cyberpunk secret santa thoughts

[anaisonfire]

This is mostly to get my thoughts out & coherent. Maybe I'll think of something else while writing it out XD (opinions welcome, one person who's likely to see this and know what i'm talking about)

Okay so. The main problem I have with this is still art. On the one hand, including artists would be a great thing. Many of them in this fandom, obviously. I've even got min reqs (likely, subject to change):

Art pieces must be new and original, i.e. created specifically for the gift recipient. Both digital and traditional art is allowed. Art doesn't need to be fully colored but should look finished - no WIPs! In the case of traditional art, it can't be on lined paper and the quality of the digital picture must not be so bad as to not be recognizable (i.e. no blurry pictures).

Art styles vary a lot so I can't really make it more specific than that but I think it works fine. People can ask if they need clarification lol.

There still remains the question of pinch hitters though. I couldn't do ph art, no matter how much I might want to. I think the only way to get around that is to ask around on tumblr and discord and collect interested parties. I think having 3 or 4 ph for art would be enough. And obviously people will be allowed to be both participants and phs, or just phs if they don't want to participate.

And I'm thinking 3-4 phs for for writing, as well. I'm good but I'm not so good that I could bang out several fics on short notice XD /deliberately doesn't look at the dozen prompts sitting in my tumblr inbox for months

The writing min reqs will mirror the art ones:

The minimum wordcount is 1000 words. All fics must be new and original, i.e. created specifically for the gift recipient. The fic cannot be a sequel to another fic or part of a series or specific AU of yours that the recipient did not request.

Tbh I'm still not sure if I want it to be 500 words or 1000 words. 500 feels like... too little? But then I think about pinch hits and *sweats*. I'm leaning towards 1k for now.

Also people will be able to specify if they'd be open to receiving art, fic, or if either is fine. Pinch hitter would also be good here, in case there's people who I can't match bc of not enough offers. Unlikely, since a lot of people would probably go for 'either is good' (again: so much good art! and who tf joins an exchange if they don't like fic lol). And I can also always ask people if they'd reconsider requesting only one thing if I can't find anyone to write/draw for them.

As for offers and requests, I was thinking of making listing at least 2-3 characters/ships for both categories a requirement but I reconsidered - lots of people are likely only writing for one pairing, and I don't wanna exclude them. (Pinch hitters needed again!) I should also explicitly tell people that if they request, say, "Kerry Eurodyne" they will only get matched with someone offering him as a character and not anyone offering "Kerry/V", so they should be specific about what they want and are offering.

And then you've got DNWs - must remember to explain what a DNW is! And to remind people that if they don't specify a DNW there's nothing I can do about it if they get fic/art they don't vibe with!

I'll also add optional 'Likes' and 'Prompts' sections (this is all happening over google forms, I'm not strong enough to use AO3 for matching). Likes for people to go in detail about what they like, either in general or specifically about whatever characters/ships they're requesting. And Prompts if they've got anything in specific they'd like to see. (Must also remember to emphasize that Optional Means Optional and just bc they prompted/said they like something doesn't mean they'll for sure get that.)

As for dates, I think a creating period of two-ish months (November and December) will be good, especially since there's one month overlap with the Big Bang and December is busy for a lot of people. (Having a wordcount of 1000 words feels better with this timeline, ngl.) Posting will be from the 28th to the 31st (timezone pending decision). I want a long sign up period, so all of October goes to that. I think I'll start advertising/looking for PHs in late August and through September.

Also I should definitely find one or two mods for discord, to help with community wrangling. And also finish setting up the discord itself... Make a logo/profile pic...

Lots of work still! Think this is all though. (Holy shit how did this get so long.)

Did I write all of this out to avoid working on my Big Bang idea or my Press Start assignment? Maybe. Maybe. But hey, Jedi: Fallen Order is downloaded now and I've managed to get a coherent idea for the santa (I keep. wanting to abbreviate secret santa but uhhhhh shouldn't do that lol) down! Productive morning!

Comments

[hrimthur]

I think all of your points are good!

It's true that trying to figure out how to make equal requirements for art and fic is tough, but I think what you have right now is good. I poked around a bunch of secret santa tumblrs for rules and 500 words seems to be the going rate, but 1000 isn't terrible? Idk, I'm probably not the best person to ask about word limits lmao

And definitely agree with making sure people are clear about what they want and don't want! The more clear someone is about their preferences, the easier it is to create something they'll actually like.

I also think it's important to be really clear that the goal isn't necessarily to create the absolute most perfect gift for someone? Since often times people are creating for someone they don't even know (maybe less of a problem in a smallish fandom like Cyberpunk, but still a real possibility), it's mostly important that they create something that fits the recipient's preferences. If that makes sense? Idk setting expectations for stuff like this usually makes things less stressful and all around more enjoyable!

Other than that, 2 months I think is plenty of time! And I'd be happy to ph as a writer if you need someone, but what I'll write is pretty limited haha 😂

I'm really excited about this!!! It looks like so much fun~

[anaisonfire]

Thank you!!

500 is also my experience with santas, but tbh I just really want to have it be more 'special' and make people put in actual effort (tho no shade to very short fic writers, that's a skill too!), not just do the Bare Minimum. Idk. I'll probably go with the 1k.

Ohhh, good point about the gifts! I'll be sure to emphasize that, yes, the goal is not to make the Most Perfectly Tailored gift ever and expecting that will likely end up with people disappointed.

Ahhh tbh I'll probably take you up on that, if needed - and limited is fine! Know who to go to with specific things 😂