My Slashy Swaps 2020

Greetings, writers!

All MSV assignments have now been distributed. If you haven't received yours, check your Spam folder. If it's not there, please email me and I will resend it.

PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO CONFIRM YOUR ASSIGNMENT! All you need to do is hit reply and send it back to me-- this just acknowledges that you've seen your assignment and you're committing to write the story.

If I have not received a confirmation from you by the end of the week, I will assume that you are no longer participating, and your request will be discarded.

Now let's see those fingers flying! :D



--
Slashy Santa
Slash - the gift that always fits!
http://www.slashysanta.com/eFiction/

My Slashy Valentine 2010 Rules & FAQ

From the Years of the Trees through the Fourth Age – it’s time once again to make your Tolkien FPS fanfic dreams come true…

Have you always wanted to read a certain pairing or scenario, but couldn’t write it yourself? Have it written for you – specifically and especially for your own sweet self! And share your own fic gift in exchange -

That’s right, it’s time for the The My Slashy Valentine Fic Exchange! brought to you by the same folks who sponsor the renowned Slashy Santa and Ardor in August Fiction Exchanges.

This year, the exchange will focus solely on the Elves, Men, Valar and Maiar of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Maybe it’s Gildor and Glorfindel you love, or perhaps Boromir-on-Theodred strikes your fancy... or maybe Manwë is your main man – from the First Age to the Fourth, from sultry tales of the Silmarillion to romances in the Ring Wars – spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and have some fun!

Critical Dates:

• Sign-up period: November 22 - December 6
• Assignments to be distributed: by December 20 (hopefully earlier!)
• Deadline for first-time participants: January 31, 2010
• Deadline for returning participants: February 7, 2010
• Archive opens: February 14, 2010

By popular demand, I will reveal to you the name of your recipient at your request. Some people find it easier to write or to personalize a story if they know the identity of their recipient. Other people find that thought absolutely horrifying! Now, you can have it either way. If, at any time during the writing period, you wish to know the identity of your recipient, you may ask me. Since other writers do not want to be "spoiled," I ask that you please keep this information to yourself!

• All stories must be a minimum length of 1,200 words, which translates to roughly 3 full pages in Word. Stories must be complete and in their entirety.
• Submissions must be new and previously unreleased, and written specifically for the assignment you receive.
• If you have defaulted on ANY previous Slashy Santa-sponsored exchanges, you will NOT be permitted to participate in the My Slashy Valentine 2010 exchange. There are NO EXCEPTIONS to this rule. This may be a disappointment to some of you, but it is far more disappointing for a hard-working participant who strove to meet the deadline to discover they did not receive a story because their writer dropped out.
• Manners are mandatory!! Be kind to your readers, be kind to your writer, be kind to your overworked admin. Just as you are required to turn in a finished, beta'd story, you are required to acknowledge the person who wrote for you in a timely fashion. If you're going to be out of town when the archive opens, consider making an LJ post to that effect, or alerting the moderator if you think it's going to be more than 3 or 4 days before you can get in touch with your writer. Even if you *hate* the story you are given-- and we certainly hope that's not the case!-- common courtesy dictates that you should at least say "Thank you for writing this for me." If you cannot gracefully thank the author who wrote for you, you may be asked to sit out the next round and contemplate the meaning of the word "Courtesy."
• Stories shall not be released to the general fandom on any group, list, or website until after the archive opens on Feb. 14th. After the publication date on this site, feel free to post or archive your work anywhere you would like. NOTE: By request, we have also added a LiveJournal community this year, where authors may self-load their own submissions after the publication date on this site.
• Authors are responsible for posting their own stories to the Slashy Santa archive on or before the due date at SlashySanta.com. If you have any questions or difficulties, please email the moderator: slashysanta@gmail.com

PROHIBITIONS / RESTRICTIONS

• ONLY ELVES, MEN, MAIAR AND VALAR are acceptable in the slashed pairing. However, Hobbits, Dwarves, and other creatures may be present in the story as secondary characters.

• No fiction involving a minor in a sexual situation, even in flashback, no matter how vaguely alluded to, will be permitted. Period.
• No songfics.
• No het pairings as anything other than secondary characters or plots.
• No bestiality. (Tolkien characters that manifest as cognizant beings such as centaurs, unicorns, wolves, faeries, etc. are acceptable. If in doubt, ask us.)
• No RPS (real person slash) will be accepted.
• No Mary Sue, Marty Stu, or self-inserts.
  

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: Hold on there, what about female characters like Galadriel and Arwen? They were important characters in Tolkien's world! So, you're saying I must ignore them?

A: Not at all. We all know that Aragorn loved and ultimately married Arwen, but he must have been pretty lonely all those years of traveling the wilds of Middle-earth. After a while, Boromir must have started looking pretty good to him. ;)

Q: I just received my assignment and it fits perfectly into part of a series I've been working on. Can I use it anyway?

A: We'd prefer your story to be original and created solely for your recipient, but so long as your submission fits the assignment you received, can be read and understood as a standalone, and it's new and unreleased, then go ahead.

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: Absolutely. We're always in need of pinch-hitters. Email me and let me know, or reply to this post.

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'm a newbie. Why do I have to turn in my story a week earlier than everyone else?

A: It has been our unfortunate experience that first-time participants are more likely to drop out, and often without telling us they've quit. The earlier deadline for new writers allows us time to find pinch-hitters. WE WANT YOU to be an active participant! 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 fic exchange 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! We at Slashy Santa have families, too, and understand that emergencies sometimes happen. The sooner you tell us, the easier it will be for us to come to a mutually agreeable solution.

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.

Q: I signed up for the previous exchanges, but never turned anything in. Can I still participate?

A: No. It simply isn't fair to those who met their obligations, or to the person who didn't get a story.

Q: Do I need to have my work beta read? I don't have one!

A: While we will not strictly enforce the use of a beta, we strongly encourage it. At the very least, please proof read and run spell- and grammar-check. If you need help finding a beta, let us know and we'll direct you to some beta resources. Remember, you're writing a gift for someone, so make your story as perfect as it can be.

Q: HELP! I received the worst assignment in the world! What were you thinking? I can't write this!

A: It was likely an oversight. Please contact us and we will do what we can to find another assignment that is more to your taste and ability. If you already confirmed you would accept it, we can't make promises, but we'll do the best we can to help.

NOTE: In some rare instances, it may not be possible for a request to be filled to the requestor's exact specifications. This may occur if no author is willing to write the elements in the request (some examples are BDSM, fetish, rape, MPREG, or character death). In this case, the participant will be asked to revise their request so that we'll be able to match it.

~ * ~

So, are you ready to sign up? Good! Click Here!

The deadline for NEW participants is 4 weeks away-- August 2
The deadline for RETURNING participants is 5 weeks away-- August 7

* Please let me know if you anticipate any problem with these deadlines-- the sooner you tell me, the easier it will be to manage, or to find a pinch-hitter if I must.

* If you have any problems using the eFiction archive, please let me know and I will walk you through it. Headers are no longer necessary! The story information form you will fill out on the website will prompt you to enter all the pertinent information.

* For our old-timers, don't forget to SAVE your old stories from the Geocities site if they are not archived elsewhere. I plan on saving everything from the site before it is deleted, but one can never have too many backup copies of one's work, yes?

HAPPY WRITING!!!

Sign up now for Ardor in August 2009!

From the Years of the Trees through the Fourth Age – it’s time once again to make your Tolkien FPS fanfic dreams come true...

Have you always wanted to read a certain pairing or scenario, but couldn’t write it yourself? Or have a plot bunny that’s been rolling around in your mind, but just can’t see yourself writing that particular story?

Have it written for you – specifically and especially for your own sweet self! And share your own fic gift in exchange -

That’s right, it’s time for Ardor in August brought to you by the same folks who sponsor the renowned Slashy Santa and My Slashy Valentine Exchanges.

This year, the exchange will focus solely on the Elves, Men, Valar and Maiar of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Maybe it’s Gildor and Glorfindel you love, or perhaps Boromir-on-Theodred strikes your fancy... or maybe Maedhros is your main man – from the First Age to the Fourth, from sultry tales of the Silmarillion to Ring War romances and beyond – spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and have some fun!

Sign-ups begin Saturday, April 25, 2009 and will close at midnight (GMT-5:00) on Sunday, May 10, 2009. First-time participants must upload their stories by August 2, 2009, and returning participants must upload their stories by August 9. Stories will be unveiled on slashysanta.com on August 16, 2009.

How does a fiction exchange work? It’s simple. READ THE RULES posted at http://www.geocities.com/slashysanta/ and you will find a link to the sign-up page where you may specify a pairing, rating, and the plot elements you would like to read, as well as the elements you are willing to write, and someone will write a story for you. In exchange, you will write a story for someone else using the specifications they provide. All stories will be submitted directly to the swap coordinators – you will not know whom you are writing for, nor will you know who has your request, until all fiction is posted on the Slashy Santa/My Slashy Valentine website.

Even if you don’t want to take part in the exchange, you can still elect to be a pinch hitter to be called upon in case of an emergency. Just say so on the sign-up form.

All we ask is that you adhere to some basic rules – If you sign up, please make sure that you can follow through and write at least 1,200 words. Please note also that this is a SLASH only FPS exchange (no RPS or het, please).

PLEASE NOTE: If you have defaulted in previous rounds, you will NOT be allowed to participate this round! These stories are gifts for your friends and fellow fans, and it is incredibly disappointing for a participant who has worked hard to turn in their own story only to find that we have nothing to give them. There will be no exceptions to this rule. For better or worse, I promised to "name names" last year to remind people that signing up for a fic exchange is, indeed, a commitment. Calanthe, Samara, and Sephreina will not be eligible to participate in our exchange. Please, folks, let's not have any more additions to the Wall of Shame this round! Believe me, I don't enjoy playing the heavy!


PLEASE READ the Rules/Frequently Asked Questions page before committing to this exchange!

Here are some important dates rememberf:
* Sign-up period: April 26 - May 10
* Assignments to be distributed: by June 1
* Deadline for first-time participants: August 2, 2009
* Deadline for returning participants: August 9, 2009
* Publication date: August 16, 2009

Come check out our site at http://www.slashysanta.com/eFiction/ and peruse some of the past entries – they’re terrific and will give you an idea of what’s in store!

Hope to see you there!


(Please feel free to copy this message and post on any groups you manage or in which you are a member.)

Hello ladies and gentlemen!

Though Spring is still blustering in lamely in my part of the world, it is already time to set our sights on the dog days of Summer, and the lusty stories of this year's sure-to-be-sizzling Ardor in August slash exchange!

Here is the timeline for this round:

April 26 - May 10: Sign-up period

June 1* : Assignments distributed

August 2: Newbies deadline**

August 9: Returning participants deadline

August 16: Ardor in August stories are revealed!

THE OBVIOUS QUESTIONS:
*Why such a long lag time between the end of sign-ups and when we get our assignments?  
Simple: I'm going to be on vacation and completely offline between May 15-25.  In an ideal world, I will have assignments distributed before I leave, but it is a time-consuming and complex task, and I wanted to leave myself a wide window if I needed it.

**What's this "Newbies deadline" thing?
In an ongoing effort to limit the number of defaulters and to spare the sanity of our devoted pinch-hit team, I'm constantly trying to refine the policies of this exchange.  It is a simple statistical and historical fact that with a few exceptions, the people most likely to default on an exchange are the first-timers.  Therefore, if this is your first time participating in our exchange, you will be required to submit your story at an earlier date, so that I have more time to form a contingency plan if you cannot follow through on your commitment.

If you'd like a refresher on the rules and guidelines of all the Slashy Santa-sponsored story exchanges, you can find them here: http://www.geocities.com/slashysanta/


Hope to see an inbox full of sign-ups come 5/10! As always, feel free to drop a line with any questions!

Yr loyal Slashy Mod

(PS: A request! Does anyone want to make an Ardor in August icon? Preferably sticking to the theme of scantily clad men and something hot and summery... I no longer have photoshop and have lost my icon-making kungfu!)

Our new archive is rapidly filling up! But there are still a few quarters I have not yet heard from.

Can the following authors please get in touch with me to let me know the status of your stories?

• Adlanth
  
• Calanthe_blue
  
• Sephreina
  

And if your name is on the list but you've already contacted me about an extension, please forgive me-- the Slashy Santa inbox has been a hive of activity lately and I don't know if I'm coming or going...

Slashy Santa has a new home on the web!
After 5 years, we were running out of room on our free Geocities site, so the next natural step was to set up www.slashysanta.com to host future swaps-- and, as time allows, to archive stories written from 2004-2008.

The old site will NOT be disappearing!
It's always good to have a backup, so there are no plans to delete the geocities site. The Slashysanta Livejournal community will also continue to function as an optional archive for your stories.

* * *NEW FOR 2009!: Upload your own stories!* * *
The new site uses eFiction software, which will allow all of you to upload your own stories to the archive. If you have ever used LOTRfanfiction.com or Library of Moria or AdultFanFiction.com, you will be familiar with the eFiction interface-- you can specify characters, rating, warnings, author's notes, or any other information... You will also be able to EASILY format your stories with bold, italics, and other features using the TinyMCE text editor. No more struggling with HTML-- unless you like that sort of thing. ;)

The archive is currently set to private-- only the moderator will be able to see the submitted stories until the archive opens. This will also allow the moderator to make sure that all formatting is correct before the stories go live.

This is an exciting development for the whole Slashy Santa family. In addition to easy uploading, eFiction will allow you to easily search the archive, browse for your favorite characters, and leave reviews for the stories you love. I hope you enjoy the new features and find it easy to use!

If you are finished with your story, please feel free to go to the site and upload it. In fact, I'd love to be able to have some early-bird guinea pigs to work with. Just head on over to the site and create yourself an account!


You will NOT need an account to read stories on the site, only to post them.
But if you wish to have an account in order to leave non-anonymous reviews, please feel free to do so!


This is a work in progress.
I have never worked with a dynamic archive before, so no doubt there will be kinks-- and not the leather glove kind-- to work out. Please be patient! If you see a problem, drop a polite note to slashysanta@gmail.com to alert us to the problem, and I will fix it as quickly as I am able.


Attention: Digital Artists
Want to create a more Tolkien-esque header or a splash page for our archive? Please do! I know very little about skinning eFiction, but will try and give you the necessary information. Contact slashysanta@gmail.com for details.


Don't want to miss out on future exchanges?

Click to join SlashySanta_Alerts

Introducing the Slashy Santa Announcement Newsletter

Ever wanted to participate in one of our exchanges, but missed the sign-up period? Want to be kept informed about upcoming Slashy Santa events? Interested in pinch-hitting, but don't know how to find out if opportunities are available? This is the group for you!

This will be a LOW-VOLUME, read-only list. Expect a brief flurry of announcements during sign-up and confirmation periods, and again just prior to story due dates, but very little in between.

We may, at times, post announcements about other Tolkien-related fic exchanges. If you are the admin of such an exchange, please email the SlashySanta_Alerts administrators with information so we can discuss cross-promotion possibilities.

Subscribe to SlashySanta_Alerts

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Please feel free to promote, link, and repost freely! The more the merrier!

Sign up now for The My Slashy Valentine 2009 Fic Exchange!

**Congrats to Nuinzilien, winner of our Name That Smutfest Poll!***

From the Years of the Trees through the Fourth Age – it’s time once again to make your Tolkien FPS fanfic dreams come true…

Have you always wanted to read a certain pairing or scenario, but couldn’t write it yourself? Or have a plot bunny that’s been rolling around in your mind, but just can’t see yourself writing that particular story?

Have it written for you – specifically and especially for your own sweet self! And share your own fic gift in exchange -

That’s right, it’s time for the The My Slashy Valentine Fic Exchange! brought to you by the same folks who sponsor the renowned Slashy Santa and Ardor in August Fiction Exchange.

This year, the exchange will focus solely on the Elves, Men, Valar and Maiar of J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium. Maybe it’s Gildor and Glorfindel you love, or perhaps Boromir-on-Theodred strikes your fancy... or maybe Maedhros is your main man – from the First Age to the Fourth, from sultry tales of the Silmarillion to Ring War romances – spread the word, recruit your friends and fellow authors, and have some fun!

Sign-ups begin Sunday, November 9, 2008 and will close at midnight (GMT-5:00) on Sunday, November 23, 2008. All stories will be due on February 1, 2009, and they will be unveiled on the http://www.geocities.com/slashysanta/ site on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2009.

How does a fiction exchange work? It’s simple. READ THE RULES posted at http://www.geocities.com/slashysanta/ and you will find a link to the sign-up page where you may specify a pairing, rating, and the plot elements you would like to read, as well as the elements you are willing to write, and someone will write a story for you. In exchange, you will write a story for someone else using the specifications they provide. All stories will be submitted directly to the swap coordinators – you will not know whom you are writing for, nor will you know who has your request, until all fiction is posted on the Slashy Santa/My Slashy Valentine website.

Even if you don’t want to take part in the exchange, you can still elect to be a reserve writer to be called upon in case of an emergency. Just say so on the signup form.

All we ask is that you adhere to some basic rules – If you sign up, please make sure that you can follow through and write at least 1,200 words. Please note also that this is a SLASH only FPS exchange (no RPS or het, please).

PLEASE NOTE: If you have defaulted in previous years, you will NOT be allowed to participate this year! These stories are gifts for your friends and fellow fans, and it is incredibly disappointing for a participant who has worked hard to turn in their own story only to find that we have nothing to give them. There will be no exceptions to this rule. For better or worse, I promised to "name names" this year-- something I have been loathe to do in previous years-- to remind people that signing up for a fic exchange is, indeed, a commitment. Nicky2007 and Getty will be ineligible to participate in our exchange. Please, folks, let's not have any more additions to the Wall of Shame this year!


Visit http://geocities.com/slashysanta/rules.html for the full set of rules and Frequently Asked Questions.

Here are some important dates to make note of:
***Nov. 9- Nov. 23: Sign-up period
***Dec. 1: Assignments delivered
***Feb. 1: Stories due
***Feb. 14: Archive opens

Come check out our site at http://www.geocities.com/slashysanta/ and peruse some of the past entries – they’re terrific and will give you an idea of what’s in store!

Hope to see you there!

The Admins
‘’Tis Always the Season for Slash!’


(Please feel free to copy this message and post on any groups you manage or in which you are a member.)

Congrats to nuinzilien for suggesting our new, poll-winning name!