faq!!! (updated for round 2)

[exomfest]

With great responsibility comes great questions—and whether you're prompting, claiming, or writing, I'm sure you have lots of them! Hopefully, this post will help you out, and if we still didn't answer you, come email us at exomfest@gmail.com or send us a DM on twitter! Let's click through the cut and get started!

General information:

⬣ What is EXO-M Fest?
It's a ficfest centered around EXO-M! We love EXO-M the subunit, including all the members that used to be a part of it and still are—Xiumin, Luhan, Kris, Lay, Chen, & Tao—and we wanted to take a moment to celebrate them.

⬣ What is the schedule?
↪prompt submissions open (nov 3—10)
↪claim sheet opens (nov 11—nov 24)
↪500 word check-in (feb 16)
↪final submissions (mar 22)
↪posting begins (mar 29)

⬣ What timezone is being used for deadlines and postings?
UTC-4, Eastern Time Zone.

⬣ What is a ficfest?
It's a type of fanfiction exchange between readers and writers! People will submit prompts through the prompt submission sheet, and the prompts are compiled into a spreadsheet for everyone to view. Writers can then submit which prompts they want to write and they get started writing. By the end, they will post their fics onto our AO3 Collection, and we will have a new batch of fanfiction to read around the ficfest theme—EXO-M!

⬣ Who even are you?
We are simply two loyal EXO-M stans trying to run a ficfest—Mod Tangerine & Mod Clementine.


Prompting information:

⬣ Do I have to claim a prompt to leave a prompt?
Absolutely not! In fact, it's often better in a ficfest to have many prompts so that writers have choices on what to write.

⬣ Can I leave multiple prompts?
It's highly encouraged! Give your potential writers as many different choices so they can find one that they can write with enthusiasm and excitement!

⬣ Can I self-prompt?
Sure! Please specify in your prompt submission sheet that this is a "Self-Prompt", and we'll place your prompt in the appropriate column on the prompt spreadsheet so no one can claim it.

⬣ I made a mistake when I submitted my prompt! How do I edit it?
You can't edit, but you can definitely resubmit! You can even email or DM us the change you want to make to your prompt and we'll do it for you.

⬣ Can I resubmit prompts from previous rounds?
Absolutely! The more the merrier—check out our round 1 prompt viewing sheet and resubmit any prompts that weren't claimed.

⬣ Can I submit prompts from other ficfests?
Yes, but if and only if those prompts were left unclaimed and that ficfest is no longer accepting claims.

⬣ What are the rating guidelines?
G: For all readers. No violence, no coarse language, and no mention of sex.
PG: For most readers. May contain hints of violence and some coarse language.
T: For teenage or older readers. May contain some violence, some coarse language, sexual humour, or implied sex. No content is graphic, merely implied.
M: For adult readers. May contain violence and sexual content, as well as triggering content or heavier themes, including horror and torture.
NC-17: Strictly for adult readers. Contains explicit sexual content, or graphic violence, and other heavy mature content.


Claiming/writing information:

⬣ Can you contact the OP for my prompt so I can ask them questions?
Unfortunately not! Anonymous prompting is encouraged, so there might not even be contact information for your prompt. Read through your prompt carefully and use your best judgement. If you need a second opinion, contact us—the Mods!

⬣ Is it okay if I don't follow the prompt exactly?
Yes! Once you claim a prompt, you have full creative liberty over it provided that you maintain the basic integrity of the prompt and it follows our rules.

For example, let's say you claimed the prompt, "High school AU. Kris needs to pass English to stay on the soccer team. Chen is stuck in detention until he agrees to be Kris' tutor. They eventually fall in love!" You should make sure Chen and Kris are in high school, and the plot focuses on Chen tutoring Kris. However, you can change English to Math, the soccer team to basketball, or include their MAMA powers if you so desired.

⬣ What is the minimum word count?
The minimum word count is 1000 words! Your final fic can be even more than that, but it cannot be less than 1000 words. The check-in will be halfway through the ficfest for 500 words.

⬣ What's the check-in for?
We want to know if you all are writing! It's also a good way to figure out for yourself if you will need an extension—which you can request from us, the Mods.

⬣ Can my check-in be an outline?
Unfortunately not. Your check-in needs to be 500 words of prose.

⬣ I need an extension!
Email us with your username and prompt and we can definitely accommodate you!

⬣ Does this ficfest provide betas?
Unfortunately not. We highly encourage having a beta to read over your fic, but we understand if that's not possible. Even if your fic is not beta'd—submit it anyway! We'd rather read your fic than read no fic at all, no matter what.

⬣ Where are the fics going to be posted?
On our AO3 Collection! If you don't have an AO3 account, please register into the queue as soon as possible so you can receive an invitation.


AO3 Troubleshooting:

⬣ How do I enter the queue?
Easy! Go onto the AO3 Home Page and click on the "Get Invited!" button near the middle right of your screen. You will then be asked to enter your email. You should get your invitation link in the email you entered in 3 to 7 days!

⬣ I entered the queue, but I still don't have an AO3 account!
If you still do not have an AO3 account by the time you want to post your fic, contact us—the Mods. We will figure something out for you, don't worry.

⬣ I have an AO3 account, but I'm having troubles with formatting/posting—can I get some help?
Technology is tough! That's why us mods are here, and we'll definitely lend you a hand if you shoot us an email or DM us on twitter. Anything from splitting chapters to fixing that annoying space around your italicized words—we can help.