Frequently Asked Questions

For those over 18, feel free to join the Spideypool server through this link. Please make sure to introduce yourself and state that you are a participant in the SPBB, as well as what type (writer, artist, beta) so that we may assign you the correct roles. This will grant you access to the SPBB room, where you can chat about your work with other participants.

## What is a Big Bang?

A Big Bang is a type of challenge wherein writers have a set amount of time to write a story that fulfills a minimum word length requirement. This story is then claimed by an artist, who will create art for the story.

Writers and artists work together as a team. They will both have individual and team deadlines and requirements, with the aim to post works jointly on their allocated posting date, including a masterpost which will be promoted by the challenge blog. This is a collaborative effort, NOT a commission. Though writers can suggest scenes they feel would work well as art pieces, ultimately it is the artists who choose an aspect of the story they would like to create art for, as well as their medium and style. The artist should also respect what the writer suggests and take their notes into consideration. Communication is key to a fun and friendly experience.

Artists can claim up to two stories and can work with multiple writers. However, writers will be matched with only one artist. If an artist drops out after claims, we will arrange for a pinch-hitter (someone who will create art for the story at the last minute).

This is a fun event and a collaborative effort that will hopefully create more Spideypool content for the fandom and foster closer fandom friendships.

## How do I sign up as a writer/artist?

Sign-up forms are linked on the blog during the sign-up period. There will be an official start and close of the forms. Please read the event Rules for more detail, and the Schedule for specific dates.

## What do I need to know about signing up as a Writer?

If you are signing up as a Writer, you will need to have a story concept and at least 25% of the draft completed in order to sign up.

A summary/concept may look something like this:

*Deadpool’s best friend Domino has gone missing, and Wade enlists Spiderman to help him look for her. They do some investigating around town and find out she’s been kidnapped, so they go rescue her. At the end, Wade asks Peter on a date.*

The draft shows you have made a start on the fic—we expect it to be rough, or even just a very detailed outline of the scenes.

You will then have a period of time to work on your draft. In order to qualify for artist claims, at the first Writer Check-In you will need to submit a draft that is at least 50% complete, with clear progress from initial sign up, with a detailed outline of the remainder of the story, along with the information required for claims: a claims summary, and visual components. If you are unable to meet this minimum requirement, you will not be allowed to participate in the artist claims process and will not be allowed to continue in the event. Summaries included in the first Writer Check-in form will be used to give Artists an idea of what each story will be about prior to Art Claims. They are not an official AO3 summary. We encourage the Claims Summary to be detailed and spoilery.

Visual components will be a simple list of what color palette/aesthetics/mood the story might provoke and/or maybe places/scenes that stand out in the story. Example: *Fic has lots of cloudy days, grey colors, sometimes in forests. Hectic blood rituals. Moonlit nights. Wade fights a lot of ninjas. Peter likes to cosplay Steampunk.* They are used to help artists better narrow down what they would like to draw.

More information and examples of both the Summaries and Visual Components will be available on the tumblr blog when sign-ups are announced. If you have trouble finding the post or have issues/questions about sign-ups, let the mods know either through an ask or by emailing us at spideypoolbb@gmail.com

## Why do I have to have a 25% complete draft at sign-ups? Isn’t the whole point to write the fic during the event?

The requirement for sign-ups for writers has undergone several changes over the last few events as we try to balance the expectations of what writers can feasibly have prepared for sign-ups, with an event whose focus is the team partnership between writer and artist. We want people to have partners for as much of the process as possible, and also alleviate some of the pressure on writers scrambling to complete a draft in time for claims. A lot of writers (the Mods are guilty of this too!) sign up for an event with an idea, but nothing written down, and then struggle to reach the requirements to participate in claims. We’ve made annual adjustments based on feedback in order to come to a good compromise and are still tweaking it – so expect a request for feedback come the end of the event!

## What do I need to know about signing up as an Artist?

Artists signing up for the event will be able to claim a story via the anonymous claims process to create artwork for. Following claims you will be introduced to your teammate, and will be expected to work in collaboration with your writer until the end of the event, where your completed artwork and story will be made publicly available. For more details on the exact requirements for an artist, please see the Rules.

## I missed sign-ups. Can I still register?

Unfortunately, only writers and artists signed up within the given timeframe can participate in the event. If you missed it, please follow the blog for updates, as this is a yearly event, and you will have an opportunity to join the event the following year.

## Can I sign up as an Artist, a Writer, *and* a Beta Reader?

Firstly, we applaud anyone willing to undertake such a heavy workload! We do not recommend this route because editing can be just as time-consuming as writing and arting. However, we do allow those registering as only a Writer or only an Artist to register as a Beta as well. You must fill out both the writer/artist form and the beta form.

## I’ve joined the Discord Server; what do the roles mean?

We have a dedicated room on the Isn’t It Bromantic Spideypool server for our over-18 participants to use during the event. We assign roles based on what people sign up for so that other participants know what role(s) you are participating as.

We use Threads for separating out conversations, should participants wish to talk individually about their stories or art, etc, without interrupting general conversation, but participants will be able to talk freely about their creations and the event in general in the main channel.

Anyone who wishes to sign up for the event as an artist will not be given their event-specific server roles until after the claims process has been completed so that writers have a place to chat about their stories before claims, but you are welcome to join the server early to participate in other fun Spideypool chats during the short wait!

## Will you email me reminders? What if I need more time?

We will send out email reminders at least a week before official deadlines. Reminders will be emailed for all check-ins, claims, and posting dates. Please consider adding the dates posted on the schedule into your calendar to keep track.

We will grant extensions on a case-by-case basis. This is a low-stress event, and we understand that life gets hectic. If you feel like you need more time, let the mods know as soon as possible **before the deadline.**

## I’ve never participated in an event before. Can I sign up?

Yes! Everyone is welcome to participate as long as you are above the age of 14. However, we do ask that you are fully aware of the responsibilities that come with signing up. So make sure you read the rules *carefully*!

## Will we be assigned a prompt?

We do not assign prompts. You can write what you want, as long as the main pairing is Spideypool. We never want a Writer to feel like they can’t write their heart’s desire, but if you’re worried about there being a struggle to match your story to an Artist, we encourage you to focus on story ideas with a broad appeal that would lend itself well to art. You may work from a prompt, but you cannot reveal what prompt you’re writing from until after claims and it cannot be a prompt you have discussed writing publicly in the past. This is to keep the anonymity of your fic during the claims process.

## When can I start writing?

Start now! Finish reading the FAQ and get to it! Remember, you will need a 25% completed rough draft, with the rest of the story outlined at sign-up!

## I want to talk about my fic, but I’m afraid of revealing too much. What is considered information I can reveal?

The most important thing is that no identifiable details of your fic are made public before claims have been completed. This is to prevent the possibility of an artist seeing it and connecting that detail to you. We want to make sure the claims are absolutely anonymous so there is no bias while picking the stories. All stories will be chosen by artists based on summaries and visual components only.

If you need group feedback and are 18 or older, the Isn’t It Bromantic Spideypool Discord has a designated section for the SPBB event, where participants can speak freely about their creations. Once you’ve signed up as a writer, you can ask a mod on the server to give you the SPBB-writer role to gain access to the room. If you are planning to sign up as an artist as well, you’ll have to wait for this role until after claims, sorry! Writers may discuss their works freely and receive feedback/brainstorm ideas. This means that writers may not share details of their story in any other chat until after Claims.

Event announcements are also posted within the SPBB-specific room, as well as on the tumblr blog and via email. Event rules apply to the server, as it is a public forum, so please do not discuss details in the main rooms until after Claims.

If you are under 18, or otherwise cannot/are not interested in joining the server, discussing details with your beta or another individual (who is not participating in the event as an artist) in a private one-on-one chat is allowed.

Here are a few examples of what information is allowed and what is not:

* “I’m almost done with writing my SPBB fic!” ← This is okay because it reveals no specific details about your story that an artist could recognize.
* “I’m almost done with my Princess Bride AU fic for the SPBB!” ← **This is not okay** because it is a specific detail.
* “I’m writing a story involving an alien invasion, but I kind of want to write this royal au as well. Which one should I pick?” ← **This is not okay.** Even if you didn’t mention the SPBB, you’re using one of these stories for the SPBB, and it might be recognized based on these descriptions.
* “Is there anyone not drawing for the SPBB who could help me bounce plot details (In private chat) for this idea I have?” ← This is okay because you will be taking discussion to a one-on-one private chat.

## Can I use any version of Spider-Man and Deadpool for my fic/art?

Yes. We understand that there are many versions of these characters, whether it be the actors or the comics. We ask that teams respect each other’s preferences. As long as appropriate warnings are given in the story and the art, teams are free to create what they please, and that includes underage Peter or Tom Holland!Spidey/Ryan Reynolds!Deadpool. Or Spider-Man Noir/Sumo!Wade Wilson, if that’s your thing. Go wild!

Please note that we do not tolerate shaming or harassment of any kind. Leaving negative comments or complaints or otherwise being disrespectful to or about another participant’s creative choices because a piece depicts an iteration of Spider-Man or Deadpool that you do not approve of will result in disqualification from this round and a possible ban for the next round, as well. Be respectful and mature when communicating. If you have a problem with the iteration of the characters your partner is using, please contact the mods for mediation.

## Can I write other pairings, such as Spider-Man/Mary Jane or Deadpool/Cable?

You can, but keep in mind that the fic has to be majority Spideypool and endgame Spider-Man/Deadpool. Poly ships such as Peter/Wade/Vanessa or Spider-Man/Deadpool/Daredevil are also permitted, as long as they are not the main focus of the story and are not the final pairing. We love polyships, but that’s not the goal of this specific event. If your preference is to write polyships, we encourage you to seek out a polyship big bang event.

## When am I assigned an artist/writer?

You will be assigned a partner during Art Claims. It will be an anonymous claiming process, wherein the artist chooses a story they would like to create art for. Instructions will be sent out by email before claims. You cannot pick your own partner.

## Are we assigned beta-readers? What is a beta-reader? Do I have to use one?

A beta-reader is an editor who will go over your work. They mostly look for grammatical and structural errors. We require all participants to have at least one beta-reader look over their work. It is good etiquette to thank your beta-reader and also credit them for their help in the author’s note of your story once it is posted.

You will not be assigned a beta-reader. However, we will have a list of volunteer beta-readers prepared, and a list of their contact information and preferences will be sent out through email to all the writers. You don’t have to work with the SPBB betas if you already have a beta to work with, but if you cannot find a beta, you will be able to contact any beta on the list we send out.

Be aware that they will have refusal rights if your story goes against their stated preferences (i.e. If they state that they aren’t comfortable with Tom!Spidey fics and your fic is set during Infinity War, they can refuse to beta for you, etc.). It is your job to read up on what they offer and to contact them. Make sure to do so as soon as possible to ensure a beta is available to work with you. You will be asked to name your beta on the final check-in form, so it’s a good idea to secure one earlier rather than later. They will  need time to beta your work, and you’ll need time to edit before posting day, which is why we want to make sure you have found a beta ahead of time.

Artists are also encouraged to work with an art beta, which can be found in the Discord SPBB chat. Basically, the best people who can give you feedback are your fellow artists participating in the SPBB.

## What is a Check-In?

When we say “check-in”, it is usually done through a form sent out via email a week before the check-in is due. Check-ins let the mods know that you’re on track and show us any progress you have made.

## I have an idea for a piece of artwork, but it’s a little unconventional…does it count?

We accept all art materials and styles as part of the event. Traditional, digital, sculpture, etc. If you’re not sure how your idea would work, please reach out to the mods to discuss in more detail.

## Why is AI-generated content not allowed? You said all types.

The Mods are not comfortable with the ethical implications of how AI generators are trained, or the potential misuse and misappropriation of copyrighted materials in their creation. Therefore we have currently made the decision that AI-generated content is not allowed as part of this event. (Where’s the fun in having the computer do it, anyway?)

## I prefer to wait to read the finished draft before starting my art; is that okay?

Not for this event, alas! It’s important to remember that this is a collaborative process, and both writer and artist participants are expected to be working on their projects throughout the event in order to meet their required check-ins. This means that you should begin working on your artwork as soon as you have received and read the draft of your writer’s story after Claims. If you feel inspired to make art for parts of the story which haven’t yet been written, you can. Ask your writer about what they intend for the scene, and make sure to check in with them during the creation portion of the event to ensure your art matches the scene as it is written.

In a perfect world, the writer’s draft would be finished in an instant and ready for you to make art from, but in reality, your writer has deadlines to work towards, the same as you do. Work together and be patient with each other. Remember, “WIP” exists for a reason!

## If I sign up as an Artist, how can I be sure that I don’t claim a story that contains content I’m uncomfortable reading?

When the Writers submit their summaries and visual components for preview day, we ask them to include as spoilery a summary as possible so that there aren’t any surprises for their potential Artist later. We require tagging for all major AO3 warnings (Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, and Underage), and encourage including any other potentially triggering or squicky tags as well. We will be asking Artists for any particular tags or story elements they want tagged during claims on the Artist sign-up form so that the Writers will know to include those tags in their previews during Claims. Our main goal in hosting this event is to make sure that everyone is having fun and enjoying what they do, and making sure that all participants are comfortable with their partners and the work they are creating together is a top priority.

## What is Preview Day?

Preview day is a few days\* before the actual Claims. Artists will be sent an email with a link to a gallery of stories available to claim. Each story will be assigned a number, and previews will include Rating, Summary, Warnings/Tags, Visual Components and Expected Final Word Count. Artists then have a few days to read over all the summaries and pick their top 5. In consideration of the Writers participating, Artists should not share their top choices on public forums or discuss the particulars of the stories available.

\*Previews will be out a full two weeks before Claims in 2024 due to MsCaptainWinchester’s vacation schedule. She is not sorry for choosing an inconvenient time to spend a week frolicking in the woods without internet access. Blame the Eclipse. (Nimohtar will dutifully hold the fort during this time.)

## What is Claim Day, and how do I claim the fic I want to make art for?

Claim Day is the official day when Artists will be sent a form to submit their top choices for stories to draw for. The email will be sent out at a specific time and date detailed in the Previews email. Because claims are assigned on a first come, first serve basis, it is important for artists to fill out the form as soon as possible to best assure that they receive one of their top choices. We have done our best to pick a time that will work for a wide variety of time zones, but as the Mods are based in the UK and the USA, we had to choose a release time that best fits our own schedules as well. Be aware that this might mean that you have to set an alarm for the middle of the night depending on where you live to make sure you have the best chance at getting your top pick. We know that may not be convenient, but it’s the best way to make the claims process fair. Asking a friend to fill out your form is also an option if you will not be available at that specific time.

## How are teams matched on Claims Day?

Teams are matched in a process that is first come, first served, meaning that the first Artist to choose a story is the person who gets that story. The Mods set the Google form to populate a Google spreadsheet. We usually wait about an hour after the form has been made live to begin the matching process to give Artists time to fill out their claims. The spreadsheet populates by time submitted, so that all the Artist claims are in order of when that person filled out the form. We go down the line, highlighting the story number that Artist claimed first. If an Artist’s first choice has already been claimed by a previous Artist, we go to their second choice. If that second choice has already been claimed, we go to their third, etc. (hence why we ask Artists to choose up to 5 stories as options). The process looks something like this:

If all of an Artist’s top 5 choices have previously been chosen by another Artist, we quickly update the previews gallery we send out, hiding the stories that have already been chosen, and ask the Artist to select a new Top 5 from the updated list.

If at the end of the day not all of the stories have been claimed, we update the previews gallery with the remaining stories, and the next day, we send out a Claims Round Two email to all the Artists. At that time, any Artist who wishes to can claim a second story. On the rare occasion that not all the stories have been claimed in Round Two, we hold a Third Round that is open to any Artist who wishes to claim a story, even if they did not sign up during the sign-up period.

Once every story has been paired with an Artist, the Mods prepare final introduction emails and send them all out at once.

## I haven’t heard from my partner in a while; what do I do?

When you sign up for this challenge, you are agreeing to communicate with your partner through emails or other methods determined by you and your partner(s). Some teams might communicate only a few times, and some might communicate regularly. We ask Teams to (at minimum) make contact with each other at each Writer and Artist Check-in to exchange progress and make sure everything is on track. It is up to the team members to check in with each other. It is critical that you respond promptly to your partners and check your messages, even if it’s just to say you’re busy and will respond later.

Team members are required to make contact with each other within 48hrs of the Team Intro emails being sent out so that drafts can be exchanged and you can begin working together as soon as possible.

At all other times, if you send a message to your partner(s) and do not receive a response within 2-3 days, please contact a mod so that we can attempt to reach out separately. **PLEASE DO NOT WAIT UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO LET US KNOW YOU HAVEN’T HEARD FROM YOUR TEAMMATE.** If a participant does not respond to their partner(s) or a mod within 7 days, they will be added to a probation list. If this happens repeatedly, that participant will be disqualified from next year’s event. Ghosting your teammate will also lead to disqualification. We take communication between teammates seriously, and we hope our participants do as well.

## What if I need to drop out?

There is no penalty for dropping out before claims. However, we ask that you let us know as soon as possible so we can remove you from the mailing list.

If you have gone through claims and need to drop, contact us immediately at [[1]], so we can arrange for a pinch-hitter for your teammate. You must also let your partner know you will be dropping out. Please note that dropping out after claims (for anything less than an emergency situation) will disqualify you for the next round of SPBB.

In the event that an artist drops out of the challenge before posting, we will arrange for a pinch-hitter for the writer. If a writer drops, artists can still post their art on their assigned posting date.

Do not announce that you are dropping out through social media before telling your partner. We do not want your partner finding out that way. Instead, let the necessary people know through private chats or emails.

If there is an emergency, get in touch with us as soon as possible, and we will work with you the best we can.  We understand that a fandom event might not be your first priority in an emergency, and that’s fine, but you **must tell the mods that this is the case** when you are able to do so. We are not psychic, and do not know your reason for leaving the event if you don’t tell us. As always, **Communication Is Key**.

## What’s a pinch-hitter and how can I become one?

In the case of an artist dropping out of the event, leaving a writer without an artist, a pinch-hitter is asked to sweep in, often with only a few weeks notice, to create art for that writer’s story. Artists will also be asked during sign-ups if they’d like to register as a pinch hitter. If a pinch-hitter should be necessary, we will contact the Artists who agreed to be pinch-hitters first. Should none of them be available to assist with the story in need, we will then post an open request for an artist.

## Am I allowed to write timestamps, epilogues, or sequels for this fic? What about additional art?

You may write as many timestamps, epilogues, or sequels to your fic as you like, however these can only be posted after the event is complete and the final Masterlist has been posted by the mods.

Additional art can be posted after the Masterlist of Writers and Artists has been posted by the mods and the current round is over. If someone creates fanart for your story as a gift, you may include it in the notes of your story, but the original fanart created by your partner must remain in your masterpost and linked or embedded in the AO3 story as well.

Commissioning art for a story or asking a friend to create additional art for you because you dislike the art you received is not allowed. This is a collaborative event and to do so is disrespectful to your Artist’s efforts. If you wish to commission art or have someone else create art for your story, you may not include that art within the story itself until one year after the posting date. The original art created by your partner must remain linked directly in the story.

## What if I’m co-writing? Do we sign up together or separately? Do we get two Artists?

If you plan to co-write, both of you must register separately. There will be a place in the sign-up form for you to name a co-writer, but each co-writer must submit their own form with contact information, etc. during the sign-up period. You cannot add a co-writer after writer registration closes.

Co-writing is essentially working together to create one story. As per the rules, each story, even if you’re co-writing, will only receive one Artist. This also does not mean you can demand more art from your Artist. They only need to fulfill the minimum requirement and can choose to create more art if they have the time and desire to do so.

## Can I have multiple writing partners?

Yes. While we prefer that teams stick to one or two Writers and an Artist for schedule coordination and easier communication, we have no problem with a team of three or more Writers submitting a story together. As with co-writers, you will still only be paired with one Artist, and all writers in your group must sign up for the event separately.

To make communication and scheduling easier for everyone, we would also ask that your team choose a point person to respond to communication, coordinate schedules, and submit check-ins and posts when applicable. While we have no problem with large writing groups working together, trying to chase down three or more individuals for one story is a bit more challenging than we, as mods, are equipped to deal with. All participants will still receive relevant emails and reminders, but if we only have to look for one email instead of three or more in response, that will make our jobs significantly less challenging.

## What is the Promo Period? Do I need anything special for it?

The Promo Period will be a month where (depending on how many teams we have), each team will be creating what is essentially a teaser for your team’s story and art. These posts may be used by the teams to promote their upcoming work on whichever social media platforms they wish, but as the original post will be submitted to the SPBB blog, you may reblog it from the SPBB blog. We will post a promo for a new team every day during the Promo Period, in posting schedule order. This is why we ask that each Artist create a banner for the story they are creating art for. More details on what is needed from both artists and writers will be sent out a week or two before the actual promotional period.

## How do I post, and when do I post? What if I’ve never posted on AO3 before?

We will be sending out emails to the teams with details walking you through the process of posting and will be on hand to offer support and answer any questions. Make sure to contact the Mod Team at least a few days prior to posting for a walkthrough if you aren’t sure of the process. If you do not have an AO3 account currently and are in need of an invite code, **please contact the mod team immediately** (AO3 invites can take anywhere from a few hours to a month+ to go through AO3’s approval system, so please make sure to let us know you will be needing one ASAP, as in do it now, today. Don’t wait.), and we will try to accommodate you.

One team will post per day during the posting period until we run out of teams. **Both Writer and Artist must post your works within your given day.** We will send out emails asking which days your team can and cannot post, and will be creating a posting schedule from that information. Make sure to discuss availability with your partner.

## If I don’t want to be associated with my story after the first year, can I delete it from AO3?

Yes, but we encourage you to orphan the work, rather than deleting it if you choose to remove your affiliation with the story past the one-year date.

### Credit Due

1. ↑ *All banner edits*
courtesy of Nimohtar.
2. ↑ *Credit to the kind*
mods of DCBB (Dean/Cas Big Bang) who gave us permission to use their rules as
reference.