FAQ - updated for Round 5
General
What is a Big Bang?
A Big Bang is a collaborative project between authors and artists (and, in our case, betas). Authors sign up to write long fanfiction within a predetermined time frame, and artists sign up to create art based on these stories once the drafts are done. The concept originated from the Harry/Draco Big Bang, Baby Challenge, and has since become a cross fandom phenomenon (you can read more about Big Bangs on fanlore here).
How do I sign up?
There are separate sign-up posts for authors, artists, and betas. You can find these posts linked in the comm's sidebar, and by checking the most recent entries under the sign-ups tag. Copy the template in the text area of that sign-up post, paste it into a comment in that same post, and fill it out.
Do I need to have an LJ account to sign up?
Yes, you do. Most importantly, LJ offers a tracking feature that will let you track this community and get notified via email every time a new entry (or, if you want to specify, a new entry tagged admin) is posted, which is a convenient way of making sure you don't miss any announcement (see LJ FAQ #272 on how to do this). Sending a message via LJ is one more way people can try to contact you when for some reason they can't reach you via email (it happens, and usually at the most inconvenient of times). LJ is a lot less likely to screen your comment as spam if you are logged in. Lastly, you need an account to be able to post to the comm, where each author/artist team will have to post a masterpost of their collaboration on their assigned posting date.
We are aware that fandom has shifted from LJ to Tumblr and AO3 in the last years and that not everybody uses LJ these days. However, LJ still provides the best platform to organise fests, Big Bangs, and the like, so for the time being the Big Bang's home will remain here on LJ, and you will need an account to participate.
Do I need to have a Tumblr account to sign up?
No, you don't, even though we ask for your Tumblr in the sign-up form. If you have one, though, please list it, as it gives us and your collaboration partner(s) one more way to get in touch with you.
What pairings/genres do you accept?
We accept all fics that focus predominantly on characters from The Social Network, or the actors who played those characters. Fics may feature one or more pairing of your choice, three- or moresomes, or be gen. AUs, fusions, and crossovers featuring storylines and characters from other fandoms (or original ones) are all allowed, as long as the main focus of the story lies on the The Social Network characters.
Can I sign up as an author or artist or beta, or can I sign up as a combination thereof?
You may sign up as only one of the above, as two of them, or as all three, if you want to.
I have signed up, but now I am afraid I won't make it.
If you, for whichever reason, find that you have to bow out, that's okay. We understand, we've all been in that position, we won't ask why or judge. If you are an author, we'd very much appreciate it if you'd send us an email to let us know that you are dropping out so we can take you off the mailing list and won't try to contact you at the next check-in. If you are an artist and, come artist claim, you find you don't want to/can't participate, simply don't claim anything. If something comes up after you've claimed a fic, we'd again very much appreciate it if you'd send us an email to let us know that you are dropping out so we can try and arrange for a pitch-hitter if needed.
What's the schedule?
You can find the schedule of the current round linked in the sidebar, and under the schedule tag.
I have a question that is not answered in the FAQ or schedule!
Contact us, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
I have a problem (with the schedule, my fic/art, my artist/author/beta/another participant, etc)!
Again, contact us. We are here to help, and we'll do everything we can to try and make this new round of the TSN Big Bang a positive experience for everybody.
Where can I reach you?
You can reach us via email at tsnbigbang2012 at gmail dot com, or send us an ask, and we'll try to get back to you within 24 hours. We are not always online, though, and have obligations other than running this Bang, so it's unlikely but possible that you may have to wait a few days for a reply.
Code of conduct
Please be civil and respectful in your interactions! Don't call people names. Don't use hate speech. If certain themes feature in your story, that's okay (you are expected to warn for it, though), but don't use sexist, homophobic, misogynist, racist, etc. comments when talking to each other. This includes use of a certain fetishizing ship portmanteau ending with -corn that is popular with some Real Person Shippers in the TSN fandom. We understand that you use the term fondly and mean no offense, but it is given nonetheless, so please use non-problematic ship descriptors.
Authors
What's the minimum word count?
12,000 words. As a fandom we are on the smaller side, so we are also setting a lower minimum word count than most Big Bangs to give as many writers as possible a chance of participating.
Is there a maximum word limit?
No.
I've never written fic before, can I still participate?
Yes, but before you sign up you should think about whether or not this is the right place for you to get started. If you've never written fic before you'll have a harder time knowing your abilities and limits, and a Big Bang, even one with a minimum word count as low as ours, is still a big challenge even for experienced authors: plot and write a fic of a certain length, after a schedule, and at a quality that an artist will appreciate (because your artist is supposed to get as much out of this as you; they don't just exist to give you custom-made fanwork, they are your partner).
Does my story have to be beta read?
Yes, it does.
Can I use my own beta, or do I have to let you assign me a beta?
We highly encourage you to use your own beta, if you have or can find one! But for those who don't have a beta of their own, we hold the beta sign-ups, and we'll try to find a beta for every author in need of one. In case you need us to assign you a beta, you'll also need to give us information on your fic (plot, pairing(s), warnings, rating) at sign-up, and we'll assign betas based on this information right after sign-ups close, to ensure the best possible match-ups. If you work with your own beta, on the other hand, you may change your fic as many times as you want before artist claims. Of course, if, at some point, your beta drops out and you need a pitch-hitter beta, we'll do our best to find you one.
Be good to your beta and appreciate them! Your beta is working with you, not for you.
May I write with a co-author?
Yes.
I have [so many words] of a fic already written that I want to use for this Big Bang, may I?
Yes, providing that you write 12,000 words on top of whatever you already have. For instance, if you wrote 3,000 words of Mark and Eduardo reconnecting on a yacht, say, then you'd have to write an extra 12,000 on top of that - giving you a total word count of 15,000. (In fact, if you haven't written Mark and Eduardo reconnecting on a yacht, the mod team would hereby like to encourage you to do so now.)
Can I write more than one fic?
You can write a total of two (2) fics for the Big Bang. (The mod team would also like to encourage you to do this.)
Do I have to check in?
Yes, check-ins are mandatory. If we don't hear from you, we'll assume you have dropped out.
I won't be able to come online for check-in X, what do I do?
All check-ins will have a check-in post going up several days in advance, and you can check in early there or via email. The check-in dates are check in by dates, so if you know already you won't be able to be around for a specific date, just check in before you leave.
Do I have to send in a draft?
Yes. If you don't submit a rough draft, we won't be able to add your fic to the claims post, so being late might affect your being claimed by an artist. If you don't submit a final draft, we won't assign you a posting date.
How complete does my story need to be for the rough draft due date?
We are setting a 9,000 word minimum for rough drafts. Please note, though, that there needs to be enough of the 'finished idea' for your artist to work with, so, for a fic that'll end up coming in at 40k, your draft should be longer. You are still allowed to work on it and get it beta-read until the final due date. It's just so that we can verify that you are actually going to meet your final target and will be posting on your assigned date. Additionally, you can also consider the draft you send us a safety copy we are keeping for you in case you suffer a computer SNAFU.
How do I submit my rough / final draft?
Save it as a .docx, .doc, or .rtf file, together with a header with a summary, rating, pairing(s), and warnings, and email it to tsnbigbang2012 at gmail dot com. A post on this will also go up before draft submission.
How will I know if the mods received my rough draft?
You will receive a confirmation email within 24 hours.
My fic has been claimed! What now?
After claiming is closed, we'll send emails to your artist(s), giving them your contact information. Since you can see who claimed your fic in the comments of the claims post, feel free to contact them yourself, though. It's your responsibility to make sure your artists receive a copy of your fic draft to work with!
I haven't heard from my artist yet.
Your artist might take some time to contact you because they are not online. Give your artist some time to get back to you, or try again, maybe using another platform (e.g. Tumblr) if possible. If you haven't heard anything from them a week after artist claims have closed, though, please let us know, and we'll see if we can track them down.
Artists
What kind of art may be submitted?
Any format or medium is allowed, including (scans of) drawing/paintings, manips, digital/photoshop collages, fanmixes, videos, etc.
What are the requirements for a fanmix?
A fanmix must have at least eight (8) songs and a cover. Feel free to go beyond the minimum. We understand that being a mixer doesn't necessarily mean you are a good graphic maker, and a simple cover is more than sufficient, no back art needed. You may do so, however, if you can and want to.
May I collaborate with another person for the creation of the art?
Yes. Sign-up together though, please, and not separately.
How will fics be matched to artists?
Artists will choose which fics they want to create for. Authors will submit their rough draft and will include a summary of their story, complete with pairing(s), rating, any kinks/squicks and all relevant warnings. The summaries will be posted so that the artists can claim the fic they most want to provide art for. Claiming will open at a previously announced time so artists can arrange to be online for it. All claims will be done on a first come, first serve basis, but once all fic has been claimed once, multiple claiming is allowed and several artists may claim the same fic.
How do I submit a claim?
You list the top three stories that you most would like to create art for. You will then be assigned the first story available from your top three. We will edit the claims post and mark fic as claimed, but there is due to be a lag as we are busy confirming the first claims, respectively won't be online constantly for however many days claiming runs, so take care to check the other comments. Please note that editing comments messes with their timestamps, so if you made a mistake in your comment, you might want to reply to it instead to correct it, to avoid getting bumped back in the line of claims.
I won't be able to come online for artist claims, can I have someone else claim fic for me?
Yes, you can have someone act as your proxy for claiming. Please sent us an email beforehand, so we know they have the authority to claim in your name, and have them preface their claims comment with 'Claims list of [ your username]' for easier assignment. Choose your proxy wisely, since there are no take-backs. We allow multiple claiming, so you stand a good chance of claiming the fic of your choice even if you can't be around the moment the claims post open for comments.
I posted a claim, and was assigned a story. Now what?
Within twenty-four hours after claiming closes, you will receive an email from the mods with your author's name and contact information. From them you'll receive a copy of their fic draft to work with.
I haven't heard from my author yet.
Your author might take some time to contact you because they are not online. We understand that you want to get started as soon as possible, but give your author some time to get back to you. Try again, maybe using another platform (e.g. Tumblr) if possible. If you haven't heard anything from your author a week after artist claims have closed, though, please let us know, and we'll see if we can track them down.
I have existing art that perfectly fits the story I claimed. May I submit it?
Sadly, no. All art must be created specifically for this challenge and this fic. It must be original and must not have been posted anywhere else.
What happens if the number of fics available for claiming exceeds the number of artists who sign up?
Artists will be allowed to claim more than one fic. Several rounds of claiming will be conducted until each fic has an artist.
What happens if the number of artists who signed up exceeds the number of fics available for claiming?
Again, once all fic has been claimed once, multiple claims per fic will be allowed.
May I submit more than one piece of fanart?
Of course! We would love to see as much as possible!
Do I have to check in?
Yes, check-ins are mandatory. If we don't hear from you, we'll assume you have dropped out.
I won't be able to come online for check-in X, what do I do?
All check-ins will have a check-in post going up several days in advance, and you can check in early there or via email. The check-in dates are check in by dates, so if you know already you won't be able to be around for a specific date, just check in before you leave.
Do I have to send in a draft?
Yes. If you don't don't send in a draft, we won't assign you a posting date.
How do I submit my art draft?
Send a file, the tracklisting, etc, via email to tsnbigbang2012 at gmail dot com.
Betas
I've never beta-read before, what does betaing entail?
As a general rule, as beta you check a fic for grammar, typos, half-finished sentences, plot holes, point out where characters are out of character, and so on. The beta process is different for every author/beta team, and depends on your author's needs, but, basically, you could act as your author's sounding board, quality control, and the benevolently looming presence breathing down their neck and reminding them once a week that they promised you an update. Please note that the bulk of your work as a beta will probably take place towards the end of the Bang (check the schedule for information on this).
How will authors be matched to betas?
We ask authors what kind of fic they intend to write, so once sign-ups are closed we'll be able to match you with an author whose work will be relevant to your interests, or at least not contain any of your listed dislikes, and give them your contact information. Then it'll be up to you to hash out the details and find an arrangement that works for the two of you (for example, some authors need space to write, others work better with frequent reminders, or maybe at some point you'll be on vacation for two weeks or only come online on weekends, and your author needs to know they have to work around that).
Can I beta for more than one author?
Of course! If you feel up for betaing for more than one author, please note so in your sign-up, and if the number of authors needing a beta surpasses the number of available betas, we'll be glad to assign you more than one author.
I don't want to be assigned to Author X.
That's okay. If you know there's an author whose style doesn't work for you, send us an email to tsnbigbang2012 at gmail dot com to let us know, and we'll keep that in mind when doing the match-ups.
I haven't heard from my author yet.
We send match-up emails with your contact information to your author, shortly after sign-ups close. Your author might take some time to contact you because they are not online, but if you are worried their email might have gotten lost, contact us, and we'll give you their information.
I have a problem with my beta job.
Contact us. You are volunteering your time to help someone out, and the experience should be a good one for you. We try to match betas and authors according to the information both parties give at sign-up, but most fics are still in the very early stages at that point, and your author may end up writing something that squicks you or a pairing you don't like, maybe you two simply end up being incompatible, or something comes up that forces you to drop out. If, for whichever reason, a match-up doesn't work for you, contact us.
My author found someone else to beta or dropped out.
If you'd be willing to let us reassign you to another author if their beta falls through, please let us know.
Posting
How are posting dates assigned?
For the final draft submission we'll ask you at what dates you can't post, and from the information we'll receive we'll create a posting schedule. If you fail to send us any information, we'll just assign you a posting date.
Do I have to host my fic/art on LJ?
No, you can host your work anywhere you want, as long as it is not locked. We do, however, insist that you post links to it in a masterpost here in the comm (see also three points down, How do I post my fic/art).
I finished my fic/art early. May I post it on my LJ/Dreamwidth/AO3/blog before the scheduled posting date?
No. No posting is allowed before your assigned date. We don't expect author and artist(s) to post their work simultaneously though, and know that one is likely to be up before the other.
Where can I upload my mix/graphics?
8-Tracks or Mediafire are popular choices for streaming or sharing. Tinypic is a good choice for images or .gif files, or you can of course upload it directly to your Tumblr or other host service of choice.
How do I post my fic/art?
On your assigned posting date, one of your author/artist(s) team, usually the author, will create a masterpost for your collaboration and post it to the comm. This masterpost will contain links to the fic and art, wherever they are posted. If part of your collaboration isn't yet online at the time the masterpost is made, those links can be added later. A post with the template we'd like you to use for the masterpost will go up before posting starts. We ask that you do not crosspost to any other community until the initial posting period is over, after that you may promote your work anywhere you want (and we are aware that, from the moment of initial posting on, your work will be found in the tags of AO3, Tumblr, etc, that's no problem).