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What's a ficathon
A ficathon is a story exchange where you sign up to write a story and, in exchange, you get a story written for you!
To give your assigned writer something to work with, you'll be asked to provide three prompts when you sign up, together with some information on what you would like (for example, genre and pairing wise) and what you would not like (for example 'no deathfic' or 'I'd rather not get pairing Y'). Your assigned writer will then write a story based on one of these prompts (or a combination of prompts if they're feeling particularly creative) and you'll do the same for your assigned recipient in return.
Assignments will be kept anonymous until the day of posting - i.e. you won't know who is writing for you until they post their story, and you won't reveal who you're writing for until the day stories are due.
All stories will be posted on the same day so there will (hopefully) be a smorgasbord of fic to read.
How it works
Sign up below, giving the required information and providing an e-mail address to which we can send your assignment.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
aithine and I will then mix and match requests and assign you someone to write for.
When the big day arrives, you post your work in your LJ or on another journal site or your webpage and I make a post and ask you to comment, linking to your work and saying who it's for. Thenaithine and I put together a master list of all stories.
How long does the story need to be?
At least 1,000 words.
When does it have to be done by?
Sign ups are open until 30 April.
Assignments will be sent out in early May.
Stories are due on 30 June 2008. That means you'll have around 8 weeks to write something.
What if I can't complete my assignment on time?
First of all, please give it your best shot. It's really not fair if someone signs up, delivers their promised assigment and then discovers that the person assigned to provide something for them has dropped out.
That being said, if there's no helping it, please let eitheraithine or me know as soon as possible. The earlier you can let us know, the more time we have to find someone to step into the breach (pinch hit).
Why only stories?
We've run thing-a-thons before, where people sign up to create fanart as well as stories, but as this is the first time we've run one of these in the Primeval fandom, we thought we'd keep it simple.
If there is interest in expanding the challenge to include vids, fanart etc, then we'll consider it for future thing-a-thons, but baby steps first :)
I see I can make it clear what I don't want written for me, but what if I can't/don't want to write something?
You'll also be able to say what you don't want to write (for example death fics, non-con, a particular pairing). However, as this is a small fandom, I'm going to ask that people are as flexible as they can be in what they'll write. We'll try and match recipient and writer as closely as possible, but it may not be possible to have a perfect match, for example if you only request a very rare pairing or indicate that you're only willing to write a very rare pairing. Obviously, if you say that you can't write a particular pairing, you won't be assigned it, but on the other hand if you say you'll only write a particular pairing, then it may not be possible to accomodate you if no one requests it.
Also, please bear in mind that you are trying to fill someone else's request. You may like writing and reading angsty, non-con or death fics but that doesn't mean that your recipient will like receiving a story that contains these things. Please take a cue from the prompts they've submitted.
What should my prompts be?
Anything you like, really. To give you some ideas, it can be: a short synopsis of a story; an opening line; a quote you think might be inspiring; or three words that you'd like your assigned author to include in the story. Please keep the prompts fairly simple rather than detailed plot synopses, because they're no fun for the writers to work with.
However, we are going to caveat this a little:
- please keep your prompts clean. That doesn't mean that the end story needs to be ::g:: but there are a lot of younger authors in the fandom, so you should bear in mind that one of them may receive your prompts and word them accordingly.
- please be reasonable about your requests. A ficathon is a great place to request a story that you may not get to read otherwise, but remember that someone has to write it.
This means that while we won't stop you from requesting original characters, crossovers or smut, only one of your prompts should fall into any of these categories. For the first two, there's no guarantee that your assigned author will be familiar with the original character you or your friends may have created or any show other than Primeval that you watch. For the last one, if your assigned author isn't old enough to read (and therefore write) explicit stuff, then again they need to have prompts that they can work with. In all three cases, that would mean that these prompts would be automatically eliminated, and we need to make sure that authors have at least two prompts that they can choose from.
Does that mean I can't write or won't get more adult stories?
No. Provided that you and your assigned author/recipient are adults and your recipient has indicated that they're fine with more adult stuff in their request, then it would be fine to write something like that. However, I would suggesting wording your prompts in such a way as to make it easy for people to also write non-adult stuff if they're not comfortable with it.
For example:
- I'd like a dark Stephen and Nick story, with slash preferred, and first time if you can make it
- I'd like a romantic first time Abby/Connor story, featuring Rex, an accident with a tranquiliser gun and a prehistoric creature we haven't seen yet.
Those requests wouldn't be rating specific, but could be written to any rating.
What if I don't have a livejournal? What if I don't have a webpage?
If you don't have a livejournal, you can still play. Just provide your e-mail address and I'll send the assignment there. When the day arrives you can either send me the link to your work, whether that's posted to livejournal, the web or another journalling site, or, if none of these are applicable, you can send it to me and I'll post it to my webspace and link it. I'll also be mirroring the masterlist post on insanejournal as well as livejournal, and possibly journalfen if there's interest from there.
Cool. What do I need to do?
Comment below in the following format:
Name/livejournal:
e-mail address:
Three prompts: e.g. Connor and Abby save the world from large prehistoric frogs! (Remember, you'll only get - and will have to write - one story.)
What you would like: e.g. 'a happy ending'.
What you would not like: e.g. 'everybody dies, omg!'
Maximum rating you can or will read: If you're not old enough to read (or write) smut, then you need to make it clear here so that your assigned author (and we) know how far they can go. Also, if you don't like reading stories with a high rating, again you can make that clear here so that you won't get a story you wouldn't be comfortable reading.
The pairings you would like: up to a maximum of three for your assigned writer to choose from - note: they don't have to write more than one unless they want to and you don't have to request a pairing. If you'd like a gen fic, please just put 'gen only' or 'no pairings' here.
What you don't want to write: e.g. deathfic, non-con, pairing etc.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? This means would you be interested in stepping in if someone else has to drop out, and fill in the gap so that no one is left without something nice on the day. If you think you can do that, please let us know.
A ficathon is a story exchange where you sign up to write a story and, in exchange, you get a story written for you!
To give your assigned writer something to work with, you'll be asked to provide three prompts when you sign up, together with some information on what you would like (for example, genre and pairing wise) and what you would not like (for example 'no deathfic' or 'I'd rather not get pairing Y'). Your assigned writer will then write a story based on one of these prompts (or a combination of prompts if they're feeling particularly creative) and you'll do the same for your assigned recipient in return.
Assignments will be kept anonymous until the day of posting - i.e. you won't know who is writing for you until they post their story, and you won't reveal who you're writing for until the day stories are due.
All stories will be posted on the same day so there will (hopefully) be a smorgasbord of fic to read.
How it works
Sign up below, giving the required information and providing an e-mail address to which we can send your assignment.
aithine and I will then mix and match requests and assign you someone to write for.When the big day arrives, you post your work in your LJ or on another journal site or your webpage and I make a post and ask you to comment, linking to your work and saying who it's for. Then
aithine and I put together a master list of all stories.How long does the story need to be?
At least 1,000 words.
When does it have to be done by?
Sign ups are open until 30 April.
Assignments will be sent out in early May.
Stories are due on 30 June 2008. That means you'll have around 8 weeks to write something.
What if I can't complete my assignment on time?
First of all, please give it your best shot. It's really not fair if someone signs up, delivers their promised assigment and then discovers that the person assigned to provide something for them has dropped out.
That being said, if there's no helping it, please let either
aithine or me know as soon as possible. The earlier you can let us know, the more time we have to find someone to step into the breach (pinch hit).Why only stories?
We've run thing-a-thons before, where people sign up to create fanart as well as stories, but as this is the first time we've run one of these in the Primeval fandom, we thought we'd keep it simple.
If there is interest in expanding the challenge to include vids, fanart etc, then we'll consider it for future thing-a-thons, but baby steps first :)
I see I can make it clear what I don't want written for me, but what if I can't/don't want to write something?
You'll also be able to say what you don't want to write (for example death fics, non-con, a particular pairing). However, as this is a small fandom, I'm going to ask that people are as flexible as they can be in what they'll write. We'll try and match recipient and writer as closely as possible, but it may not be possible to have a perfect match, for example if you only request a very rare pairing or indicate that you're only willing to write a very rare pairing. Obviously, if you say that you can't write a particular pairing, you won't be assigned it, but on the other hand if you say you'll only write a particular pairing, then it may not be possible to accomodate you if no one requests it.
Also, please bear in mind that you are trying to fill someone else's request. You may like writing and reading angsty, non-con or death fics but that doesn't mean that your recipient will like receiving a story that contains these things. Please take a cue from the prompts they've submitted.
What should my prompts be?
Anything you like, really. To give you some ideas, it can be: a short synopsis of a story; an opening line; a quote you think might be inspiring; or three words that you'd like your assigned author to include in the story. Please keep the prompts fairly simple rather than detailed plot synopses, because they're no fun for the writers to work with.
However, we are going to caveat this a little:
- please keep your prompts clean. That doesn't mean that the end story needs to be ::g:: but there are a lot of younger authors in the fandom, so you should bear in mind that one of them may receive your prompts and word them accordingly.
- please be reasonable about your requests. A ficathon is a great place to request a story that you may not get to read otherwise, but remember that someone has to write it.
This means that while we won't stop you from requesting original characters, crossovers or smut, only one of your prompts should fall into any of these categories. For the first two, there's no guarantee that your assigned author will be familiar with the original character you or your friends may have created or any show other than Primeval that you watch. For the last one, if your assigned author isn't old enough to read (and therefore write) explicit stuff, then again they need to have prompts that they can work with. In all three cases, that would mean that these prompts would be automatically eliminated, and we need to make sure that authors have at least two prompts that they can choose from.
Does that mean I can't write or won't get more adult stories?
No. Provided that you and your assigned author/recipient are adults and your recipient has indicated that they're fine with more adult stuff in their request, then it would be fine to write something like that. However, I would suggesting wording your prompts in such a way as to make it easy for people to also write non-adult stuff if they're not comfortable with it.
For example:
- I'd like a dark Stephen and Nick story, with slash preferred, and first time if you can make it
- I'd like a romantic first time Abby/Connor story, featuring Rex, an accident with a tranquiliser gun and a prehistoric creature we haven't seen yet.
Those requests wouldn't be rating specific, but could be written to any rating.
What if I don't have a livejournal? What if I don't have a webpage?
If you don't have a livejournal, you can still play. Just provide your e-mail address and I'll send the assignment there. When the day arrives you can either send me the link to your work, whether that's posted to livejournal, the web or another journalling site, or, if none of these are applicable, you can send it to me and I'll post it to my webspace and link it. I'll also be mirroring the masterlist post on insanejournal as well as livejournal, and possibly journalfen if there's interest from there.
Cool. What do I need to do?
Comment below in the following format:
Name/livejournal:
e-mail address:
Three prompts: e.g. Connor and Abby save the world from large prehistoric frogs! (Remember, you'll only get - and will have to write - one story.)
What you would like: e.g. 'a happy ending'.
What you would not like: e.g. 'everybody dies, omg!'
Maximum rating you can or will read: If you're not old enough to read (or write) smut, then you need to make it clear here so that your assigned author (and we) know how far they can go. Also, if you don't like reading stories with a high rating, again you can make that clear here so that you won't get a story you wouldn't be comfortable reading.
The pairings you would like: up to a maximum of three for your assigned writer to choose from - note: they don't have to write more than one unless they want to and you don't have to request a pairing. If you'd like a gen fic, please just put 'gen only' or 'no pairings' here.
What you don't want to write: e.g. deathfic, non-con, pairing etc.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? This means would you be interested in stepping in if someone else has to drop out, and fill in the gap so that no one is left without something nice on the day. If you think you can do that, please let us know.
Tags:
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From:
no subject
e-mail address:alienforce@gmail.com
Three prompts:
1. An anomaly opens up into the not quite so prehistoric past and they find mankind, of a sort
2. Jenny is stranded through an anomaly alongside Helen who they had been chasing
3. Something covering what went on with the rest of the time and changes to the world Nick returned to, relating to Abby and Connor, like what happened with his degree and her job, their moving flats etc.
What you would like:AU's, darkfic, UST, unrequited, jealousy over other (possible) relationship but with a somewhat happy ending/glimmer of hope, character study, backstory, scifi, science or anthro bent to story
What you would not like:songfic, pure fluff, script format
Maximum rating you can or will read: Any
The pairings you would like: Abby/Connor, Nick/Claudia (or Jenny if you like), Stephen/Helen - also happy for gen team/friendship or character fic.
What you don't want to write: non-con, slash
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Yes.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: moonlettuce @ livejournal . com
Three prompts: a) Nick gets jealous when someone else starts paying attention to Stephen. b) The team finding out that Nick and Stephen are together. c) Prehistoric sex pollen.
What you would like: A happy ending for Nick/Stephen.
What you would not like: Death fic.
Maximum rating you can or will read: Anything from G to NC-17. Basically, whatever rating the story wants to go to is absolutely fine by me :-)
The pairings you would like: Nick/Stephen (Do I have to choose more than one? ::grin::)
What you don't want to write: I'd prefer to write slash, preferably Nick/Stephen, but I'll write what you need me to :-) Basically, there's nothing I won't write if needed.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? I'm here if you need me.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: louise@dennis-sellers.com
Three prompts:
What you would like: I like clever stories with strong plots.
What you would not like: No strong dislike but I would prefer not to read AUs that attempt to "fix" something in the show. Explicit slash doesn't do anything for me and non-con squicks me out. I prefer not to read every single thought that crosses a character's mind, I'd rather work it out from their actions and surface thoughts.
Maximum rating you can or will read: Any
The pairings you would like: No preference.
What you don't want to write: Explicit porn.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? In theory yes, in practice it depends how busy I am. Feel free to ask but I may well say no.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: adafrog@gmail.com
Three prompts:
-Nick/Stephen investigate an anomaly by themselves, don't find anything, end up reminiscing old times.
-Helen or Claudia find out Nick and Stephen are a couple, she isn't happy, but they don't care. Happy ending with the girl giving up.
-Something preseries with N/S, perhaps them fighting over who had to teach a class, or the tracking story.
What you would like: Nick/Stephen, happy ending, banter, action (sexually, or actual action lol), fluff, rest of team.
What you would not like: no death fic, no high angst, no current Nick/female, no non-con, no partner betrayal, no Stephen/female
Maximum rating you can or will read: as high as you want.
The pairings you would like: Nick/Stephen really, Stephen/Ryan or Nick/Lester okay
What you don't want to write: same as what I don't want to read.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Probably not.
From:
no subject
Name/livejournal: Cedara
e-mail address: Cedara at livejournal dot com
Three prompts:
- Crossover with Torchwood: Anomaly near Cardiff. Cutter's team captures Myfanwy, the Torchwood Three pet pterodactyl/pteranodon
- AU, Jenny has a girlfriend, not a boyfriend
- post season two: Nick returns home one day and finds his husband, Stephen, at home, only nobody except Cutter remembers that Stephen died. Jenny is a regular team member at that point.
What you would like: happy endings, gen, slash, femslash, angst, humour
What you would not like: death fic, non-con, rape
Maximum rating you can or will read: anything is fine, as long as you give me plot
The pairings you would like: no parings, Nick/Stephen, Abby/Connor
What you don't want to write: deathfic, non-con, rape, and any pairing that's not Nick/Stephen or Abby/Connor
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Nope. I'm glad if I manage to finish this one.
From:
joining up
email: blossomfighter@yahoo.ca
PROMPTS:
1. A angst Conner focused story about his past that the team discovers; could be a crossover, or something like abuse (a reason why he always wears long sleeves and layers of clothing)
2. One of the team is lost on the wrong side of a closed anomoly (only one of them)in either the past or the future.
3. A crossover with Doctor Who/Torchwood that dosen't have to do with dinosaurs or anamolies.
WHAT I WOULD LIKE: Conner-centric if possible, team-friendship, AU's, and slash friendly.
WHAT I WOULD NOT LIKE: Mary-Sue's, romance-concentrated, death fics, character bashing.
MAXIMUM RATING: all ratings allowed and welcomed.
PAIRINGS: Conner/everyone, slash is allowed.
WHAT I WON'T WRITE: pairing.
PINCH-HIT: yes, I would be willing.
This is a first for me, so, bear with me, and I hope we'll have fun!
From:
no subject
Three prompts:
a) The show hints fairly strongly in the first season that Connor is rather inexperienced when it comes to women. So what I'd love is a story that features not only first time Abby/Connor, but a first time for Connor entirely and for that to be shown in a realistic way. In other words, it shouldn't be perfect but it should be a little fumbling and a lot sweet and slow and gentle, with a patient Abby and a shy and/or overeager Connor without turning it into a joke. Because that would make me happy.
It doesn't need to be explicit either, not unless you want to go there.
b) This pic (from the movie Stranded) makes me want a story where Abby and Connor end up stranded on the other side of an anomaly, either an AU of 2.04 where they're stranded in Mer world or any other scenario you can think of. Basically I'd like an excuse to have Connor end up looking like hawt Pirate Connor and for Abby to notice. As plotty or non-plotty as you like.
c) Connor and Abby save the world from large prehistoric frogs! Doesn't have to be that particular species, but the mental images amuse me anyway ::g::
What you would like: A happy ending, although I don't mind angst or hurt comfort or anything like that along the way. Team as family fic also makes me happy, even if it's a dysfunctional family on occasion.
What you would not like: deathfic, non-con, character bashing.
Maximum rating you can or will read: up to NC-17
The pairings you would like: Abby/Connor for preference although I'll also cheerfully read Abby/Connor/Nick, whether subtext or text. If I'm assigned to someone who is only comfortable writing slash, I'd prefer Connor/Nick. I'll also happily read gen
What you don't want to write: Deathfic, non-con, character bashing. I'm fine with most pairings.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Yes
From:
no subject
Name/livejournal:
e-mail address: fredbassett@wotcc.org.uk
Three prompts: 1) Ryan has a bad moment when his rifle jams 2) Stephen's tracking skills save the day 3) Lester just wishes they'd all stop being a pain in the neck and leave him in peace
What you would like: slash, something involving Ryan.
What you would not like: death fic, het
Maximum rating you can or will read: Happy up to and including NC17 and 18 rating to read and write
The pairings you would like: Ryan/Stephen, Ryan/Lester, Ryan/Nick
What you don't want to write: deathfic, het
Would you be willing to pinch hit? No, sorry, can't promise I'll have enough time.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: joereaves AT gmail DOT com
Three prompts: 1. a could be an episode plot but from the pov of one of the nameless Special Forces soldiers. 2. S2 Nick and Stephen get stuck in the past. 3. Something big and impossible to cover up (T Rex, Argentinasaurus, sauropod of some kind etc) in somewhere very public (Oxford St, Wembley in the middle of the FA Cup, live on TV, etc etc)
What you would like: slash, Lester having a decent sized role if possible, Ryan still being around if it's S2 (don't care if you explain why or not)
What you would not like: graphic het, character death
Maximum rating you can or will read: Anything.
The pairings you would like: Nick/Stephen, Connor/Ryan, Lester/any of the guys
What you don't want to write: het, deathfic, non con
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Yes I could probably manage that.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: Keenir@hotmail.com
Three prompts:
1 Helen saves the day.
2 An intelligent species that the fossil record never mentioned.
3 What if Helen had given her Cretaceous offer to Nick in the pilot ep of series 1?
What you would like: mind-games, puzzles, time, plausibility, biology, history, anthropology, - but most of all – you having fun writing it.
What you would not like: threesomes/moresomes, overt slash, noncom, character assassination/badmouthing, human/creature het/slash,
Maximum rating you can or will read: Mature.
The pairings (et al) you would like: anthropology, Helen/Nick, Helen/Ryan, biology, Ryan/Abby, Lester/woman, Connor/Caroline, history.
What you don't want to write: deathfic, non-con, character assassination/badmouthing, human/creature het/slash.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Yes.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: fiona.spence @ dsl.pipex.com
Three prompts:
1) Cutter has to mark Connor's dissertation.
2) Ryan goes to Tesco to buy supplies.
3) Connor tells someone about his to-do list
What you would like: angst, fluff, humour, tension, attraction, happy ending
What you would not like: death, children, AU
Maximum rating you can or will read: NC-17
The pairings you would like: Ryan/Connor, Ryan/Nick, Stephen/Connor
What you don't want to write: NC-17
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Yes.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: telperion_15@yahoo.co.uk
Three prompts:
1. A look at university life, with other faculty members wondering about the odd goings on of Cutter and co.
2. Someone badly injured, and the other has to leave them alone while they go and get help.
3. Ryan loses his temper when the Cutter et al do something stupid/dangerous.
What you would like: Either angst with a happy ending, or something amusing and fluffy.
What you would not like: Character death, het, children
Maximum rating you can or will read: All the way up to NC-17
The pairings you would like: Nick/Stephen, Stephen/Ryan, Nick/Connor
What you don't want to write: deathfic, het, crossovers
Would you be willing to pinch hit? No, can't guarantee I'll have the time.
From:
no subject
Name/livejournal: Luka/Lukadreaming
Three prompts:
A letter from Stephen's past
A row at the university with a student or colleague
Ryan goes missing
What you would like: Slash. A happy ending if possible, but angst is more than fine along the way!
What you would not like: A death story, crossovers and het!
Maximum rating you can or will read: High as you like!
The pairings you would like: Nick/Stephen, Stephen/Ryan
What you don't want to write: Deathfic, het, crossovers
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Realistically I'll only manage to write one story!
From:
no subject
e-mail address:: lilandina at aol.com
Three prompts:: (a)Lester has problems explaining exactly what has come out of an anomaly to the Minister. (b) Rex gets the team in trouble (again) (c) Just how and when did Cutter learn to wield a kurtana?
What you would like:: action, adventure, humour
What you would not like:: fluff. Anything involving small children - that includes mpreg. I'm not keen on Helen (so deathfic would be fine so long as it's confined to her...)
Maximum rating you can or will read: : I'll read anything (old enough to know better)
The pairings you would like:: Any or none (I'm quite happy with threesomes - or more).
What you don't want to write:: pwp, plumbing.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? : Possibly - depending on the prompt.
From:
no subject
Email: jill@smallwalls.freeserve.co.uk
3 prompts:
1. Connor + Abby *or* Connor + Cutter trapped somewhere with a dangerous creature
2. Team adventure with interesting creatures (not just another big predator)
3. Connor/Abby UST (angst, sweet and/or funny, or all of the above)
What you would like: Teamwork, action/adventure, happy/positive ending (although angst en-route is fine).
What you would not like: PWP, explicit smut.
Max rating: Any
Pairing you would like: gen is fine, Connor/Abby, Connor/Cutter
What you don’t want to write: Explicit smut. I’m willing to write mild slash, but would prefer gen or het.
Would you be willing to pinch hit: Sorry, no. I can’t guarantee I’ll have the time at short notice.
From:
no subject
e-mail address: temaris at gmail
Three prompts:
1/ part or all of the team are trapped when an anomaly closes, and they have to find a way home.
2/ Helen's first trip through the anomaly.
3/ Connor unpicks the timeline that resulted in Ryan's death but can't bring himself to tell anyone why it was so important to him. Ryan works it out ;-)
What you would like: a happy ending, action/adventure and Connor heroics :-)
What you would not like: No death fic, unhappy endings or non-canon partner betrayal please, and no Nick/Stephen or Nick/Claudia-Jenny. Sorry!
Maximum rating you can or will read: Any
The pairings you would like: Abby/Connor; Connor slashed with Nick or Ryan or ... actually, anyone, pretty much :-)
What you don't want to write: I'll try anything.
Would you be willing to pinch hit? Er. Catch me on chat and maybe :-)