a friendly fandom exchange of ace (and aro) ideas!

What is AroWriMo?

AroWriMo (Aromantic Writing Month) is an event taking place in February, encouraging people to explore aromantic/arospec characters and themes, and celebrating aro writers of all kinds. Works are to be created in the lead up to February, and will be submitted and posted throughout the month.

Can alloromantics participate?

Absolutely! However, alloromantics should use the tag “AroWriMo Allies”, and note that they’re alloro above the work.

I’m questioning, should I participate as an ally?

You can participate normally - you have a different perspective as someone who’s questioning as opposed to an alloro ally. If you wish and feel it relevant, you can note that you’re questioning above the work. Of course, you can participate as an ally if, for whatever reason, you’re more comfortable doing so. I want people to feel comfortable using the challenge to explore thier possible as much as definite aromanticism.

How does it work?

Works will be split into categories, each with a broad theme, and there will also be two little prompts per week. These themes and prompts will be released at the beginning of December, so people can start working on their writing as soon as they need. The respective works will be posted to this blog on the week of the prompt you’ve used. As the themes and prompts are just a suggested extra challenge, works created without using them will be posted on specific days.

How do I participate?

You’ll be able to submit your works to this blog, post it in the “AroWriMo” or “AroWriMo Ally” tags, or even email. You’re also free to post it on another website and share or send the link. You can also include links to any websites/social media, but it’s possible posts with links may not appear in tags. You don’t have to be following this blog, or apply in advance.

What kind of writing can we submit?

Anything! Short stories, novels, poetry, ballads, song lyrics, epic poems, comics, plays, fanworks, non-fiction - any form of writing you can think of! You can submit audio or video of your work being read, or even act it out if you want! For works submitted through video, audio or images, it would be ideal if you can include captions, transcripts or image descriptions for accessibility reasons.

Can I submit more than one work?

Absolutely, as many as you like! I’m sure everyone in the community will agree the more the better.

What do we have to include in our works?

The only requirement is that they include aro characters and/or themes. It’s great if you can work with the theme and prompts, but if they’re restrictive or uninspiring then do what you can!

How do we suggest or vote on prompts/themes?

You can suggest prompts and themes through email, asks, submissions, reblogs or replies through to October 10th. There will then be polls put up, in which people can vote until November 20th. The chosen prompts and themes will be announced at the beginning of December.

Can I make a suggestion or express a concern?

Absolutely! I want this event to be community guided and enjoyable for all. Share your views in any way, and I’ll happily engage with them.

So, what does the theme “trope inversion” mean?

There are so many common tropes in fanfiction that we all love… but don’t quite work when you’re writing an asexual, aromantic, or aspec character. 

Bed sharing is phenomenal, but what about an asexual character who feels uncomfortable with that moment of sexual tension instead of an allo character who embraces it and suddenly realized they like their bed partner?

Enemies to friends to lovers is a classic, but a lot of times fics rely on the idea that anger can lead to sexual tension easily. What if you’re writing a repulsed character who tries to avoid the confrontation because their counterpart keeps trying to turn it sexual and/or romantic? An acearo character who isn’t able to read the signals that the other person is trying to give off? What about an aromantic character whose enemies to friends to lovers doesn’t have the romantic aspect to lovers?

How about a fake/pretend relationship or woke up married fic with a demi character, who doesn’t realize their feelings, but instead develops them as they get closer to their partner? A grey character who is trying to figure out what these new feelings are that they’ve never experienced for someone before. 

A kidfic with two aromantic queer platonic partners coparenting, instead of the characters falling in love as they raise a child. The character trying to explain to nosy neighbors that no, they’re not dating, and actually mean it.