Mega Flare 2011: FAQ!
Jun. 5th, 2011 09:39 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
owlmoose posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
megaflare_ff1. What is Mega Flare?
Mega Flare is a Big Bang for the Final Fantasy community. It's an opportunity for writers and artists to work together to create long stories illustrated with awesome art! Authors will write a story of at least 5,000 words, and artists will chose at least one story to illustrate with a high-quality artwork. For more details, see the rules.
2. Sounds great! When can I sign up?
All closing times and due dates are 11pm Pacific Time (UTC -6).
You can find a complete list of our rules on this page, including expectations for writers and artists as well as details on signing up as a team.
3. What's the deal with the different length options?
After gathering feedback from last year's participants, we decided that more people would be able to participate in the challenge if we offered a little more flexibility. So this year, we are offering authors the opportunity to choose their own wordcount goal, as follows:
Flare - 5,000 words
Ultima - 10,000 words
Mega Flare - 20,000 words
Giga Flare - 40,000 words
4. What counts as "Final Fantasy"?
Any media property with the words "Final Fantasy" in the name, including all the main game titles, spinoff titles, and movies, that has been released to the public. The complete list:
Final Fantasy XIII
Final Fantasy Mystic Quest
Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within
Final Fantasy: Unlimited
Dissidia: Final Fantasy
Dissidia 012
Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles
Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes of Light
If you do not see the Final Fantasy title you wish to write about, please ask!
Also, please note that this does not include Kingdom Hearts or Vagrant Story. You are, however, welcome to write a crossover with either (see below). Also check out![[community profile]](https://s.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
hardmode, a Big Bang for all game fandoms. Signups are currently closed, but keep an eye out for next time!
5. So, what about crossovers? Or Alternate Universes?
Allowed and encouraged! Just make sure that at least one Final Fantasy canon is an important element of the story in terms of setting and/or characters.
6. Do I have to write one long story, or can I write a bunch of short stories that add up to to my word count goal?
Like most Big Bangs, the intent of Mega Flare is to encourage and support writers who are interested in writing longer Final Fantasy stories. Therefore, we require that writers write a single story rather than a series of shorter stories. Of course, stories can be broken into shorter sections such as chapters, but they should be posted all at once.
7. How do I post to AO3?
Everyone will need an AO3 account to participate. If you don't have one yet, please contact the mods as soon as possible and we will get you one. Alternately, you can sign up for the invite queue.
When posting opens and you are ready to upload, browse to the Mega Flare 2011 subcollection. Select Post to Collection:
This will automatically fill the Collection field with megaflare2011. You can also use Post New:
However, under the "Associations" section on Post New, the Collection field will be empty and you will have to type the collection name in (or copy paste). The subcollection for this round is megaflare2011. If your browser supports it, it may offer you some autocomplete suggestions.
All artwork can embedded within the story. This works the same as it does on Livejournal, Dreamwidth, or any webpage: <img src="" alt="" /> and you should be in business. If you need long-term hosting for your artwork, we are happy to provide it for you. Just e-mail us for the upload page URL. :)
If you have any questions or concerns about the posting process, or need assistance, don't hesitate to e-mail us.
8. When will I be able to post?
We will allow posting starting in early October, so you can post as soon as you're done! Note that the stories will be hidden until we officially open on October 28th, so you will still be able to edit up until that date.
9. Can I post my story elsewhere?
After the collection officially opens on October 28th, you may cross-post your story and artwork wherever you like. But please don't post your story or artwork publicly before that date.
10. Oh no, I'm not going to finish by the deadline! What do I do?
First, don't panic. We understand that life happens, and that things don't always go according to plan. If you run into trouble at any point during the process, up to and including half an hour before the reveal, please contact the mods, and we will do our best to help you. The sooner you contact us, the better, but even at the last minute it's better to contact us than to disappear.
11. I defaulted last year. Can I still sign up this year?
Yes. We will not penalize anyone for having defaulted on last year's challenge. However, please do consider whether you will be able to commit this year, especially if you plan to submit a story for artwork or sign up to illustrate a story.
12. I finished my story but haven't heard from my artist/I finished my artwork but haven't heard from my author. What do I do?
Contact your author/artist, let them know that you are ready to post, and ask them for a timeline. You should also ask them if they mind if you post your creation separately. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself, drop the mods a line and we will be happy to do it for you!
13. How do I contact the mods?
Email is the best way -- megaflareff@gmail.com!
Mega Flare is a Big Bang for the Final Fantasy community. It's an opportunity for writers and artists to work together to create long stories illustrated with awesome art! Authors will write a story of at least 5,000 words, and artists will chose at least one story to illustrate with a high-quality artwork. For more details, see the rules.
2. Sounds great! When can I sign up?
- Sun Jun 5: Sign-ups Open
- Fri Jul 9: Author Sign-ups Close
- Fri Jul 9: Mega Flare 2010 Collection Closes
- Sun Sep 18: Rough Drafts Due
- Mon Sep 19: Story Selection Begins
- Sun Sep 25: Story Selection Closes
- Sun Sep 25: Artist Sign-ups Close
- Fri Oct 28: Posting Begins!
- Sun Nov 13: Posting Ends - All stories and artwork due
All closing times and due dates are 11pm Pacific Time (UTC -6).
You can find a complete list of our rules on this page, including expectations for writers and artists as well as details on signing up as a team.
3. What's the deal with the different length options?
After gathering feedback from last year's participants, we decided that more people would be able to participate in the challenge if we offered a little more flexibility. So this year, we are offering authors the opportunity to choose their own wordcount goal, as follows:
Flare - 5,000 words
Ultima - 10,000 words
Mega Flare - 20,000 words
Giga Flare - 40,000 words
4. What counts as "Final Fantasy"?
Any media property with the words "Final Fantasy" in the name, including all the main game titles, spinoff titles, and movies, that has been released to the public. The complete list:
- Final Fantasy I
- Final Fantasy II
- Final Fantasy III
- Final Fantasy IV
- Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
- Final Fantasy V
- Legend of the Crystals: Final Fantasy
- Final Fantasy VI
- Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy VII: Before Crisis
- Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core
- Final Fantasy VII: Last Order
- Final Fantasy VII
- Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
- Final Fantasy VII: Dirge of Cerberus
- Final Fantasy VIII
- Final Fantasy IX
- Final Fantasy X & Final Fantasy X-2
- Final Fantasy XI
- Ivalice Alliance
- Final Fantasy XII
- Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings
- Final Fantasy Tactics (The War of the Lions)
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance
- Final Fantasy Tactics Advance 2: Grimoire of the Rift
- Final Fantasy Crystal Defenders
- Final Fantasy XII
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a Dark Lord
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
- Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: The Crystal Bearers
If you do not see the Final Fantasy title you wish to write about, please ask!
Also, please note that this does not include Kingdom Hearts or Vagrant Story. You are, however, welcome to write a crossover with either (see below). Also check out
hardmode, a Big Bang for all game fandoms. Signups are currently closed, but keep an eye out for next time!5. So, what about crossovers? Or Alternate Universes?
Allowed and encouraged! Just make sure that at least one Final Fantasy canon is an important element of the story in terms of setting and/or characters.
6. Do I have to write one long story, or can I write a bunch of short stories that add up to to my word count goal?
Like most Big Bangs, the intent of Mega Flare is to encourage and support writers who are interested in writing longer Final Fantasy stories. Therefore, we require that writers write a single story rather than a series of shorter stories. Of course, stories can be broken into shorter sections such as chapters, but they should be posted all at once.
7. How do I post to AO3?
Everyone will need an AO3 account to participate. If you don't have one yet, please contact the mods as soon as possible and we will get you one. Alternately, you can sign up for the invite queue.
When posting opens and you are ready to upload, browse to the Mega Flare 2011 subcollection. Select Post to Collection:
This will automatically fill the Collection field with megaflare2011. You can also use Post New:
However, under the "Associations" section on Post New, the Collection field will be empty and you will have to type the collection name in (or copy paste). The subcollection for this round is megaflare2011. If your browser supports it, it may offer you some autocomplete suggestions.
All artwork can embedded within the story. This works the same as it does on Livejournal, Dreamwidth, or any webpage: <img src="" alt="" /> and you should be in business. If you need long-term hosting for your artwork, we are happy to provide it for you. Just e-mail us for the upload page URL. :)
If you have any questions or concerns about the posting process, or need assistance, don't hesitate to e-mail us.
8. When will I be able to post?
We will allow posting starting in early October, so you can post as soon as you're done! Note that the stories will be hidden until we officially open on October 28th, so you will still be able to edit up until that date.
9. Can I post my story elsewhere?
After the collection officially opens on October 28th, you may cross-post your story and artwork wherever you like. But please don't post your story or artwork publicly before that date.
10. Oh no, I'm not going to finish by the deadline! What do I do?
First, don't panic. We understand that life happens, and that things don't always go according to plan. If you run into trouble at any point during the process, up to and including half an hour before the reveal, please contact the mods, and we will do our best to help you. The sooner you contact us, the better, but even at the last minute it's better to contact us than to disappear.
11. I defaulted last year. Can I still sign up this year?
Yes. We will not penalize anyone for having defaulted on last year's challenge. However, please do consider whether you will be able to commit this year, especially if you plan to submit a story for artwork or sign up to illustrate a story.
12. I finished my story but haven't heard from my artist/I finished my artwork but haven't heard from my author. What do I do?
Contact your author/artist, let them know that you are ready to post, and ask them for a timeline. You should also ask them if they mind if you post your creation separately. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself, drop the mods a line and we will be happy to do it for you!
13. How do I contact the mods?
Email is the best way -- megaflareff@gmail.com!