AFTER CAMLANN BIG BANG

an annual fest for the BBC Merlin fandom

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Big Bang challenge?
It's a fandom fest that pairs writers with artists in order to create epic fanworks inspired by the world and characters of the BBC show, Merlin!What are the minimum requirements?
Fics must be a minimum of 25,000 words, and the accompanying art must be at least 1 completed piece.Does the name "After Camlann" mean that only stories set after the series finale are allowed?
Definitely not! Any setting, timeline, or storyline you can imagine is welcome, including any AUs.I'd like to participate in the ACBB community! Where can I find it?
We have ACBB channels in the Tavern Discord server (18+ only): https://discord.com/invite/KGE3R5WspH. Please request the ACBB role when you join (after you've signed up)!How does anonymity work for ACBB?
If you plan to participate in author-artist matching, your fic MUST remain fully anonymous until you have been matched with an arist. This is to ensure that artists do not know which summary belongs to which writer and are able to choose based on the story summary alone.
Anonymous means that you do not share your title, snippets, summary, or plot with anyone (besides privately to an alpha or beta) until after artist matching is complete. If you use writer-bot on discord, you may not use your fic's title for the project name. We suggest using something like After Camlann (acbb) as the project name until after the artist matching is complete.How does author-artist matching work?
Each writer will submit a summary of their story, and artists will get to claim which summary they want to create art for. Summaries will be posted anonymously. Once matched up, authors and artists are encouraged to work together so the final combined fanwork is satisfactory to you both.Who runs this Big Bang?
ACBB is run by Fifty_Fifty and SlantedKnittingI'm not a writer or an artist, but I'd still like to participate.
Wonderful! Every Big Bang participant needs support, and that's where you can help. Please consider signing up as a beta for fic or art, depending on your area of expertise/interest. We also encourage you to watch our Tumblr page to stay up-to-date with everything going on and to learn about all the wonderful fics and art that will be posted as part of the fest.Are there any restrictions on the content of my fanwork for the fest?
No. As long as your fanwork focuses primarily on characters from BBC's Merlin, then it's all good! Any genre, era, pairings (or no pairings - gen works are also allowed) and rating are welcome. This also includes crossovers or fusions with other fandoms as long as at least one of your main characters is from Merlin.What about Real Person Fiction (RPF) using the cast from Merlin?
Sorry, there will be no RPF accepted for this Big Bang, only works focused on the fictional characters from the show.Can I sign up as both a writer and an artist?
Yes, just please mind the fest schedule and don't bite off more than you can chew.Do I have to have a beta for my work?
Yes. All fic and art must be reviewed by a beta prior to posting. A Big Bang is all about making the best fanworks we can, and a beta plays an important role in making sure our work is the best it can be!How do I find a beta for my work?
We will have a public list of betas who have signed up to assist with the After Camlann fest! You can go through that list to find a beta or ask around in other fandom spaces, such as on Tumblr, Discord, LiveJournal, etc. If all else fails, please ask a mod!If I finish it for the fest, can I submit a WIP I've been posting publicly?
No. All works for this challenge must be new for the fest, meaning they have not been posted anywhere before your assigned posting date.Can I post my ACBB in chapters over time?
No, you must post your ACBB fic in its entirety on your designated posting date. If your fic is not at least 25k and completed, it is not eligible to be posted as part of the fest and will be removed from the collection and masterpost.Can I submit a sequel to a story I've already posted?
Yes, as long as the sequel can stand alone (meaning the reader does not have to read the original story for the sequel to make sense) and it doesn't end with a To-Be-Continued.Can writers collaborate on a story?
Yes, as long as your final fic is one cohesive story. Collaborative writers will be paired with only one artist.Is there a minimum word count due for the rough draft that writes submit?
Yes, you must submit a rough draft that makes up at least 60% of your estimated final word count. Your draft must include a beginning, middle, and end (or notes of how your intend to end the fic).What if I can't finish a draft by the deadline? Can I still participate?
Yes, but you will not be eligible to participate in author-artist matching. If you cannot submit your 60% draft in time for claiming for but still wish to participate in the challenge, you must check-in via email to let the mods know you are still participating. If you still want art for your story, you will be responsible for finding your own artist. You will still need to submit a final draft as scheduled.Can a writer submit more than one story?
Yes. However, you will only be eligible to submit one story for artist claiming. If you wish to have art for your second story, you will be responsible for finding your own artist.Can an artist create art for more than one story?
Yes. Just please be mindful of the fest schedule so that each story you choose to create for receives equal treatment.What kind of art is allowed?
Traditional art, graphic art, photomanipulations, videos, fanmixes, and podfics. If the story inspires you to express yourself in a less common format (such as a cake shop AU that inspires you to make cakes from the story and take photos of those), please check-in withe mods and your assigned writer!
Note for podficcers: During claiming, please check the summary information to identify which writers are open to collaboration with a podficcer. Given the amount of time it takes to record a podfic, we do not have a minimum time length for podfics and we do not require the entire fic to be recorded. These details should be decided between the podficcer and their writer when they are matched.How long should a fanvid be?
A minimum of 90 seconds long. There is no maximum length.Can I use fanart made by other artists in my fanvid?
No, please do not incorporate work from another artist unless it was specifically made for your video.When I post my story, can I also use art that I or someone other than my artist has done?
No. The point our of Big Bang is for the writer and artist to collaborate. Please do not bring in outside artists.As a writer, can I give my artist direction on their art?
No, this is a collaboration. It would be ideal for the artist and wrtier to talk about their works together, but ultimately what the artist chooses to create for the collaboration is up to them, just as the content of the story is up to the writer.Can I pre-match with an author or artist before summary claiming?
Yes. Please remember when approaching a prospective partner to be polite in your request and to be respectful of their decision on whether or not they want to pre-match.What is an artist pinch-hitter?
A pinch-hitter is an artist who will step in, possibly at short notice, when the original artist paired with a writer drops out for whatever reason. The pinch-hitter will then create art for the writer's story (minimum requirements still apply).Can I submit a remix of another person's story as my Big Bang?
No, each story submitted must be original to you.I'd like to post snippets of my fic/art before posting. Can I do that?
No - you may not publish any portion of your work prior to your assigned posting date. The only exception is during designated Snippet Days, hosted on the Tavern Discord server, which happens after artist claiming.Am I required to communicate regularly with my author or artist?
Yes. After summaries have been claimed and author-artist matches have been announced, you must contact your collaborative partner within one week. After that, you are required to communicate with your partner at least once every other week. If you are going to be unreachable for any reason (vacation, etc), please inform your partner ahead of time. If you are unexpectedly unable to contact your partner, please contact the mods ASAP.What is plagiarism?
See here for a definition. It's acceptable to be inspired by an existing work, but it is not okay to appropriate ideas wholesale, and we will not tolerate it in this challenge.

Contact

You can contact the mods by:
- emailing us at [email protected]
- sending an ask to our tumblr @aftercamlann
- commenting on a relevant LiveJournal entry
- pinging the @ACBB Mod role at the Tavern discord

Where to Find Us!

• After Camlann on Tumblr

• After Camlann on LiveJournal

• After Camlann's AO3 Collection

• The Tavern Discord Server (18+ Only)

2024 Sign Ups

come back soon for 2025 sing-ups

Fic & Art Betas

come back soon for 2025 betas

2024 Schedule

**** What is due with writer rough drafts in May?**
Writers must submit a rough draft that makes up at least 60% of your estimated final word count. Your draft must include a beginning, middle, and end (or notes of how your intend to end the fic).
Examples of word counts due for rough drafts:
- 25k end goal: minimum 15k rough draft
- 30k end goal: minimum 18k rough draft
- 45k end goal: minimum 27k rough draft
- 50k end goal: minimum 30k rough draft
- 60k end goal: minimum 36k rough draft
- 75k end goal: minimum 45k rough draft
- 100k end goal: minimum 60k rough draft