Archive of Our Own ^beta

Welcome to Parallels 2019.

2019 Timeline:
June 1st-12th: Nominations
June 15/16th-22nd: Signups
June 27th: Assignments go out
August 3rd: Assignments due
August 10th: Works revealed
August 17th: Creators revealed

DW Community:
http://parallelsfic.dreamwidth.org/
(for announcements, queries, pinch hits, etc.)

Contacting the Mod:
The easiest way to contact me is on the screened contact post on Dreamwidth, or send me a DW PM. Anon commenting should be enabled for the community. Please allow 36 hours for a reply, unless it is a Tuesday or Wednesday when replies may take slightly longer.

 
Fandoms & Types of Fanworks
Q: What kinds of fandoms are allowed?
A: Rare fandoms of any type of media from anywhere in Asia. (Anime, Bollywood films, kdramas, manhua, tokusatsu, komiks, RPF...)

Q: How do you define "Asia"?
A: With extreme vagueness. Anything on that top map in the Asia article on Wikipedia is fair game. Anything from Russia and any place that's partly in Asia or whose status is ambiguous is fine. However, media produced elsewhere about Asia is not allowed.

Q: What kind of fanworks do you allow?
A: For 2019, only fanfiction and fanart. Graphics and vids/amvs weren't being requested, offered, or gifted often enough to continue supporting them. If there's interest in those categories in the future, the decision can be revisited.

Q: What if my source is a historical manga about European aristocrats?
A: As long as your comic/movie/whatever is from Asia, that's fine.

Q: How do you determine rarity?
A: Good faith. Parallels operates on the honor system. Anything that is nominated and meets the above criteria will be on the signup form. If someone else has nominated something that's not in the spirit of the exchange and you disagree with its nomination, don't offer it and don't make fanworks for it. Whether the works produced for Parallels are really in rare fandoms is up to you, the writers and artists.

Q: But, but, but!
A: 'Rare' can mean a lot of things and cause a lot of drama. Let's please just go with good faith. If new rules need to be instituted, they can be discussed after this round is over.

Nominations
Q: How many fandoms and characters/groups can I nominate?
A: 10 fandoms, 10 characters/groups each. You don't have to use all of those slots, and you don't have to make all of your nominations at once.

Q: How do I nominate?
A: While nominations are open, you can find the nominations form here. After nominations are closed, you can still look at the complete tag set.

Signups
Q: I don't have an AO3 account; can I still participate?
A: You must have an AO3 account to use the signup form. If you need one, please add yourself to the queue. AO3 no longer provides extra codes for exchanges.

Q: How many fandoms do I have to request/offer?
A: You must offer and request at least 4 unique fandoms, but you can offer/request more if you want. Within those four fandoms, you must offer at least two characters/groups. (If there is only one character or group nominated, select 'Any'.)

Q: Can I offer fic in one fandom and art in another?
A: The form will let you specify media type. This can be different for different fandoms and different for requests and offers.

Q: I only want to offer/request certain characters.
A: Nominated characters/groups will be available to request. You will also be able to specify characters on your offers or have the option of choosing 'any' for any nominated character/groups in that fandom.

Q: How does matching work?
A: You will be matched by fandom, character/group, and medium.

Assignments
Q: What if I don't like my assignment?
A: If your assignment does not contain a combination of a fandom/character or group/media that you offered, contact the mod. Otherwise, your choices are to default or to complete the assignment. You can also consider creating a work for one of your recipient's other requests, even if it isn't the one you matched on.

Q: What about optional details?
A: Optional details are optional. However if a signup contains DNW/Do-Not-Wants, please respect those. (DNWs must be listed on the AO3 signup form to be enforced. Additional details may be added in a letter.)

Q: I matched on one request, but I like one of the others better.
A: You only have to do 1 work. It can be for any of your recipient's requests whether or not you matched on that one.

Q: Can you explain the minimum requirements?
A: Minimum requirements:
For written work: Fic should be 500 words and feature the character/group your recipient requested.

For art: Art should be at least a finished sketch on unlined paper featuring the character/group your recipient requested.

Q: Do I have to use the requested characters/groups?
A: Yes.

Q: Can I write a crossover or do non-representational fan art, etc.?
A: This is going to be up to your recipient and the sort of detail they might put in their signup or letter. (For any further questions on this, please contact the mod.)

Q: Can I give my writer/artist more detail?
A: Absolutely. Either add in additional details on your signup form or write and link a letter containing additional details on your signup. Many people post these on DW, LJ, tumblr, etc.

Q: What should go in my additional details/letter?
A: Additional prompts. Themes you love. Basically, anything that gives your recipient a better idea of your tastes is fair game. However, these are counted as 'optional details' as well and they are optional.

After the exchange
Q: Do I have to comment on my gift?
A: Please do. It's a gift. At least thank your creator for making something for you. (If there is an issue with your gift, such as it containing a DNW, please contact the mod.)

Q: Can I remove my works from Parallels?
A: Please do not. These are gifts. You may, however, orphan your works any time you want or add them to the Anonymous Collection.

Q: I gave embedded art and now I have a hosting problem!
A: You are welcome to change your hosting and edit the Parallels work to include a new embed. If and when AO3 natively hosts images, you are encouraged to update your older Parallels works accordingly. If you need additional assistance, please contact the mod and we'll figure something out.

Defaulting & Pinch Hits
Q: I defaulted in a previous year. Am I banned?
A: No. Nobody defaulted in 2018 and I have no interest in digging through previous years to single people out. We're cool.

Q: What if I have to default this year?
A: Use the 'Default' button under your 'Assignments' tab on AO3.

Q: I'd like to pinch hit.
A: Thank you! Pinch hits will be posted to the Dreamwidth community (and other places, if necessary, but please claim on the DW comm).

1. Nominate Asian sources that don't have big fandoms.
2. Make a fanwork meeting the minimum criteria and using the fandom and character/group in your assignment.
3. Don't be an ass.