Mod Post: Rules and FAQ
Welcome to tw_unpaired, a festival for gen Torchwood fic!
The point of tw_unpaired is to generate some Torchwood fic where the focus isn't on romance or particular pairings, but rather the cases, friendships, and working relationships between the characters.
But, in a fandom where three of the five main characters are in on-screen relationships and the other two are in an acknowledged unrequited mess, what qualifies gen fic? For the sake of this fest, gen fic is any fic where the focus of the story is not on the romantic pairing. Because, let's be honest, Torchwood fic where no one is boning anyone else is just oddly out of character.
So, your story about how awkward Weevil hunting is for Jack and Ianto after Ianto's betrayal with Lisa? This isn't the place for it. A story about Jack and Ianto hunting an unknown alien threat, with a focus on the hunting and not the kissing? Acceptable! A story where Gwen compares her relationship with Rhys to her relationship with Jack? Not here. A story where Gwen, Rhys, and Ianto go bowling? Bring it on! A story where Tosh pines for Owen while watching him chat a girl up at the pub? Nope, sorry. A story where Tosh and Owen have to save the rest of the team from a giant squid? Perfect!
The general rule of thumb is to include the same ratio of relationships to other stuff that we get on the show. If you're summarizing the story, you shouldn't be mentioning anyone's romantic issues until at least the second or third line of the summary.
I know that gen is sometimes hard to define, so if you have a specific question, feel free to ask!
Rules
We only have a few rules, guys.
1. Gen fic only! Obvsies. No kissy-sexy-weepy-romanticy times, please. There are plenty of fests for that.
2. Stories must be beta-read.
3. Be kind/respectful of other members of the comm.
4. NO BASHING. NONE. I have a zero tolerance policy for this. If you post bashing on this comm, you will get banned and I won't even feel the least bit bad about it.
ANYWAY. Onto the time line!
January 13 - January 22: Collection of prompts!
For the ten days above, a post will be put up where anyone can post prompts for the fest-thing. Anyone. You don't have to plan on writing to submit prompts! Any gen Torchwood story that you'd like to see can be submitted, and you can submit as many prompts as you like. Over the course of that week or so, we'll collect them in one post in some sort of order that we will make up as we go along.
January 23 - February 1: Prompt claiming!
Starting January 23, people can claim prompts they'd like to write. We'll start off with one claim per person, but once you've written a story of 500 words or more, you're welcome to claim other prompts. Each prompt can be claimed twice for this first round.
March 6 - March 12: Posting!
On March 6, people will post their stories to the community. One story per post, with a header that will be provided once we get closer to the deadline. Then we can all comment and gush. It will be awesome!
March 14 - whenever: Open season!
Once everyone has posted the story that they've claimed, we'll open up the prompts post for anything! Drabbles, ficlets, epic poetry, little snippets running around your brain, whatever you'd like. All prompts will be eligible for this, so if you've really got a hankering to write a Team Torchwood: Arctic Explorers fic, but it was already claimed twice in the first round, this is your chance to go for it.
"But I am confused, mods! I have questions!"
Well, let me try and help you answer them, anonymous person whom I just made up. It's the least I can do.
First off, who the hell are you guys?
Your awesome mods are eldarwannabe, who is likely to be the good cop, and pocky_slash, who is likely to be the lovable-but-curmudgeonly cop who is only days away from her retirement from the force.
So my story can't have any kissing? At all?
Well, no. As we mentioned above, we recognize that, within the show, there is going to be some kissing and even some shagging. We just ask that the kissing/shagging/whatever be relegated to the background and the case/friendship/teamwork take center stage.
Can I write a crossover or an AU?
Why the hell not? If you want to write a crossover or an AU gen fic, then go for it. Once again, keep in mind the theme of the fest. Team Torchwood as a crew of archeologists chasing after the ancient artifact they've staked their reputations on? Yes! Ianto as a scientist on Captain Jack's gate team and their epic romance? Not this time, kids.
How many people can claim the same prompt?
We'll start off with two for the "main" (500+ words) story, but once you are writing drabbles, et cetera, you can choose whatever prompts you want. I'm just trying to avoid getting fifteen 2,000 word stories chronicling Team Torchwood: Arctic Explorers.
Can there be a sex scene in my story?
I'm going to tentatively say no to this one, kids. If you really need a sex scene and can put up a convincing argument about how you can keep your sex scene and still have the story be gen, you are welcome to try.
Are there any rating or other story restrictions?
No rating restrictions or story restrictions, although I ask that you warn for any violence, rape, death, or possible squicks in your header and also rate your story using the MPAA rating method (G-NC17) or something else that is obviously discernible. (For example, K/15+/M is okay. Some weird heirarchy of your own making with euphenisms and colors is not.)
How can I find a beta?
Once prompt claiming starts, we'll put up a post where people can advertise their beta services or post a beta want-ad. Feel free to trawl it throughout the writing process.
Okay, I've finished my awesome story about Torchwood and the Case of the Giant Green Bunny Rabbits. How do I go about posting it?
On the prompt-claim post, we'll give you an example of the header that you should use. The posting on this comm is moderated, so once it's written and betaed, fill in the header and post it to the comm. It will go in the posting queue and we will approve it once posting officially starts. If, at this point, you'd like to claim an additional prompt, go for it.
I have a question that you have not answered!
I'm not surprised, considering I made these questions up off the top of my head. If you have a for-real question, feel free to ask in the comments. Also, if you have any suggestions on how to run the community, how to streamline this section, or any information I'm leaving out, feel free to comment with that as well.
Well, thanks for reading guys, and now that you have the background, click here to leave us some prompts!
The point of tw_unpaired is to generate some Torchwood fic where the focus isn't on romance or particular pairings, but rather the cases, friendships, and working relationships between the characters.
But, in a fandom where three of the five main characters are in on-screen relationships and the other two are in an acknowledged unrequited mess, what qualifies gen fic? For the sake of this fest, gen fic is any fic where the focus of the story is not on the romantic pairing. Because, let's be honest, Torchwood fic where no one is boning anyone else is just oddly out of character.
So, your story about how awkward Weevil hunting is for Jack and Ianto after Ianto's betrayal with Lisa? This isn't the place for it. A story about Jack and Ianto hunting an unknown alien threat, with a focus on the hunting and not the kissing? Acceptable! A story where Gwen compares her relationship with Rhys to her relationship with Jack? Not here. A story where Gwen, Rhys, and Ianto go bowling? Bring it on! A story where Tosh pines for Owen while watching him chat a girl up at the pub? Nope, sorry. A story where Tosh and Owen have to save the rest of the team from a giant squid? Perfect!
The general rule of thumb is to include the same ratio of relationships to other stuff that we get on the show. If you're summarizing the story, you shouldn't be mentioning anyone's romantic issues until at least the second or third line of the summary.
I know that gen is sometimes hard to define, so if you have a specific question, feel free to ask!
Rules
We only have a few rules, guys.
1. Gen fic only! Obvsies. No kissy-sexy-weepy-romanticy times, please. There are plenty of fests for that.
2. Stories must be beta-read.
3. Be kind/respectful of other members of the comm.
4. NO BASHING. NONE. I have a zero tolerance policy for this. If you post bashing on this comm, you will get banned and I won't even feel the least bit bad about it.
ANYWAY. Onto the time line!
January 13 - January 22: Collection of prompts!
For the ten days above, a post will be put up where anyone can post prompts for the fest-thing. Anyone. You don't have to plan on writing to submit prompts! Any gen Torchwood story that you'd like to see can be submitted, and you can submit as many prompts as you like. Over the course of that week or so, we'll collect them in one post in some sort of order that we will make up as we go along.
January 23 - February 1: Prompt claiming!
Starting January 23, people can claim prompts they'd like to write. We'll start off with one claim per person, but once you've written a story of 500 words or more, you're welcome to claim other prompts. Each prompt can be claimed twice for this first round.
March 6 - March 12: Posting!
On March 6, people will post their stories to the community. One story per post, with a header that will be provided once we get closer to the deadline. Then we can all comment and gush. It will be awesome!
March 14 - whenever: Open season!
Once everyone has posted the story that they've claimed, we'll open up the prompts post for anything! Drabbles, ficlets, epic poetry, little snippets running around your brain, whatever you'd like. All prompts will be eligible for this, so if you've really got a hankering to write a Team Torchwood: Arctic Explorers fic, but it was already claimed twice in the first round, this is your chance to go for it.
"But I am confused, mods! I have questions!"
Well, let me try and help you answer them, anonymous person whom I just made up. It's the least I can do.
First off, who the hell are you guys?
Your awesome mods are eldarwannabe, who is likely to be the good cop, and pocky_slash, who is likely to be the lovable-but-curmudgeonly cop who is only days away from her retirement from the force.
So my story can't have any kissing? At all?
Well, no. As we mentioned above, we recognize that, within the show, there is going to be some kissing and even some shagging. We just ask that the kissing/shagging/whatever be relegated to the background and the case/friendship/teamwork take center stage.
Can I write a crossover or an AU?
Why the hell not? If you want to write a crossover or an AU gen fic, then go for it. Once again, keep in mind the theme of the fest. Team Torchwood as a crew of archeologists chasing after the ancient artifact they've staked their reputations on? Yes! Ianto as a scientist on Captain Jack's gate team and their epic romance? Not this time, kids.
How many people can claim the same prompt?
We'll start off with two for the "main" (500+ words) story, but once you are writing drabbles, et cetera, you can choose whatever prompts you want. I'm just trying to avoid getting fifteen 2,000 word stories chronicling Team Torchwood: Arctic Explorers.
Can there be a sex scene in my story?
I'm going to tentatively say no to this one, kids. If you really need a sex scene and can put up a convincing argument about how you can keep your sex scene and still have the story be gen, you are welcome to try.
Are there any rating or other story restrictions?
No rating restrictions or story restrictions, although I ask that you warn for any violence, rape, death, or possible squicks in your header and also rate your story using the MPAA rating method (G-NC17) or something else that is obviously discernible. (For example, K/15+/M is okay. Some weird heirarchy of your own making with euphenisms and colors is not.)
How can I find a beta?
Once prompt claiming starts, we'll put up a post where people can advertise their beta services or post a beta want-ad. Feel free to trawl it throughout the writing process.
Okay, I've finished my awesome story about Torchwood and the Case of the Giant Green Bunny Rabbits. How do I go about posting it?
On the prompt-claim post, we'll give you an example of the header that you should use. The posting on this comm is moderated, so once it's written and betaed, fill in the header and post it to the comm. It will go in the posting queue and we will approve it once posting officially starts. If, at this point, you'd like to claim an additional prompt, go for it.
I have a question that you have not answered!
I'm not surprised, considering I made these questions up off the top of my head. If you have a for-real question, feel free to ask in the comments. Also, if you have any suggestions on how to run the community, how to streamline this section, or any information I'm leaving out, feel free to comment with that as well.
Well, thanks for reading guys, and now that you have the background, click here to leave us some prompts!