Rules Post 2011
Hi, and welcome to queer_fest! This community was started simply because the three of us spent the day being very sad about the end of lgbtfest. Most of the rules are very similar or the same as the rules that lgbtfest has had, with only a couple of changes. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask in the comments of this post and we'll try to get back to you ASAP.
This is not the place to place prompts. That post is here.
What type of stories are allowed?
Any stories that deal with the experience of being queer. For the purpose of this fest, that includes stories about lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, genderqueer, asexual, intersex, and transgender characters. Heterosexual relationships that do not include one of these gender identities or sexual orientations are beyond the scope of the fest. Likewise, stories which focus strictly on the experience of allies are beyond the scope of the fest. We are broadening the queer umbrella a bit from lgbtfest, but this is a fest about queer individuals.
Themes can include stories about coming out, figuring out sexual orientation or gender identity, figuring out your place in the lgbt community, the politics or social structures involving queer individuals in fictional worlds, or dealing with prejudice.
Since this came up last year in lgbtfest, we want to make it very clear: positive stories about queer experiences are very much welcome and encouraged, but this is a safe space for many who have not had a positive experience, whether with family or society. Please do not bash prompts on either end of that spectrum.
Likewise, if you find a prompt offensive, please bring it to the mods' attention in this post or through PM so it can be taken care of ASAP.
What fandoms are allowed?
Any fandom and characters are allowed, including RPF. However, there are two additional rules about RPF:
1.) Any RPF must be about legal adults.
2.) Any RPF should be about people who put themselves in the public eye. This excludes any significant others, unless they put themselves in the public eye as well.
What is not welcome here?
Strictly PWP or smut stories are awesome, but this is not the place for them (stories can include sex, definitely, but that should not be the only point.) Likewise, stories that focus on non-queer individuals are not in the spirit of the fest. This includes their reactions to their queer family/co-workers/teammates. The focus should be on the queer characters.
Likewise, stories in which characters question their sexual orientation/gender identity and decide that they are not queer after all are not welcome here. The focus for this fest is on individuals who do identify as queer.
Stories that are merely hook-up stories, or which focus on the relationships between characters and not their gender identities or sexual orientations, are not within the spirit or scope of the fest.
Story requirements:
All stories must be at least 1,000 words.
Stories are not gifts, but they should be in the spirit of the prompt you claim. This means no changing the gender identity or sexual orientation from the original prompt. For example, if the prompt you claim specifies a bisexual character, do not change that to a gay character. It's our goal to respect all members of the queer umbrella, and changing the original request doesn't really do that.
Stories posted to the community should be respectful of all aspects of the queer community. If your story is about sexual gay men, it should not bash aromantic asexuals. If your story is about lesbians, do not bash bisexual women. This is not to say that homophobic/biphobic/intolerant characters cannot be included. Those themes are within the scope of the fest. But the story itself should not be used as an excuse to bash other types of queer individuals.
Posting guidelines:
Posts are currently moderated, but that will be turned off when posting begins on May 1.
All posts should be tagged with the appropriate fandom(s), using the fandom: fandom name tag.
All posts should include the following header:
Title:
Author:
Fandom:
Pairing/characters:
Rating:
Disclaimer:
Prompt:
Summary:
Warnings: (if any)
Author's Notes: (if any)
About warnings:
The following must be warned for: rape/non-con, dub-con, character death, incest. Anything else is up to the author.
Schedule:
Prompt submission: March 20 to March 30
Prompt claiming: April 1 to April 8
Posting begins: May 1
Posting ends: June 30
Prompting and claiming will pretty much go the same way as it went with lgbtfest.
Prompting is open and should go on the comments to this post!
Any questions?
This is not the place to place prompts. That post is here.
What type of stories are allowed?
Any stories that deal with the experience of being queer. For the purpose of this fest, that includes stories about lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, genderqueer, asexual, intersex, and transgender characters. Heterosexual relationships that do not include one of these gender identities or sexual orientations are beyond the scope of the fest. Likewise, stories which focus strictly on the experience of allies are beyond the scope of the fest. We are broadening the queer umbrella a bit from lgbtfest, but this is a fest about queer individuals.
Themes can include stories about coming out, figuring out sexual orientation or gender identity, figuring out your place in the lgbt community, the politics or social structures involving queer individuals in fictional worlds, or dealing with prejudice.
Since this came up last year in lgbtfest, we want to make it very clear: positive stories about queer experiences are very much welcome and encouraged, but this is a safe space for many who have not had a positive experience, whether with family or society. Please do not bash prompts on either end of that spectrum.
Likewise, if you find a prompt offensive, please bring it to the mods' attention in this post or through PM so it can be taken care of ASAP.
What fandoms are allowed?
Any fandom and characters are allowed, including RPF. However, there are two additional rules about RPF:
1.) Any RPF must be about legal adults.
2.) Any RPF should be about people who put themselves in the public eye. This excludes any significant others, unless they put themselves in the public eye as well.
What is not welcome here?
Strictly PWP or smut stories are awesome, but this is not the place for them (stories can include sex, definitely, but that should not be the only point.) Likewise, stories that focus on non-queer individuals are not in the spirit of the fest. This includes their reactions to their queer family/co-workers/teammates. The focus should be on the queer characters.
Likewise, stories in which characters question their sexual orientation/gender identity and decide that they are not queer after all are not welcome here. The focus for this fest is on individuals who do identify as queer.
Stories that are merely hook-up stories, or which focus on the relationships between characters and not their gender identities or sexual orientations, are not within the spirit or scope of the fest.
Story requirements:
All stories must be at least 1,000 words.
Stories are not gifts, but they should be in the spirit of the prompt you claim. This means no changing the gender identity or sexual orientation from the original prompt. For example, if the prompt you claim specifies a bisexual character, do not change that to a gay character. It's our goal to respect all members of the queer umbrella, and changing the original request doesn't really do that.
Stories posted to the community should be respectful of all aspects of the queer community. If your story is about sexual gay men, it should not bash aromantic asexuals. If your story is about lesbians, do not bash bisexual women. This is not to say that homophobic/biphobic/intolerant characters cannot be included. Those themes are within the scope of the fest. But the story itself should not be used as an excuse to bash other types of queer individuals.
Posting guidelines:
Posts are currently moderated, but that will be turned off when posting begins on May 1.
All posts should be tagged with the appropriate fandom(s), using the fandom: fandom name tag.
All posts should include the following header:
Title:
Author:
Fandom:
Pairing/characters:
Rating:
Disclaimer:
Prompt:
Summary:
Warnings: (if any)
Author's Notes: (if any)
About warnings:
The following must be warned for: rape/non-con, dub-con, character death, incest. Anything else is up to the author.
Schedule:
Prompt submission: March 20 to March 30
Prompt claiming: April 1 to April 8
Posting begins: May 1
Posting ends: June 30
Prompting and claiming will pretty much go the same way as it went with lgbtfest.
Prompting is open and should go on the comments to this post!
Any questions?