Sign-ups begin NOW!

[weasleytook]

Sign-ups will run until SATURDAY, JUNE 27th, at 11:59PM EDT. (what time is that for me?)

SIGN-UP FORM | TAG SET | DEAR CROSSOVERING WRITER | FAQ
If you're new to exchanges at AO3 and confused about how sign-ups work, read this tutorial about signing up for gift exchanges.

For specific information about requests and offers for this exchange, please continue reading.

How do I make requests?
You must make a minimum of 3 requests and a maximum of 5 requests. There are three (3) parts to each request.

• Fandoms (REQUIRED): For each request, you must choose 3-6 fandoms you would like to see paired for a crossover.
  
  Example:
  For one request, you might choose Doctor Who, Supernatural, Pacific Rim, Teen Wolf, and Warehouse 13. If you and your writer are matched on this request, that means they offered 2 or more of these fandoms. However, your writer is only obligated to cross 2 fandoms, even if they match on more, so please be certain you're happy with any combination of the fandoms in each request.
  
  You may request fandoms more than once, but each request must have at least one unique fandom. This also increases your odds of being matched to someone else.



• Additional Tags:
This year, we have included an additional field for recipients to indicate whether they prefer crossovers or fusions. We will not be matching based on this field, it's just there to provide your author with additional information. If you check both or leave both blank, it indicates to them that you have no preference. (For the purposes of this exchange, we're defining the differences between a crossover and a fusion as the following: A crossover is when the characters/worlds of both fandoms interact. For example, Joan Watson and Sherlock Holmes solve a case with Kate Beckett and Richard Castle. A fusion is when the characters of one fandom are placed into the world of another fandom. For example, Joan Watson and Sherlock Holmes are co-pilots in the world of Pacific Rim, but no characters from Pacific Rim have a major role in the story.


• Dear Writer Letter (OPTIONAL): You may include a link to a Dear Writer Letter, where you can tell your writer more about yourself and what you'd like to see in a fic. Please remember that the details in your Dear Writer letter are optional. Your writer does not have to incorporate any requests beyond the two fandoms you were matched on. Make sure the link is unlocked/public so that your writer can read it. You can post a link to your letter here.



• Optional Details (OPTIONAL): If you don't want to writer a Dear Writer Letter, but you'd still like to leave prompts or ideas for your writer, this is the place to do it. Again, optional details are optional. Your writer's only obligation is to cross the two fandoms you were matched on.

REQUEST EXAMPLE


How do I make offers?
You must make a minimum of 3 offers and a maximum of 7 offers. There's one (1) part to each offer.

• Fandoms (REQUIRED): For each offer, you must choose 4-10 fandoms you would be willing to crossover.
  
  Example:
  For one offer, you might select Dead Like Me, Fairy Tales & Related Fandoms, Hannibal, Revenge, Star Wars - All Media Types, and Warehouse 13. If you and your recipient are matched on this offer, that means they requested 2 or more of these fandoms. However, you're only obligated to cross 2 fandoms, even if you match on more. Please be certain you're happy with any combination of the fandoms in each request.

OFFER EXAMPLE


How do I know which tags to use?
You can view the approved fandom tags for this year's exchange here divided by type of media, or an alphabetical list here.

Can I change my sign-up?
Yes. Until the sign-up period ends, you may edit your requests and offers as often as you like.

I don't understand how requests and offers will work this way. Can you explain it to me?
Sure! We considered several options for sign-ups, but we feel this option serves participants best. One option, for example, was to require each participant to create a bucket list of requested fandoms and a bucket list of offered fandoms. This definitely would have been the simplest solution, yes, but it presented a couple problems.

One of those problems was this: Bucket lists are typically fairly large. To make matching work for this exchange, bucket lists would have to be large. However, that meant people would be requesting a bunch of fandoms (probably at least 6, most likely 7-9) with no idea how the matching would come out. For example, your bucket list might include Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Hannibal (TV). Certainly, some people wouldn't take issue with reading or writing that crossover, but what if you were matched on those two fandoms…and had no idea how to proceed?

With our approach, participants have a small amount of control. This way, you can choose three (3) fandoms where ANY combination makes for great crossover potential in your mind. This way, you won't have to worry about receiving a fic where Hannibal Lecter eats Captain Planet unless you request them together. (Feel free to go wild and include Captain Planet and the Planeteers and Hannibal in the same list, of course, since the world always needs more crackfic.)

Why are we required to offer four (4) fandoms at a time when we only have to request three (3)?
Good question! We've noticed people tend to be a little more relaxed with their offers than their requests in exchanges like these. Requiring more offers than requests also eases the matching process along.

Comments

[teaotter]

I want to double-check -- the fusion/crossover tag is optional, right? So if my recipient only has fusion tagged, I can still write a crossover?

[weasleytook]

That's correct! The fusion/crossover tag was mostly for the purpose of letting authors know that they're okay with fusions (as some people are not). But it is an optional tag, so you are free to write a crossover.