HP WLW Big Bang

HP WLW Big BangHP WLW Big Bang on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.), (HPWLWBB, originally the Harry Potter Femslash Big BangWelcome to the first Harry Potter Femslash Big Bang on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.)) is an annual Harry Potter Big Bang for femslash-centric fanfiction and fanart. It runs annually in the first half of the year with all work posted on Archive of Our Own in June. The HPWLWBB is currently run by violetclarity and yrfrndfrnkly, and features fics with a minimum word count of 25,000 words. 
The original iteration of the big bangWelcome to the first Harry Potter Femslash Big Bang on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.) ran from July 2016 - September 2016. The word limit for fics was 7,000 minimum, and artists were able to sign up and claim fics to create art for. The 2016 big bang also opened sign ups for beta readers and set a prompt for the year: 'exploration of magic'. Original characters and genderbent characters were allowedask: does both the female characters have to be from the actual book on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.), and participants were allowed to sign up as more than one role (i.e. writers/artists/beta readers)ask: can i sign up for more than one thing on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.). Fics were allowed to be AUs or set in any eraask: can we write AUs on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.). 
The HPWLWBB also introduced the role of the Hype Reader for anyone who wanted to support the big bang and the creators without needing to create any work themselves. The Hype Reader role was created specifically to encourage greater participation in the event, and to increase support for wlw ships and creators Hype Reader Sign Ups Opening Soon on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).
== Rules ==
Participants can sign up to be any of the following:
Writers: required to produce work no shorter than 25,000 words minimum.Artists: required to produce 2 pieces 'more developed than a sketch'2021 Fest Rules on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).Hype Readers: required to leave a 'substantial' comment on at least 2 worksHype Reader Sign-Ups Opening Soon on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).
Participants must be 18 years or older to sign up as a writer or an artist for the HPWLWBB. Hype Readers of all ages are welcome, though those younger than 18 can only engage with fics and art rated T or lower. Participants who dropped out with no notice are not eligible to sign up for the following year (though those who communicated their departure are allowed to join again the following year). Writers are required to check in thrice before submission to ensure that they are on track with their work. Check-in dates are posted alongside the rules for each yearFest Rules on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).
All stories must feature a romantic/partnership relationship between two or more characters who are not canonically men (gen fic is not allowed ask: are there any limitations for ships on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.)). The primary ship should comprise characters from the original seven books. The HPWLWBB also accepts ace characters, poly ships, and trans or nonbinary interpretations of characters, provided it only involves characters who are not canonically menask: what if one of those parties is a man? on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).
Writers sign up in late February/early March, and artists sign up after writers have completed their 50% check in2021 Fest Rules on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.). All submissions must not be previously posted anywhere, though joining with an unpublished WIP is allowed.ask: can we sign up to finish a WIP on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.) All submissions must be beta-read.
Hype Readers sign up close to the posting date, and are required to leave a 'substantial' comment on at least two stories - that is, a comment that is at least a few sentences long, and directed to both the writer and the artist. Hype Readers receive a preview list of fics (including summaries and pairings) prior to posting, and are given approximately 2 weeks to complete their pledge.Hype Reader Sign Ups Opening Soon on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.)
== 2016 ==
The first HP Femslash Big Bang was run by pearl and alice-may. Fics from this year were posted to Archive of Our Own and on Tumblr.
The 2016 round yielded 6 pieces of fanfiction, with 6 pieces of fanart in the form of edits and aesthetics. Ginny Weasley and Pansy Parkinson featured in 2 works each during this round. The pairings featured this year were Fleur Delacour/Nymphadora Tonks, Astoria Greengrass/Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown/Parvati Patil, Hermione Granger/Pansy Parkinson, Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley, and Pansy Parkinson/Ginny Weasley.
=== Timeline ===
*June 14, 2016: Writer Sign-upsWelcome to the first Harry Potter Femslash Big Bang (Accessed 8 September 2021.)
*July 4, 2016: Beta-Reader Sign-upsStage Two Sign Ups (Accessed 8 September 2021.)
*July 25, 2016: Artist Sign-upsStage Three Sign Ups (Accessed 8 September 2021.)
*September 5-12, 2016: Fic submissions dueSubmitting Fics (Accessed 8 September 2021.)
=== Fics ===
*Bursting at the Seams by raven_bird
*Learning to Heal by raven_bird
*These Bandages by medric
*walk out into the dark (lead by your beating heart) by Anonymous
*What She Can't See by OwlsWithFins
*what's it gonna be? by cherrytrees (elossa)
== 2019 ==
In 2019, the fest was renamed the HP WLW Big Bang, with new moderators violetclarity and yrfrndfrnkly. The rules were adjusted, with the minimum word count expanding to 25,000 words from 7,000, and artists required to produce 2 pieces of art each. The inclusion of OCs and genderbent characters was also disallowed ask: can we use genderbending on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.). Check-in periods were also introduced for writers, and the Hype Reader role was introduced for those who wished to support the fest in non-creative ways.
Unlike in 2016 where the art was placed in post headers, art from the 2019 fest was embedded into the body of the fics, with writers and artists being featured as co-creators on the AO3 work.
2 pinch hitters were called for during the 2019 big bangPinch Hitters Needed(Accessed 8 September 2021.). 9 authors and 12 artists participated, creating 9 pieces of fanfiction and 23 pieces of fanart. 8 pairings were showcased, with Fleur Delacour/Nymphadora Tonks being featured as the main pairing in 2 fics, and Ginny Weasley, Pansy Parkinson, Hermione Granger, and Minerva McGonagall appearing as part of the main pairing in 2 fics each. 
=== Timeline ===
* February 2019: Writer Sign-ups
* March 30, 2019: 25% check-in
* April 21, 2019: 50% check-in
* April 21 - May 7, 2019: Artist Sign-ups
* May 15, 2019: 80% check-in
* May 31, 2019: Fics submission deadline
* June 7, 2019: Art submission deadline
* June 10, 2019: Hype Reader Sign-ups
* June 21, 2019: Posting begins
See: 2019 HP WLW Big Bang
=== Round-Up ===
See: Wrap Up and MasterlistSee: HP WLW BB on AO3
== 2020 ==
In 2020, a minor rule adjustment was introduced, with participants only allowed to create stories with characters from the original seven books. This was to encourage the use of the already rich pool of characters in the books and to ensure that the matching process remained manageable as the book characters were recognisable by a wider pool of peopleask: why only pairings from the original seven books? on Tumblr. (Accessed 8 September 2021.).
1-2 pinch hitters were called for during this year's big bang Looking for Artist Pinch Hitters on Tumblr. (Accessed on 8 September 2021.), and a call for a sensitivity readerSensitivity Reader Needed on Tumblr.(Accessed on 8 September 2021.) was also hosted on the official Tumblr. A total of 8 authors, 12 artists, and 3 pinch hitters created 8 pieces of fanfiction and 23 pieces of fanart. 20 Hype Readers also participated.
7 pairings were showcased, with Luna Lovegood/Ginny Weasley appearing as the main pairing in 2 fics, Hermione Granger appearing as part of the main pairing in 4 fics, Luna Lovegood and Ginny Weasley appearing as part of the main pairing in 3 fics each, and Pansy Parkinson appearing as part of the main pairing in 2 fics.
=== Timeline ===
* February 7 - February 29, 2020: Writer Sign-ups
* March 30, 2020: 25% check-in
* April 21, 2020: 50% check-in and summary due
* April 21 - May 7, 2020: Artist Sign-ups
* April 24, 2020: Writer and Artist matches 
* May 15, 2020: 80% check-in
* May 31, 2020: Fic submission deadline
* June 7, 2020: Art submission deadline
* June 8, 2020: Hype Reader Sign-ups
* June 21, 2020: Posting begins
=== Round-Up ===
See: Fest Stats and MasterlistHPWLWBB2020 on AO3
== 2021 ==
In 2021, artists were also given a 50% check-in date. 
As all the fics submitted in 2021 were rated M and E, all Hype Readers were required to be above the age of 18Hype Reader Sign-Ups Now Open on Tumblr.(Accessed 8 September 2021).
9 authors and 9 artists (including 6 pinch-hitters) created 9 pieces of fanfiction and 21 pieces of fanart. This year was the first to feature a poly ship (Hermione Granger/Pansy Parkinson/Millicent Bulstrode). Pansy Parkinson featured as part of the main pairing in 4 different fics, while Hermione Granger, Ginny Weasley, Nymphadora Tonks and Minerva McGonagall featured as part of the main pairing in 2 fics each.
=== Timeline ===
* February 17 - March 3, 2021: Writer Sign-ups
* March 31, 2020: 25% check-in
* April 7 - April 21, 2021: Artist Sign-ups
* April 21, 2021: 50% check-in and summary due
* April 28, 2021: Writer and Artist matches 
* May 19, 2021: 80% check-in for writers, 50% check-in for artists
* June 5, 2021: Fic submission deadline
* June 9, 2021: Art submission deadline
* June 14, 2021: Hype Reader Sign-ups
* June 21, 2020: Posting begins
=== Round-Up ===
See: Fest Wrap-UpHPWLWBB2021 on AO3
== References ==
Category:Big Bang Challenges
Category:Femslash Challenges
Category:Harry Potter Challenges
Category:2010s Challenges
Category:2020s Challenges