Blind Fic Exchange
What It Is: This is a semiannual event inspired by the Blind Date with a Book events that are sometimes done in bookstores and libraries. The idea is to try something new, maybe something you wouldn't normally read, as well as getting to recommend some fics that you really like.
How It Works: In the lead-up to August 14th and February 14th, sign-ups will open for anyone interested in participating. Sign up by sending an ask that includes the maximum rating you want to read and a list of anything you are NOT interested in reading, e.g. certain categories of relationships, triggers, tropes, etc. (You don't have to explain your list at all, and your list can include anything at all. You're not necessarily saying you would NEVER read a fic that includes those things, just that you don't want to this time. For example, if you've been reading a lot of whump lately and just want something soft and gentle, you could put "whump" and/or "angst" on the list.)
Sign-ups will open at 12:00 a.m. Central Time (UTC-6) on July/January 14th and close at 11:59 p.m. Central Time (UTC-6) on August/February 13th. On August/February 14th, I will randomly match up names from the list and let everyone know who their partners are. (For now, the plan is to tell everyone secretly so it will be a surprise, but if a lot of people sign up, that may change ^^') At that point, you will pick three fics for your fic-reading partner to choose from, abiding by their list of what they don't want to read. Ideally, these will be fics that you have NOT written yourself. The point of this event is to share good stories with each other, not self-promotion. Send links to the three stories to your partner, along with a vague description for each that doesn't give away the title, category, or characters in it. For example: "two characters stave off boredom during a long trip" or "deathbed confession of love" or "a dragon slayer is saved by a dragon and has to rethink his entire life."
When you receive your selection of fics, pick one that sounds interesting, and enjoy!
Do's and Don'ts:
DO try to send your fic recommendations in a timely manner as soon as you find out who your partner is. There's no hard-and-fast deadline, but please be courteous and give your partner time to read it.
DON'T try to slip in something from your partner's list for any reason. Even if you think it's silly they asked for no fics with mentions of marshmallows, that doesn't make it okay to send them your favorite story about people sitting around a campfire roasting marshmallows. If you end up reading someone's recommendation that has something you specifically asked not to be there, please feel free to reach out to me. Such violations will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis, because accidents happen, but do understand that if the determination is that it was deliberate, you WILL be blacklisted from participating in the future. This is supposed to be a fun event, so please don't jeopardize it.
DO remember to leave comments/kudos/etc. on the fic you read! Show some love to both the author and the person who recommended the fic!
DON'T hesitate to recommend a long chapterfic, nor feel obligated to read the whole thing in a certain time frame if you receive one. The general expectation should be that you will read at least the first chapter of whatever you're sent if you sign up for this event, but beyond that, it's up to you.
DO feel free to recommend incomplete fics (unless that goes against your person's preferences). We all know that one amazing fic that hasn't updated in five years, but is still worth a read. Just make sure you mention in your description that it's incomplete, in case that becomes a deciding factor.
That's all I can think of for now, but I may be adding to this later as things crop up. Please feel free to reach out with any questions, clarifications, or concerns! The official tag I'll be using will be #blind fic exchange