete signups that contain kinkshaming or ship-bashing.
• You will be able to request between 1 and 10 fandoms, and between 1 and 10 relationships per fandom. You must have at least three unique ships requested across all of your fandoms to guarantee a gift. Please only request relationships for which you'd like to receive a gift. For each fandom, you will be able to request fic, art, podfic, or a vid — or any combination of the four. If no offers match your requests, you will be sent out as a pinch hit.
• You will be able to offer between 1 and 10 fandoms, and between 1 and 10 relationships per fandom. You must have at least four unique ships offered across all of your fandoms. Please only offer relationships for which you are willing to create shippy content. Please specify whether you would like to offer fic, art, podfic, or a vid—or any combination of the four. If nothing you offer matches any requests made, the mod will contact you to see if you can add offers to your sign-up.
• If you do not want to be matched with a specific person, please get in touch with me including your AO3 username and the AO3 username of the person. I do not require an explanation or further information. (Note: I cannot prevent someone from creating a treat for you.)
• If you have anything you Do Not Want (DNWs, things you absolutely do not want in your gifts), you must put it in the "DNWs and Optional Details" box of your AO3 signup. DNWs can't be used to box your creator in to writing only one specific type of story, and can't contradict one of your requested tags. As an example, you cannot request a group of two people who have never met in canon, and then DNW Alternate Universes including canon divergences — a creator who writes a canon divergence fic would not be held to be in violation of the DNW. Your DNWs also should not be so vague that creators and mods cannot reasonably determine if a particular work includes them. Any contradictory or railroading DNWs that persist after matching will not be enforced. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about whether or not a DNW is unreasonable.
• This is a ship exchange. The content created should focus on the ship matched-on in a romantic or sexual relationship. Explicit fic and art is allowed by default, please DNW these gifts if you do not want to receive them. Pre-relationship and one-sided fics are allowed only with specific opt-in from the recipient.
• There will be a section in sign-ups for optional details and dear creator letters. These are very helpful to the creators who will be creating a gift for you. I encourage you to use either or both of these options to give your creator an idea of the things you like and the things you don't.
• Please do not indicate favorites in your sign up, your creator should feel free to create from any of your requests.
Assignments
• You are only guaranteed to match on one fandom, one relationship and one creative medium.
• Please don't discuss your assignment in public before creators are revealed.
• If your assignment doesn't match your sign-up, please contact the mods as soon as possible.
Gift Requirements
All gifts must adhere to the recipients’ DNWs, as listed in their Ao3 sign-up. If a DNW is included, the creator of that gift will be banned from future participation. Other than that, all details included in a recipient's sign-up are optional.
Fic
Completed assignments must be at least 1000 words created specifically for the recipient and must include at least one of their requested relationships. Fics must be complete and standalone (not a part of an ongoing series) at the time of posting.
Art
Completed art assignments must be an original piece created by the artist in traditional or digital mediums. At the very least, it should include detailed line art and cannot be drawn on lined paper. The minimum acceptable size is 500,000 total pixels (i.e. 710px x 710px or 500px x 1000px or whatever combination of width x height that gets to that 500,000 pixel number). It should include at least one of the recipient’s requested relationships. Artists may sign the completed work.
Podfics
Completed podfic assignments must be one complete and edited podfic of a text that is originally at least 1k words OR one complete and edited podfic of at least 10 minutes in length. The podfic story should be a standalone and not require reading in other series. Podfics of existing works must be recorded with the permission of the original author. A publicly posted Blanket Permissions Statement or permission given in the sign-up of the exchange would count toward this requirement. If requested, a podficcer should be able to show proof of the permission to the mod (ex: a screenshot of a DM or email, or a link to a blanket permissions statement), if that permission is not publicly posted with the work.
Vids
Completed vids must be at least one minute thirty seconds and should include the recipient’s requested relationships.
If you are requesting vids, please keep in mind the limitations inherent in this particular medium.
Posting
• Entries that are incomplete or display significant errors (ex: for fic: excessive spelling and grammar errors, for podfic: unedited sound files or excessive variation in sound levels), will be rejected.
• Because the exchange is anonymous, please don't post your work elsewhere before creators are revealed.
• Because the exchange is anonymous, please don't include links to your social media in author's notes before creators are revealed. To prevent theft, artists and vidders may sign their work, and due to the difficulties of anonymity in podfic, podficcers may include their handle in their recording, but do not include the information in the body of the Ao3 work prior to reveals.
Pinch Hits
• Pinch hits will be posted to the comm.
• If you'd like to claim a pinch hit, reply to the pinch hit post with your AO3 name.
Treats
• Treats are welcome in this exchange. The more creations, the better!
• Treats can be posted to the main exchange collection.
• There are no minimum requirements for treats. Which means they can be under 1000 words, smaller than 500,000 total pixels, shorter than ten minutes for podfics and shorter than one minute thirty seconds for vids.
• If a prompt has caught your attention and you intend to gift your work to that participant, you must still respect DNWs.
• If you want to create something for a ship that is in the tagset, but no one has requested it (or the only requests have DNWs that you want to include in your creation), you may create a treat for the collection. Treats to the collection do not need to follow any particular prompts or DNWs. Post treats to the collection by going to the 2023 subcollection, hitting 'Post to Collection', and then not filling in a recipient name.
Etiquette
• Please comment on your gift. Your creator worked hard on it for you and the least all of us can do when we're given a gift is offer thanks for it.
• If you can't complete your assignment and you know it, default as early as possible. There is no judgment in doing so, and the mods will be very grateful, as it gives us more time to find a pinch hitter for your recipient.
FAQs
How do I nominate relationships for this exchange?
Go to the tag set here: Tag Set [not yet open for nominations].
Can I change my mind about my nominations after I submit them?
If your nominations have not been approved, you can edit or change them as you see fit, but once they are approved, they cannot be altered.
Can I change my mind about my signup after I submit it?
Yes. During the sign-up period, you may edit your sign-up form. You can find it on your AO3 profile page in the “Signups” link in the left-hand column.
What can I put in my DNWs and Optional Details box for my requests?
This is where you should include any DNWs (do not wants) and squicks you have. If there’s anything a creator can create that makes you uncomfortable or triggers you, or would make a vid difficult to watch (ie: flashing lights) or a podfic difficult to listen to (ie: sound distortion over recording voices) please include it. Only DNWs listed in the optional details box will be enforced.
If you have any ideas for your pairings that you would like to see realized for your gift, these are your details. Prompts, reasons why you like the pairing, favorite tropes/kinks, whatever you’d like. They are there so that your creator knows how they can tailor their gift to you specifically. They are optional and your assigned creator does not have to include them. Their only job is to create a gift that includes your pairing.
If you are requesting podfics and would like to receive a podfic of your own work (that qualifies and matches your requests), mention it here! If you have specific fics that are not yours, but you know the author has a Blanket Permissions Statement that allows for podfic recording, you may link specific works that would fulfill your request. However your creator is not obligated to use your suggested works.
What can I put in my optional details box for my offers?
These are not publicly visible, and will only be seen by the mods of the exchange. If you do not want to be matched with a specific person, you may put that information here. Please include the AO3 username of the person. Mods do not want or require an explanation or further information.
If you don't have any preferences along those lines, including a picture of your pet, a different cute animal, a cool rock, or a fun fact is always appreciated and brings the mods great joy whenever we see them.
What are Dear Creator letters?
"Dear Creator" letters are letters posted to tumblr/dreamwidth/LJ/or another space that often includes the information listed above, but expanded or in more detail. You may give your creator a bit more information about why you picked the relationships you did, what your likes and dislikes are, dynamics you enjoy, more detailed prompts, and so forth. If you are posting your letter to tumblr, please do not change your tumblr URL until after creators are revealed.
Letters are entirely optional. You don't have to write one, and while they are good guidance for creators, creators are free to ignore their recipient's letter. The only guidance the creator must follow are the DNWs in the "DNWs and Optional Details" box. DNWs found only in a dear creator letter will not be enforced.
People who choose to write a letter can put the link in their sign-up, so their creators can find it easily.
I didn't get my assignment – what do I do?
It's possible that your spam filter ate the emailed assignment. Log in to your AO3 account and click the link for "Assignments" in the left-hand navigation pane in your Profile; your assignment should be there.
If it's not there, either, please contact the mods by e-mail (sassysnowperson@gmail.com) or PM on DW or Discord (SassySnowperson) immediately.
Can I switch my assignment?
Assignments can't be changed under most circumstances. If the matching was in error on AO3's part (rare, but it could happen), let the mod know ASAP (sassysnowperson@gmail.com or by PM to Sassysnowperson on DW). Otherwise, you're free to contact the mods to request a change, but the answer will probably be no.
Can I create a gift in any of my recipient's pairings, even if I didn't sign up for them?
Sure! As long as you create a gift for one of the pairings they requested, you're good.
Can I create more than one gift?
Sure! As long as you complete your assignment for your recipient, you can create as many gifts as you want, for your recipient or for other people.
How do I post my gift?
Go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs Exchange subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click "Post to fulfill", and you'll be taken to a posting form. This will automatically post your gift into the current year's challenge. It also has your recipient's name already filled in. All you need to do is fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
If you're posting a Treat, you won't have an assignment or "post to fulfill" button. Instead, go to the current challenge page on the AO3, and click on "Post To Collection" under the challenge title. This will take you to a form with the challenge collection name already filled in. Fill in the recipient's name manually, then fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
Can I post my gift before the deadline?
Sure! The posting form opens shortly after assignments go out. You're free to post whenever you want.
Can I edit my gift after it's posted?
Yes, AO3 allows editing at any time. However, the work you post must not be obviously incomplete (e.g. end in the middle of sentence).
Can I add creator's notes?
You can, but they will be visible as soon as the stories are revealed. Be careful to not put anything here that would give away your identity (at least before creator reveals are completed), or anything disparaging about your recip, their ships, or your work (at any time).
What if I can't finish my gift?
If you can't finish in time, you can default. This lets the mods know they need to find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient.
To default, go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click the Default button, then click the confirmation on the popup that appears. The mods will be notified and will find a pinch hitter to fulfill your assignment.
What happens if I default?
Before assignments are due: If you default using the AO3 button, the mods will be notified that they need to find a new creator for your assignment. You will no longer be guaranteed a gift for this exchange - though you may still receive treats, the mods will not submit you as a pinch hit if your creator also defaults.
No-show default: If you default by simply failing to post your gift, without using the default button or notifying the mods, the mods reserve the right to ban you from future rounds of the exchange.
What are pinch hits?
Pinch hits are assignments that the original creator has had to default on or assignments that couldn't be matched to any creators. As people default, pinch hits will be sent out to the mailing list.
Do I need to be signed up to be a pinch hitter?
Not at all. Anyone with an AO3 account can sign up to be a pinch hitter. Keep an eye on the comm. Pinch hits will be posted there as they come in.
How do I claim a pinch hit?
When a post with pinch hits goes up, just comment on the post with the pinch hit you want to claim and you're AO3 handle.
How do I post my pinch hit?
Go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click "Post to fulfill", and you'll be taken to a posting form. This will automatically post your gift into the current year's challenge. It also has your recipient's name already filled in. All you need to do is fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
Any questions, please leave them below! Anon is on.
sassysnowperson, with nightingalesighs providing invaluable support as the assistant mod. The schedule is largely the same - but we are changing the nomination categories. Please read the rules and the upcoming nominations post carefully, even if you have done this exchange in previous years!I can't wait to see all the works that will come out of this year's exchange!
AO3 Collection • Tag Set • Discord Server Invite • Sign-Up Form [coming soon] • Readable/Searchable Request Summary [coming soon]
Nominations - September 14-21 11:59 PM EST (may open early on the 13th)
Sign-Ups - September 25 - October 6 11:59 PM EST (May open early)
Assignments Out - October 7 9:00PM EST (May send earlier)
Assignments Due - December 1 11:59PM EST
Work Reveals - December 8 11:59PM EST
Author Reveals - December 15 11:59PM EST
New to exchanges? Feeling overwhelmed? We've got a new Exchange 101 post, it might help to read through that, then come back here for instructions specific to the 2024 exchange.
• All nominated pairings/moresomes must have fewer than 250 fics on AO3 that are completed, in English, and over one thousand words.
• Every participant will be able to nominate 20 ships in 10 fandom categories. Fandom categories must be the ones listed in the nomination guidelines post.
• Characters from any corner of the Star Wars universe are welcome. This includes Legends and the new EU as well as the movies and TV shows.
• Crossovers are allowed. So long as the pairing includes at least one or more character(s) from any Star Wars property, it's good for this exchange.
• Nominations will be by broad star wars fandom categories, including a special fandom category for crossovers with non-Star Wars properties.
• There will be four possible work mediums: fic, art, podfic, and vids.
• See the nominations post [coming soon] for full nominations instructions.
• You must have an AO3 account to participate.
• Mod reserves the right to delete signups from participants with proven track records of bad behavior such as bullying, harassment, or writing spitefic.
• Mod also reserves the right to delete signups that contain kinkshaming or ship-bashing.
• You will be able to request between 1 and 10 fandoms, and between 1 and 10 relationships per fandom. You must have at least three unique ships requested across all of your fandoms to guarantee a gift. Please only request relationships for which you'd like to receive a gift. For each fandom, you will be able to request fic, art, podfic, or a vid — or any combination of the four. If no offers match your requests, you will be sent out as a pinch hit.
• You will be able to offer between 1 and 10 fandoms, and between 1 and 10 relationships per fandom. You must have at least four unique ships offered across all of your fandoms. Please only offer relationships for which you are willing to create shippy content. Please specify whether you would like to offer fic, art, podfic, or a vid—or any combination of the four. If nothing you offer matches any requests made, the mod will contact you to see if you can add offers to your sign-up.
• If you do not want to be matched with a specific person, please get in touch with me including your AO3 username and the AO3 username of the person. I do not require an explanation or further information. (Note: I cannot prevent someone from creating a treat for you.)
• If you have anything you Do Not Want (DNWs, things you absolutely do not want in your gifts), you must put it in the "DNWs and Optional Details" box of your AO3 signup. DNWs can't be used to box your creator in to writing only one specific type of story, and can't contradict one of your requested tags. As an example, you cannot request a group of two people who have never met in canon, and then DNW Alternate Universes including canon divergences — a creator who writes a canon divergence fic would not be held to be in violation of the DNW. Your DNWs also should not be so vague that creators and mods cannot reasonably determine if a particular work includes them. Any contradictory or railroading DNWs that persist after matching will not be enforced. Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about whether or not a DNW is unreasonable.
• This is a ship exchange. The content created should focus on the ship matched-on in a romantic or sexual relationship. Explicit fic and art is allowed by default, please DNW these gifts if you do not want to receive them. Pre-relationship and one-sided fics are allowed only with specific opt-in from the recipient.
• There will be a section in sign-ups for optional details and dear creator letters. These are very helpful to the creators who will be creating a gift for you. I encourage you to use either or both of these options to give your creator an idea of the things you like and the things you don't.
• Please do not indicate favorites in your sign up, your creator should feel free to create from any of your requests.
• You are only guaranteed to match on one fandom, one relationship and one creative medium.
• Please don't discuss your assignment in public before creators are revealed.
• If your assignment doesn't match your sign-up, please contact the mods as soon as possible.
All gifts must adhere to the recipients’ DNWs, as listed in their Ao3 sign-up. If a DNW is included, the creator of that gift will be banned from future participation. Other than that, all details included in a recipient's sign-up are optional.
Fic
Completed assignments must be at least 1000 words created specifically for the recipient and must include at least one of their requested relationships. Fics must be complete and standalone (not a part of an ongoing series) at the time of posting.
Art
Completed art assignments must be an original piece created by the artist in traditional or digital mediums. At the very least, it should include detailed line art and cannot be drawn on lined paper. The minimum acceptable size is 500,000 total pixels (i.e. 710px x 710px or 500px x 1000px or whatever combination of width x height that gets to that 500,000 pixel number). It should include at least one of the recipient’s requested relationships. Artists may sign the completed work.
Podfics
Completed podfic assignments must be one complete and edited podfic of a text that is originally at least 1k words OR one complete and edited podfic of at least 10 minutes in length. The podfic story should be a standalone and not require reading in other series. Podfics of existing works must be recorded with the permission of the original author. A publicly posted Blanket Permissions Statement or permission given in the sign-up of the exchange would count toward this requirement. If requested, a podficcer should be able to show proof of the permission to the mod (ex: a screenshot of a DM or email, or a link to a blanket permissions statement), if that permission is not publicly posted with the work.
Vids
Completed vids must be at least one minute thirty seconds and should include the recipient’s requested relationships.
If you are requesting vids, please keep in mind the limitations inherent in this particular medium.
• Entries that are incomplete or display significant errors (ex: for fic: excessive spelling and grammar errors, for podfic: unedited sound files or excessive variation in sound levels), will be rejected.
• Because the exchange is anonymous, please don't post your work elsewhere before creators are revealed.
• Because the exchange is anonymous, please don't include links to your social media in author's notes before creators are revealed. To prevent theft, artists and vidders may sign their work, and due to the difficulties of anonymity in podfic, podficcers may include their handle in their recording, but do not include the information in the body of the Ao3 work prior to reveals.
• Pinch hits will be posted to the comm.
• If you'd like to claim a pinch hit, reply to the pinch hit post with your AO3 name.
• Treats are welcome in this exchange. The more creations, the better!
• Treats can be posted to the main exchange collection.
• There are no minimum requirements for treats. Which means they can be under 1000 words, smaller than 500,000 total pixels, shorter than ten minutes for podfics and shorter than one minute thirty seconds for vids.
• If a prompt has caught your attention and you intend to gift your work to that participant, you must still respect DNWs.
• If you want to create something for a ship that is in the tagset, but no one has requested it (or the only requests have DNWs that you want to include in your creation), you may create a treat for the collection. Treats to the collection do not need to follow any particular prompts or DNWs. Post treats to the collection by going to the 2023 subcollection, hitting 'Post to Collection', and then not filling in a recipient name.
• Please comment on your gift. Your creator worked hard on it for you and the least all of us can do when we're given a gift is offer thanks for it.
• If you can't complete your assignment and you know it, default as early as possible. There is no judgment in doing so, and the mods will be very grateful, as it gives us more time to find a pinch hitter for your recipient.
How do I nominate relationships for this exchange?
Go to the tag set here: Tag Set [not yet open for nominations].
Can I change my mind about my nominations after I submit them?
If your nominations have not been approved, you can edit or change them as you see fit, but once they are approved, they cannot be altered.
Can I change my mind about my signup after I submit it?
Yes. During the sign-up period, you may edit your sign-up form. You can find it on your AO3 profile page in the “Signups” link in the left-hand column.
What can I put in my DNWs and Optional Details box for my requests?
This is where you should include any DNWs (do not wants) and squicks you have. If there’s anything a creator can create that makes you uncomfortable or triggers you, or would make a vid difficult to watch (ie: flashing lights) or a podfic difficult to listen to (ie: sound distortion over recording voices) please include it. Only DNWs listed in the optional details box will be enforced.
If you have any ideas for your pairings that you would like to see realized for your gift, these are your details. Prompts, reasons why you like the pairing, favorite tropes/kinks, whatever you’d like. They are there so that your creator knows how they can tailor their gift to you specifically. They are optional and your assigned creator does not have to include them. Their only job is to create a gift that includes your pairing.
If you are requesting podfics and would like to receive a podfic of your own work (that qualifies and matches your requests), mention it here! If you have specific fics that are not yours, but you know the author has a Blanket Permissions Statement that allows for podfic recording, you may link specific works that would fulfill your request. However your creator is not obligated to use your suggested works.
What can I put in my optional details box for my offers?
These are not publicly visible, and will only be seen by the mods of the exchange. If you do not want to be matched with a specific person, you may put that information here. Please include the AO3 username of the person. Mods do not want or require an explanation or further information.
If you don't have any preferences along those lines, including a picture of your pet, a different cute animal, a cool rock, or a fun fact is always appreciated and brings the mods great joy whenever we see them.
What are Dear Creator letters?
"Dear Creator" letters are letters posted to tumblr/dreamwidth/LJ/or another space that often includes the information listed above, but expanded or in more detail. You may give your creator a bit more information about why you picked the relationships you did, what your likes and dislikes are, dynamics you enjoy, more detailed prompts, and so forth. If you are posting your letter to tumblr, please do not change your tumblr URL until after creators are revealed.
Letters are entirely optional. You don't have to write one, and while they are good guidance for creators, creators are free to ignore their recipient's letter. The only guidance the creator must follow are the DNWs in the "DNWs and Optional Details" box. DNWs found only in a dear creator letter will not be enforced.
People who choose to write a letter can put the link in their sign-up, so their creators can find it easily.
I didn't get my assignment – what do I do?
It's possible that your spam filter ate the emailed assignment. Log in to your AO3 account and click the link for "Assignments" in the left-hand navigation pane in your Profile; your assignment should be there.
If it's not there, either, please contact the mods by e-mail (sassysnowperson@gmail.com) or PM on DW or Discord (SassySnowperson) immediately.
Can I switch my assignment?
Assignments can't be changed under most circumstances. If the matching was in error on AO3's part (rare, but it could happen), let the mod know ASAP (sassysnowperson@gmail.com or by PM to Sassysnowperson on DW). Otherwise, you're free to contact the mods to request a change, but the answer will probably be no.
Can I create a gift in any of my recipient's pairings, even if I didn't sign up for them?
Sure! As long as you create a gift for one of the pairings they requested, you're good.
Can I create more than one gift?
Sure! As long as you complete your assignment for your recipient, you can create as many gifts as you want, for your recipient or for other people.
How do I post my gift?
Go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs Exchange subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click "Post to fulfill", and you'll be taken to a posting form. This will automatically post your gift into the current year's challenge. It also has your recipient's name already filled in. All you need to do is fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
If you're posting a Treat, you won't have an assignment or "post to fulfill" button. Instead, go to the current challenge page on the AO3, and click on "Post To Collection" under the challenge title. This will take you to a form with the challenge collection name already filled in. Fill in the recipient's name manually, then fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
Can I post my gift before the deadline?
Sure! The posting form opens shortly after assignments go out. You're free to post whenever you want.
Can I edit my gift after it's posted?
Yes, AO3 allows editing at any time. However, the work you post must not be obviously incomplete (e.g. end in the middle of sentence).
Can I add creator's notes?
You can, but they will be visible as soon as the stories are revealed. Be careful to not put anything here that would give away your identity (at least before creator reveals are completed), or anything disparaging about your recip, their ships, or your work (at any time).
What if I can't finish my gift?
If you can't finish in time, you can default. This lets the mods know they need to find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient.
To default, go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click the Default button, then click the confirmation on the popup that appears. The mods will be notified and will find a pinch hitter to fulfill your assignment.
What happens if I default?
Before assignments are due: If you default using the AO3 button, the mods will be notified that they need to find a new creator for your assignment. You will no longer be guaranteed a gift for this exchange - though you may still receive treats, the mods will not submit you as a pinch hit if your creator also defaults.
No-show default: If you default by simply failing to post your gift, without using the default button or notifying the mods, the mods reserve the right to ban you from future rounds of the exchange.
What are pinch hits?
Pinch hits are assignments that the original creator has had to default on or assignments that couldn't be matched to any creators. As people default, pinch hits will be sent out to the mailing list.
Do I need to be signed up to be a pinch hitter?
Not at all. Anyone with an AO3 account can sign up to be a pinch hitter. Keep an eye on the comm. Pinch hits will be posted there as they come in.
How do I claim a pinch hit?
When a post with pinch hits goes up, just comment on the post with the pinch hit you want to claim and you're AO3 handle.
How do I post my pinch hit?
Go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Star Wars Rare Pairs subcollection page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".
Click "Post to fulfill", and you'll be taken to a posting form. This will automatically post your gift into the current year's challenge. It also has your recipient's name already filled in. All you need to do is fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.
Any questions, please leave them below! Anon is on.