capbb | Rules & Requirements

What is a Big Bang?
A Big Bang is a writing challenge that prompts authors and artists to collaborate and create transformative works together. Authors provide a summary for their story, which is posted anonymously for artists to claim. Artists will then create a piece of art based on that story.

What pairings and characters are eligible for this challenge?
The Captain America Big Bang (CapBB) is open for all canon characters in the Captain America MCU and Captain America Comics. This means gen, slash, het, and poly works are allowed in all ratings.
This challenge is inclusive of all characters and ships within the Captain America ‘verse. As such, kinkshaming and shipshaming will not be tolerated. It is important for participants to respect each other during the duration of the event, please.

Where will the 2019 edition of the Bang be hosted?
Due to the recent changes in Tumblr’s policy, we will be hosting the 2019 edition of the Bang on Dreamwidth. We will also be cross-posting to Tumblr and Twitter, so you can also follow us on those platforms to remain up to date. If you’re new Dreamwidth, here is a very informative and helpful series of posts written by

potofsoup to get you started.

What’s the schedule?
You can find the complete and detailed schedule on our Schedule post.

How do I sign up?
Sign-ups will open on May 1st! Please check back here on that date to access the links to the sign-up forms.

Rules & Requirements

These rules are here so everyone has a good experience in the Bang. Participants who break any of the rules will be noted in CapBB records and might face banning from this and future CapBB editions.

FOR AUTHORS

Author requirements

Fics must be a minimum of 15,000 words. There is no maximum word count.

An author is only allowed to submit one (1) fic.

Co-author teams are allowed.

You may sign up as part of an author team and co-author a fic, but that fills your one (1) slot for the challenge. You may not submit a second fic or sign up as a co-author for a second story.

Each co-author will need to sign up separately and complete the age confirmation section of the form individually.

All fics must be beta-read before posting.

We will be inviting beta readers to sign up so there will be a pool of beta readers ready, should you need one. The list of betas will be made available to authors so they can contact the betas directly.

You are not required to select a beta from this list. If you already have beta readers, you can work with them for this challenge.

View the FAQ for more information on the role of a beta reader.

Your fic must be new and specifically posted for this Bang. If you have a fic that you’ve been working on prior to sign-up dates and you haven’t posted it anywhere - Tumblr, Dreamwidth, AO3, etc - this qualifies as ‘new’.

Fics that are part of a series or existing universe are permitted, although we encourage you to write something that can stand on its own. This means that:

The work can be read without needing to refer to prequels, sequels, or author's notes to understand and appreciate the work in full.

The work must have a clear beginning, middle, and ending with no cliffhanger endings.

Please refrain from sharing your work or identifying information about your fic in public and on large group chats where there may be participating artists until after Round 2 Claims on August 3.

If you have previously publicly shared identifying information about a work you wish to submit to the CapBB, we ask that you please delete those posts and/or messages.

This is to ensure that the anonymous claims process remains as fair as possible by having all authors remain anonymous and on an even footing.

Once claims are over and you are partnered with an artist, you may discuss your fic publicly. We only ask that you share no more than 2,000 words of your fic as teasers before your posting date. View the FAQ for more information on teasers.

Each fic can be can be claimed by up to two (2) artists.

The CapBB respects and values the work of both authors and artists collaborating in this event.

Commissioning or otherwise securing extra artwork outside of your collaboration is not in the spirit of that.

For this reason, we do not allow participating authors to solicit other artwork for their fic for at least one year after the last day of the CapBB.

If you choose to secure extra art for your fic after that year has passed, we urge you to first discuss this with your collaborating artists from the event, since this impacts their contribution to the CapBB as well.

The CapBB will have artist pinch hitters. Should an artist have to drop out of the CapBB, the mods will email pinch hit requests to ensure that all fics are accompanied by artwork. Pinch hits will happen on a first come, first served basis.

If you are under 18, you may only write and submit G to T rated fic. If you have turned 18 by July 27, 2019, when claims open, this limitation will not apply to you.

You may not begin posting your fic until the posting period opens on October 12.

Your collaboration must be posted in full by your claimed posting date.

CLAIMS REQUIREMENTS

Before claims open, you will need to submit:

1) A summary of your fic. We will provide you with a preformatted Google slide which will include the following components:

Title: this can be a working title

Archive Warnings: Major Character Death, Underage, Graphic Depictions Of Violence, Rape/Non-con. Use Not Applicable if none.

Rating: G / T / M / E. AO3 Ratings Guide.

Relationship(s): Main, Minor/Background, and Past Ships relevant to your fic

Tags: Relevant tags about your story and any other additional warnings you may need

Summary: This can be a summary like the one you would use for posting, or it can be one which includes details to give claiming artists a better idea of the visuals/elements in your fic

Optional Author’s Note: Use this space to include supplemental details to help claiming artists make a more informed decision (your fic’s current level of completion, estimated final word count, your preferred level of collaboration, etc.) You may not use this space to attempt to solicit artists by name or request only certain types or number of art pieces for your fic. You may delete this component if you are not using it.

Please do not change any of the formatting on the slide, the size of the text box, or add any other elements/background to the preformatted slide.

2) A 5,000 word draft:

A draft is the product an author creates in the initial stages of the writing process. The draft doesn’t have to be in order, completed, or betaed.

While an outline can comprise part of the word count, it can’t make up the majority of the draft. View the FAQ for more information.

The draft can be shared as a .pdf file or as a Google doc. For the latter, you can share the link as a view only file. (Share a View-Only File Tutorial)

This draft will not be shared with artists, and will be kept strictly private and confidential.

3) An optional one-page excerpt of your fic. This will be viewable by artists together with your summary. We will provide you with a preformatted Google doc for your submission.

FOR ARTISTS

Artist requirements

Artists will create a minimum of one (1) piece per fic claimed.

Artists can claim up to five (5) different fics. View the Claims page for more information.

Your art must be new and specifically posted for this Bang. If you have a piece that you've been working on prior to sign-up dates and you haven't posted it anywhere - Tumblr, Patreon, Dreamwidth, Twitter, etc - this qualifies as 'new'.

You may post cropped WIPs or cropped previews of your art as teasers to promote your collaboration, but please do not post the full piece until posting begins.

Art may be:

Drawn or painted, whether traditional or digital

Comics

Digital manips

Gifsets (4 gifs)

Photosets (4 photos)

Fanvids of at least 1 minute and 30 seconds

Fanmixes with at least 10 tracks and front and back covers

Craft, provided it can be photographed and the image emailed

If the art you would like to create is not on this list, please email the mods at capbigbang@gmail.com to discuss.

You can sign up to be an artist even if you have already signed up as an author and/or beta.

We just ask that you be aware of the workload you choose to take on and are able to meet the requirements set for the Bang.

If you wish to create art for your own fic, please bear in mind that this is a collaborative event. You must first have your partner/s’ agreement, and must not prioritize your art over their own, as that goes against the spirit of this challenge.

If you are under 18, you may only claim G to T rated fic. If you have turned 18 by July 27, 2019, when claims open, this limitation will not apply to you.

FOR BETA READERS

Must be able to beta fic with 15,000 minimum word count.

You can sign up to be a beta even if you have already signed up as an author and/or artist. We just ask that you be aware of the workload you choose to take on and are able to meet the requirements set for the Bang.

There is no guarantee that every beta will get called on for their help.

Beta sign-up forms will open on May 1 and will remain open throughout the Bang.

If you are under 18, you may only beta G to T rated fic.

FOR PINCH HITTERS

Pinch hitters will be asked to create a minimum of one (1) piece per fic claimed.

Pinch hits will be on a first come, first served basis.

All art must be new and specifically posted for this Bang.

Pinch hitter sign-up forms will open on May 1 and will remain open throughout the Bang.

If you are under 18, you may only work on a G to T rated fic. If you have turned 18 by July 27, 2019, when claims open, this limitation will not apply to you.

FOR PARTICIPANTS UNDER 18

If you are under 18, you may still join the Bang! Just remember:

If you're joining as an author, you may only write and submit G to T rated fic.

If you're an artist, you may only claim G to T rated fic.

If you’re a pinch hitter, you may only work on a G to T rated fic.

Note: If you have turned 18 by July 27, 2019, when claims open, the above limitations will not apply to you.

If you’re a beta reader, you may only beta G to T rated fic

We are not trying to police what you read/write/create on your own time, but we do have to protect all participants in the Bang. We cannot allow you to create something which could have legal consequences for another participant (your partner) or the mods, as organizers of the Bang.

CapBB 2019 Information: SCHEDULE | RULES & REQUIREMENTS | CLAIMS | POSTING DATE CLAIMS | POSTING | MASTERPOSTS | EXTENSIONS | FAQ