Yuletide?

[wesleysgirl]

Using very small words, can someone explain how Yuletide works?

I know it's all about the rarer fandoms, but is it essentially a really big ficathon where you make multiple requests instead of just one? And then you say which fandoms you can write in from the list and you eventually get assigned to write in one of them? Is your writing assignment a specific request within that fandom (for example, a pairing and a prompt of some kind?) Can you say that you'll only write slash or gen or whatever? I'm so puzzled and I so shouldn't sign up for anything when I'm barely writing things I want to write, but I can't help but be intrigued too.

Comments

[that_mireille]

I know it's all about the rarer fandoms, but is it essentially a really big ficathon where you make multiple requests instead of just one?

Yep.

And then you say which fandoms you can write in from the list and you eventually get assigned to write in one of them?

Yes.

Is your writing assignment a specific request within that fandom (for example, a pairing and a prompt of some kind?) Can you say that you'll only write slash or gen or whatever?

No, and no. A request consists of: a fandom, a selection of characters (from a provided list) within that fandom--you can pick 1 to 4 characters you want in your story, or say "any"--and your additional details, which are anything else you want to ask for.

The writer assigned to your request only *has* to give you a story in your fandom (well, one of the 3 or 4 fandoms you asked for), featuring *all* the characters you asked for (unless, in your additional details, you gave them permission to write about fewer characters--for example, you picked four characters and said "fic about any *one* of them would make me happy."). The writer can *totally* ignore your optional details, if that's what s/he needs to be able to write the fic.

You say what characters you're willing to write in a particular fandom, as well, so you can avoid characters you just can't write--but when you get your request, you can choose to write pairing fic, or gen fic, or whatever you want, as long as it fits the fandom and the characters requested (which should match up with the characters you're willing to write).

I probably made no sense at all there. :)

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You did make a lot of sense, actually. :-)

[settiai]

Yes, it's pretty much a really big ficathon. You make four requests, from at least three different fandoms. All that the author is required to write is the fandom and (up to four) characters requested, but most people give optional details (ie. pairings, prompts, likes/dislikes, etc.)

When you volunteer to write fandoms, you can do it one of two ways. You can volunteer to write any characters in a fandom, or you can volunteer to write specific characters for a fandom. There's no way to specify that you'll only write gen/slash/etc., but - like I said - most people are pretty lenient on the prompts. While some people try to write outside their comfort zones so that they follow the optional details requested, others just write what they can.

Does that make any sense?

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

That does make sense, thank you! I'd be fine *not* writing slash, of course, as long as I wasn't being forced to write a het pairing (or really any pairing) that really didn't do it for me, you know? :-)

[merryish.livejournal.com]

What they said! Plus, it's fantastic. I adore it - I take *vacation* time for it. =) It's my very favorite holiday.

Basically, you list a few fandoms you can write in -- that's what you offer. Then you make a few requests. You can request fandoms, plus characters. While there's no place to specify slash or gen, you can say in your optional details "I prefer slash" or "I prefer gen" if you want. That doesn't mean you'll get it - everything in your optional details is just saying some stuff you like; the writer who gets assigned to you is in no way required to adhere to those details. Just to the fandom and characters.

When you get your assignment, you'll see the four requests of your gift-ee - fandoms, characters, and optional details. At least one of those requests will match up with one of the fandoms that you offered. You write a story of 1000 words or more (lots of people write more, but it's not frowned upon if you don't, as long as you hit 1000), and you upload it on or before the deadline.

Meanwhile, whoever got you as their gift-ee is doing the same.

Basically, you don't know WHICH of your requested fandoms you might end up getting as your gift, and you don't know WHICH of your offered fandoms you might end up writing. That's what makes it such a blast! =) Well, that, and getting a story in some fandom that you thought you'd never see stories in. YAY!

[wesleysgirl.livejournal.com]

Cool! Thanks so much for taking the time to explain it. *Hugs*

:-D