Fandom Event Comparison Chart
There's been a lot of events flying around in the fandom and we're loving it! The creativity and drive has been amazing to see. However, it can be confusing to those who are newer to fandom events. Each type of event is interesting and fun in its own way, and here's how!
Disclaimer: this will not be 100% accurate for every event you come across. Broad strokes! Events are run by people and each mod team can and will run events differently. By and large, this is a general overview based on events the mod team has run and participated in in the past.
Awesome entry into fandom events. No sign up, no commitment. Just see a theme, create something inspired by it, post during the event dates! Oftentimes these weeks will post their schedules and themes months in advance so people have time to work on them. If you're looking to participate in a fandom event but aren't sure about a hard commitment, this is a great place to start. Also a good way to get some inspiration or get yourself to get something done on a loose schedule!
Stepping up from themed weeks, these events are usually open for anyone to sign up at any skill level. They're usually themed around a ship or fandom, as well as a time of year. For instance, you might see an exchange themed around the holidays at the end of the year. People are given the wishlist of someone else in the event and are tasked with creating something inspired by that wishlist, so what you create is a little more specific since you want to make sure they'll like it! There is also a schedule and deadlines involved, and if you drop out, the mods will have to find someone to take your place. The requirements are often low, such as a 2k minimum wordcount. If you want to get more involved in fandom, make some friends, make something for someone else, and receive a gift yourself, these can be a great time!
Big Bang / Reverse Big Bang
Hey there! You are here. BBs/RBBs are a step up from gift exchanges both in commitment level and in requirements. The "big" in the name is usually no joke - we've seen BBs with wordcount requirements of 50k words and more! Every bang is run a little differently, but in general, they all involve a writer (BB) or artist (RBB) coming with a pitch, artists (BB) or writers (RBB) selecting pitches they'd like to work on/with, then artists and writers being paired up to work on their pieces together over the course of a few months. BBs/RBBs are usually open for those of any skill level to participate so long as they agree that they can meet the requirements of wordcount/finished art piece, are open to collaborate on a group project, and can meet the deadlines. If you drop out, the mods will have to find a pinch hitter to take your place so that the work of the others in your group is not wasted, so it's important to make sure you read the expectations ahead of time! However, similar to a gift exchange, these are awesome collaborative events. Friendships are forged as everyone works on challenging themselves for a common cause.
Zines differ from all of the above due to the fact that most of them require participants to apply to enter. Artists/writers need to submit pieces of their work and sometimes also a portfolio, then mods look over applications and decide which ones they would like to invite to the project. Depending on a variety of aspects of the project, such as whether it is physical or digital, zines will have different restrictions on the specifications for what participants create. Wordcount ranges of fics are often more strictly limited due to printing requirements. The commitment for people who participate on a zine project is high as zines often have a hard schedule to stick to so that they can meet deadlines for ordering proofs to prepare for preorders, so drop outs can hit a project hard!
Note that zines are not "better" or more prestigious than the events listed above just because they require an application process. There are talented and hardworking creatives who participate in some, all, or none of these types of events, and you'll find them wherever you go. Zine application processes can be competitive but it's important to not take it too hard if it doesn't go your way. Shoot your shot, put your best foot forward, and try, try again! Depending on how big the project is, some mod teams may be willing to give you feedback on your application. It never hurts to ask.
Questions about any of this? Please ask!
Psst. Sign-ups open now through January 17th!
Writers/Artists/Betas: https://forms.gle/bBdCkhzVmcMXi19m7
Pinch Hitters: https://forms.gle/eTtZAb5FESA5XH9y6
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