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How To Yuletide - A very, very basic primer…

So I sent this in an email to iapetusnueme, but figured enough people seemed curious about it, that I’d just post this here for whoever might not know.

As I sort of said in past post - Yuletide is a magical fanfictiony time of year when you sign-up to write one fic of at least 1k words for someone based on a set of requests they make, and in exchange someone (most often not the same person you’re writing for) writes something for you, based on things you’re interested in.  But the great thing about Yuletide is that the fandoms available to choose from are VERY, VERY small.  Like that one song, that one guy, wrote that one time - small.  Or the “The Most Interesting Man in the World” small.  Or that one book you don’t think anyone else, ever, read.

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So, as of today, you are JUST in time for Yuletide.  Nominations just closed and sign-ups opened today.  First, if you haven’t, check out the yuletide and yuletide_admin communities on LJ.  Everyone is super helpful and the admin community is the official news place, so it has good links.  Second, you’re going to need an account at AO3 - but the Yuletide folks can help you with that if you don’t have one.

Then, check out the GIANT list of fandoms available here: http://archiveofourown.org/tag_sets/show_options?restriction=182&tag_type=fandom
Make two lists: Lists you CAN/WILL write for (you get to offer up to 6 fandoms) and a List of THINGS YOU WANT (up to 4 fandoms)
Then, go here: http://archiveofourown.org/collections/yuletide2011/signups/new between now and 8pm EST on November 20th and list your choices from those two lists.  
The important things to remember when signing up: 1) characters listed in your fandom nomination MUST be used by your author, so you only want to include people you really want to see in the fic (paired or no).  2) a Dear Author/Dear Yulegoat letter is not required but is HIGHLY recommended.  This letter will help explain further why you like the things you like, or the pairings you want/like, ect.  So, the more explanatory it is about your fandom choices, the better.  Mine from last year is here: http://cherith.dreamwidth.org/6742.html if you need a reference.  Use that letter when you sign up on the AO3 site.  3) AND stories only have to be 1000 words.  That’s it.  Yeah, people write more, and you can write more.  But, it’s not so much and your recipient is likely to love anything you write for them.  
One last thing.  Pinch Hitting means writing for people when their writers are unavailable for whatever reason.  It’s a pretty simple process, and it’s an email based list and the fandoms requests are always listed up at the top of the email, so it’s a pretty quick browse to consider if you can write for them.  I only mention it, not because it’s required, but because it’s kind of a fun thing to sign up for - I’ve written for fandoms I NEVER would’ve thought about because of it (like LOLCats fanfic two years ago).  
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So that’s the very, very basics.  If you have questions, ask away.
posted 1 year ago on 11/16/11
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  1. coppermarigolds reblogged this from minorearth and added:
    Yay Yuletide! I just did it for the first time last year, and I was overwhelmed and totally nervous at first, but I...
  2. keeptomandcarryon reblogged this from cherith
  3. cherith reblogged this from minorearth and added:
    My first year I was totally overwhelmed. It was more a WHAT IS THIS THING? And NOW WHAT ARE THEY ON ABOUT? I did a lot...
  4. minorearth reblogged this from cherith and added:
    I just signed up for my very first Yuletide - meep - and this post is exactly the kind of thing I need to keep from...
  5. iapetusneume reblogged this from cherith
  6. suketchilt reblogged this from cherith
  7. cherith posted this