[SPRMB 2013] author info & guidelines

[sekrit_omg]

SPBB's current challenge is the South Park Reverse Mini-Bang 2013! This post contains an overview as well as detailed info for authors. Sign-ups are open here until November 18, 2013. Please note that the selection process is based on identifying information about each picture; the actual illustration will be sent to authors with their assignment.

A reverse mini-bang is a variation on a fandom big bang: it's still a collaboration between artists and writers, but this time the art inspires the fic (the "reverse") and the stories are shorter (the "mini"). For SPRMB 2013, we're asking authors to come up with a story of 1,500 - 8,000 words.

SPRMB 2013 TIMELINE
October 4-11: Artist sign-ups
November 8: Art due
November 11-18: Author sign-ups
November 20: Author assignments sent
December 18: Fic due
December 22: Mini-Bang reveal!



AUTHOR ELIGIBILITY

• You do not need a LiveJournal account to participate! If you don't have one, you may post your sign-up anonymously or using OpenID, or make an account here.
• We will also accept sign-ups via e-mail at spbigbang @ gmail.com. Please use the subject "[SPRMB 2013] Author-sign up."
• If you dropped out of SPBB 2013 after the deadline or if you failed to respond to our attempts to contact you, we regret that you are not eligible to participate in SPRMB 2013, unless choosing to pinch hit (see below). SPBB 2012 drop-outs, the statute of limitations on your ban is expired. Welcome back.
• SPRMB artists are welcome to participate as authors, though you will not able to write for your own artwork.

FIC GUIDELINES

• At least one (1) South Park fan fiction, to be based on an artwork to which you're assigned according to your preferences.
• We will list descriptions for available artworks on a sign-up post that will be available for one week beginning Monday, November 11.
• The selection process is based on identifying information about each picture; the actual illustration will be sent to authors with their assignment.
• Authors will be required to list at least five (5) stories they prefer to write. There will be a maximum of eight (8) stories authors prefer not to write.
• We will do our very best to give everyone something from their "want" list, but it may not be possible to accommodate everyone. We promise not to give anyone something from their "unwilling" list.
• If you wish to submit multiple stories for your SPRMB artwork, feel free, so long as each story adheres to these guidelines, i.e. 1500-8000 words per story, not total.

CONTENT:

• All characters should be from South Park (series/movie/both). No crossover characters. No original characters.
• You may include characters who don't appear in the art, but the emphasis should be on the ones in the art.
• Your fic must reflect the spirit of the artwork.
• The story should respect the romantic/friendship/gen classification in the art info. If the artist has indicated "both/either," it's open to author interpretation. If the artist has specified one or the other, the story should respect that.
• Your final submission should be finished-quality work. It should have been looked at by a beta reader.
• If you cannot find a beta reader, please contact us at southparkbigbang @ gmail.com and we will do our best to help. Also consider consulting spbigbangbetas.
• Minimum length: 1500 words. Maximum length: 8000 words.
• Format: .doc or .docx only, please.

PINCH HITTING
In the event that an artwork has no assigned author, we will need a pinch-hitter to step up and write a fic for that artwork, possibly on short notice.

• If you are signing up to write for SPRMB and wish to be a pinch-hitter, please indicate this when you sign-up.
• For this event, we are accepting pinch-hit only author sign-ups. If you wish to sign up to pinch-hit only, please use the pinch-hitter form in the SPRMB author sign-up post. If you dropped out of SPBB 2013 or signed-up and failed to meet your commitment, signing up to pinch-hit will redeem your eligibility for future SPBB events.
• There is no obligation to take a pinch-hit assignment.

STORY DEADLINE & SUBMITTING YOUR FINAL DRAFT

• Finished fics are due December 18, 2013.
• Please send your completed story as an attachment to southparkbigbang @ gmail.com.
• Please use the subject line: [FIC] - your name.
• Please also be sure to include your name in the name of the file.
• Please be sure to include the Story Submission Form (sent in the sign-up confirmation email).

REQUESTING EXTENSIONS & DROPPING OUT

• We're very sorry, but we are not granting extensions for this event.
• If you need to drop out, inform us immediately.
• Please be aware that if you drop out, there is a chance you may be banned from future SPBB events.
• The challenge of SPRMB is to write a short story based on an artwork over a one-month period. If you suspect for any reason that you may not be able to meet the challenge, consider sitting this one out and joining us for SPBB 2014.

POSTING YOUR FIC

• Art and stories will be hosted at the official event website.
• Please wait until one month after the archive opens to post your full piece yourself (again, we'll e-mail once you're free to post).
• Wherever and whenever you post when the time comes, we ask that you include mention of SP Reverse Mini-Bang and a link to the archive, as well as a link to the artwork on which your story is based. Keep in mind that if posting to AO3, you can embed artwork in your text!

Remember, sign-ups are here and close next Monday, November 18. If you have any questions, please send an email to SekritOMG (SPRMB author coordinator) at southparkbigbang @ gmail.com.

Thank you!