Fandom Poll and Discussion: The Fundamental Fanfiction Exchange Thread

[themostepotente]

Since fanfiction exchanges seem to be so big in fandom, I thought I would do a huge discussion to gauge everyone's opinions on them. The two biggest Potterverse exchanges -- merry_smutmas and reversathon -- were huge successes and this year will mark the third round of merry_smutmas, now in full swing.

First off, I'd like to start by applauding the efforts of gmth hostess of merry_smutmas, fluffyllama hostess of reversathon, lysrouge and lizardspots hostesses of hpvalensmut, starrysummer hostess of hp_springsmut, and underlucius hostess of the first annual harry_holidays. I know it can be very time consuming, and without the cooperation of its participants, quite hectic I'd imagine.

I, for one, am a big fan of fic exchanges and have participated in four since I joined fandom. I regret passing on this year's reversathon, but I hope to participate next year and happily enjoyed the entries of those that did.

And this year's merry_smutmas looks to be the biggest and baddest yet!

So without further adieu, I bring you the ultimate fan fiction exchange thread: part poll and part discussion. Looking forward to everyone's thoughts and input!

[Poll #561327]

And what's a TMP discussion without a few essay-type questions? *G*

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

--P

Comments

[reposoir.livejournal.com]

And to answer the questions...

1. Yes, I think I am. I think they are decent quality work, something that the recipient should like based on the requests I worked with and they are edited and polished.

2. Honestly, I think if you have ANY doubts you might not be able to handle the fest, don't even bother to sign up and drop out later. It must be very frustrating for the mod to have to rearrange things for the dropouts and/or complainers.

3. I feel absolutely horrible for the recipients of dropouts- I really do. And the pinchitters are admirable for their willingness to help out in so short a time. I wish I had the time to do the same!

4. My favourite? Maybe Smutty_Claus because I enjoyed sneaking around asking friends of ceilidh things about her and I was really surprised and flattered by the reception of the fic (seeing as I was a wee bit worried about whether or not she'd be "eh" about it and kinda just say she liked it anyway).

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

(seeing as I was a wee bit worried about whether or not she'd be "eh" about it and kinda just say she liked it anyway).

That's definitely a reasonable fear.

[furiosity.livejournal.com]

1.) I'm generally unsatisfied with pretty much everything I write, but I'm ace at meeting challenge requirements. :)

2.) The drop-outs - I'm wibbly. Depends on the reason they drop out. If someone drops out of an exchange for RL reasons, I don't think anything should be "done" about them. Fandom is Serious Business, sure, but RL is more important. If the person drops out for a reason like "I just couldn't come up with an idea", then I say bar 'em from participating in the exchange because dude. If you can't come up with an idea, ask friends to bunny you, it's not difficult. As for the complainers, I'd say it also depends on their complaint. I don't think there can be a valid complaint aside from "you gave me an assignment that contains something I specifically said I won't write!" Aren't these things supposed to be a challenge? If someone is just bitching because they were hoping to write Harry/Snape but got assigned Harry/Draco (and didn't specify that they didn't like H/D), tough shit, I say.

3.) I think the people who pinch-hit are absolutely amazing.

4.) I've only been in Reversathon thus far so I can't really say. I rather liked Reversathon, especially all the fake wizard journals. :D

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

i forgot to list that but i agree that RL considerations are important and different from online/fannish ones.

[alchemia.livejournal.com]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

Generally, yes.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

i think the fest shouldhve a policyfor that when it starts. if theres no policy for it when people sign up, theyshouldnt impose something after the fact. otherwise, its up to each fest- as long as i know the rules, its all cool, and its my choice to participate or not under them.


3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

if the people writing are really inspired by that fic's requests/chllenge- then i thik its great!

However if writers just are randomly stuck w. somethng that may not inspire them, and cant give it thought, then id rather see the fic given to someone inspired to do it with an extention, getting quality later than something shoddily done on time.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

actually it was an art one, and thats because the person i was randomly paired w had other interests in common with me so i gained an flist-friend

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

However if writers just are randomly stuck w. somethng that may not inspire them, and cant give it thought, then id rather see the fic given to someone inspired to do it with an extention, getting quality later than something shoddily done on time.

I actually wouldn't mind waiting a bit longer provided I knew I was getting something for sure. But then I don't think any mod worth her salt would let anyone go without. No mod has before that I can remember.

[shikishi.livejournal.com]

1) No, but then I do not tend to like anything I write about 5 minutes after I finish. Once it is sent to the beta and I get it back I want to shred and start over - which is not always possible. Although I really, really liked the piece I wrote for reversathon, and still do.

2)I think that drop outs who do not give a VALID (as in unexpected emergency/illness) should be banned from future that a-thon again in the future (if it is one of the yearly ones that is). We have a RL that gets hectic crazy, but if you sign up for something then you should complete it, even if you only get out 750 words and the mod gives you some leeway. I am a complainer for a-thons on my own journal, I would never complain to a mod unless it was really something I could not write. Ever. As in morally offended.

3) I can do it if I have to. Sometimes.

4)reversathon. I liked the fact that you sort of chose your author (in a way, although the final decision did come from the mod). Also, the person I wrote for just gave me a vast amount of room to move within the assignment but still identified what they wanted very clearly, which was a relief after a few that I done.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I don't know if you knew this, but I did your hp_springsmut as a pinch-hit. Shortly thereafter, I friended you :-)

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

1) Generally satisfied. I have to be, since I refuse to submit shoddy work. I may look back at a fic I wrote for an exchange and think, "Er - I wish I'd done x, y, and z differently!" But I try to do a good job. I mean, it's a gift.

2) RL can be a bitch sometimes. I understand that things happen. However, you can still be responsible. You can INFORM the mod if you're going to have to drop out, and you can have a plausible excuse. Anyone who bitches at the hostess should be dropped from the exchange. If you don't like your assignment, you can TELL the hostess nicely, but I don't think she's under any obligation to you. I don't do a lot of exchanges because there's a lot that I don't want to write. But, really. It's a gift for someone else. Suck it up.

3) Pinch hitters are heroes. Heroines. Whatever. They rock.

4) I liked the remix_redux. That counts, right?

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

But, really. It's a gift for someone else. Suck it up.

Amen, sistah!

[florahart]

1. Yes, though I am usually a big old wreck about it.

2. I think drop-outs depend on reason. I mean, like, if RL dropped something crazy a week before the dealine, see, I'm the kind of writer (in all contexts) that needs the press of the dealine to make sense. So probably I don't have most of a fic ready a week ahead. Rarely do I do something I feel good about from an assignment without that press there. So I'd think that was different than me getting my assignment and hating it and being all WAH about it for 2 months and then bailing November 5 on my November 16 deadline. You know? But I also think it's really, really up to the mod to have rules and stick to them or not. Smutmas is the one whose rules I'm clearest on atm, and it says if you bail, you can't play next time. That's fine, and I also expect if I got hit by a car a week before the due date, Gina wouldn't probably ban me next year. Or she might, and I would not complain about that because I did read the rules.

3. I don't mind pinch-hitting (see comments above on pressure need). I love that people are willing. I love also that people are willing to really try to stalk journals and find out what people would like and get in the spirit of making it a gift. :D

4. I don't have a favorite. I liked things about lots of them!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I think Gina would excuse your getting hit by a car, dear. *G*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I'm a slow writer too. Don't feel bad :-)

[ponderosa121.livejournal.com]

1.) I'm generally satisfied, yes. I do usually have a bit of anxiety until my recipient reads their fic, but I think that's normal. Art-wise I have less anxiety, as I tend have a better idea of what a person likes and, provided that they like my style, it's harder to go wrong (no characterisation issues or worrying if they'll like x, y, or z, kink tossed in).

2.) There should be flogging and a dozen stripes across the backside! We shall not speak about the fact that I have managed to miss two deadlines in the past year, but thankfully those were fests and not exchanges. Drop-outs need to not sign up in the first place, or let the mod know the instant they think they might not be able to fulfill their obligation. If they leave it to the last minute, they suck, and all the variations on the dog ate my fic just comes off as lame.

Bad assignments if they are the mod's fault? Shame on the mod. Bad assignments because the participant didn't offer enough info to be matched up properly? See above with regards to flogging.

3.) I've done it more than once, and I've never felt annoyed or anything having to do it. Sure there is some sense of what happened to the person who was assigned the request in the first place? but overall, I just have the yay of writing for someone. (which is the best part of being in an exchange imo, getting fic or art is fun, but making someone else happy is even more rewarding.)

4.) Smutmas is my favourite since I look forward to so much of what gets produced. It's like a little present on my flist every day and it's extra exciting since it's blind. I have fond memories of all the exchanges I've participated in though, whether it's because I wrote something I really liked and pleased my recipient or because I received something fabulous that made me starry-eyed.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

The dog ate my fic. *snorts* I wonder if anyone has ever used that excuse before?

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

1.) I've only done one exchange so far (hp_dissemination), but I was pleased with the fic I wrote. The recipient dropped off the face of the planet, apparently, so I never got to find out, to my disappointment, how s/he felt about it. (S/he didn't write their fic, either, sadly.) But I would hope that I wouldn't submit a fic I wasn't satisfied with, for whatever reason.

2.) Instant death. *straight face* Possibly castration or similar.

Seriously, though? Not cool!! If you sign up for something you don't know if you can handle, then it's still your responsibility to get some balls together and handle it anyway. We get months on the assignments, usually; there's no reason to cop out. Surely if you're a writer/artist already, then you've presumably got some imagination to go with the territory. Figure it out; it's not that hard. And nobody needs a whiner. You take the risk of getting a less-than-ideal assignment when you sign up for something like this; everyone knows that.
/rant

3.) On doing the pinch-hitting? For me personally, that wouldn't really be a problem; I'm a stupidly fast writer under normal circumstances. I've volunteered to be one for that very reason.

4.) Can't comment; only done one. I'm vastly looking forward to merry_smutmas this year!

[silentauror.livejournal.com]

Pardon me, that should have been hpdissemination there, in #1.

[marksykins.livejournal.com]

Ooh, you were right about me liking this discussion. And, Christ, I'm a fest whore. :D

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

Okay, this is going to sound conceited, but I'm pretty convinced that I'm an okay writer, so most of the time I know what I've written will come out all right. :D However, the fics I'm most satisfied with tend to be the ones I spend the most time planning out, with one exception -- I love my hpvalensmut fic from last year, which I wrote after scrapping 3000 words of another story that I've never finished. It's no loss; the second -- and ultimately published -- fic is way better.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

Well, if the complaints are mild and things can be switched around, accommodating that isn't an issue (I ran the Neville ficathon for nevillosity). Drop-outs should be handed off to pinch-hitters as soon as possible because what else can you really do?

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

Absolutely necessary. And kind of fun! I did one for reversathon, and it was a blast.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Well, Smutmas, of course. I doubt anyone's going to be surprised by that answer.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is going to sound conceited, but I'm pretty convinced that I'm an okay writer, so most of the time I know what I've written will come out all right.

Marksy, you are WAY more than just 'okay.' Christ, when you mentioned conceited, I thought you might actually mean it. *G*

[mad_maudlin]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

You ask me this question and mind immediately jumps to the Percy Ficathon last year. It was structured as an exchange, and I absoltely despised the story I submitted for it--I was sure the person I was writing for would hate me because it was so bad. But with time and a few stunny reviews, I've managed to come to an understanding with the fic--don't necessarily like it, but I can sort of see why other people do.

In general, even when I've been unhappy with a challenge (ie forgot to specific something I didn't want to write) I've managed to satisfy myself with the fic. Or find satisfaction in it, anyway.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

Word to what others have said; if the drop-out is for a legit reason, give the person a pass, but if it's just for laziness or overwork or whatnot, the dork needs to be dealt with harshly. Tell complainers to write what they're given or drop out, with the understanding that they won't get any fic in return (warn writers that reassignments may occure on short notice).

Actually, what really bugs me are the people who pull a vanishing act--sign up and never post anything, never respond to the mod's prodding, just kinda disappear. It's like, hello, way to commit...

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

Pinch hitters are wonderful people and I wish I could write fast enough to be one of them.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

I'd say the Percy ficathon--it was a learning experience for me, I got great Percy/Penny (so rare!) and some absolutely brilliant people wrote some absolutely brilliant fics. Even if the modding was a little rough (and that's no fault of icarusancalion) I think the end experience was all around good.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Actually, what really bugs me are the people who pull a vanishing act--sign up and never post anything, never respond to the mod's prodding, just kinda disappear. It's like, hello, way to commit...

Happened to me at hp_springsmut last year. Luckily, I received something from underlucius. I love her writing, so I'm sure I got the better deal.

[starrysummer.livejournal.com]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

I've been pretty satisfied. As an author, at least half of the fics I write are for specific exchanges or challenges. I like having a guideline or inspire me and a framework to work within,

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

I've had a discussion in the past on dealing with unsatisfying gifts and it's a very tough call. There are instances where an author really did throw something together, I'm sure, but generally someone worked hard and it's definitely rude not to respond at all. I'm a big fan of concrit, so I believe in leaving very gentle concrit on a gift fic you didn't like, but a lot of people seem to feel that you should just politely thank someone for a gift whether or not you like it. As an author, though, I'd rather know...

Drop-outs are tough. As a mod, I'm fine with people dropping out. RL and other busyness happens. Just let me know as soon as you can. It's the people that disappear that are the worst. Then you're not sure whether to reassign or not.

As a ficathon host, I let people bitch because venting can be really therapeutic. I'd rather people feel that they can come to me than feel silently unsatisifed (or worse, bitching publicly) about their gift.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

I love pinch-hitting. I've pinch-hit for about half the ficathons I've participated in, because to me ficathons are at least as much about the writing as the reading. I probably come from a bit of an odd point of view, though, as I have a tendency to scare writers away with my requests. I like weird stuff, so I sign up for myself as a writer and not just to receive a gift.

Also - pinch hitters rule. ♥ on them.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

I must admit that I'm partial to hp_springsmut not so much because it's my thing, but because I really like the variety of stories that comes from ruling out the most popular pairings. There's a lot of variety, and a lot of pairings you don't usually see around as much.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

I like weird stuff, so I sign up for myself as a writer and not just to receive a gift.

"Weird stuff" aside, don't you think most people sign up for these things more to write (or create art) than to receive something? Every single fic exchange I've been in, I've totally forgotten that someone was going to write a story for me until the last minute. *g*

(and I just took a look at the user info for hp_springsmut. How could I have missed that? Will you be running it again next year, because it looks like a lot of fun!)

[happiestwhen.livejournal.com]

1.) Yes. I really think my best fic is the stuff I write under the pressure of a ficathon. When I know I am writing for a specific person's request, it gives me more incentive to do work hard on it. That's probably why I get workng on my assignments so early. I usually take a good week or two just to plot/outline/figure out characterizations, and then I write, and edit, and try to get my betas to be as brutal as possible. I am a lot tougher on myself when it comes to challenge fics, because they're not just some cracky idea I'm writing on a whim some night. Those are the things I write just for me, and I am surprised when people read and like them too, because I'm not expecting it. But with ficathons, I know that at least one person will be reading, and they'll probably be hoping for something good, and I want to do my best to give them a satisfying story. :D

2.) Like F said, I really don't have an issue with people who drop out because of family emergencies, or whatever. That is excusable, because their real-life issues are more pressing than some fandom event. However, I do take issue with the people who e-mail the mod the night of the deadline and say "sorry, I just didn't have time/couldn't think of an idea/lost my beta", because... most of these ficathons give the writers a month or more to complete their assignment, and really, if you wait until the last minute to brainstorm and write your idea, then it's your fault you couldn't think of anything, and that's no excuse. I also think that if you know you're not going to be able to participate from the get-go (if you're in school and you *know* that the fic deadline is your week of exams or something), then don't sign up. I know the ficathons are all very tempting, but it's not fair to the mod or the other participants if you drop out at the last minute. This probably bugs me more than it would other people because I am so anal retentive about getting my stuff in by the deadlines. XP

Re: complaints, if it was the mod's fault (ie, they didn't read your specified squicks or whatever and gave you a crappy assignment) then as long as the writer/artist approaches it tactfully and doesn't wank the mod or something rude like that, then complaining is all right. I've encountered this issue just once, but it was resolved easily and I just switched out my assignment with another participant. I've always been very surprised by my assignments, as they're hardly ever my first choice for prompt/pairing. But, well, if you're a writer with a decent imagination, you should be able to write something for whatever you're given, even if it's not in your 'safe zone'. That's why it's a fic challenge. All of the fics I've written for ficathons weren't things I would write on my own, but in retrospect, I'm really glad I received the assignments I did. So unless there's some really big issue, like, if I received an assignment to write Albus/Stan fluff, then I don't see any reason why I would complain. The mods do a ridiculous amount of work in pairing people up and sending out assignments and just generally running the fest. It just seems dumb to bitch, especially in cases where it's just like "well, my assignment wants 7th year h/d, but I wanted to write 6th year," or something.

3.) God do I admire people who can whip out something good so quickly, especially if it's not something they would necessarily have wanted to write.

4.) I think that, so far, reversathon. There was so much variety in the pairings and genres in that exchange, and the concept was just so cool and well-executed. Also, I think it was probably the largest exchange I've been involved in, and in this case, bigger is better. I also really liked the nevillosity exchange, which was probably my first 'big' challenge of any kind (am not counting quadrashag because that was pretty small, and J's the mod, so she would have probably have let me get away with things if I begged nicely XD), and I loved all the Neville fic that came out of that exchange.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Dayum, Snoy, you wrote me a novel! *G*

So unless there's some really big issue, like, if I received an assignment to write Albus/Stan fluff, then I don't see any reason why I would complain.

If anyone could write this pairing, you could. With a side o' Stawkes I might add :-)

[licoricegirl.livejournal.com]

1. I can honestly say that the fic I wrote for reversathon is the best I've ever written.

2. Complainers should be bitch-slapped out of fandom. You don't have to love your fic. But you do have to accept the fact when going into something like like that that not everyone is going to write the way you like to read. Be glad they did it, and be done with it.

3. I can write fic in two days if need be. Some of my best fic has been written in two days. Dying of the Light, which was for a quadrashag challenge, was written in two days. So was Darken Into Nightmares. And I think both are two of my best. However, if you cannot write a fic you will be proud of in three days, don't offer. Let someone else who can.

4. Well, I've only done reversathon. This'll be my first time doing merry_smutmas, so I suppose I'll be able to answer that better after? But hi, reversathon OWNED.

[licoricegirl.livejournal.com]

Also, I so misread question 2. I think you take a risk signing up for a fest, and if you aren't willing to budge on what you will and won't write, you shouldn't sign up in the first place. I say I won't write Weasleys, or Neville, or Peter, but I could if I were asked. It goes along with being part of the game, and people need to suck it up.

[rillathegrape.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I love essay questions!

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

Satisfied. I try a lot harder when I'm writing a gift fic. So far, everything I've written for fic exchanges has been something I'm really happy with. Especially the ones that were subjects I never would have written otherwise.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

I agree with others who have said that it really depends on the reason for the drop out. I don't think anyone signs up for a fic exchange with the intention of dropping out, but people who just flake out of laziness or something equally inexcusable should probably not be allowed to participate again. Honestly, I think complainers suck. I see it as being just as tacky as bitching about not liking what you got in a secret santa gift exchange at the office. If you're in it for the getting and not the giving, you should really rethink participating at all.


3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

I think people who offer to do this are great! I've never volunteered to pinch hit because my life isn't conducive to doing something like this on a short deadline, but I think the people who can do it are pretty amazing.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Oh, man. I don't even know. I've loved all the exchanges I've participated in. Some of my favorite things I've ever read have been written for me in fic exchanges and I've been really happy with what I've written for them, too.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I try a lot harder when I'm writing a gift fic.

So do I. Therefore I'd never submit a PWP.

[saoni.livejournal.com]

-cough- My poll answers are about the fic exchanges I'm going to participate in. I wasn't really in fandom this time of year last year. :)

1. Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.
I generally do art, and I'm usually satisfied as I put a lot of effort into the things. I've done one exchange so far (hp_kinkathon), signed up for 4 more or so.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?
For the drop-outs, there's really not much someone can do; you can't force a person to participate, even if they've signed up. Backups are good.
For the complainers, it really depends. I was hesitant about my harry_holidays assignment, because the girl liked het and I'm as slashy as they get, but then I asked a few questions and found out she likes filthy slash smut as well. :D

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)
It's not completely fair to the pinch-hitter, but that's life.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?
Well, I've only done kinkathon so far, so I don't know. :D I'm expected hp_art_xchange to be wonderful (probably because I'm pairing with sherant -cough-).

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I was hesitant about my harry_holidays assignment, because the girl liked het and I'm as slashy as they get, but then I asked a few questions and found out she likes filthy slash smut as well. :D

I think fic exchanges should be one or the other unless otherwise specified.

[thescarletwoman.livejournal.com]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.
I'm generally fairly satisfied. I always try to write the best thing I can and thus whatever I turn in is my best work. Therefore, I'm satisfied. :)

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?
Sharp pointy stick? XD Honestly... it depends on the reason. I run a FQF so a lot of times I don't get all the fics back, for various reasons. Some tell me and some don't. If it's a personal reason that crops up, well, that's unavoidable. If it's because you didn't have time and you knew you wouldn't... you shouldn't have signed up. If it was because you didn't like your pairing you were given? Well... that's the way the cookie crumbles. As for those who complain because they don't like it? It's a challenge and different people see different things different ways. If you gave a prompt expecting it to be written one way, you should have written it that way yourself.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)
Pinch hitters rule. I always sign up to be one. If we're needed, we're needed.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?
Dunno. I haven't participated in enough yet to say which is my fave. Thus, I'm going to not answer for a bit until I start signing up for more. :)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

If it's a personal reason that crops up, well, that's unavoidable.

See florahart's being hit by a car excuse :P

[souliesoul.livejournal.com]

1. I've only done it the once, that I remember (and seeing how until earlier today I'd forgotten that I'd written that fic at all, I'm not too sure), but if I wasn't satisfied with the fic I wouldn't have submitted it. I would have scrapped it and started over. I had several ideas and drafts before coming up with the one I actually submitted. Of course, having skimmed it over today, yes, there are things I would alter, but it's been nearly a year! I expect that most people would find little things to alter in fics they wrote that long ago.

2. Drop-outs should have a very good reason if they want to be included in any further incarnations of the exchange. I don't know about the complaints though...

3. The people who write those fics are brilliant.

4. Like I said, I've only taken part in the one, to my knowledge, but then I've taken part of the hp_art_xchange for about a year, and though you're asking about fic... the art exchange has been my favourite. Why? I don't really know. Apart from the fact that it's a hell of a lot simpler to fill out the sign-up for the art exchange than it is to sign-up to a fic exchange.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I expect that most people would find little things to alter in fics they wrote that long ago.

Nothing irritates me more than finding mistakes years later.

[gmth.livejournal.com]

Oh my. This is a *fascinating* discussion.

Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit?

I've participated in two fic exchanges as a writer: reversathon and hp_remix. (I was also in a few drabble exchange comms, but they don't really count.) Both fics were an absolute *bitch* to write, and I was incredibly pleased with the results for both. So I'd have to say I'm batting 1000 for ficathon fics so far. :-)

How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

Now, as an exchange mod, I think drop-outs should be shot.

OK, that's a bit extreme. But I don't think drop-outs realize what a horrendous problem they cause for fest mods, especially those who wait until the last minute -- or even later -- before they decide to let the mod know. The first year we did Smutmas, I had a bunch of people drop out of the fest *after* their own gifts were posted. I was livid, which is why I changed the posting process last year so that wouldn't occur again.

I can understand that people get busy with RL stuff, especially around the holidays, and may not be able to get a fic done on time. I *can.* Really. But you know what? Smutmas has a three-month lead time. If people put the thing off until the last minute and then suddenly they become too busy to get it finished, that's their problem. I don't see why it should become mine. They shouldn't have been sitting on their hands for the past three months. Especially if they are participating in multiple fests.

I've had several people drop out of Smutmas over the past two years, and I am nurturing a secret little grudge against every single one of them. It has an impact on every interaction I have with them from that point on.

Erm. I guess it's not so secret anymore, eh? ;-)

What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic)

Pinch hitters are a gift from God. Truly. Smutmas would have fallen flat on its face if not for the wonderful, WONDERFUL people who agreed to pinch hit.

And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Well I can't really answer that objectively. :-) Of the two I've participated in, I think I enjoyed hp_remix the most, because I got to write one of my OTPs for that fest (Snape/Lucius).

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

The first year we did Smutmas, I had a bunch of people drop out of the fest *after* their own gifts were posted. I was livid, which is why I changed the posting process last year so that wouldn't occur again.

That's just scandalous.

I've had several people drop out of Smutmas over the past two years, and I am nurturing a secret little grudge against every single one of them. It has an impact on every interaction I have with them from that point on.

You give people THREE months to write 1000 words, and I think that's MORE than generous. 1000 words fercrissakes, that's all. There's no excuse, really.

Well I can't really answer that objectively. :-) Of the two I've participated in, I think I enjoyed hp_remix the most, because I got to write one of my OTPs for that fest (Snape/Lucius).

It's always great when you get to write your OTP :-) And you? Snape/Lucius? No. *G*

[xochiquetzl]

I wrote for "In like a lion" at pervy_werewolf, so that would be my favorite.

I was satisfied with my two stories--I was a pinch-hitter. In fact, I'm particularly pleased with the first one. I tried to finish early so I would have time in case of fic woe, and that freed me up to pinch-hit.

I think people who sign up for ficathons and then flake should be publicly and ritually shamed in a ceremony involving a rubber chicken, a large sandwich board of shame, and mud pies. You need to let the hostess know if there's a problem.

Those who publicly diss their gift--assuming, say, they didn't ask for Sirius/Remus vanilla fluff and get Lucius/Evil!Willow darkfic with bloodplay, breathplay, and scat--should be ritually snubbed as uncouth.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Didn't you win Lusty Month of May?

[coffee-n-cocoa.livejournal.com]

Here via hogwarts_today...

1. Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain. I think I'm an average writer at best, but everything I've ever submitted has been written with the recipient in mind. It's probably not the best submission to whatever exchange I've signed up for, but at least I know I gave it my best effort.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled? There are valid reasons for dropping out (accidents, illnesses, long-term emergencies and the like), but people who just quit should be sporked. Complainers? I'd never complain about anything I received. I don't think anyone's ever complained about anything I've written...I hope not, anyway! I don't know, maybe I'm still naive enough to find it inconceivable that anybody would complain about something another person put so much effort into, unless it was an obviously shoddy piece of work. I'm not making sense, so I'll move on to the next question!

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (writing a fic last minute emergency fic) They are the angels of fandom. I wish I could come up with last-minute plotbunnies with such apparent ease!

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why? I enjoyed smutty_claus and hp_springsmut equally. I signed up for merry_smutmas for the first time this year, and I expect it will be just as fun and nerve-wracking as the others I've participated in!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I don't know, maybe I'm still naive enough to find it inconceivable that anybody would complain about something another person put so much effort into, unless it was an obviously shoddy piece of work.

You'd be surprised.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

1.) Nothing has ever seemed perfect, of course, but I've been *generally* pleased with the results. For me, at least, I can't forget that I'm writing for a real, live human being, and if the recipient likes what I've done, I'm satisfied.

2.) Drop-outs - unless there's a better reason than "oh, um...I forgot" - should be kept from entering the following year, but I don't believe in public shunning or anything. *g* The whiners and complainers though? Man...if the rules gave them the opportunity to specify what they'd want and what they wouldn't want to write...and they get that, and *then* they bitch, well, I don't know what to do about them, but honestly? I think they're jerks. And people (the rare ones) who complain in public about the stories that were written for them? Get the hell over yourselves. (hmm...do I have opinions about this? *g*)

3.) I've done pinch hits twice, and both times the experience was great (I love writing under pressure). The second time was particularly cool...it was for last year's yuletide, and not only did I write in a totally new fandom with a 48 hour window of opportunity (I read the book the *night* I got the assignment), but I wrote my first femslash because I snooped around the recipient's LJ and website and realized that was what she was into.

4.) Favorite fic exchange? Probably yuletide, so far, because the whole foundation -set up to create fic for fandoms which may have only a handful of stories in existence - is so cool. But I'm *really* looking forward to merry_smutmas this year!!!

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you're in this year's fest, Beth. I look forward to trying to guess which one is yours.

[melpemone.livejournal.com]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

I'm generally unsatisfied with every fic I write, and exchanges are no different in that respect. I think that exchanges are very much harder to write for - instead of writing something you yourself would like to read, you're writing something someone else would like to read, while still making sure it meets your own standards. It's an incredibly difficult balance. But it's fun, though. It is. Fun. I'm now printing this comment out so I can read it when I'm hitting the home stretch of my Smutmas fic and hating everyone. *g*

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

Drop-outs should be banned from the next one, absolutely. I've run one exchange fest myself (hp_remix), and unfortunately I set it up so that any sort of change in numbers resulted in pure unmitigated apocalypse. Unless there's a seriously, really, undeniably very very good reason why they're leaving the mod in the lurch, death unto them (or fandom death, which hurts more. *G*). Luckily for me, this fandom is full of beautiful shiny people who are willing to pinch-hit at the very last second with the silliest of prompts.

I don't understand people who complain about their assignment, I really don't. I understand seeing one's prompt and panicking. I understand the incredible crush to the ego that is realising you can't write a particular character for shit. But I don't understand complaining, especially publically. It's ungracious. Plus, these fests are challenges. The point of a challenge is to be challenged. Write the fic as best you can! And then you'll know for next time.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

Pinch-hitters should all be praised from the mountains, and showered with grapes and nubile young things. St fluffyllama, especially. *g*

That said, I can't trust myself to volunteer to pinch-hit. It takes either a month of solid, unending writing or screaming panic to get me to finish a fic, neither of which are ideal conditions for pinch-hitting. I'd love to be that helpful, but I can't just sit down and write a fic, and I admire and envy anyone who can.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Mine. *g* Actually, no. Running an exchange comm is done out of love for your fandom, and it takes a whooooole lotta love to survive the trauma. Absolutely merry_smutmas. There's a reason Gina's modding style is borrowed 'round the fandom, and it's because it's successful. It's really well-run and a positive experience for the writers and artists, too.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Dude, I totally forgot about hp_remix. I officially suck ass :P

[xylodemon.livejournal.com]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

I think so. I wrote two for reversathon and four for slashfest, and I was pretty happy with all of them. I was particularly pleased with the James/Remus/Sirius for reversathon, and my two non-HP fics for slashfest. The American Gods fic had me chewing my nails when I wrote it, I wasn't sure if I could pull off the pairing, but when it was finished, I was pretty proud of myself for managing it.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

People who drop out for no good reason at all should be strung up by their toes. I mean, I understand that RL happens sometimes, and that kind of stuff is excusable, but when it's just 'oh, I overbooked myself' or 'oh, I forgot', or 'oh, I just didn't get around to it, that is just not on.

As for complainers, I see both sides. I was tearing my hair out when I matched people up for an eight person fic exchange at quadrashag. I can't even imagine what it was like for gmth or fluffyllama.

If I got assigned something I'd specifically said I couldn't write, I'd say something. If I got assigned something I failed to mention I didn't want to write, then it's my own business. For merry_smutmas, the signup said I'd be responsible for anything I didn't specifically mention, so I went out of my way to mention it. I felt kind of like a pill, with my laundry list of character no-nos, but I thought it was for the best to do it up front.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

I did a pinch-hit for reversathon. The prompt was actually harder than my original request, but luckily, whoever bailed did si early. I received my pinch-hit assignment just a week after I received the original, so I had plenty of time to think about it. I think pinch-hitters are ace, myself. Expecially the people who have pulled a fic out of their nose in a matter of hours to keep a fest running smoothly.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Well, reversathon was my only 'exchange'. I didn't receive fic back for slashfest, because I missed prompt submission.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

You with a laundry list of no-nos? I don't believe it.

[danbi.livejournal.com]

I'll try not to make my response into an essay, cause I am sleepy and need to go home soon.

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.
I am generally satisfied. I have no idea if the other person is, though. I'm just talking about challenges in general though - the only complaint I tend to get is if I don't include smut, but end on a hopefully-smutty note. Which is neither here nor there (as I suck at smut, and really, the leave-offs are probably better than what I would actually try to write).

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?
Drop-Outs: Depends on the situation. If they say nothing and make NO effort to contact the mod, they should be banned from participating further. But I think if you contact the mod the first time, it should be fine. It's only if you make a habit of it (like doing it a second time) that I think it'd get annoying, because you're essentially taking a place that someone who actually is able to write and wants to write could have had.

Complainers: Uh...yeah. I don't know. I mean, it's kind of uncomfortable if someone writes for you and you don't like it, but to complain to the mod about it? Seems a little...odd. If it were me, I'd just reply and say that that's what was written and invite them to start their own exchange if they feel that strongly about it. Because these things are damned hard to run successfully, and I'd hate to run something huge like merry_smutmas because of the sheer number of participants. I ain't about to complain, fercrissake.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

This is how I do half of my challenges. So...it gets the creativity going on full speed? Not sure it produces necessarily better writing, but that's more people-dependent, if you ask me.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

Haven't done one successfully yet. Was supposed to do a drabble exchange thing at quadrashag back in March but then I ended up in the hospital and that sort of...didn't happen. I wasn't able to give notice, either. So I guess I suck.

But at least I won't whine about it. So...er...good times?

Yes.

[danbi.livejournal.com]

Ah, I lied in my poll actually. I did run an exchange at lancre. I wrote on time, and I think it went relatively well. I was a bad mod, though, as I believe one person didn't receive an assignment. :-/