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tolkien_slashy_swaps2021-12-08 04:14 pm
keiliss) wrote in tolkien_slashy_swaps2021-12-08 04:14 pm
Entry tags:
signups are open for My Slashy Valentine 2022
From the Years of the Trees to the Fourth Age, from sultry tales of the Silmarillion to romances in the Ring Wars ... sound familiar? That's right, Slashy Swaps are back and it’s once again time to make your Tolkien fanfic dreams come true.
My Slashy Valentine is a hand matched slash fiction exchange focused on the people of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Sign ups are now OPEN so spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and get ready for MSV 2022.
Sign-up Period: December 8th to December 22nd
Assignments distributed: by December 29th
Deadline for first time participants: January 31st, 2022
Deadline for veteran participants: February 7th, 2022
Archive opens: February 14th, 2022
Everything you need to know
Rules
• Submissions must be previously unreleased, written specifically for the assignment you receive and complete.
• The minimum word count is 1,200 words, which translates to roughly 3 full pages in Word. There is no maximum word count, but the story must be complete. Knock yourselves out!
• Stories shall not be released to any website until after the archive opens on February 14th. After the archive goes live, feel free to post or archive your work anywhere you would like.
• Please be kind and respectful to your recipient! Respect the parameters of your assignment and if something is unclear, please check with a mod.
• You must comment on your gift. If you are unable to do so in a timely manner, please let the mods know your situation.
Prohibitions/Restrictions
• No fiction involving underage characters will be permitted.
• No bestiality. (Tolkien characters that manifest as cognizant beings such as centaurs, unicorns, wolves, faeries, etc. are acceptable. If in doubt, ask us.)
• Het/opposite gendered pairings if included in your story must be secondary. If you need clarification, please ask!
FAQ
Q: I only want to write and receive one specific pairing or story element. Can I still sign up?
Absolutely! If we cannot match you with this round’s pool of writers, we will let you know and give you an option to adjust your request or withdraw if you prefer.
Q: I'm not entirely sure I want to sign up or I missed the sign-up deadline... can you put my name down as just a pinch-hitter?
A: Yes! We're always in need of pinch-hitters. Please sign up using the form - there will be a special designation at the end or email us.
Q: How exactly does pinch-hitting work?
A: If a Pinch-hit is necessary, the assignments will be offered up via email to everyone on our pinch-hit list and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If a pinch-hitter is needed within the last week of the writing period, *ALL* interested pinch hitters may claim the request and the minimum word count will be dropped in the interest of time, in which case a participant may receive two or three short ficlets as opposed to one longer story.
Q: I just received my assignment and it fits perfectly into part of a series I've been working on. Can I use it?
A: We'd prefer your story to be original and created solely for your recipient, but so long as your story fits the assignment you received, can be read as a standalone, and you have not previously posted it anywhere, then go ahead.
Q: I'm a newbie. Why do I have an earlier deadline?
A: It is our experience that first-time participants are more likely to drop out without notice. The earlier deadline for new writers allows us time to find pinch-hitters. If you're a new writer and you become overwhelmed, don't vanish-- talk to us! We will work with you as much as possible so that you can have a successful swap experience.
Q: Yikes! I've been working on my story, but there was a family emergency and I don't think I'll make the deadline. What should I do?
A: Let us know! The Slashy Moderators have families, too, and understand that emergencies sometimes happen. The sooner you tell us, the easier it will be for us to offer extensions or arrange a pinch hit if necessary.
Q: Unfortunately, the emergency has turned into something longer term and I won't be able to finish my story after all.
A: Again, please let us know as soon as possible so we can find a pinch-hitter for your assignment. If you communicate with us about this, we will not consider this a default.
Q: I signed up for a previous exchange, but I did not complete my story or did not turn in a story at all. Can I still participate?
A: Please reach out to one of the Slashy Mods and we will review your specific situation.
Q: Do I need to have my work beta read?
A: While we do not require a beta, we strongly encourage it. If you need help finding one, let us know and we'll direct you to a beta volunteer. Remember, you're writing a gift for someone, so please at minimum proofread your story.
Q: I received an assignment I don’t think I can write. What can I do?
A: You will be asked if you accept your assignment as part of the matching process. If this was a bad fit for you, please let us know and we will do what we can to find a better match for you. If you already confirmed you would accept your assignment, we can't make promises, but we'll do the best we can to help.
Q: I have an idea for a story that might contain elements the requester did not specifically say they would enjoy. What do I do?
A: We are happy to ask your recipient to check if they are okay with your story element before you write it! Example of this would be bloodplay, unusual violence or domestic abuse. It is always better to double check with your recipient! This does not supercede your recipients do not want list, which must always be respected.
Q: I did not enjoy my story. Do I still have to comment?
A: We are sorry you did not enjoy your gift. If the story included an item you specifically listed as a Do Not Want, please let the Slashy mods know. Barring that, your story is a gift and was written by your writer to the best of their ability. Common courtesy is required in this swap. Please at least comment with “Thank you for writing this for me.”
If you're going to be out of town when the archive opens, please email your writer or alert the Slashy mods if you think it's going to be more than 3 or 4 days before you can get in touch with your writer.
Q: This is an anonymous fiction exchange. What if I want to know who my recipient is?
After you have accepted your assignment, if you wish to know the identity of your recipient, you may ask us. We will reveal the name of your recipient upon request. Please keep this information to yourself to honor the anonymity of the exchange.
Q: Hey I have a question and it is not listed here!
Please email the mods at slashysanta(@)gmail.com and we will answer you!
Okay? Are you ready? This way to our very easy SIGN UP PAGE.
Come on, you know you want to!
(also on AO3 and on Tumblr)
My Slashy Valentine is a hand matched slash fiction exchange focused on the people of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. Sign ups are now OPEN so spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and get ready for MSV 2022.
Sign-up Period: December 8th to December 22nd
Assignments distributed: by December 29th
Deadline for first time participants: January 31st, 2022
Deadline for veteran participants: February 7th, 2022
Archive opens: February 14th, 2022
Everything you need to know
• Submissions must be previously unreleased, written specifically for the assignment you receive and complete.
• The minimum word count is 1,200 words, which translates to roughly 3 full pages in Word. There is no maximum word count, but the story must be complete. Knock yourselves out!
• Stories shall not be released to any website until after the archive opens on February 14th. After the archive goes live, feel free to post or archive your work anywhere you would like.
• Please be kind and respectful to your recipient! Respect the parameters of your assignment and if something is unclear, please check with a mod.
• You must comment on your gift. If you are unable to do so in a timely manner, please let the mods know your situation.
• No fiction involving underage characters will be permitted.
• No bestiality. (Tolkien characters that manifest as cognizant beings such as centaurs, unicorns, wolves, faeries, etc. are acceptable. If in doubt, ask us.)
• Het/opposite gendered pairings if included in your story must be secondary. If you need clarification, please ask!
Q: I only want to write and receive one specific pairing or story element. Can I still sign up?
Absolutely! If we cannot match you with this round’s pool of writers, we will let you know and give you an option to adjust your request or withdraw if you prefer.
Q: I'm not entirely sure I want to sign up or I missed the sign-up deadline... can you put my name down as just a pinch-hitter?
A: Yes! We're always in need of pinch-hitters. Please sign up using the form - there will be a special designation at the end or email us.
Q: How exactly does pinch-hitting work?
A: If a Pinch-hit is necessary, the assignments will be offered up via email to everyone on our pinch-hit list and will be available on a first come, first served basis. If a pinch-hitter is needed within the last week of the writing period, *ALL* interested pinch hitters may claim the request and the minimum word count will be dropped in the interest of time, in which case a participant may receive two or three short ficlets as opposed to one longer story.
Q: I just received my assignment and it fits perfectly into part of a series I've been working on. Can I use it?
A: We'd prefer your story to be original and created solely for your recipient, but so long as your story fits the assignment you received, can be read as a standalone, and you have not previously posted it anywhere, then go ahead.
Q: I'm a newbie. Why do I have an earlier deadline?
A: It is our experience that first-time participants are more likely to drop out without notice. The earlier deadline for new writers allows us time to find pinch-hitters. If you're a new writer and you become overwhelmed, don't vanish-- talk to us! We will work with you as much as possible so that you can have a successful swap experience.
Q: Yikes! I've been working on my story, but there was a family emergency and I don't think I'll make the deadline. What should I do?
A: Let us know! The Slashy Moderators have families, too, and understand that emergencies sometimes happen. The sooner you tell us, the easier it will be for us to offer extensions or arrange a pinch hit if necessary.
Q: Unfortunately, the emergency has turned into something longer term and I won't be able to finish my story after all.
A: Again, please let us know as soon as possible so we can find a pinch-hitter for your assignment. If you communicate with us about this, we will not consider this a default.
Q: I signed up for a previous exchange, but I did not complete my story or did not turn in a story at all. Can I still participate?
A: Please reach out to one of the Slashy Mods and we will review your specific situation.
Q: Do I need to have my work beta read?
A: While we do not require a beta, we strongly encourage it. If you need help finding one, let us know and we'll direct you to a beta volunteer. Remember, you're writing a gift for someone, so please at minimum proofread your story.
Q: I received an assignment I don’t think I can write. What can I do?
A: You will be asked if you accept your assignment as part of the matching process. If this was a bad fit for you, please let us know and we will do what we can to find a better match for you. If you already confirmed you would accept your assignment, we can't make promises, but we'll do the best we can to help.
Q: I have an idea for a story that might contain elements the requester did not specifically say they would enjoy. What do I do?
A: We are happy to ask your recipient to check if they are okay with your story element before you write it! Example of this would be bloodplay, unusual violence or domestic abuse. It is always better to double check with your recipient! This does not supercede your recipients do not want list, which must always be respected.
Q: I did not enjoy my story. Do I still have to comment?
A: We are sorry you did not enjoy your gift. If the story included an item you specifically listed as a Do Not Want, please let the Slashy mods know. Barring that, your story is a gift and was written by your writer to the best of their ability. Common courtesy is required in this swap. Please at least comment with “Thank you for writing this for me.”
If you're going to be out of town when the archive opens, please email your writer or alert the Slashy mods if you think it's going to be more than 3 or 4 days before you can get in touch with your writer.
Q: This is an anonymous fiction exchange. What if I want to know who my recipient is?
After you have accepted your assignment, if you wish to know the identity of your recipient, you may ask us. We will reveal the name of your recipient upon request. Please keep this information to yourself to honor the anonymity of the exchange.
Q: Hey I have a question and it is not listed here!
Please email the mods at slashysanta(@)gmail.com and we will answer you!
Come on, you know you want to!
(also on AO3 and on Tumblr)