Mediums and Length Opt-Ins

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

While this is primarily a fic focused exchange, there will be opt-ins for pretty much any medium, as long as we can agree on a clear and easily checked equivalent to 1k of written fic!

You should also keep in mind when filling mediums that your fic *must* fulfill one of your recipients fandom/relationship requests. I will add Solo: Worldbuilding to any fandom that you need it in throughout signups. Otherwise if you match to Character A/Character B, then your fill must be something shippy for those characters. For very technical fills like schematics, I would suggest using marginalia or other notes.

This post contains the requirements for each medium, sorted by the overall type. Some mediums are in multiple categories. To make it easier to navigate, everything is separated by cut tags, so I would suggest reading it from the tag link (click here).

There is also a spreadsheet (click here) which has a lot of other more specific filters for you to use! To use the filters (the upside down triangles), just File --> Make a Copy. There's also an HTML table version of the spreadsheet here (click here).

You may request "Medium Opt-In: Any Nominated Opt-In", "Length Opt-In: Any Nominated Opt-In", or "Length Opt-In: Any Nominated Fanfiction Opt-In", but make sure that you mean it if you do!

Note that if any art is done in a physical medium, it should be on unlined paper except in cases where it would make sense (journals, lists, ect) to be on lined paper.

Lower length Opt-ins:

• Drabble
• Double Drabble
• Triple Drabble
• Drabble Series
• 300 minimum words per fic
• 420 words exactly
• 500 minimum words per fic
• 666 words exactly
• 750 minimum words per fic
• 777 words exactly
• 999 words exactly
• One Poem Minimum of Any Requested Style of Poetry
• One Poem Minimum of Any Nominated Style of Poetry

Written Opt-Ins

• /r/IAmA AMA (Post + Questions + Replies): 1k written
• /r/legaladvice Post: 1k written
• /r/relationships Post: 1k written
• Action Figure Packaging Bio: 1k written
• Advice Column: 1k written
• Album Liner Notes: 1k written
• Any In-Universe Documents: 1k written
• Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting: 1k written
• Any Type of Essay: 1k written
• AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange: Wordcount for everything written and I'll also need the password to fake exchange account so it can be revealed at the same time if anything was actually posted to it.
• Bestiary: 1k written
• Bestiary: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Board Game: A new game with rules and instructions is worth 2k
• Bureaucratic Paperwork: 1k written
• Card Game: A new game with rules and instructions is worth 2k
• Character Analysis: 1k written
• Character Study: 1k written
• Chatroom: 1k written
• Cocktail Recipes: 1k Written
• Cocktail Recipes: 2 Recipes under 1k
• Cocktail Recipes: 1 Recipe + an image
• Commentary track: 1k transcript
• Commentary Track - MST3K Style: 1k transcript
• Conspiracy Board: Boards with detailed parts: The Conspiracy Board itself will count for 1k (to account for arranging it and any text snippets/smaller contained works that aren't enough to count on their own). Any parts that have a determined equivalent (such as articles, drawings, schematics, ect) will count for that work's equivalent as long as they were posted in detail on the work.
• Creator's Choice of 3+ In-Universe Mediums Per Work: 1k written or follows the rules of that work (note, you *must* include 3 mediums in a single work for this one)
• Creator's Choice of 3+ In-Universe Mediums Per Work That Fit The Canon Setting: 1k written or follows the rules of that work (note, you *must* include 3 mediums in a single work for this one)
• Creepypasta: 1k written
• Diary Entry: 1k written
• Epistolary: 1k written
• Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook: 1k written or 1 sketchbook page
• Fandom Primer: 1k written
• fate/Stay Night (visual novel) style Heroic Spirit status screen: 2k equivalent for a full set of four pages including full illustrations with the template and 3k equivalent without a template
• Game Walkthrough: 1k written
• Grammar Sketch: 1k written
• Highly Upvoted/Guilded Reddit Comment And The Comment's Context: 1k written
• Horoscope: 1k written
• In-Universe Academic Publication: 1k written
• In-Universe Academic Publication: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Book or Movie Review: 1k written
• In-Universe Complaint Form: 1k written
• In-Universe Essay: 1k written
• In-Universe Fanfic prompt list: 1k written
• In-Universe Interview: 1k written (Audio interviews need transcripts)
• In-Universe Magazine Article: 1k written
• In-Universe Magazine Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Spread: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Spread: Tiny images and articles or only text gets treated as wordcount with a 1k minimum
• In-Universe Newspaper Article: 1k written
• In-Universe Newspaper Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Front Page: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Front Page: Tiny images and articles or only text gets treated as wordcount with a 1k minimum
• In-Universe Personal Documents: 1k written
• In-Universe Psychological Evaluation Report: 1k written
• In-Universe Religious Text: 1k written
• In-Universe RPF: Follow the rules of the type of work + wordcount of included notes
• In-Universe Scientific Documents: 1k written
• In-Universe Screenplay: 1k written
• In-Universe Social Media: Written only: 10 posts, unless total wordcount (post and replies/comments) is over 1k then it counts for wordcount
• In-Universe Social Media: Combinations: Art rules + wordcount for detailed art with a large amount of writing. One of the above rules for anything else.
• In-Universe Tabloid Article: 1k written
• In-Universe Tabloid Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Technical Code or Design Specifications: 1k written
• In-Universe Textbook: 1k written
• In-Universe Transcript of Podcast or Radio Show: 1k written (note, this cannot be an existing audio)
• Interactive Fiction - AO3 style Choose Your Own Adventure: 1k written
• Interactive Fiction - Twine: 1k written, if complicated coding is used (such as remembering past decisions in a branching and combining storyline) the author can self report for +500. Story must be in a playable format.
• Legal Documents: 1k written
• List of things (character) is not allowed to do: 1k written
• Localization Notes: 1k written
• Logic Grid Puzzle: A solvable puzzle with grid provided with 3 categories is worth 2k. Each additional category adds 1k up to a maximum of 5k. Category size must be at least 4
• Map (Drawn or CC-Licensed Image) + Annotations Or Other Notes Related To The Map: Annotations 1k written. If using a CC image, you must link it and it does not count towards your minimum. If you draw a map, the map itself is worth 2k.
• Meta: 1k written
• Mission Report: 1k written
• MSDS For In-Universe Substances: One complete MSDS or 1k written
• Official Workplace Documentation: 1k written
• Product Description: 1k written
• Product Description: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• r/AmITheAsshole Post: 1k written
• r/LegalAdvice Post: 1k written
• r/Relationships Post: 1k written
• Rashomon (1950)-style Conflicting Narratives: 1k written
• Recipe book: 1k Written
• Recipe book: 2 Recipes under 1k
• Recipe book: 1 Recipe + an image
• Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Gifts In This Fandom (W/ Permission From Author!): 1k written
• Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Works In This Fandom: 1k written
• Reddit Post (Any Subreddit): 1k written
• Remix - Fic Remix of my Art: 1k written
• Remix - Fic Remix of my Fic: 1k written
• Screenplay: 1k written
• Script: 1k written
• Ship Manifesto: 1k written (note: this use of ship refers to a relationship.)
• Shopping list: 5 lists, or one large formatted/drawn list with additional notes.
• Spell or Ritual Instructions: 1k Written
• Spell or Ritual Instructions: 2 Spells under 1k
• Spell or Ritual Instructions: 1 Spell + an image
• Tabletop Campaign: one complete short-form hack (honey heist style) = one Fiasco playset = one setting design for a longer D&D campaign
• Tarot Card Reading: 1k written
• Text Fic: 1k written
• The Bookshelf Limbo' style book preview: 1 finished preview including cover, summary, and hand
• Theatre - Musical: 1k written stageplay
• Theatre - Play: 1k written stageplay
• Theatre - Shakespearean-style: 1k written stageplay
• Translation Analysis: 1k written
• Translation notes: Actual translation note: 5 detailed bulletpoints or 10 short ones. (note, these should be paired with a translation if not in-universe, but since I cannot judge the accuracy of a translation it cannot be counted towards your requirement)
• Translation notes: In-Universe translation notes: 10 bulletpoints (if paired with a translation, the english part will count for wordcount as long as it is your own original words)
• Untitled Goose Style To-Do List: 5 lists, assuming separate lists for separate areas
• Worldbuilding Headcanon: 1k written

Art & Design Opt-Ins

• A Softer World' style art: 3 comics/9 panels
• Adaption Concept Art: 1 finished image
• Animatics: 5 "frames" (with frames being images that may or may not share the same background/scene but have differing foreground positions).
• Any Technical Drawing: 1 clean finished page
• AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange: Wordcount for everything written and I'll also need the password to fake exchange account so it can be revealed at the same time if anything was actually posted to it.
• Bestiary: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Board Game: Reskin an existing game to be fannish
• Book Cover: 1 finished illustrated cover
• Card Game: Reskin an existing game to be fannish
• Coat of Arms/Heraldic Crest: 1 clean finished image
• Cocktail Recipes: 1 Recipe + an image
• Coloring Page: 1 clean coloring page
• Comics: 1 comic page not on lined paper
• Conspiracy Board: Boards with detailed parts: The Conspiracy Board itself will count for 1k (to account for arranging it and any text snippets/smaller contained works that aren't enough to count on their own). Any parts that have a determined equivalent (such as articles, drawings, schematics, ect) will count for that work's equivalent as long as they were posted in detail on the work.
• Conspiracy Board: Boards without detailed parts: Will count for 1k
• Costume Design: 1 clean finished drawing
• Emojis: 3 emojis drawn from scratch
• Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook: 1k written or 1 sketchbook page
• Fanart: 1 clean finished image
• Fanart Cover/Illustration of Recipient's Fic: 1 clean finished image
• fate/Stay Night (visual novel) style Heroic Spirit status screen: 2k equivalent for a full set of four pages including full illustrations with the template and 3k equivalent without a template
• Floorplan/Architectural Style Drawing: 1 clean finished drawing
• In-Universe Academic Publication: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Advertisement: 1 clean finished image or 1 minute vid
• In-Universe Magazine Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Spread: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Spread: Full illustration front pages get treated as an art
• In-Universe Newspaper Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Front Page: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Front Page: Full illustration front pages get treated as an art
• In-Universe RPF: Follow the rules of the type of work + wordcount of included notes
• In-Universe Sketch Book Pages: 1 page of sketches
• In-Universe Social Media: Combinations: Art rules + wordcount for detailed art with a large amount of writing. One of the above rules for anything else.
• In-Universe Social Media: Art only: 1 post with a detailed image or 5 panels within a view of the someone's overall page with smaller images
• In-Universe Tabloid Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Location Interior Design: 1 clean finished drawing
• Mandala: 1 clean finished image
• Maps: A completed map based on fandom research (accuracy dependent on art/historical style) is 2k
• Minimalist Poster: 1 finished poster
• Pin-up Poster of Character: 1 clean finished image
• Playing Card: 1 clean finished image
• Product Description: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Propaganda Poster: 1 finished poster
• Recipe book: 1 Recipe + an image
• Remix - Art Remix of my Art: 1 finished image
• Remix - Art Remix of my Fic: 1 finished image
• Ship Schematic: 1 clean finished drawing (note: this use of ship refers to the physical boat ect.)
• Shopping list: 5 lists, or one large formatted/drawn list with additional notes.
• Spell or Ritual Instructions: 1 Spell + an image
• Stained Glass Sequence: 1 finished image, or 5 less detailed panels in a sequence
• Tabletop Campaign: one complete short-form hack (honey heist style) = one Fiasco playset = one setting design for a longer D&D campaign
• Tapestry: 1 finished tapestry
• Tarot Card: 1 finished image
• The Bookshelf Limbo' style book preview: 1 finished preview including cover, summary, and hand
• Tool Schematic: 1 clean finished drawing
• Trading Cards: 1 detailed trading card
• Typeface Design: Set of sketched letterforms
• Typeface design: A complete downloadable font (uppercase, lowercase, minimal punctuation, extended Latin or alternate glyphs) will count for 2k
• Warning Label or Sticker: 1 label (note, these must be clearly fandom inspired and must be drawn, text can be taken from publicly available standardized labels if needed)
• Weapon Schematics: 1 clean finished drawing

Audio Opt-Ins

• Audio not!Fic: 1k of words in the original not!fic being podficced.
• Commentary track: 1k transcript
• Commentary Track - MST3K Style: 1k transcript
• Fanmixes: 10 songs
• Fansoundtrack: 10 songs
• In-Universe Interview: 1k transcript (Audio interviews need transcripts)
• In-Universe RPF: Follow the rules of the type of work + wordcount of included notes
• Original Fan Music: 20 seconds, with a minimum suggested quality of either a clean recording or a computer generated demo.
• Podfic: 1k of words in the original fic being podficced
• Podfic of any of my fics that match this request's fandom/relationships: 1k of words in the original fic being podficced.
• Remixes: 20 seconds, with a minimum suggested quality of either a clean recording or a computer generated demo.

Vid Opt-Ins

• Animatics: 5 "frames" (with frames being images that may or may not share the same background/scene but have differing foreground positions). The creator must say in the authors note how many frames there are
• Fake Trailer: 1 minute
• Fanvids: 1 minute
• In-Universe Advertisement: 1 finished image or 1 minute vid
• In-Universe RPF: Follow the rules of the type of work + wordcount of included notes

Poetry Opt-Ins

• Any Nominated Style of Poetry: This will follow the rules of the submitted style.
  • Alliterative Long Line: 10 Lines
  • Alliterisen: 2 Poems
  • Ballad: 3 Stanzas
  • Cascade Poem: 1 Poem
  • Elegy: 1 Poem
  • Free Verse: 15 Lines
  • Haiku Series: Series of 5
  • Narrative Poem: 15 Lines
  • Ode: 12 Lines
  • Pantoum: 1 Poem
  • Poetry - Golden Shovel: 12 Lines
  • Rondeau: 1 Poem
  • Sapphic Verse: 3 Stanzas
  • Sestina: 1 Poem
  • Sonnet: 1 Poem
  • Tanka Series: 2 Poems
  • Villanelle: 1 Poem
• In-Universe Poetry: This will follow the rules of whatever poetry form is written
• In-Universe Prayer: 15 lines OR the rules for that form of poetry
• Song Lyrics - Filk/Parody: This will follow poetry rules
• Song Lyrics - Original: This will follow poetry rules

Mixed Media Opt-Ins

• Animatics: 5 "frames" (with frames being images that may or may not share the same background/scene but have differing foreground positions). Note
• Any In-Universe Documents: 1k written
• Any In-Universe Documents That Fit the Canon Setting: 1k written
• AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange: Wordcount for everything written and I'll also need the password to fake exchange account so it can be revealed at the same time if anything was actually posted to it.
• Bestiary: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Board Game: A new game with rules and instructions is worth 2k
• Card Game: A new game with rules and instructions is worth 2k
• Cocktail Recipes: 1 Recipe + an image
• Commentary track: 1k transcript
• Commentary Track - MST3K Style: 1k transcript
• Conspiracy Board: Boards with detailed parts: The Conspiracy Board itself will count for 1k (to account for arranging it and any text snippets/smaller contained works that aren't enough to count on their own). Any parts that have a determined equivalent (such as articles, drawings, schematics, ect) will count for that work's equivalent as long as they were posted in detail on the work.
• Excerpts from a Character's Journal/Notebook/Sketchbook: 1k written or 1 sketchbook page
• fate/Stay Night (visual novel) style Heroic Spirit status screen: 2k equivalent for a full set of four pages including full illustrations with the template and 3k equivalent without a template
• Horoscope: 1k written, 500 equivalent will be added if any charts are included
• In-Universe Academic Publication: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Magazine Spread: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• In-Universe Newspaper Front Page: Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
• In-Universe RPF: Follow the rules of the type of work + wordcount of included notes
• In-Universe Social Media: Combinations: Art rules + wordcount for detailed art with a large amount of writing. One of the above rules for anything else.
• In-Universe Tabloid Article: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Logic Grid Puzzle: A solvable puzzle with grid provided with 3 categories is worth 2k. Each additional category adds 1k up to a maximum of 5k. Category size must be at least 4
• Map (Drawn or CC-Licensed Image) + Annotations Or Other Notes Related To The Map: Annotations 1k written. If using a CC image, you must link it and it does not count towards your minimum. If you draw a map, the map itself is worth 2k.
• Product Description: If the work has large drawn images, it will count for 1k per drawing + wordcount
• Recipe book: 1 Recipe + an image
• Shopping list: 5 lists, or one large formatted/drawn list with additional notes.
• Spell or Ritual Instructions: 1 Spell + an image
• Tabletop Campaign: one complete short-form hack (honey heist style) = one Fiasco playset = one setting design for a longer D&D campaign
• The Bookshelf Limbo' style book preview: 1 finished preview including cover, summary, and hand
• Untitled Goose Style To-Do List: 5 lists, assuming separate lists for separate areas

Comments

Unconventional Formats

[kitsunerei88]

Hi mods,

Wondering if we can get a tag for Opt-In: Unconventional Fanworks? I'm thinking more in-universe documents like police notes, mission reports, court transcripts, pamphlets, travel guides, etc. I think in terms of word count, for the most part they should be easily read within the medium guidelines above (e.g. 400 words of a police report is still 400 words) but it would just put our openness to receiving unconventional works in the exchange.

Thanks!

Re: Unconventional Formats

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

That seems reasonable to me! I'll make a note that it's 1:1 after it's in the tagset :)

Animatics

[liryian]

I've nominated animatics as a medium opt-in; however, I'm not sure how much of one would constitute a 1k equivalent--my general understanding of them (having not created any myself) is that they can be quite a lot of work for even a minute of content, so I'm not certain whether 1 minute, as with fanvids, is appropriate, or whether it should be lessened in this case.

Re: Animatics

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

I'll see if I can find someone who has experience with them to give an opinion. My instinct is the same as yours (that the equivalent to 1k should be less than a minute, since they're so much work).

There are some potential works where we'll need the equivalence to be 10k instead, and this may be one of those. The nom will stay in limbo for a bit until I figure it out :)

[shamebucket]

I'm nominating "Opt-In: Poetry - Rondeau". I think this one is a bit tricky - it's around the same length as a sonnet, but a lot of the lines repeat. I personally think that it's about as tricky/time-consuming to write as a sonnet since making repetition work is a little difficult, but I could also see the argument being made for two rondeaus counting as 1k since it does repeat a lot. I wanted to post this here in case other people had any input.

[liryian]

Well, to my eyes it looks like it probably has about the same number of unique lines as a villanelle, which hasn't had an added length stipulation so would just be one villanelle to fulfill the 1k equivalent.

Somewhat relatedly, I've nominated "Poetry - Pantoum," which should probably have a length attached; it also has a lot of repetition but imo that makes it more work, not less.

(I also nominated "Poetry - Alliterisen" which is a seven-line form, so maybe x2 for the 1k? It doesn't repeat like the others discussed here.)

[(Anonymous)]

Would it be possible to split Interactive fiction into smaller categories? Separating "Choose your Own Adventure" types, where all the word count would be the prose, and Twine (or similar software) type games where some of the word count would be code?

[(Anonymous)]

To clarify, I don't think we can count code as 1:1 to prose. But saying something like a full CSS document = 1K words no matter how long the document was seems fair to me, but I'm open to other's suggestions on the subject.

[bluedreaming]

Since I see Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Haiku Series (3+) I’ve nominated Medium Opt-In: Poetry - Tanka Series (2+) since a tanka is 57577 so two seem equivalent to three 575 haikus.

Is there a need to define a drabble explicitly or are we operating under the understanding of 100 words exactly? (200 for double, 300 for triple, series being constructed of multiples of exactly 100)

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

That seems equivalent to me :)

You won't need to explicitly define it. I'll be making it clear in the posting guidelines that drabbles and other length opt ins like that need to be the exact wordcount on AO3.

[merle_p]

Hi, I wanted to ask if it would be acceptable to opt in to receiving a very particular type of poetry for one specific fandom in my letter without "officially" opting into the medium?

To clarify, there is one fandom/relationship where I would be interested in receiving "in-universe poetry" (as written by one of the characters if my assigned writer was so inclined) but I don't want to opt into poetry more broadly and also, none of the listed poetry subcategories necessarily fit what I'd be asking for.

[liryian]

You should be able to nominate "In-Universe Poetry" or something similar, though I don't know how well that would work if you aren't open to receiving nothing but in-universe poetry; you should also be able to nominate whatever form you'd like to ask for, unless you've already used up your freeforms.

[liryian]

For the theater opt-ins, since those are mediums, would the expectation be for something written as a stage play script?

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Yes, that's the way I'm interpreting them. I should probably adjust their working to make that clear.

[liryian]

...not to be a bother, but I've added another medium nomination--"Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Newspaper Front Page".
The way I'm picturing that would go, it would have to be formated as an image (or by someone with a lot more coding experience than me) so I think that a wordcount minimum wouldn't be appropriate for it.

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Unfortunately everything needs a wordcount equivalent to 1k, or we won't be able to accept it. It must be something that I can easily and quickly look at and go "this counts for 1k of their assignment" (or 2k or however much). Most likely we'll just count that as art since most front pages are primarily images with some words, not entire articles.

Edit: Actually looking it up it looks like most *do* have some articles on the front. So we'll figure out what wordcount it equates to. It does have to have a wordcount equivalent though.

[liryian]

Two more things--I'm planning on nominating golden shovels as a poetic form (wherein you take a quote from something else--traditionally another poem--and form your poem around those words) and I'm not sure what a good length requirement would be--based on current equivalents I think it should probably be between 10 and 15 lines but I'm not certain where it should fall; it's got more required elements than free verse with its 15+ lines, but is much less structured than alliterative long-line, which has a 10 line requirement.

The other thing is a question on length opt-ins; if I wanted to have an opt-in that could be summarized as "the poetic equivalent of [<1k] words", how should I phrase that? The intent would be that any nominated poetic form could be requested as a medium alongside it, so it doesn't make sense to have it as, for example, "Alliterisen x1" since while that would be a 500 equivalent it wouldn't also allow for a six-line ode.

Okay, editing to add a third thing: since my impression is that Fan Soundtrack does not involve original compositions, I'd like to add "original music" or "original score" as a medium. I think maybe a minute would be appropriate here, though you may want to ask for more input on that, with minimum quality (?) being at least a demo--possibly computer-generated--and maybe the sheet music as well? This should probably get asked about, since I'm sure that other people have different approaches than me and I wouldn't want to make it inaccessible for some composers.
Do you think "Medium Opt-In: Original Score" would be a good name for that?

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

We've been using around 12 lines as a goal for most of them, would that work? A little shorter than free-verse, a little longer than alliterative long-line.

Maybe phrase it as "One poem of any nominated style of poetry"? I get what you want but it is tricky to phrase. That would technially also include the longer ones, but when checking it would let me count things like a single Alliterisen or a six line ode without you having to specify.

Someone is on the same wavelength as you for that! "Original Fan Music or Remix" is in the nominations. I would nominate "Original Fan Music" by itself so that there's a version of the tag without remixes in. We're thinking to equate it with 20s = 1k, since there's also composing, but will be querying it for more input later this week. The minimum quality is also a good thing to bring up! For sheet music, I would say that should be separate in the tags so that we can apply separate criteria to it.

[(Anonymous)]

I'd like to suggest a few medium options.

1:1 in wordcount to fic:
Creepypasta - Story formatted like an internet urban legend
In-Universe Religious Text - Fairly straight forward

Following the same rules as a recipe book:
Spell or Ritual Instructions - Listing ingredients and steps to perform some sort of religious or magical ceremony.

And as another form of poetry:
In-Universe Prayer

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Those all sound excellent. I'll probably have In-Universe Prayer follow the same rules as In-Universe Poetry.

I'm not getting to medium nominations until tomorrow, but when I do I'll add them above with the rules you suggested here. <3

[(Anonymous)]

So far I've nominated two mediums:

Medium Opt-In: Bestiary
equivalent: I'm assuming every 'entry' would consist out of art and text. So text would probably just be counted as that, and then art as regular art (so 1 entry of art+ 1k text is 2k?)

Medium Opt-In: Conspiracy Board
equivalent: theoretically conspiracy boards can contain all kinds of mediums. I'd say everything is counted like the other medium equivalents in the tagset? So news articles and art etc...

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

I'll probably do Bestiary similarly to how the newspaper from page is supposed to be done, with thumbnail drawings only counting for wordcount and detailed drawings being 1 art + wordcount

Conspiracy boards I'll have to figure out. They can contain a lot, but some of them have more detail than others. It might be a good idea to have highly detailed Conspiracy boards (with all of the components also posted to the work so they're more visible) done how you said, with each piece counting separately, and then simple conspiracy boards that don't have each piece completely made could count as art. I'll think on it a bit!

[azurrys]

I nominated the following mediums - some thoughts on equivalence!

Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Interview: 1k written

Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Magazine Spread & Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Magazine Article: I recall there being a suggestion for In-Universe News Front Page that I think would apply well for these two!
- Full illustration front pages get treated as an art, 1 image = 1k
- Large illustrations and articles get treated as 1k + wordcount
- Tiny images and articles or only text gets treated as wordcount with a 1k minimum

Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Advertisement: 1 finished image on an unlined background for art OR 1 minute for vids

Medium Opt-In: In-Universe Psychological Evaluation Report: 1k written

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Thank you! Those look perfect and I agree with the equivalences. I'm not getting mediums in today, but when I do tomorrow I'll add them in that way :)

[(Anonymous)]

Medium nominator here!

Mandalas = one fanart = 1k

Book Cover = each "side" would be one fanart = 1k (so a front cover only = 1k) A full book jacket with front and back cover might equal 2k since the back cover often has its own art, design, and text. But I don't think full book jackets will be very popular to make. I expect most everyone will be more interested in the front cover.

Minimalist poster = one fanart = 1k

Typeface Design = depends on how complete the set of characters is, I would say!
I'd be okay with sketched letterforms being equivalent to 1k

But a font that is complete enough to have an actual download (e.g. uppercase, lowercase, minimal punctuation, extended Latin or alternate glyphs), and/or presented with type specimens or fleurons, would seem closer to 5k.

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Thank you! I went with (or close to) your suggestions on most of these.

For Typeface Design I'm putting the downloadable font at 2k. This is mostly because it will be difficult for me to quickly verify anything other than "that looks about right", and I don't want to risk counting something for way lower (or way higher) if I think it's to be the wrong thing.

[(Anonymous)]

Nominator for in-universe RPF; I'd consider any creative medium done with the intention of having been created by an in-universe character of one or more other in-universe characters to count as equivalent to a standard fic/art/etc. fill.
What tends to clinch it for me as different from regular fanworks is in-character 'author's notes' surrounding the work in-text, allusions to the fact they are treating the fictional (to us) characters as real people (to the character writing), or otherwise treating them in a way we'd treat IRL celebrities. I'd consider that as part of the wordcount if it was a text medium.

If anyone else has input, or if the nom seems too confusing or difficult to prove, I'm okay for it to be edited/deleted, no worries :)

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Thank you! I went with essentially what you said I think. Thanks for the reminder about the notes and other In-Universe typical things that usually come with something like this!

Pin-up posters

[(Anonymous)]

I nominated Pin-up Poster of Character as Medium Opt-In, some thoughts on equivalence (feel free to chime in)

This (https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/81Qo5e6A7oL._AC_SY679_.jpg) is what I was thinking of, and I think it could be equivalent to about 3k? So maybe something like

Full figure sketch or detailed bust rendering = 1k
Full figure sketch or detailed bust rendering + shading, or background details, or typefont = 2k
Colored full figure or colored detailed bust rendering = 3k
Colored full figure or colored detailed bust rendering + background or typefont = 4k (Example (https://previews.123rf.com/images/imogi/imogi1902/imogi190200027/116383922-retro-garage-repair-service-vintage-poster-with-pin-up-pretty-girl-in-mechanic-uniform-holding-wrenc.jpg))
Colored full figure or colored detailed bust rendering + background and typefont = 5k (Example (https://www.sportys.com/media/catalog/product/cache/3/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/7/17091_3.jpg))

If you think it should be handled differently, by all means!

Re: Pin-up posters

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

We're putting all single pieces of art at 1k. While pinups can definitely be time consuming, 1 image = 1k is the generally accepted exchange standard for art regardless of quality so we're sticking with it wherever it seems to apply (Not doing so would make it a bit too unclear exactly how much credit people were getting when they did a submission, even though it means some things are definitely uneven from medium to medium). The only art type so far that's going above 1k is maps due to the research requirement, and that will only be 2k even for the most detailed and complicated map.

Thank you for the input though!

[lirin_lirilla]

I nominated Medium Opt-In: Logic Grid Puzzle.

Logic puzzles are definitely worth more than straight word count, but they kind of grow exponentially based on how many characters there are and how many types of information there are for each character, so I'm a little fuzzy on how to directly correlate. (Of the four I've made, word counts range from 412 to 823, but my off-the-top estimate on how much work they took me would probably put them at equivalent to 3k minimum but probably closer to 5k+.)

You could maybe make a very rough equivalence by number of clues (off the top of my head, something like each 2 or 3 clues = 1k), though that might be a bit backwards because if you have shorter/less complicated clues you need a lot more of them (vs. I try to make my clues have a lot of depth so that my puzzles need as few as possible).

Or maybe the simplest thing would be to set a minimum size for the puzzle and then set a blanket equivalence. (And I don't know how you want to count the grid into that, since it is an image but takes a lot less work than most art, as evidenced by the fact that my limited art skills are up for the job.)

Anyway, however you want to handle this is of course fine—let me know if you have any questions!

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Oh that's a tricky one!

Probably using puzzle size would be the best way of doing that, since the clues can be so variable. I've been trying to have even the ones that have to start high start at a 2k min. Would it make sense to set it as: "A solvable puzzle with 4 variables in each section is worth 2k. Each additional variable adds 1k up to a maximum of 5k."

I'm sure that doesn't scale exactly, but that would allow for both easier puzzles and more complicated ones without relying on any subjective judgements.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi! I just nominated moodboards. In other exchanges, I've seen the 1k equivalent be 3 moodboards, which I agree on as someone who makes them.
The detail within them is dependent on the creator's style, but I think as long as there are at least 4 separate images within each moodboard, it fits the fandom definition. (I usually do 9, but people use varying templates.) If it's any less than 4, it would likely be more in-line with a standard graphic.

[(Anonymous)]

Whoops, noticed a similar nomination just got rejected. Ignore this, lol.

[(Anonymous)]

A potentially silly question, but, what does "AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange" mean in this context? You create a whole extra exchange account and fill it with at least 1 work? Something else?

Thanks!

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

It's literally making an In-Universe exchange (as in from the perspective of characters; if it's an exchange that you could conceivably use as an actual exchange and it seems completely normal, then that won't be accepted since that's not really a gift thing). Our rules for that are that it counts for "Wordcount for everything written and I'll also need the password to fake exchange account so it can be revealed at the same time if anything was actually posted to it."

To use one of my fandoms as an example, two of the characters are canonically into a fandom called Proud Immortal Demon Way (which does not actually exist, it's just a book referenced within my fandom). If I requested "Shen Yuan & Shang Qinghua" and "Medium Opt-In: AO3 Based Fanfic Exchange", someone could create a fake fandom exchange for Proud Immortal Demon Way, posting as Shen Yuan and Shang Qinghua and writing up the rules, gifts, tagset, ect from their perspective.

Another example would be Jedi RPF from the perspective of people who live in the Star Wars Galaxy, if someone requested that tag with characters that would work for that. Or maybe someone wants Kylo Ren to run a Darth Vader appreciation exchange.

(I'm going to fix that to specify in-universe really quick before someone requests/offers it)

[lucymonster]

Hi mods,

Sorry for the probably dumb question, but re. length opt-ins - if I request 'any length opt-in', would that mean I'm opting into receiving poetry (since some lengths are poetry-specific) even if I haven't included any poetry media opt-ins in my request? Basically I want to request any fic length but no poetry, and I'm trying to figure out the minimum number of additional tags I need to spend on length opt-ins in order to do that.

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

It would! Thank you for pointing that out. I just added "Length Opt-In: Any Nominated Fanfiction Opt-In" so that there's a clear fic-only opt in to use.

I'll make sure to mention that when I do my next post, since I'm sure that'll be important to other people as well.

Medium enquiry (recursive fic)

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post this enquiry (I can't access email atm)!

Please can someone explain the meaning of recursive fic for these medium opt-ins? I think I get it, but want to be sure :)

Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Gifts In This Fandom (W/ Permission From Author!): 1k written
Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Works In This Fandom: 1k written

Thanks so much!

Re: Medium enquiry (recursive fic)

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Hi nonnie!

Recursive fic is when you write fanfiction of a fanfiction! Unlike a remix, a recursive fic doesn't have to directly interact with the fic it's recursing, so although writing a sequel or doing an outside POV are popular forms of recursion, people also write missing scenes or focus on the wider implications off the fic they're recursing. It's really just taking a fanfiction as canon and doing regular fic things! Fandoms like Dreaming of Sunshine are actually whole large groups of people who write recursive fic about a fic.

For "Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Gifts In This Fandom (W/ Permission From Author!)" — If you request this tag for a Fandom A request, your creator can go to your gifts page and look for Fandom A gifts that you've received! If one of those gifts interests them, they will seek permission from the author to write something based on that gift fic. Some authors have blanket statements on their profile, but others will need to be asked directly (without breaking anonymity, so an anonymous comment on the fic in question might be best). Once your creator has permission from the author, they can then write a 1k+ fic set in the universe of that gift.

For "Recursive Fic of Any of the Recip's Works In This Fandom" — When you request this tag, you're opting in to having your creator(s) write recursive fic of any work you've created in. They can pick any of your works in the right fandom and write a fic based on your work as if it's canon.

In both cases, the gift your creator produces will still have to match one of your requested relationships, even if the fic they're recursing doesn't include that ship. So for instance if you write and recieve a lot of Anna & Benny but for this exchange you only request Benny/Carla, your creator could pick an Anna & Benny fic to make their recursive gift for you, but the gift they make would still need to be Benny/Carla.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi Mods! I just had a quick question. I really want to join, but a vast majority of the ships/characters I want to request are listed as 'not being allowed' because nobody else has requested them yet therefore they don't exist. How am I supposed to remedy this? How am I supposed to let my future creator know what I want?

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Hi nonnie! Exchanges like this one require all tags be in the exchange's tagset, which is a collection of tags nominated by participants and approved by the mods during the nomination stage! Some or all of the ships you want (even if they haven't yet been requested) may be in our tagset, which is here. If some of your fandoms or ships are missing, we can add additional tags into the tagset for you so that you can sign up — just provide us with the fandom exactly as it appears in the tagset (or exactly how it should appear if new! check how it usually appears on AO3 fic), and a comma separated list of the properly formatted nominations. You can find formatting rules for characters and ships in the relationships section of this post but essentially you should be giving us lists that look like this:

Fandom,Character A/Character B (Fandom),Solo: Character A (Fandom),Character D & Character C (Fandom)

[(Anonymous)]

Hi! I have a couple questions. Sorry if these have been asked before, I looked around but couldn't find anything.

1. What does "unlined background" for art refer to? Is it a painted detailed background, or anything ranging from a simple color to something more complex?

2. If a fanvid, for example, reaches 3 minutes, would that count as a 3k word equivalent?

3. For written mediums besides fic, are we allowed to do a lower word count for them if our recip has opted into those? Or do we have to stick with their specified mediums in this post?

Thanks!

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

1. That basically just means "don't use notebook paper". It's a fairly standard minimum quality for fanart in most exchanges. A blank background, a detailed background, or even a non-notebook paper lined background would be fine. I should probably adjust all of those to the "clean finished image" version to be more clear!
2. Yes, that would count as 3k. If it reached 3.5 minutes that would count as 3.5k, ect.
3. Yes, if your recipient has opted into lower wordcounts those apply to all wordcount based mediums.

Photo Editing/Manips

[astrospecial]

I know some exchanges don’t allow photo manips/edits— is that allowed for some of the art opt-ins? (I’m imagining ones that aren’t fanart/comic specific).

Re: Photo Editing/Manips

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Photos/manips will not count towards your word count and should not be the main part of any submission.

You can use them to supplement the main submission (such as using a photo with a recipe) but you must include the sources and you need to stick to CC, photos you've taken yourself, photos you have permission to use, or images directly from your canon.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi,

Sorry if this is a pedantic or obvious question (or has been answered elsewhere - I can't spot it). For written mediums, if they go over a 1k word count (say 1200 words), are the additional words also counted towards the overall 10k? Or should the medium be exactly 1k (or 2k etc)?

Many thanks :)

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

Additional words will be counted towards the 10k! If you wrote a 1200 word reddit post, that would count as 1200 towards your overall wordcount.

That also goes for other mediums that have a clear and logical scale. A fanvid that's 1m 12s would also count for 1200 since we're equating one minute to 1k written.

AmITheAsshole Post

[(Anonymous)]

Hi! RE AITA posts 1k written, do in-universe comments/replies to the post also count towards the word count, or is the "original" post the only thing that counts?

Re: AmITheAsshole Post

[fic_in_a_box_mod]

In-universe comments/replies also count. (The only ones that wouldn't, would be if you had someone post copypasta or something that you didn't originally write.)