2025 Schedule & Rule Updates

Jul. 10th, 2025 10:54 pm
fic_in_a_box_mod: (Default)
[personal profile] fic_in_a_box_mod posting in [community profile] ficinabox

Hello friends! Below is the schedule for FIAB 2025, which will run Late July-November instead of August-November.

Schedule changes, in brief:

  • We've added in extra time for mod admin tasks such as tagset clean up and request checking.
  • We've given you a full 2 week sign up period
  • We've added a couple days of extra time to the creation period.

This extra time will help us utilize our helpers better because we won't have such tight scheduling! It will also allow for the possibility that the swaps puzzle will take longer than in previous years – we don't want to punish swappers with less creation time if it takes us longer than usual to get swaps out, so just building a little extra time into the creation period seemed best.

The rest of this post will cover:

  • Updates to several specific medium tags and medium rules.
  • A slight change to the way OCs can be nominated.

Discord server reminder! Fic In A Box is a complex exchange even for exchange veterans, so we thought that if we were going to invite a bunch of new people to the exchange we should provide a space where they can ask lots of questions throughout the process. This server is open to everyone (we won't kick you out if you've been doing FIAB for years already) but its purpose is to help people participate in the exchange, so it will probably be most useful/enjoyable if you're kinda confused about the exchange. Like FIAB itself, the server is an 18+ Choose Not To Warn space.

Join the FIAB Newbie Discord! (link)

2025 Schedule:

July 24th-August 2: Nominations Pre-Gaming (participants can load tags from last year’s tagset into this tagset)
August 3-12: Nominations
August 13-16: Nominations Cleanup
August 17th-August 31th: Signups
August 20th: Swap requests open
September 6: Assignments Out By This Date
September 7: Swap requests close
October 19: Assignments Due
November 9: Last Day To Submit Makeup Assignments
November 15: Work Reveals
November 29: Creator Reveals

All deadlines are at 11:59 PM EDT except for those in November, which will happen at 11:59 PM EST

New In 2025

Mediums Rules Updates

Art Ruleset

We'll be adjusting the language for the ruleset to make it clear that if multiple characters are requested they must all be visibly within the artwork.

We will also be adding "Papercraft" (creating an image using layered paper cut into the necessary shapes) as a style to the ruleset. This will be a possible style for any art tag that doesn't specify another style (such as "Drawn") and can be requested specifically by nominating the desired art tags with at "Papercraft - " prefix.

Multimedia Works

We'll be adding more guidance for the requirements if combining two different requested medium tags into a multimedia work in the Posting Guidelines.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Printable Sticker Page Layout

We are changing the rules for stickers to clarify a medium-checking issue we had last year. New rules will set a minimum number of stickers per sheet (five unique stickers per sheet), for an equivalent of 2k per sticker sheet.

Medium Opt-In: Audio - Fanmix
Medium Opt-In: Audio - FST (Fan Soundtrack)

These tags will be merged into the tag "Medium Opt-In: Audio - Fanmix/FST (Fan Soundtrack)"

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Cross Stitch Pattern

We will be updating the rules for this medium to clarify that you can't auto-generate a cross stitch pattern from pre-existing art.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Web-based choice-based IF not hosted on AO3
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Twine
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Ink
Medium Opt-In: Writing - Interactive Fiction - AO3 style Choose Your Own Adventure
Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Visual Novel

We will be restructuring all of these tags into the following four tags:

  • Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - AO3-style Choose Your Own Adventure
  • Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Choice-Based IF Not Hosted On AO3
  • Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Illustrated AO3-style Choose Your Own Adventure
  • Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Interactive Fiction - Illustrated Choice-Based IF Not Hosted On AO3

Length Opt-In: Drabble
Length Opt-In: Double Drabble
Length Opt-In: Triple Drabble

These are being changed to the following:

  • Length Opt-In: Drabble (100 Words Exactly)
  • Length Opt-In: Double Drabble (200 Words Exactly)
  • Length Opt-In: Triple Drabble (300 Words Exactly)

Length Opt-In: Drabble Series

We are removing this tag because it caused some confusion last year. If you'd like to request drabble series please mention it in your optional details. Drabble series of over 1000 words are opt out (similar to other fic formats such as 5+1 things), and for drabble series of under 1000 words you may opt-in within your optional details while requesting a drabble tag.

Medium Opt-In: Unique Rules - Craftwork

These tags will be adjusted to have an equivalent of 2k.

Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Recipe book
Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipes

For clarity these will be singularized into:

  • Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Recipe
  • Medium Opt-In: Instructions - Cocktail Recipe

In addition it will be clarified in the rules that recipes are required to be the original creations of the poster.

Nominations Rules Updates

Original Character(s) nominations will not be accepted. This is because "Original Character(s)" is meant to mean either Original Character (singular) or Original Characters (plural) but we've seen some evidence that people who want just one or the other are selecting this phrasing simply because it's common in canonicals.

Tentatively, we will try out simply editing these nominations to be singular if they come up on the AO3 interface, but if that's too burdensome we will reject like all other incorrect tags.

Click here to view tag examples!

Elmo & Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Character(s) (Sesame Street)

Not allowed per this new rule.

Elmo & Original Character (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Character (Sesame Street)

Allowed! These tags will get you a work with one OC, plus other listed characters if there are any.

Elmo & Original Characters (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Characters (Sesame Street)
Solo: Original Characters (Sesame Street)

Allowed! These tags are phrased as plural, but per our other nominations rules "Original Characters" counts as an ambiguous group so requests with this phrasing could be filled with 1 OC or 2+ OCs.

Note that you can't limit the number of OCs if you pick a tag like "Big Bird/Original Characters (Sesame Street)" so if you're really only interested in a threesome but not a foursome, you should instead nominate like…

Elmo & Original Character & Original Character (Sesame Street)
Big Bird/Original Character/Original Character (Sesame Street)

Allowed! These tags need to be filled with as many OCs as are listed in the tag. Per other nominations rules, you can list up to 6 characters in a relationship tag.

If Big Bird and five other characters isn't a big enough orgy/polycule for you, you can A) list the last character as the plural "Original Characters" to leave yourself open to more than 5 OCs, or B) use your optional details to opt into more OCs at your creator's discretion. (We suggest you do this in the AO3 optional details box so it's easy for us to find, rather than buried in a letter.)

Sunshine Revival 2025 #2 (Journaling)

Jul. 10th, 2025 01:45 am
mxcatmoon: (flower purple)
[personal profile] mxcatmoon
Sunshine-Revival-Carnival-4.png

The sun is just starting to disappear behind the horizon and crickets can almost be heard over the music and the laughter echoing through the carnival night. You can't see any stars yet, but the twinkling lights of an amusement ride are highlighting the graceful curves of a swan boat and the high arching hearts of the entrance. Grab the hand of a sweetheart or a sweet friend and embark on a journey through the…

Challenge #2

Tunnel of Love

Journaling: The romance of summer! What do you love? Write about anything you feel sentimental about or that gets your heart pumping
.

Read more... )And here's one of my favorite photos. I took it at a county fair in 2011:

Carnival rides at night 2011
longficmod: Photo of a woman tying a running shoe (Default)
[personal profile] longficmod posting in [community profile] fandom5k
Thank you to all our pinch hitters. <3 Remember that anyone who isn't signed up but is only pinch hitting can leave prompts at our treats for pinch hitters post! This is a great place to look if you're interested in creating treats.

Ideally, these would be due 18 July at 23:59 US Eastern time, one day before our planned reveals date. However, it's possible I'll have to delay the collection opening to make sure all participants are covered, so if you know you can take one of these pinch hits but will need longer than the 18th, please let me know, and we can discuss.

A delay looks likely at this time, and I'll make an announcement about that tomorrow.

If you can claim one of these, please comment with your AO3 name and the number of the pinch hit you want. All comments are screened.

PDPH 10 - The West Wing, Neko no Ongaeshi | The Cat Returns, Severance (TV) )


CLAIMED - PDPH 13 - Naruto (Anime & Manga), Avatar: The Last Airbender (Cartoon 2005), Original Work, Gundam Wing, Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies), Fire Emblem: Fuukasetsugetsu | Fire Emblem: Three Houses, House of the Dragon (TV) )

It's not my job, man

Jul. 9th, 2025 08:08 pm
mxcatmoon: Chico (Chico)
[personal profile] mxcatmoon
Yes, I'm a lot less stressed these days. A co-worker even mentioned how I sounded happier the other day.

But I'm gonna ramble a bit anyway... )

Gabriel, Good Omens
fanweeklymod: (Default)
[personal profile] fanweeklymod posting in [community profile] fandomweekly
Challenge 266:
A WALK IN THE PARK
What could be easier? It’s just a nice stroll through the park. A relaxing summer evening, a crisp fall morning, an afternoon with the kids…

But maybe it’s not quite that simple. Maybe the weather’s out to get your characters – a relaxing walk is interrupted by rain, snow, or lightning. Maybe the park has been overrun with wild geese, and now you’re facing a gauntlet of angry birds just to get to the picnic tables. Or maybe no matter how hard your characters try, getting an afternoon off from saving the world just isn’t happening.

So how does their walk in the park go? Do they get to enjoy it?

Write a story about a walk in the park.

BONUS GOAL: Birdwatching

If your submission features birds (of any species), it will earn an extra point to be tallied in voting!


Challenge ends Monday, July 14 at 9:00PM EST.
• Post submissions as new entries using the template in the profile
• Tag this week's entries as: [#] submission, 266 – a walk in the park
• If you have questions about this challenge, please ask them here

[#265 | Trickster] Results Post

Jul. 9th, 2025 10:02 pm
fanweeklymod: (Default)
[personal profile] fanweeklymod posting in [community profile] fandomweekly
Here are this week's votes tallied, and below the cut are our winners for Challenge #265 – Trickster!

This week's finalists are... )

Total Challenge Words Written: 3135

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you to everyone who took the time to cast their votes! [personal profile] autobotscoutriella will be making this week’s banners, so keep an eye out for those next weekend.

You may now post your Challenge 265 entries to any additional communities, blogs, archives or sites as you'd like! We also have a FandomWeekly AO3 Collection if you'd like to add your stories there!
summerofhorrorexchange: silhouette of killer (Default)
[personal profile] summerofhorrorexchange posting in [community profile] yuletide
Summer of Horror could use your help! We have one pinch hit left, due July 11 at 11:59 PM EDT or negotiable. Minimums are 500 words or a piece of original art (no manips), either digital or on unlined paper. For claiming and more details, go here.

PH 3 - FIC, ART - Psychonauts (Video Games), Higurashi no Naku Koro ni | Higurashi When They Cry, Umineko no Naku Koro ni | When the Seagulls Cry, Mortal Kombat (Video Games 1992-2020)

Thank you!

[#265 | Trickster] Voting Post

Jul. 7th, 2025 09:48 pm
fanweeklymod: (Default)
[personal profile] fanweeklymod posting in [community profile] fandomweekly
Here are the entries for this challenge:

List of entries )

Please Note: Because we only have 4 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!

In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.

When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:

First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title

Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.



Voting closes Wednesday, July 9 at 9:00PM EST.
quicksilverfox3: (Default)
[personal profile] quicksilverfox3 posting in [community profile] fandomweekly
Theme Prompt: 265 - Trickster
Title: Early Access Wife Plot
Fandom: Scum Villain Self Saving System
Rating/Warnings: minor off screen injury
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 688
Summary: Luo Binghe is sick of women throwing themselves at his Shizun. Shen Yuan wants to know why they’re running into wife plots early.

make you proud )
mwahjericao: lain from serial experiments lain (Default)
[personal profile] mwahjericao posting in [community profile] fandomweekly
Theme Prompt: #265 - Trickster
Title: Dave's Devilishly Dubious Discreetness
Fandom: Dayshift At Freddy's
Rating/Warnings: PG, stalking.
Bonus: No
Word Count: 448
Summary: You couldn’t possibly not see him when he was in the room. It’s hard to ignore a 7 foot tall, scrawny, purple zombie, with a malleable neck and very visible scars on top of all that. That, however, never stopped him from being the sneakiest guy Jack knew.

Read more... )

Just to add...

Jul. 7th, 2025 02:08 am
mxcatmoon: Paul Stanley01 (Paul Stanley01)
[personal profile] mxcatmoon
Just wanted to clarify my previous post about Corvyx. I encourage everyone to support these artists via Patreon and elsewhere, because they deserve it. I'm just very grateful that people like me who can barely afford to buy groceries are blessed to be able to listen to these artists even when we don't have the money to pay. (That's why I like, sub, and share as much as I can).

He's also on Spotify, FYI. I'm about to head over there now.

So, while I'm here, have another video. This seems to be one of his most popular ones.


Why have I never heard of Corvyx?!

Jul. 7th, 2025 01:35 am
mxcatmoon: LP (LP)
[personal profile] mxcatmoon
I'm ashamed to say I've just discovered Corvyx tonight. He is a phenomenal talent. The kind of performer you listen to with your mouth hanging open. His videos are professional quality, too. There are so many amazingly talented musicians on YouTube, and they share their art with us, and you can listen for free. I love YouTube artists.

I know, I know. Disturbed did the ultimate cover of this song, but just... give it a listen.


Round 152 Has Ended

Jul. 6th, 2025 08:01 pm
xandromedovna: purple unicorn with rainbow mane and text "usurpationcorn is pleased" (usurpationcorn)
[personal profile] xandromedovna posting in [community profile] fic_rush
Well I dunno about y'all but I had a blast this Round! *ba dum psh* Glad to see everyone made it, please sound off it the comments with what you did! And of course, three cheers for our inimitable Mod Squad:

[personal profile] xandromedovna, WerebunniesBane
[personal profile] thedarlingone, Rainbow Fairy Godpenguin
[personal profile] inkstone, Dumpling Procurer
[personal profile] falkner, Elegant Flower and this Round's Champion Usurper!

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