MDZS Big Bang 2021
We're back for another year!
So many people came together to build a wonderful community last time and we are excited to bring this event to you again!
What's a Big Bang?
If you've never participated in a Big Bang before in some other fandom, never fear. The basics are this: authors sign up to write long-form fanfiction, betas sign up to beta long-form fanfiction, artists sign up to create art for long-form fanfiction, and then on a specified day the completed fic and art are posted at once, creating a big bang of long fanfiction in the fandom.
You can read more about Big Bangs here on Fanlore.
About This Big Bang
Mo Dao Zu Shi Big Bang IS returning for 2021 after a successful run last year! This Big Bang includes all adaptations of MDZS and is welcoming to all fans and all shippers. It is important to us that everyone feels welcome, heard, and supported. We don't place any content limits in our event as long as everything is tagged according to AO3 best practices.
The bang this year will be slightly shorter to correspond with a shorter run time, with a 20K minimum running from May 21st, 2021 to August 30th, 2021. Posting will begin September 6th and finish by the end of October.
Interested?
If you've read this far and you're interested in participating - great! I can't wait to have you. Read through the rules, decide if you're fully prepared to commit to a Big Bang and let's get started.
Outline
The basic outline of the MDZS Big Bang 2021 is as follows:
Author and Artist sign-ups open
Authors sign up with a nickname, a simple fic idea, their AO3 account name, and contact information.
Artists sign up with a nickname, their art style, their AO3 account name, and contact information.
Authors confirm they have a mostly complete rough draft and provide a small section of writing as well as a summary, warnings, and information about their fic including estimated word count.
Fics are anonymously listed with this information.
Artists claim the fic(s) they would like to create for.
Authors and artists exchange fic and words and beautiful art is created and at the same time the betas work with the authors to polish the fic
Authors and artists are assigned posting dates and post their art and fic.
Authors post their fic with at least one peice of art embedded in the work and appropriate links and credits. This can be a full image or a cropped preview - we just want to make sure people don't scroll past the fact that your art exists!
The fandom gets an influx of long-form, beta'd fic with excellent art and we all go home happy.
Rules
To keep everything running smoothly we have a few rules in place.
First, a few notes for our returning participants.
Betas are still required, but we will not be matching them this year. Instead, we will provide places for authors and betas to interact on the Discord server. This allows authors to find a beta at the point most help for them - do you want a beta form the beginning? Great! The due date is 2 weeks out and you're ready for someone to give your fic a last polish? Excellent!
The schedule is firm due to constraints on the mods. Please make sure that you closely inspect the schedule to ensure that you feel capable of finishing the work. Extensions will be given out on a case-by-case basis only when a plan to finish is in place.
Due to the difficultly of maintaining email contact (we got auto-flagged as spammers TWICE last year) All announcements, updates, and reminders will only be on the server. We will still email matches and anything else that relates to specific induvials.
Artists are not required to have their own AO3 works this year, but we are require at lease one piece of art be embedded in the fic with appropriate links. This can be a full image or a cropped preview - we just want to make sure people don't scroll past the fact that your art exists!
Over the course of the event last year we developed the following mission statement, which everyone must agree to in order to participate:
Mission Statement: This big bang is open and inclusive for everyone. We welcome all pairings, kinks, or lack thereof. This means everyone must monitor and decide for themselves what content they do and do not want to engage with. Regardless of this, we do not tolerate harassment, bullying, or discrimination. We recognize that these things are not always big and obvious and strive to make sure everyone not only feels welcomed but also supported in the face of any discriminatory behavior. Everyone participating must be respectful of the fact that MDZS is a Chinese story and be careful applying different cultural values and moralities to the things we say about it.
General Rules:
We will not tolerate any form of harassment or bullying. Anyone who violates this policy will be banned from the event, server, and any future events the mod team runs.
No ship-bashing
No racism/sexism/homophobia. This doesn't mean you can't write about racism/sexism/homophobia in your works, just that you may not be racist, sexist or homophobic.
You may mix and match sign-ups (artist + beta, beta + author, author + artist etc)
Currently this Big Bang is for fics written in English due to moderation restraints. If you would like to become a mod for the Big Bang and focus on a different language (such as Chinese), please DM [@MDZSBigBang2020] (https://twitter.com/MDZSBigBang2020) or contact us on the Discord server
Author Rules:
Minimum fic word count is 20,000.
All fics must center around the MDZS universe and/or characters.
All fics must feature at least one MDZS character in a significant role.
A minor character in a significant role is fine, as long as that character is from MDZS.
All fics content and triggers must be properly warned as per AO3 rules and also just plain decency.
All fics must be beta read (see beta rules).
Fics cannot be posted anywhere before your posting date (that's the point!) but you can use a fic you already started if no one has seen it yet.
The completed fic must be posted on your posting date. This is non-negotiable.
Fics may be set in an alternate universe as long as the MDZS character(s) feature significantly.
Crossovers are allowed as long as the MDZS character(s) feature significantly.
If you're unsure if your fic idea will be acceptable, feel free to DM @MDZSBigBang2020 or ask on the Discord server .
RPF is not allowed for the bang because the mods do not feel comfortable supervising content related to real people.
Joint sign-ups are allowed.
You may sign up for multiple fics if you so desire, the only limit is how much you can handle.
We have several different spaces on our server where you can ask for help, and lots of people who want to give it to you! Take advantage of these resources, particularly our very eager sensitivity volunteers.
Authors can use a beta they already know, or look for one within the Discord server.
If an opted-out author's artist or beta drops out, a pinch-hitter can still be called, don't worry!
Artist Rules:
Artists must create at least one art piece for the fic they claim - our guideline is that you match your author's enthusiasm! This can be one piece you really sink some love into or several pieces, it's up to you.
Art must be made specifically for the fic claimed
Thoroughly read the content/trigger warnings before claiming a fic to do art for!
Art can be in any format including but not limited to: drawings/paintings, photoshop manipulations, fanmixes, videos. If you're not sure if your particular art format counts, please feel free to DM @MDZSBigBang2020 or ask on the Discord server.
You may not post your art anywhere before the posting date.
At least one piece of art must be embedded in your authors work with appropriate links and credit. This can be a full image or a cropped preview.
Content and triggers must be appropriately warned for as per AO3 rules and decency.
Joint sign-ups are allowed as per above.
You can claim as many fics as you want, just please don't bite off more than you can chew.
We don't do first come, first served matching. All artists will have time to look over their options and will then submit a ranked list of their favorite options.
Beta Rules:
Minors can only beta works rated Teen or below.
Thoroughly read the content/trigger warnings before claiming a fic to beta.
Make sure to thoroughly discuss expectations with your author. Do they want spell checking? character notes? plot doctoring? a cheerleader/bully? Everyone has a different idea about what a beta should do so make sure you and your author are on the same page.
You may claim as many fics to beta as you want as long as you can get it done.
Betas should list their first and/or additional languages, and if they are also sensitivity readers.
Schedule
The official MDZS Big Bang 2021 schedule is as follows:
Sign ups open for authors and artists – May 21
Author sign ups close - June 14
Author checkin -75% complete and matching form - form open July 5-10
Artist Signups close - July 9
Artist selection forms - open July 15-19
Matches announced - July 25
“Due” date [Works in final draft phase] – August 30th
Posting September 6 – Oct 3
The schedule is firm due to constraints on the mods. Please make sure that you closely inspect it to ensure that you feel capable of finishing the work. Extensions will be given out on a case-by-case basis only when a plan to finish is in place.
Current as of 4/25/21
FAQ
How do I sign up?
Join our discord and follow the links on our sigh up page!
Can I write about an OC in the MDZS universe?
Not without a MDZS character being in a significant role (for example you could write about Lan Wangji's daughter, as long as Lan Wangji or Lan Sizhui were hanging around too)
Does the story have to be stand-alone or can it be part of a series?
Part 1 of a planned story is fine as long as the fic for the Big Bang can be read all by itself. Subsequent parts of an already-started series are currently disallowed (Unless it's a sequel to last years bang).
I wrote on my sign-up that I was going to write one thing but I ended up writing something else, is that okay?
That's totally fine, we just want to make sure you have at least one idea when you sign up! You can make any major changes you want or even start over as long as you meet the 75% check-in. After the check-in any changes you make are between you and your artist.
I can't finish my fic on time.
That's okay. If you've already submitted your rough draft, please, please let us and your assigned artist(s) know that you won't be finishing.
I can't finish my art/beta in time.
Let us know immediately so we can search for a pinch-hitter for your author.
I don't like the fic I'm beta-ing/creating art for.
Let your author know kindly (no flames, no hate, no bullying, you can even just say "I can't finish due to RL commitments" if that's easiest) that you can't finish the assignment and immediately contact and let us know so we can find and assign a pinch-hitter.
What's a pinch-hitter in this context?
A pitch hitter steps up if an author looses their beta or artist. We post a a request in the Discord and anyone who has assigned themselves the pitch-hitter artist or beta role will get pinged. We have been very sucessful with pitch-hitting.
I can finish, but not by my posting date...
DM a mod as soon as possible and we will see if we can work out a plan.
I don't want a beta.
The point of this Big Bang is to encourage friendships, socialization and inter-fandom community. If you are completely against the idea of a beta, you can always just show it to a friend and say it was beta'd by them, but please consider trying out having a beta. It's always been very rewarding, in my experience.
Do I HAVE to post to AO3?
Yes.
What if I want to post to Dreamwidth/some other site?
You can do that too, but please discuss linking back and forth with your artist/author!
Do I have to read my author's rough draft?
I mean... yeah...? You need to read the rough draft and create art based on your author's writing. Of course, if you and your author figure out some other way (author requests a specific drawing from a specific scene, you ask for a summary etc) that's between the two of you, but please expect to have to read the entire rough draft of every fic you sign up to do art for (or beta!)
How AU is too AU?
That's between you and MXTX...
Nah, but some people will argue LWJ having interest in anyone but WWX is "too AU", other people can happily imagine an AU with JC and JZX running away together on a spaceship to be pirates. If you think the AU fits the criteria, that's all we need.
My "MDZS character in a significant role" is OOC...
And that's what betas are for! Just be nice and remember to care for and feed your beta, as if you're right, they may have to work hard for you.
I don't want art based on a certain adaptation.
You can list your yes pleases and no thank yous when you submit your rough draft. The point is to assign authors to artists and betas that work for them and the other way around. If you specifically hate an adaptation or a type of art and do not want that kind of art, you won't get it.
I'm having some problems with my/another author/artist...
Contact us and we'll sort it out. We are tolerant of everything except intolerance.
Can I be anonymous? I'm writing something I might get hate for.
Yes, you can be anonymous on AO3, however you will still have to work with your artist/beta. Obviously if you opt-out and have a friend that's doing your art/betaing, that's different, but as previously stated, the Bang is to encourage fandom community and to make new friends.
You cannot be completely anonymous from us (as we will need to contact you and so forth), but you will never receive hate from us for anything you choose to write and can use a pseudonym.
Wait, I can write something explicitly racist/homophobic?
Okay, now you're splitting hairs. See the rules: we are tolerant of everything except intolerance. Racist works are very different to works presenting racism. Wei Wuxian having to deal with racism in the time of Covid-19 in the USA would be fine, a fic that was bashing him for being Asian and just being racist for the sake of it would not be.
Similarly, a fic in which Lan Wangji is in a relationship with Wen Qing would be fine, as fandom is a safe place to explore interesting relationships. A fic where Lan Wangji's sexuality is mocked and derided simply for the sake of homophobia would not be.
We will not be tolerant of intolerance.
Big Bang 2021 Sign-Ups
Sign up Form: Here
If you have any trouble signing up, please join the Discord server and DM a mod for help.
