cap_ironman_fe (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
cap_ironman_fe) wrote2019-10-13 02:11 pm
cap_ironman_fe) wrote2019-10-13 02:11 pm
Cap-Iron Man Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts FAQ
For detailed information on Holiday Exchange and Community Gifts sign-ups and participation, please, check the main comm.
Q. I'm new. What's the "Holiday Exchange"?
It's our annual end-of-year holiday gift exchange! You sign up with a request for a Steve/Tony or Steve&Tony fanwork you'd like to receive, and in turn, the mods assign you to anonymously create a gift (in one of 6 media types that you opt into) for another participant. Gift creators will all be revealed at the end of the exchange.
Q. How many fanwork types and gifts do I have to sign up to create?
You can sign up to create a gift in 1-6 fanwork types.
You only have to create one gift that fulfills the minimum requirement for one of the fanwork types that your recipient has chosen. You do not have the create a gift for the fanwork type that you matched on (for example, you signed up to create fic or fanmixes, but your recipient asked for fanmixes or artwork and when you see their prompts you are inspired to create art) but you do have to create a gift in one of the fanwork types your recipient opted into receiving.
Q. Can I request to receive only one fanwork type?
No, in this exchange you must select a minimum of two fanwork types that you would want to receive a gift in. You can select all six. Please make sure your prompts don't indicate any format and leave room for all the fanwork types you opt into receiving.
Q. Can I see what a sign-up is supposed to look like?
Yes! Check out our Example Sign-Up.
Q. I'm worried that I'm using too many tags in my request sign-up. Will I be hard to match if I use the maximum number of tags allowed?
No! You will actually help us to find a better match if you use as many tags that fit your prompts as possible.
Q. Do I need to write some dislikes in the offer side of my sign-up?
It's optional, but giving us some idea of what you don't like to create for will help us ensure that you'll find a sufficient number of prompts to work with in your assignment.
Q. I want a present but I can't create things myself. Can I get someone else to do it for me?
The nature of the exchange is that everyone who signs up must create a gift in turn.
If you have prompts to give out, we encourage you to submit them to our prompt pool for the Community Gifts to give someone inspiration. Please note that prompts submitted to the pool are not guaranteed a fill, and fills are considered 'gifts to the community' and will not be linked to the prompter. For more information about Community Gifts see the FAQ section below or check the info link in our annual masterpost, which you can find linked here.
Q. I want to be paired with X.
Sorry, no. Part of the fun of the exchange is the random, anonymous factor! We don't allow requests to create for specific people.
Q. I don't want to be paired with X.
You can request not to be matched with someone and we'll do our best to abide by that (keep in mind that depending on all the sign-ups, they could be your only match). Please let us know in the additional details portion of your offer the AO3 name of the person you don't want to be matched with. No explanation needed!
Q. I want to create a Steve and Tony friendship work, is that okay?
Of course! This community also welcomes works that depict a non-slashy relationship between Steve and Tony, as long as the focus is on the two of them and their relationship/interactions.
Q. Do I have to offer a 'non-porny out' in my requests?
You don't have to. If you request porn, be sure to use the "Explicit Sexual Content" or "PWP" additional tag in your request so we can make sure you're properly matched.
Q. Can I submit the same prompts I did last year?
Yes. You're welcome to resubmit prompts or borrow other people's prompts, or choose them from a previous years' Community Gifts prompt pool, or anywhere else.
Q. If I provide four short prompts do I have to provide plot prompts too?
You need at least two prompts of each kind. So you can have two long (plot) prompts and four short prompts — but you do need both kinds.
Q. Can we discuss our prompts or our recipient's prompts on social media and chats?
No. The exchange is meant to be anonymous. Please don't give your prompts or recipient away. You can, however, brainstorm with friends and beta readers in private!
Q. Can I create a multi-media gift?
Yes! If you decide to submit a multi-media gift, please make sure that it meets at least one minimum requirements for a fanwork type, and that it is entirely complete by the submission deadline.
Q. Do works created for this exchange have to be holiday-themed?
No, the prompts can be about everything and anything. If you want to receive or offer holiday-themed works be sure to use the "Holiday-themed" additional tag so you can be appropriately matched. You can state that you’d rather not receive holiday-themed gifts in your request.
Q. Can I back out if I don't like any of the prompts I've been given?
If you are worried about getting prompts you won't like, make sure to only offer tags you're really comfortable creating. Remember, the goal of this exchange is to create a gift for someone else. Even if you aren't in love with the prompts, try creating something to the best of your ability. If you really feel that you are unable to fill any of the prompts you have been given, please contact the mods and we will try to work with you. Please note that we cannot rematch you after assignments are sent out.
Q. What should I do if I want to ask my recipient a question?
If you need to ask your recipient anything, email us at cap.im.events@gmail.com and we'll pass your question along and their response back to you. Do not ask them yourself, not even anonymously on Tumblr..
Q. Will you read over my fic / take a look at my work and tell me if you think X will like it?
If you're worried about your gift, we encourage you to privately ask a friend or beta reader what they think. Writers can also take a look at the community's beta list and find someone on there who can provide constructive feedback on how the fic fills the prompt.
Q. Do I have to have a beta?
You don't, but it's encouraged. If you're a writer looking for a beta, the community's list of active beta readers is a great place to start.
Q. I've finished my gift. How do I post it to the exchange?
Instructions on how to fulfill your assignment can be found in our AO3 Guide. Included in the guide is how to embed artwork into AO3. If you need additional help, email the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com.
Q. It's the day of the deadline and I'm REALLY close to finishing, but I'm not done yet. Can I upload my unfinished piece and try to finish before reveals?
No. Gifts must be complete by the due date. Works that are incomplete/drafts at submission deadline will not be approved by the mods and will be considered as penalty-free drop-outs.
If you aren't done by the deadline, please email the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com and request a short extension. We do allow time in our schedule for them, so don't be frightened of asking for one!
Q. If I have to drop out, will I still receive a gift?
Yes, unless your gift-creator also has to drop out. If you have dropped out and your gift-creator drops out, your request will not be assigned to a pinch-hitter.
Q. What's a pinch hitter and how do I become one?
A pinch hitter is someone who steps up to create a work for a recipient whose original gift creator has had to drop out. For more information, and to sign up as a pinch hitter, please click here.
Q. Do I need to sign up for the Exchange to be a pinch hitter?
No, anyone can be a pinch hitter!
Q. When will my gift/fill be revealed?
Gifts will be revealed in daily batches starting in late December. Please check any of the cap-ironman platforms for our daily round-ups, as AO3 won’t send a gift notification before the whole collection is revealed. While you are waiting for your own gift, you can enjoy gifts made for other participants or the community and leave the creators some love.
Q. Do I have to be of a certain age to participate?
Yes, you have to be over 18 to take part in the main exchange. Everyone can take part in the Community Gifts part of the event, though.
Q. What are 'Community Gifts'?
As the name suggests, these are gifts to the Cap-Ironman Community! Prompts will be collected anonymously and are open to anyone who wants to submit one. Once the prompt list is revealed, any prompt can be filled by anyone interested. There is no claiming or sign-up required to participate in Community Gifts, and you don't have to commit ahead of time to creating a gift in order to submit a prompt or fill. This does mean that, unlike the main exchange, submitted community gift prompts are not guaranteed to receive a fill.
You don't have to take part in the main Holiday Exchange to submit or create Community Gifts. You can find the event information in our annual masterpost, which you can find linked here
Q. I want to create a Steve and Tony friendship work, is that okay?
Of course! This comm also welcomes fanworks that depict a non-slashy relationship between Steve and Tony, as long as the focus is on the two of them.
Q. Can I submit a prompt from another event and/or community?
Yes, as long as that event or community doesn’t have rules against it.
Q. Can I submit a prompt that requests a specific type of fanwork?
Yes, but there is no requirement for participants to stick to the prompts and no guarantee that your prompt will be filled.
Q. Oh no! I made a mistake in my prompt but accidently already submitted it! Is there any way I can fix it?
No. Please make sure to check over your prompt for mistakes before you submit it. If you really messed up, you can submit a corrected version of the prompt the same way you’d submit a new prompt, and we'll delete the duplicate.
Q. Do I need an AO3 account to participate?
Submitting prompts does not require an AO3 account. You can fill out the prompt submission form without logging into any account.
If you want to submit your gift to the collection, an AO3 account is required. If you do not have one you can request an AO3 invite here. It can take weeks, so If you think you might want to participate and need an account, request an invitation now!
Q. Can we discuss our Community Gift prompts or fills on social media or chats?
Feel free to discuss the prompts in general, but try not to give away if you’re creating something! We require creator’s to remain anonymous until reveals. Guessing the creators is half the fun!
Q. If I create a Community Gift, do I have to adhere strictly to the prompt I picked?
No. Because the fills are meant to be gifts to the community, instead of gifts to a specific person, you can deviate from a community prompt as much as you’d like as long as it adheres to the rules above. Please note that this is different from the main exchange, where you should adhere to your recipient’s prompt.
Q. My friend is making a fill for a prompt I want to fill too! Can I still submit mine?
Sure. Every prompt can be filled multiple times by anyone who wants to!
Q. I defaulted on another event and am not eligible to participate in this year’s Holiday Exchange. Can I still participate in Community Gifts?
Yes. Since there’s no advance commitment or sign-up, everyone is eligible to participate in Community Gifts, both by submitting prompts and/or by creating gifts to fill prompts.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. Will prompts from my Exchange sign-up request be shown in the list of Community Prompts?
No. Only prompts specifically submitted to the Community Gifts prompt pool will be included in the community prompts. Exchange requests will be seen only by the mods and your gift creator.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. Can I submit one of my own prompts from my exchange requests to the list of Community Prompts?
No, please let your gifter have first shot at all prompts from your requests. You can submit prompts from previous years if you are not repeating them in this year’s requests.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. I like more than one of the prompts in the request letter of the person I was assigned to. Can I submit the one I’m not creating a fanwork for as a Community prompt?
Please don’t, as that spoils the surprise for your recipient of which of their prompts you’ll be creating for. If you like multiple prompts of theirs, you are welcome to provide your recipient with multiple gifts.
Q. When will my submission be revealed?
Prompts will be posted in a list to the public. Community Gifts will be revealed in daily batches with the Holiday Exchange fills in late December. Please be patient: all works will be revealed within the reveals period. Gift creators will then be revealed together with the Exchange creators in early January.
Q. I want to participate but I don't have an AO3 account.
You can request an AO3 invitation here. The queue sometimes is longer than our sign-up period, so if you think you might want to participate and need an account urgently, request an invitation now! If you can't get an AO3 account in time, let us know at cap.im.events@gmail.com and we might be able to provide you with an invitation.
Q. Can I post the gifts I created to Tumblr?
Of course, but only after we reveal creator identities. Please tag your post with #capimexchange within the first five tags and @ cap-ironman so we can see and reblog it.
Q. How are you going to deal with the AO3 feed problem?
For those unaware, AO3 feeds send out work notifications when an unrevealed work is posted, but not when it is revealed. This means that users who track new works by feeds will not see any automatic announcement when the work is available to read.
In order to make up for this, the cap-ironman Dreamwidth and Tumblr will be posting daily round-ups during reveals. As they are round-ups, we encourage all our Tumblr followers to reblog these announcements without worrying about de-anoning themselves prematurely! We will also be reminding creators to update the publication date on their work after it has been revealed, in order to move it to the top of search results and tag listings. (Instructions on how to do so can be found here.)
After creator reveals, we will be encouraging creators to post their own work announcements to the tags on Tumblr and will reblog any such announcements we see! We will also post individual work announcements at the request of the creator, if that creator would prefer it to posting their own announcement. Reminders about the above will be made during reveals.
Q. Is there an event tag I can follow on Tumblr?
Yes, we’ll be tagging all event posts with #capimexchange.
Q. What if I have a question that hasn't been answered here?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us at cap.im.events@gmail.com, or get in touch with the mods another way.
If you need assistance with your Holiday Exchange sign-up, please don't hesitate to contact the mods. We'll be more than happy to help!
★ HOLIDAY EXCHANGE FAQ
Q. I'm new. What's the "Holiday Exchange"?
It's our annual end-of-year holiday gift exchange! You sign up with a request for a Steve/Tony or Steve&Tony fanwork you'd like to receive, and in turn, the mods assign you to anonymously create a gift (in one of 6 media types that you opt into) for another participant. Gift creators will all be revealed at the end of the exchange.
Q. How many fanwork types and gifts do I have to sign up to create?
You can sign up to create a gift in 1-6 fanwork types.
You only have to create one gift that fulfills the minimum requirement for one of the fanwork types that your recipient has chosen. You do not have the create a gift for the fanwork type that you matched on (for example, you signed up to create fic or fanmixes, but your recipient asked for fanmixes or artwork and when you see their prompts you are inspired to create art) but you do have to create a gift in one of the fanwork types your recipient opted into receiving.
Q. Can I request to receive only one fanwork type?
No, in this exchange you must select a minimum of two fanwork types that you would want to receive a gift in. You can select all six. Please make sure your prompts don't indicate any format and leave room for all the fanwork types you opt into receiving.
Q. Can I see what a sign-up is supposed to look like?
Yes! Check out our Example Sign-Up.
Q. I'm worried that I'm using too many tags in my request sign-up. Will I be hard to match if I use the maximum number of tags allowed?
No! You will actually help us to find a better match if you use as many tags that fit your prompts as possible.
Q. Do I need to write some dislikes in the offer side of my sign-up?
It's optional, but giving us some idea of what you don't like to create for will help us ensure that you'll find a sufficient number of prompts to work with in your assignment.
Q. I want a present but I can't create things myself. Can I get someone else to do it for me?
The nature of the exchange is that everyone who signs up must create a gift in turn.
If you have prompts to give out, we encourage you to submit them to our prompt pool for the Community Gifts to give someone inspiration. Please note that prompts submitted to the pool are not guaranteed a fill, and fills are considered 'gifts to the community' and will not be linked to the prompter. For more information about Community Gifts see the FAQ section below or check the info link in our annual masterpost, which you can find linked here.
Q. I want to be paired with X.
Sorry, no. Part of the fun of the exchange is the random, anonymous factor! We don't allow requests to create for specific people.
Q. I don't want to be paired with X.
You can request not to be matched with someone and we'll do our best to abide by that (keep in mind that depending on all the sign-ups, they could be your only match). Please let us know in the additional details portion of your offer the AO3 name of the person you don't want to be matched with. No explanation needed!
Q. I want to create a Steve and Tony friendship work, is that okay?
Of course! This community also welcomes works that depict a non-slashy relationship between Steve and Tony, as long as the focus is on the two of them and their relationship/interactions.
Q. Do I have to offer a 'non-porny out' in my requests?
You don't have to. If you request porn, be sure to use the "Explicit Sexual Content" or "PWP" additional tag in your request so we can make sure you're properly matched.
Q. Can I submit the same prompts I did last year?
Yes. You're welcome to resubmit prompts or borrow other people's prompts, or choose them from a previous years' Community Gifts prompt pool, or anywhere else.
Q. If I provide four short prompts do I have to provide plot prompts too?
You need at least two prompts of each kind. So you can have two long (plot) prompts and four short prompts — but you do need both kinds.
Q. Can we discuss our prompts or our recipient's prompts on social media and chats?
No. The exchange is meant to be anonymous. Please don't give your prompts or recipient away. You can, however, brainstorm with friends and beta readers in private!
Q. Can I create a multi-media gift?
Yes! If you decide to submit a multi-media gift, please make sure that it meets at least one minimum requirements for a fanwork type, and that it is entirely complete by the submission deadline.
Q. Do works created for this exchange have to be holiday-themed?
No, the prompts can be about everything and anything. If you want to receive or offer holiday-themed works be sure to use the "Holiday-themed" additional tag so you can be appropriately matched. You can state that you’d rather not receive holiday-themed gifts in your request.
Q. Can I back out if I don't like any of the prompts I've been given?
If you are worried about getting prompts you won't like, make sure to only offer tags you're really comfortable creating. Remember, the goal of this exchange is to create a gift for someone else. Even if you aren't in love with the prompts, try creating something to the best of your ability. If you really feel that you are unable to fill any of the prompts you have been given, please contact the mods and we will try to work with you. Please note that we cannot rematch you after assignments are sent out.
Q. What should I do if I want to ask my recipient a question?
If you need to ask your recipient anything, email us at cap.im.events@gmail.com and we'll pass your question along and their response back to you. Do not ask them yourself, not even anonymously on Tumblr..
Q. Will you read over my fic / take a look at my work and tell me if you think X will like it?
If you're worried about your gift, we encourage you to privately ask a friend or beta reader what they think. Writers can also take a look at the community's beta list and find someone on there who can provide constructive feedback on how the fic fills the prompt.
Q. Do I have to have a beta?
You don't, but it's encouraged. If you're a writer looking for a beta, the community's list of active beta readers is a great place to start.
Q. I've finished my gift. How do I post it to the exchange?
Instructions on how to fulfill your assignment can be found in our AO3 Guide. Included in the guide is how to embed artwork into AO3. If you need additional help, email the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com.
Q. It's the day of the deadline and I'm REALLY close to finishing, but I'm not done yet. Can I upload my unfinished piece and try to finish before reveals?
No. Gifts must be complete by the due date. Works that are incomplete/drafts at submission deadline will not be approved by the mods and will be considered as penalty-free drop-outs.
If you aren't done by the deadline, please email the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com and request a short extension. We do allow time in our schedule for them, so don't be frightened of asking for one!
Q. If I have to drop out, will I still receive a gift?
Yes, unless your gift-creator also has to drop out. If you have dropped out and your gift-creator drops out, your request will not be assigned to a pinch-hitter.
Q. What's a pinch hitter and how do I become one?
A pinch hitter is someone who steps up to create a work for a recipient whose original gift creator has had to drop out. For more information, and to sign up as a pinch hitter, please click here.
Q. Do I need to sign up for the Exchange to be a pinch hitter?
No, anyone can be a pinch hitter!
Q. When will my gift/fill be revealed?
Gifts will be revealed in daily batches starting in late December. Please check any of the cap-ironman platforms for our daily round-ups, as AO3 won’t send a gift notification before the whole collection is revealed. While you are waiting for your own gift, you can enjoy gifts made for other participants or the community and leave the creators some love.
Q. Do I have to be of a certain age to participate?
Yes, you have to be over 18 to take part in the main exchange. Everyone can take part in the Community Gifts part of the event, though.
★ COMMUNITY GIFTS FAQ
Q. What are 'Community Gifts'?
As the name suggests, these are gifts to the Cap-Ironman Community! Prompts will be collected anonymously and are open to anyone who wants to submit one. Once the prompt list is revealed, any prompt can be filled by anyone interested. There is no claiming or sign-up required to participate in Community Gifts, and you don't have to commit ahead of time to creating a gift in order to submit a prompt or fill. This does mean that, unlike the main exchange, submitted community gift prompts are not guaranteed to receive a fill.
You don't have to take part in the main Holiday Exchange to submit or create Community Gifts. You can find the event information in our annual masterpost, which you can find linked here
Q. I want to create a Steve and Tony friendship work, is that okay?
Of course! This comm also welcomes fanworks that depict a non-slashy relationship between Steve and Tony, as long as the focus is on the two of them.
Q. Can I submit a prompt from another event and/or community?
Yes, as long as that event or community doesn’t have rules against it.
Q. Can I submit a prompt that requests a specific type of fanwork?
Yes, but there is no requirement for participants to stick to the prompts and no guarantee that your prompt will be filled.
Q. Oh no! I made a mistake in my prompt but accidently already submitted it! Is there any way I can fix it?
No. Please make sure to check over your prompt for mistakes before you submit it. If you really messed up, you can submit a corrected version of the prompt the same way you’d submit a new prompt, and we'll delete the duplicate.
Q. Do I need an AO3 account to participate?
Submitting prompts does not require an AO3 account. You can fill out the prompt submission form without logging into any account.
If you want to submit your gift to the collection, an AO3 account is required. If you do not have one you can request an AO3 invite here. It can take weeks, so If you think you might want to participate and need an account, request an invitation now!
Q. Can we discuss our Community Gift prompts or fills on social media or chats?
Feel free to discuss the prompts in general, but try not to give away if you’re creating something! We require creator’s to remain anonymous until reveals. Guessing the creators is half the fun!
Q. If I create a Community Gift, do I have to adhere strictly to the prompt I picked?
No. Because the fills are meant to be gifts to the community, instead of gifts to a specific person, you can deviate from a community prompt as much as you’d like as long as it adheres to the rules above. Please note that this is different from the main exchange, where you should adhere to your recipient’s prompt.
Q. My friend is making a fill for a prompt I want to fill too! Can I still submit mine?
Sure. Every prompt can be filled multiple times by anyone who wants to!
Q. I defaulted on another event and am not eligible to participate in this year’s Holiday Exchange. Can I still participate in Community Gifts?
Yes. Since there’s no advance commitment or sign-up, everyone is eligible to participate in Community Gifts, both by submitting prompts and/or by creating gifts to fill prompts.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. Will prompts from my Exchange sign-up request be shown in the list of Community Prompts?
No. Only prompts specifically submitted to the Community Gifts prompt pool will be included in the community prompts. Exchange requests will be seen only by the mods and your gift creator.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. Can I submit one of my own prompts from my exchange requests to the list of Community Prompts?
No, please let your gifter have first shot at all prompts from your requests. You can submit prompts from previous years if you are not repeating them in this year’s requests.
Q. I’m participating in the Exchange as well. I like more than one of the prompts in the request letter of the person I was assigned to. Can I submit the one I’m not creating a fanwork for as a Community prompt?
Please don’t, as that spoils the surprise for your recipient of which of their prompts you’ll be creating for. If you like multiple prompts of theirs, you are welcome to provide your recipient with multiple gifts.
Q. When will my submission be revealed?
Prompts will be posted in a list to the public. Community Gifts will be revealed in daily batches with the Holiday Exchange fills in late December. Please be patient: all works will be revealed within the reveals period. Gift creators will then be revealed together with the Exchange creators in early January.
★ ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
Q. I want to participate but I don't have an AO3 account.
You can request an AO3 invitation here. The queue sometimes is longer than our sign-up period, so if you think you might want to participate and need an account urgently, request an invitation now! If you can't get an AO3 account in time, let us know at cap.im.events@gmail.com and we might be able to provide you with an invitation.
Q. Can I post the gifts I created to Tumblr?
Of course, but only after we reveal creator identities. Please tag your post with #capimexchange within the first five tags and @ cap-ironman so we can see and reblog it.
Q. How are you going to deal with the AO3 feed problem?
For those unaware, AO3 feeds send out work notifications when an unrevealed work is posted, but not when it is revealed. This means that users who track new works by feeds will not see any automatic announcement when the work is available to read.
In order to make up for this, the cap-ironman Dreamwidth and Tumblr will be posting daily round-ups during reveals. As they are round-ups, we encourage all our Tumblr followers to reblog these announcements without worrying about de-anoning themselves prematurely! We will also be reminding creators to update the publication date on their work after it has been revealed, in order to move it to the top of search results and tag listings. (Instructions on how to do so can be found here.)
After creator reveals, we will be encouraging creators to post their own work announcements to the tags on Tumblr and will reblog any such announcements we see! We will also post individual work announcements at the request of the creator, if that creator would prefer it to posting their own announcement. Reminders about the above will be made during reveals.
Q. Is there an event tag I can follow on Tumblr?
Yes, we’ll be tagging all event posts with #capimexchange.
Q. What if I have a question that hasn't been answered here?
If you have any questions or concerns, you can contact us at cap.im.events@gmail.com, or get in touch with the mods another way.
If you need assistance with your Holiday Exchange sign-up, please don't hesitate to contact the mods. We'll be more than happy to help!