Finish-a-thon

[kerravonsen]

Announcing... the finish-a-thon!
Remember all those poor, neglected plot bunnies that have been starving from lack of attention, because all those ficathons kept on having higher priority? The stories you wish you could finish, if only you could find the time? Well, fear not, the finish-a-thon is coming to the rescue!

The finish-a-thon is a ficathon, with all the ficathon-like things like deadlines and fellow volunteers to encourage you, but with this ficathon, you write your own ideas. But since part of the encouragement of a ficathon is writing things for other people, what we're going to do, is vote for which story ideas people should write.

The way it works is this:

1. Sign up here, with a comment.
   In your sign-up comment, list a short description all the plot bunnies, unfinished stories (apart from other ficathon stories) and vague ideas that you are putting up for voting on. Say what universe(s) it's in, a very brief description, and some idea of what rating and type (gen,het,slash) you think it will be, to give people a good idea of what they'd be voting for.
2. A poll is made, each "question" consists of the potential stories of one participant.
3. We vote for which story we want each person to finish. The winning story in each section is the one which that author has to work on.
4. Each writer works on their winning story, and finishes it by the deadline. They then put it up on the web somewhere, either in their journal, or on a website.
5. I will post a master-list of all the stories, so that people can find them.
6. Everyone rejoices!

Dates:

Sign-ups begin: today!
Sign-ups end: 25th November 2005
Poll is put up: 27th November 2005
Voting ends: 2nd December 2005
Stories finished: 28th January 2006

(that's 8 weeks to write in)

Note that these dates are Australian time, so basically take away a day for those in the US and UK.

Sign-up Template:

---

Name:
Livejournal:
(new!) Voting Preference: participants only OR all interested parties

For each plot-bunny...

Fandom(s):
Description:
Type: het/gen/slash
Rating:

---

Questions:

What do you mean, not other ficathon stories?

Unfinished stories from other ficathons already have a ficathon for them. This is the Home For Lost Plot-Bunnies (and unfinished stories) that don't have a ficathon of their own.

What if I want to use this story for fanfic100?

(or crossovers100 etc)

Well, this is supposed to be for stories not associated with other ficathonish things... but if it so happens that after you've written it, you find that it fits into your Big Table, well, those challenges aren't averse to using stories from other sources, are they?

Are there any restrictions? This isn't an anti-slash thing, is it?

No restrictions. They're your own ideas, hence, your responsibility. Just let people know, in the descriptions, what kind of story you think it will be, so that they can vote wisely.

What about sequels? Can I include bunnies for those?

Sure. Just give a link to where we can find the previous story or stories.

Is there a minumum number of bunnies required?

Yes. Three. We need something to vote on, after all.

Is there a maximum number of bunnies allowed?

Yes. Ten. Otherwise we'll never be able to decide. Just pick the bunnies you most want to write.

What if I don't finish my story?

Then post what you've managed to write so far, indicating that it isn't finished. Warts and all. No hiding. If you didn't finish... well, we don't want this to drag on, do we?
On the other hand, if it's only a day or two late, then do finish it first. Especially if all it needs is a beta, get it beta-read first.

What if I don't know what story to vote for?

Try. It is possible to not answer a poll question. But please do try to pick one story from everybody if you possibly can.

What about my own stories? Do I pick one of mine as well?

Nup. The point is to find out what other folks here wish you to write.

What if there's a tie in the votes? Which story would I write?

Toss a coin. If you can't toss a coin, I'll toss one for you -- just ask.

Is there a minimum length requirement?

Well, it seems a bit pointless to waste an 8-week ficathon on a drabble. But I don't want you to be sweating over length requirements. Stories have natural lengths; try to pick story ideas which would naturally fit into more than a drabble.

Is there a maximum length requirement?

No, but do remember you've only got 8 weeks.

---

Edited To Add: IMPORTANT QUESTION!

Question: Who gets to vote on what I write?

Answer: when you sign up, say what you would prefer:
(a) other participants only
(b) all and sundry (that is, get your friends to vote so you get a better idea of what your peers want)
I will put a note as part of your poll entry as to what your preference is. If no preference is given, I will go with the default of "participants only" since that was how it was originally set up. I won't be able to enforce this, but we can hope that people will be considerate.

---

Please pimp this everywhere. 8-)

Please note, the dates of this have been devised carefully to make sure that the writing period does not conflict with NaNoWriMo.

Comments

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

Do we sign up with a comment here, or make a new post in the community?

[kerravonsen]

Sign up with a comment here.

Signing Up

[kerravonsen]

Name: Kathryn Andersen
Livejournal: kerravonsen

(1)
Fandom: Doctor Who
Description: 9th Doctor; alternative universe for Parting of the Ways: there is no Bad Wolf, Rose has to get back to the Doctor the hard way.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(2)
Fandom: Stargate/Highlander
Description: Methos was an ex-host; he encounters an air-force guy who's been taken over by a goa'uld, and kills it. That's the opening, I'm not sure what the plot is after that, cuz it kept on changing.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(3)
Fandom: Tomorrow People (OS)/Stargate
Description: Tricia and John look for a missing Nox archaeologist who touched a strange mirror while doing a dig on a world formerly conquered by the Khultan. They end up in the Stargate universe where the Khultan go by another name: the Goa'uld.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(4)
Fandom: Blake's 7/Highlander
Description: "Winning Is The Only Safety" #3 -- Avon tries to find a new teacher, and find a way of killing Servalan without risking his own life. Earlier stories are at http://www.katspace.org/fiction/Series_WinningIsTheOnlySafety.html
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(5)
Fandom: Blake's 7
Description: AU; sequel to Resonances; the fallout of Avon and Cally's body-swap and restoration is explored.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(6)
Fandom: Blake's 7
Description: AU; "The Butterfly Effect" #4 -- the alternate version of "Power" in this universe. Earlier stories are at http://www.katspace.org/fiction/Series_ButterflyEffect.html
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(7)
Fandom: Sentinel/Tomorrow People (NS)
Description: sequel to Falling; Lisa discovers Jim's secret; Adam wonders about Jim also (but I'm not sure exactly what the plot is).
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(8)
Fandom: Sentinel/Matrix
Description: epilogue to Verity; Simon is investigating what are either kidnappings or runaways. Someone matching the description of Jim and Blair were seen talking to (one?) of the missing teenagers. Jim and Blair have to decide whether to tell Simon the truth.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(9)
Fandom: Sentinel
Description: alternative universe -- yet another variation on "What if Blair met Jim later?" In this one, Jim was invalided out of the force; they assumed he has epilepsy.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(10)
Fandom: Sentinel/Stargate
Description: sequel to Making A Life; Jim and Blair join the Stargate program.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

[lady-smith.livejournal.com]

Name: Liza/LadySmith
Livejournal: lady_smith

(1)
Fandom(s): Farscape
Description: "Paddle to Katratzi" The saga of Stark's Amazing Frelling Reappearing Mask
Type: Gen
Rating: G-PG

(2)
Fandom(s): Farscape
Description: "Beautiful" - The same encounter told from Stark's POV and then Zhaan's
Type: Het
Rating: R-NC17

(3)
Fandom(s): Farscape
Description: Five things That Actually Happened to an Aeryn Sun That Didn't - Stark/Aeryn with an Unrealized Reality twist: Starkozu/Male Aeryn
Type: het
Rating: PG13

(4)
Fandom(s): Dr Who
Description: "Stories My Mother Told Me" - One day while waiting for a more interesting life to take her into the Wardrobe or down the rabbit hole, Jeanie finds a big blue box.
Type: gen
Rating: G

(5)
Fandom(s): Farscape
Description: "Valuable" - They loved thier Stykera as if he were family. No matter how bad things got financially, they'd never dream of selling him. But he loved them back...
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(6)
Fandom(s): Star Wars
Description: Why exactly did Jango Fet want a clone of himself?
Type: gen
Rating: PG-13

(7)
Fandom(s): Blakes7
Description: Vila muses on the dictionary definitions of the grade names
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(8)
Fandom(s): Farscape/Dr Who
Description: "Passing Through" - The fic that bridges the gap between Peacekeeper Wars and Rose - Nine&Sikozu
Type: gen (Ampersand)
Rating: PG

(9)
Fandom(s): Angel
Description: "A Reason For Dancing" - The formative years of Krevlornswath of the Deathwok clan.
Type: gen
Rating: PG

(10)
Fandom(s): Russian Doll (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0215139/)
Description: "Perectly Bloody Obvious" - a slash parody in with Ethan outlines why it's obvious they're gay for each other and Harvey is having none of it.
Type: "slash"
Rating: PG13

[executrix.livejournal.com]

Name: executrix
Livejournal: executrix

(1)
Fandom(s): Blakes7
Description: AU version of Deathwatch + Assassin, set in the Federation independent film industry--Tarrant, on the run from vicious aunts, is forced to impersonate his cousin, the noted serious director Del "Ten Ton" Tarrant-Ino. Vila sells 1250% of the gross to Servalan.
Type: het/gen/slash Gen & het
Rating: Probably R

(2)
Fandom(s): Firefly/DueSouth
Description: Detective Ray Kovecki comes in to work one day to be told that Fraser has been sent undercover and will now be impersonated by an extremely handsome young man with a wide range of knowledge. But actually Fraser has been kidnapped by the Serenity crew so that Simon can be their agent-in-place, as long as he can remember that he's supposed to stop solving crimes long enough to *commit* some
Type: het/gen/slash: het; slash UST
Rating: Probable R

(3)
Fandom(s): Firefly/Bujold's VorVerse
Description: Serenity is just the vessel to do a little job for the Free Dendarii Mercenaries, with a few insights into Simon's backstory and Book's current occupation. OF COURSE Miles falls in love with Zoe but is too noble to try to do anything about it.
Type: het/gen/slash: het and slash
Rating: Could be PG-13 or R

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

Is it okay if the story is oh let's say a hypothetical Farscape Mary-Sue-ish WIP already posted on ff.net but hasn't been looked at in something like two years (and was recently Jossed by "Peacekeeper Wars" and so is now AU) or should it be a story plot bunny that has been hopping around but has yet to be made into a story.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Aargh! I am never, ever going to be able to decide which one of those to vote for! :)

from fikgirl (not signed in)

[(Anonymous)]

I assume that fics in progress that are currently just dragging on are ok for the ficathon?

[espresso-addict.livejournal.com]

Interesting idea, kerravonsen. I assume that only participants will get to vote? Is there any mechanism to balance out bunnies in popular fandoms getting more votes than bunnies in minority fandoms? Are you planning on rerunning it in spring/summer? -- it currently clashes with all the solsticial ficathons.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'm with Astro. I want to read too many of those. :-P

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It is in summer.

[kerravonsen]

Yes, WIPs are okay, because they're *unfinished*. I didn't really consider mentioning them because I don't post WIPs myself.

Re: from fikgirl (not signed in)

[kerravonsen]

Definitely.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this will be hard. I want to vote for two of those.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I know which one I'm going for here. :-)

I'll post mine tonight from home because I need time to think.

[kerravonsen]

I assume that only participants will get to vote?

Yes, but I don't know how to enforce that. It will have to be the honour system. The poll is going to be put on my own LJ, because that's a paid account and therefore has polling ability, which this community doesn't.

Is there any mechanism to balance out bunnies in popular fandoms getting more votes than bunnies in minority fandoms?

No, and why should there be? It's up to the author to decide what plot bunnies they are going to put up for voting; if an author happens to write in both popular fandoms and minority fandoms, that's their call.

Are you planning on rerunning it in spring/summer? -- it currently clashes with all the solsticial ficathons.

As vilakins said, it is spring/summer. And there are so many ficathons going on nowadays that it's impossible not to clash with something. I was asking around earlier this year, and this timing was the best one I could come up with.

[kerravonsen]

I know which one I'm going for here.

Well, I know which one izhilzha will be voting for, but I can't figure which one you would go for... I guess I shall just find out later.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

BTW you might like to change 'In your sign-up post' to 'In your sign-up comment' as I was confused like Liza. :-)

Re: from fikgirl (not signed in)

[fikgirl.livejournal.com]

I've got two ... now I just need to come up with a third or fourth.

*heads off to home from work and to ponder*

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

As cool as the other two sound, I know which one I'm voting for.

[kerravonsen]

Ah. I hadn't noticed that. Thanks.

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

Heh, you know, I was actually thinking that when I was writing these up... "Wow, I'm glad I don't have to vote for these, paring the list down to ten was bad enough" and "wow, Astro's going to HATE me..." :D

It Makes More Sense Now That I Can Type Properly

[lizamanynames.livejournal.com]

And here I thought you'd just jump at the Vila one...

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I don't know how to enforce that.

Well, you can check the names given on the poll answers and throw out any votes that don't belong, but hopefully you shouldn't have to do that.

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Hmm, can you be bribed to write more of them after the ficathon ends? :)