~Wilson~

What is The Old Guard Big Bang?

A Big Bang is a writing challenge where writers write longer pieces of fic, and artists create art for them. The Old Guard Big Bang is centered around stories about the characters from the 2020 movie The Old Guard, with a minimum word count requirement of 10,000 words, and which have been created specifically for the Big Bang. There is no maximum word count. Any pairing and/or genre are permitted!

What is the Big Bang schedule?

All deadlines end at midnight UTC-11 of the listed day. (UTC-11 is the time zone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.) https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Sign-ups: January 19-February 14, 2022

Summary/themes due: March 14, 2022

Artists claim writers: March 21, 2022

1st check-in: May 1, 2022

50% of writing completed: July 1, 2022

2nd check-in: September 1, 2022

Post to collection: November 1, 2022

How do I sign up as a writer, artist or beta?

Click here to sign up.

Are there any sign-up requirements?

Yes. We are requiring AO3 accounts for writers, artists and betas this year. You must also sign up with a working e-mail address and Tumblr account. 

If you don’t have an AO3 account, here are instructions on AO3 for obtaining one.

The mods and your artist/author/beta are the only ones who will have access to your email address for privacy reasons.

There is an 18+ age requirement in order to create NSFW content, whether as an author or an artist.

Can I sign up as both an author and an artist?

Yes, you may sign up as both, but please make sure you are able to balance the commitment and workload involved.

When do artists claim stories?

As an author, in order to have your story considered for artist claims, you must submit a story summary by March 14, 2022:

The finalized story summary (around 500 words)

General themes and/or outline

Pairing

Rating

Applicable Archive Warnings

Artists will make their claims beginning March 21, 2022, and we’ll match everyone up accordingly.

What is the posting procedure for fic/art?

The fic and its accompanying art should be posted in their entirety to AO3. During the Final Author Check-in you will also claim a date to post your work to AO3, for which you will be responsible. The story must be posted in its entirety on your assigned date. That includes multi-chaptered fics.

How will the author/artist team-up work?

Authors and artists are responsible for initiating contact following Claims. That includes but is not limited to:

authors providing drafts and snippets to their artists during the creative process

artists providing embedding links for their completed artwork to the authors

authors integrating the final artwork into their fic prior to posting

Can I write more than one fic?

Signing up for more than one story is allowed, but bear in mind that you will be committed to both/all stories.

Is co-writing permissible?

Yes. Sign up separately, each with your own email. You will be able to communicate with us later that you are co-writing together.

Will my story definitely have art?

Big Bangs tend to have a higher ratio of authors to artists, so there is no guarantee that all fic will have accompanying art. We’ll do our best to make it happen, though.

Is a beta reader required?

No, having a beta reader is not required, but we expect that the story be thoroughly edited before posting. Once sign-ups have closed, we will make available the list of people who have signed up to be betas.

What are the art requirements?

The Old Guard Big Bang allows for various types of art, each with its own requirements:

Fanmix: a linkable mix of at least eight (8) songs, as well as front and back cover art

Fanvid: at least one video of at least one minute in length

Traditional or Digital Artwork: at least one piece of clean line art with basic shading

Photomanip: the equivalent effort to clean line art with basic shading

Photoset or Gifset: one 9-image moodboard per 6,000 words, or the equivalent effort

Artists are required to host their artwork on a site of their choosing and provide embedding links for the authors prior to posting.

How do I claim a story as an artist?

Claims will begin on March 21, 2022. The list will include for each fic (anonymously): a summary provided by the author, general themes, pairing, ratings and any Archive Warnings which may be applicable. Artists will then pick their top five and we will assign on a first come, first served basis.

Can an artist claim more than one story?

Once the first round of claims is done, if there are unclaimed stories left, we will open them up to a second round of claims. However, as with authors, please make sure you are willing to take up the workload required. As stated above, you are making a commitment to your author.

What do I do after completing the art?

When you have completed your art, please contact your author to determine the best method for hosting and sharing your artwork.

Other questions?

Feel free to send an ask!

———

What is The Old Guard Big Bang?

A Big Bang is a writing challenge where writers write longer pieces of fic, and artists create art for them. The Old Guard Big Bang is centered around stories about the characters from the 2020 movie The Old Guard, with a minimum word count requirement of 10,000 words, and which have been created specifically for the Big Bang. There is no maximum word count. Any pairing and/or genre are permitted!

What is the Big Bang schedule?

All deadlines end at midnight UTC-11 of the listed day. (UTC-11 is the time zone in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.) https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Sign-ups: January 19-February 14, 2022

Summary/themes due: March 14, 2022

Artists claim writers: March 21, 2022

1st check-in: May 1, 2022

50% of writing completed: July 1, 2022

2nd check-in: September 1, 2022

Post to collection: November 1, 2022

How do I sign up as a writer, artist or beta?

Click here!

Where can I find Frequently Asked Questions?

When Yusuf had first looked into the Frank’s eyes, Yusuf had thought them as pale as the rest of his horrid being. Haunted, heavy-lidded and ringed by dark bruises; Yusuf had almost been sickened to look him in the eye. It had almost been like looking upon the visage of death; colourless and deadened, reflecting only war and pain inflicted on innocents by their owner, set in a face ragged and bloodied and burnt by the unrelenting sun.

And then fate had shown her hand, and he and Nicolò had been bound by events uncontrollable and unforeseeable. Life unending it seemed. A cruel joke to have mortal enemies locked together for a shared eternal fate. Yusuf had laughed until he had cried.

It had taken months for Yusuf to comfortably look Nicolò in the eye, and it was only then that he had been caught by how different Nicolò looked, how much healthier he seemed, how his eyes gleamed like precious jewels in his strange, lovely face. Still pale, but hardly lifeless. Like the ocean’s surface reflecting the moon’s serene light on a clear, calm night. Beautiful was not the right word. Indescribable did not seem correct either. Nicolò’s eyes just were, and Yusuf was fascinated.

Nicolò had caught him staring and had ducked his head, a flash of suspicion twitching across his face as he drew his hood up further. They were travelling companions at this point, if even that, and Yusuf had reminded himself that no matter how pretty the Frank’s eyes were, he was still a murderer.

Many months later, they were friends. At night they sat side by side by the fire, sharing heat and food and laughter, thigh pressed against thigh. Yusuf had turned and found Nicolò’s gaze and had once again found himself wondering at the unique colour of Nicolò’s bright eyes. All the textiles and gems and dyes Yusuf had sold as a merchant, and he had never encountered a shade quite like them.

“What colour do you call them?” Yusuf had asked.

Nicolò had frowned, and touched the corner of his left eye, eyelashes brushing against the tip of his finger as he blinked. “My eyes?”

“Yes.”

Nicolò had shrugged. “Grey.”

Yusuf had been the one to frown then. Grey did not seem correct, but he was wary of arguing. They had done enough arguing between them for five lifetimes, if not more. Yusuf had stopped counting his deaths long ago.

But it had continued to nag at him like a bug that buzzes and bites as they continued their travels. Everyday he observed Nicolò’s eyes and silently compared them to the colour of the sea, the sky, precious jewels and expensive dyes, pretty flowers and exotic bird feathers and fresh, clean river water that quenched thirst and watered crops, but it seemed every time Yusuf looked again the colour of Nicolò’s irises had changed. They were so changeable, like the ocean, stormy grey one moment and then a calm, pale teal the next. They thoroughly confounded Yusuf’s keen artist gaze and merchant’s instinct for evaluation. They were a mystery. Just like Nicolò’s heart.

And then, not a year later, they are lovers. Nicolo’s heart is not unknown to Yusuf now, but as they lie intertwined on their bedroll in the quiet before sunrise, Yusuf is still pondering the exact shade of Nicolo’s lovely gaze.

“I can hear you thinking, my love,” Nicolò murmurs, shifting to look over his shoulder at Yusuf. He is sweetly sleep flushed and heavy eyed, and Yusuf cannot help but brush a bearded kiss across the arch of an elegant cheekbone. Nicolò smiles his small, secret smile that Yusuf always feels blessed to see. “You are not usually so awake before noon.”

“I have been pondering the colour of your eyes,” Yusuf says.

Nicolò blinks and turns in Yusuf’s arms to face him. “Again?”

Yusuf smiles and brushes a dark brown lock of hair out of Nicolò’s face. “Yes,” he murmurs, “and I think I have finally come to a conclusion.”

Nicolò raises his brows slightly, inquisitive.

Yusuf lightly touches Nicolò’s cheek. “They are the colour of love,” he says. “Of finding common ground and understanding, of forgiveness and incomparable kindness and compassion. They are the colour of my dreams and my heart, my thoughts when I think of you. And that is every thought, for there is not a waking or slumbering moment in which you are far from my mind, in which I am not hopelessly, earnestly, boundlessly in love with you.” He touches the bridge of Nicolò’s strong nose, sweeping his fingers down the length of it. “They are the colour of love,” he repeats.

Nicolò’s expression is of wonder and awe as he looks into Yusuf’s face. “Yusuf,” he murmurs, voice choked, seemingly startled to tears by Yusuf’s passionate words. “I—”

Yusuf places a finger over Nicolò’s parted lips. “Shh,” he whispers, “you do not have to react.” He rolls over on top of Nicolò, settling between Nicolò’s warm, soft thighs and cupping Nicolò’s beautiful face between his palms. “Just feel my love for you.”

They make love as the sun slowly appears above the horizon, and as Yusuf looks down into Nicolò’s flushed face and bright eyes, iridescent and overflowing with emotion, Yusuf thinks that the glory of the sunrise cannot compare.

By @silvyri

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