About & FAQ

[ashling]

Tagset | AO3 Collection Profile

NOTE: THIS HAS BEEN UPDATED AS OF 10/01/19
 

Welcome to Peaky Blinders Exchange Round Two: Season 5 Edition! It's a gift exchange for Peaky Blinders fandom, which means, in essence: you write one gift for someone else, and you get at least one gift.

 

This challenge begins on October 4, when tag nominations open.

 

For more information, updates, and pinch hits, subscribe to this dreamwidth or the exchange tumblr.

 

The full FAQ and rules can be found on the profile page. If you have any questions, please contact the mods at peakyblindersexchangemod@gmail.com! We're happy to help.

What is this?

By Order of the Peaky Blinders Fic Exchange is a gift exchange for the Peaky Blinders fandom, focusing on ships and friendship combos. Everyone writes a story of at least 500 words. In return, they will receive a story of at least 500 words.

 

General schedule:

Tagset nominations open: October 4
Tagset nominations close: October 11 (countdown here)
Signups open: October 12
Signups close: October 20 (countdown here)

Assignments go out: October 21

Posting deadline: November 22 (countdown here)

Story reveals: November 29 (countdown here)

Author reveal: December 6

This exchange has four stages: Nominations, Signups, Assignments, Reveals.

During Nominations, people will use AO3 to nominate which relationships they're interested in writing or receiving. Basically, when you nominate a relationship, you add that relationship to a list of relationships that anyone can ask for. It's a way of standardizing things for matching purposes. If we didn't have nominations, then you'd run into a situation where one person asked for "Finn Shelby & Tommy Shelby" and one person asked for "Finn Shelby & Thomas Shelby" and the computer wouldn't know to match them up.

You do not have to nominate in order to sign up. Each participant will be given 20 slots to nominate relationships. & means a platonic relationship. / means a sexual or romantic one. Character & None (e.g. "Polly Gray & None") denotes a character study. CROSSOVER RELATIONSHIPS WILL BE ALLOWED, as long as you disambiguate the crossover character (e.g. "Tommy Shelby/Ned Stark (Game of Thrones)"). 

 

During Signups, people use a form on the AO3 to sign up to request and offer to create Peaky Blinders fic. While all participants are required to request at least three (with a maximum of ten) relationships they wish to receive a gift for, they are only obligated to create one fic.

 

After signups, participants are matched up based on what they offered and requested, and Assignments are sent out. Participants have about four weeks to create a fic that fits the minimum criteria (but can, of course, exceed it!)

 

Stories must be posted to the By Order of the Peaky Blinders Fic Exchange challenge on AO3 by the deadline. They will automatically appear as anonymous "Mystery Gifts" for the recipients.

 

When works are revealed, author names will still be hidden. If creators wish to comment, they can but they will show up as Anonymous Creator until authors are revealed.

When creators will be revealed, you can see who wrote everything..

 

FAQs beneath the cut. 

I don't want to sign up for the challenge, but still want to participate. How can I do that?

You can be a beta, cheer people on, create treats (read: additional gifts) for any requests that catch your eye, or pick up a pinch hit.

 

 

 

Requests

You have to request at least three relationships. You can ask for up to ten relationships if you want. You will receive one fic with at least one of these relationships.

 

What are the details on my sign-up?

The details on the sign-up are any details you'd like to see in your gift. These details are optional to include, and are optional for your assigned creator to follow. The only thing your creator is required to follow are your relationship preference and anything that you state is an absolute "do not want".

 

Some things that you can include to help your gift creator are: lists of tropes you like, explanations of why you like that relationship or character, prompts, and other things that you think will help spark ideas. You can look at other people’s requests for inspiration.

 

 

 

Offers

You have to offer to write at least four relationships. You can offer up to a hundred, if you want. Ultimately, you will only be writing one fic and it will only have to include one of these relationships.

 

You can also offer "Any" relationships. Remember: Any means any of the relationships nominated. Ask yourself whether you are sure you want to write any relationship!

 

Can I change my mind about my signup after I submit it?

You can edit your signups as much as you want until the signups close.

 

Can I switch my assignment?

Assignments can't be changed under most circumstances. If the matching was in error on AO3's part (rare, but it could happen), let the mods know ASAP. Otherwise, you're free to contact the mods anyway, but the answer will probably be no.

 

Can I prepare a fic for any of my recipient's relationships, even if I didn't sign up for them?

Sure! As long as you create a fic for one of the fandoms they requested, you're good.

 

Can I create more than one fic?

Sure! As long as by the due date you have prepared a complete fanwork for one of your recipient's fandoms, using the relationship requested, then you can do as many fanworks as you like. The sky is the limit!

 

Will I get more than one gift?

It's not guaranteed. You might! But you also might not. You are guaranteed one gift.

 

 

 

Posting

How do I post my work?

Go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Peaky Blinders Exchange page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".

 

Click "Post to fulfill", and you'll be taken to a posting form. This will automatically post your work into the current year's challenge. It also has your recipient's name already filled in. All you need to do is fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.

 

If you're posting a Treat, you won't have an assignment or "post to fulfil" button. Instead, go to the current challenge page on the AO3, and click on "Post To Collection" under the challenge title. This will take you to a form with the challenge collection name already filled in. Fill in the recipient's name manually, then fill in the rest of the form, preview it to make sure it looks okay, and post.

 

Can I post my story before the deadline?

Please do! You can’t post the story after the deadline. (If you need an extension, email the mods.)

 

Can I edit my work after it's posted?

Yes, AO3 allows editing at any time.

 

Can I add creator's notes?

You can, but they will be visible as soon as the works are revealed. Be careful not to put anything here that would give away your identity.

 

 

 

Defaulting

What if I can't finish my assignment?

If you can't finish in time, you can default. This lets the mods know that they need to find a pinch hitter to create a gift for your recipient.

 

To default, go to your Assignment page on AO3, which you can find under the "Assignments" link on your Profile page, or on the Peaky Blinders Exchange page as "Your Assignment". You should see two buttons at the bottom of your assignment: "Post to fulfill", and "Default".

 

Click the Default button, then click the confirmation on the popup that appears. The mod will be notified and will find a pinch hitter to fulfill your assignment.

 

What happens if I default?

You are no longer required to prepare a fanwork for that person. If you default and then are defaulted on in turn, then you are not guaranteed a gift.

 

What if the deadline comes around and I do not default or turn in my assignment?

You are not eligible to participate in future years until you complete your assignment.

 

 

 

Pinch Hits

What are pinch hits?

Pinch hits are assignments that the original author has had to default on, or rarely, assignments that couldn't be matched to any authors. As people default, pinch hits will be posted on the dreamwidth and tumblr so that anyone can choose to create for them.

 

How do I claim a pinch hit?

Send an email to the mods at peakyblindersexchangemod@gmail.com and we will assign you the pinch hit.

 

Deadlines for pinch hits will depend on how late they go out. Last-minute pinch hits tend to get a little extra time.

 

(note: FAQ adapted from the excellent Chocolate Box exchange FAQ)