Admin Post: M/M Rares 2015 Information

[mm_rares_mods]

Nominations Open: May 1
Nominations Close: May 22 @ 8:00pm PDT
Signups Open: May 29 @ 8:00pm PDT
Signups Close: June 19 @ 8:00pm PDT
Assignments Sent: No later than June 26 @ 8:00pm PDT
Assignments Deadline: August 21 @ 8:00pm PDT
Work Reveal: August 28 @ 8:00pm PDT
Author Reveal: September 4 @ 8:00pm PDT


1. What is M/M Rares?

M/M Rares is an annual fanwork (fanfiction and fanart) exchange for rare slash pairings. Participants either write a fic at least 1000 words long or create an original work of art focusing on a slash pairing another participant has requested. As this is an exchange, they receive a 1000+ word fic or original work of art featuring a slash pairing they requested in return.

If offering fanart, the art must be an original piece of art created entirely by you. Manips, icons, wallpapers, etc. cannot be used to fulfill a fanart request.

2. What pairings are eligible?

To be eligible, a pairing must meet both of the following conditions:

* Be a slash (male/male) pairing

* Have no more than 200 completed fics on the AO3. For purposes of this requirement, only fics of 1000+ words, written in English, and marked as complete will be counted.

Pairings will be evaluated at the time of nomination to determine if they will be eligible for that year's exchange. Because the goal of the exchange is to produce more works involving rare(r) pairings, alternate versions of the same character (in canon) will typically not be considered separately for purposes of rarity determinations. Some discretion will be applied by the mods when reviewing eligibility of nominated pairings that are close to the eligibility limits.

3. Are crossover pairings allowed?

Crossover pairings are allowed. If the two fandoms are in the same universe and/or it is common fan practice to tag the pairing in one fandom or the other, you may nominate it in the appropriate fandom. If the fandoms are not in the same universe or canonically connected, nominate them using the fandom "Crossover Fandom". These pairings should be nominated using the format of:

Character A (Fandom 1)/Character B (Fandom 2)

The fandom names used in these cases need to be complete and clear enough to be able to tell specifically which fandom applies.

4. Are threesomes/moresomes allowed?

Threesomes/moresomes are not eligible to be nominated. As this exchange is focused on rare pairings, the focus of any resulting fic should be on the pairing requested, though threesomes/moresomes may be mentioned in the fic as long as they don't directly involve the main pairing.

5. Is non-explicit fic allowed?

Yes, as long as the focus/primary relationship of the fic is an m/m pairing requested by the recipient. You are welcome to explore any aspect of the relationship; erotic or explicit fics are certainly allowed but not required.

6. Is RPF allowed?

Yes, as long as it meets the requirements listed in question 2.

7. How do I nominate a pairing for the exchange?

Nominations will be made on the AO3. You will be able to nominate up to 4 fandoms and up to 4 pairings within each fandom.

8. Can I change my nominations?

You may not change your nominations after they are checked by the moderators. Nominations will be checked on an on-going basis as they are submitted, to speed up the time between the close of nominations and the start of sign-ups.

9. How do I sign up? How many requests and offers am I required to submit? Can I submit more than the required number of requests or offers?

Signups will be managed on the AO3. You are required to make at least 4 requests and 4 offers. You may choose to submit 2 additional requests and 6 additional offers for a total of 6 requests and 10 offers. Each request may contain up to 10 pairings and offer may contain up to 15.

For each request, you will be able to note whether you prefer to receive fic or art or have no preference (select any). For each offer, you will similarly be able to indicate whether you can produce fic, art, or both for the listed pairings.

10. What goes in the Description section of my requests?

You may include any specific things you would like the author to include in the fic. These details are optional and the author is not required to consider them, though authors do sometimes find them helpful.

11. What is a "Dear Author" letter?

Many exchange participants like to write a letter to the author assigned to their request with more information about what they like (or don't) and why the chose the requests that they've made. These can be posted on a personal journal/site or there will also be a post on the Dreamwidth community during the signup period. You may include a link directly to your letter in your request.

12. Can I change my signup?

You may modify your signup until the signup deadline.

13. How will I know my assignment?

After the signup deadline, the moderators will run a match and your assignment will be sent out via the AO3. The assignment will show up under the Assignments link on your AO3 dashboard and you should also receive an email with your assignment once it is made.

14. Can I change my assignment?

Generally, no. The assignments are made so that everyone who is offering works is also set to receive one. Once assignments are made, it would be too complicated to accommodate switches and still make sure the exchange aspect is maintained.

If you receive an assignment where none of the requests match what you offered, please contact the moderators ASAP. This is something that shouldn't happen, but we want to know right away if it does.

15. Can I write or draw for any fandom/pairing my recipient requested, even if it's not one I originally offered?

Yes. The requirement is that you write a fic or create a work of art (based on the requester's preference, if any) featuring a pairing requested by your recipient - you can choose from any pairing requested, even if you didn't originally offer it.

16. How do I post my fic or art once it's completed?

On your AO3 dashboard, find the link that says "Assignments" on the sidebar. Find your assignment for the 2015 MM Rares exchange and click on 'Post to fulfill'. This will take you to the posting form with the challenge collection and your recipient's information pre-filled. You will just need to fill in the rest of the form as you normally would when posting a fic and post.

NOTE: As the AO3 does not allow the direct hosting of art, you will need to host it elsewhere - in a reliable place - and embed it into your AO3 post.

17. When can I post my work?

The collection will be open for posting shortly after assignments go out. You can post any time up until the deadline - works will not be revealed until after the deadline has passed.

18. Can I edit my work after I post it?

Yes, you may edit at any time. That said, you must make sure you have a fic of at least 1000 words or completed work of art posted prior to the deadline.

19. What if I can't finish?

If you don't think you'll be able to finish your assignment by the deadline, you can default. To do so, find your assignment by clicking on the Assignments link on your AO3 dashboard. Click on the button labeled 'Default' and click on the confirmation that pops up. The moderators will then find a pinch hitter to fulfill your assignment.

20. What are the consequences for defaulting?

If you default (following the process outlined in #18) by August 10, you will be flagged as a defaulter, but will be allowed to participate in future years of the exchange.

If you default (following the process outlined in #18) after August 10 but before the deadline, you will need to complete a work from your assignment prior to participating in the future years of the exchange. It will be your responsibility to contact the moderators to let them know you've completed a work.

If you do not follow the default process before the deadline or fail to submit your work, you will be banned from participating in future years of the exchange.

21. What is a pinch hit?

A pinch hit is an assignment made available because the originally assigned author needed to default. These will be sent out as needed after assignments are made.

22. How do I sign up to be a pinch hitter? Can I sign up to be a pinch hitter even if I'm not signed up to participate?

Information on pinch hit sign ups will be posted once assignments are sent. You may sign up to be a pinch hitter even if you're not formally participating in the exchange - the only requirement is that you have an AO3 account.

23. How are pinch hits distributed and claimed?

More details on pinch hits will be posted once assignments are sent. Pinch hits will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.

Assigned pinch hits will show up in the same way as a regular assignment (see #12).

24. How do I post a pinch hit?

Pinch hits are posted in the same way as a regular assignment (see #15).

25. What are treats?

Treats are extra gift work that may be written by participants (and sometimes even non-participant authors). Some participants might choose to write a second fic or create a second piece of art for their recipient. The full list of requests will be made available on the AO3 approximately three weeks prior to the deadline, and this list can be used as inspiration for treats as well. Treats are neither required or expected, but are certainly welcome.

If you decide to give a treat, you won't have an assignment and therefore won't be able to use the "Post to fulfill" button. Instead, go to the current challenge page on the AO3, and click on the "Post To Collection" button. This will take you to a form with the challenge collection name pre-filled. You will need to enter the recipient's name in the "Gift this work to" box, then fill in the rest of the form as you normally would when posting a work and post.

26. Do treats need to meet the same requirements as a work that fulfills a request?

No. Because treats are optional and are over and above the exchange gift, there is no minimum word count on fics and more flexibility in terms of art work. Manips, icons, wallpapers, etc. are acceptable when given as treats.

Comments

[lynndyre]

Would you consider including threesomes? There are a few m/m/m ships I'd love to both request and offer.

[mm_rares_mods]

Unfortunately, not in the tagset. The focus is specifically on pairings. Requesters can indicate threesomes/moresomes they would be interested in seeing in their extra details/Dear Author letter, but works created for the exchange must focus on a requested pairing. (Treats are more flexible.)

[wildandfreehearts]

Same! It would open up some things I'd really like to be able to request and offer.

[crookedspoon]

Do you distribute pinch hits somewhere other than the comm, like Google groups or via e-mail for example? I'd love to help out if there was anything I could write, but I can't track the comm (for e-mail notifs) because dw only allows you so many spaces.

[mm_rares_mods]

We'll be looking at how to manage pinch hits once we get through nominations. Last year they were just posted here as there were only a few, but we will be looking into a better method through we can push those requests out to interested parties.

[elizabeth_rice]

I'm not signing up for any exchanges this year but if you need help with pinch hits, I'll be happy to help.

[mm_rares_mods]

Excellent! We'll be sorting out how to manage pinch hits in the next couple of weeks and will make a post with details.

[louise1]

Hi. If we need to make four requests and four offers when we sign up, does RPF of actors from a particular show count as a separate fandom than the show itself? "TV Show X" versus "TV Show X RPF"??

[mm_rares_mods]

They would be separate, yes, because they are separate fandom headings in the AO3.

[louise1]

Thanks.

[louise1]

Do the fandoms and pairings we request have to be the same as the ones we offer?

[mm_rares_mods]

Nope! They can overlap if you'd like or they can be completely different.

[louise1]

Thanks.

[fenellaevangela]

I was wondering if you'd be willing to reveal the requests summary during sign-ups?

[louise1]

Sorry to ask so many questions, but: on the sign-up form at AO3, are the pairings in the drop-down box for any given fandom the ONLY ones we can offer and/or request? Is there a list of nominated pairings, rather than just nominated fandoms? This would be much easier to understand. I think there are some fandoms listed that have no pairings in the drop-down box, or some that have only a few, when that doesn't seem likely. It's hard to understand which pairings are eligible to use.

[bluemanta]

Not a mod, but you can find all the nominated pairings for this exchange at this link:
http://archiveofourown.org/tag_sets/691

AO3 is a little buggie and sometimes it won't show you all the pairings available for the exchange in the drop-down box, so you are better to copy and past the pairings you want to request from the set linked above.

[louise1]

Thanks.

[themisto]

Hello dear mods, this is Themisto also on AO3. Could I ask you if you can update the url to my letter on my AO3 sign up with this one:
http://themisto.dreamwidth.org/1356.html

I'm sorry for bothering you with this, I totally forgot to do that myself before the sign ups would close.

[mm_rares_mods]

This is the URL that's already there, so it looks like you're all set!