Q: What is a prompt fest?
A: A prompt fest is an event where instead of being given an assignment to write a gift for somebody, participants submit prompts and then you can claim one or more of the submitted prompts to create a fill for them. You can direct yourself to our Rules and Guidelines post to see exactly how our Prompt Fest works.
Q: Your other events have an optional anon period. Is this event the same?
A: No. The Prompt Fest does not have an optional anon period, as that would be difficult to implement with sign-ups and prompts as they are, over AO3. None of the works will be anonymous, and no anonymous period or Creator Reveals will take place.
A: A prompt is an idea that you have for a story, or a meta post, an artwork, a video or any other type of creation that you’d be interested in seeing exist! It can be anything at all! Perhaps you have an idea for a story/art/etc, but you’re not a writer/artist/etc; you can submit your prompt, and if someone is inspired by it, they can claim it and create something for/based on it! A prompt can be as detailed or as general as you like; you can see the format for a prompt here on our Rules and Guidelines post.
Q: How do I submit a prompt?
A: This prompt event will be run mainly over AO3, so prompts will be submitted there in our Heihua Prompt Fest collection. You can see here on our Rules and Guidelines post a step-by-step of how to submit your own prompt.
Q: Can I submit a prompt without an AO3 account?
A: No. An AO3 account is required in order to participate.
Q: I submitted a prompt but it’s now not in the collection anymore. Why?
A: If your prompt was deleted, the only reason is that it did not adhere to the rules and guidelines. Please read the rules carefully and re-submit your prompt. You can ask the mods for clarification at any time if necessary.
Q: I wasn’t notified at all before my prompt was deleted. Why wasn’t I told that there’s something wrong with my prompt so that I could fix it before it got deleted?
A: The mods are not able to see your email on a Prompt Meme on AO3, so if your prompt is anonymous, we cannot contact you. The same is true for non-anon prompts, so unless you provide your contact information on your prompt when you submit it or somewhere on your AO3 profile, we will be unable to contact you.
Q: How do I claim a prompt?
A: This prompt event will be run mainly over AO3, so prompts will be submitted there in our Heihua Prompt Fest collection. When viewing the posts, if you are logged into your AO3 account, you will see a button saying ‘Claim’ on the bottom of each prompt. Simply click on it and you have claimed a prompt! You will have until the deadline for submissions to post your fill for it on AO3.
Q: Why do I have to send a claim confirmation email to the mods after claiming a prompt on AO3? Can’t you see my claim?
A: You are required to send out a claim confirmation email so a) the mods are aware that you are actively working on a prompt and b) can keep an eye out and contact you in case anything with your claim goes wrong. In the event that a prompt is claimed by multiple people, the mods will use the time the claim confirmation email was sent to determine who claimed the prompt first. Other claims will be then deleted.
Q: I wasn’t notified at all before my claim was voided. Why wasn’t I told that there’s something wrong with my claim so that I could fix it before it got deleted?
A: The mods are not able to see your email on a Prompt Meme on AO3, so unless you provide your contact information by sending a claim confirmation email, there will be no notice if your claim is deleted because you have claimed a prompt that was already claimed by someone else.
Q: Why can we only claim a prompt once? I like a prompt that was already claimed and I want to fill it.
A: Prompts are only claimed once by one person so as to ensure to the best of our ability that as many prompts as possible are filled by the end of the claim period, and that no one prompt receives disproportionate favoritism for the sake of fairness. However, in the event that all submitted prompts are claimed before the claim period ends, a second round of claims will open with no such restrictions.
Q: Can I claim a prompt if I don’t have an AO3 account?
A: No. An AO3 account is required in order to participate.
Q: How do I fill a prompt I have claimed?
A: From your Claims page on AO3, simply find the desired prompt and click ‘Fill Prompt’ on the options at the bottom. This will take you to a new work page on AO3, where you can post your creation. You can also post a fill by selecting ‘Post → New Work’ on AO3 and then, on the ‘Fulfill a Claim’ box, click on the desired prompt. Don’t forget to add your creation to our AO3 collection!
Q: Can I fill out a prompt if I don’t have an AO3 account?
A: No. An AO3 account is required in order to participate.
Q: If I want to submit a prompt that I want to claim and fill myself, can I do that?
A: Yes. That is what we call a self-prompt.
Q: Can I talk about my work after claiming?
A: Yes. This event is not anonymous. You are free to talk about your prompt and creation in public. If you wish to do so on tumblr, feel free to tag our tumblr account.
Q: Do I need to submit a prompt in order to participate and claim a prompt?
A: No. Submitting a prompt is not necessary to participate. You can just claim a prompt if you don’t want to submit your own.
Q: Can I claim more than one prompt?
A: Yes. Once you submit the prompt you’re already working on and send us an email confirming that you have posted it, you are free to claim another. You may, in theory, claim as many prompts as you'd like during the creation period, though you may only claim one prompt at a time.
Q: Can I submit a prompt but not claim one?
A: Yes. However, it is encouraged to fill a prompt if you are inspired by anything, so that as many prompts as possible are filled by the end of the event.
Q: Can my fill be multi-chaptered?
A: Yes. You must submit the first chapter by the deadline, and then continue to submit the rest of your chapters. It is highly encouraged that any multi-chapter work submitted to our collection is finished, and not left as a WIP.
Q: Must my work be complete by the end of the event?
A: No. It’s not required, but finishing a work before the end of the event is highly encouraged.
Q: Do I need to make something following exactly what the prompt says?
A: Not word for word. The prompt is a guideline; something you are meant to be inspired by. You can create anything based on it so long as you do not include anything that has been listed by the prompter as a DNW.
A: Do Not Want. It’s a list of things you don’t want to receive as a gift under any circumstances and a creator must not include - squicks, triggers, characters or things that you simply don’t like. You can list if you have any audio or visual triggers (such as flashing lights), or song/music you don't like (e.g. "please no lyrics that use the n-word" or "please no lyrics in [specific language]" or “please no [specific genre/s of music]”). You don’t owe anyone an explanation about why something is a DNW, and DNWs are not meant to be taken personally. Just list the things you don’t like, “DNW: X, Y.”
Q: What if I’m inspired to create something from a prompt, but I really want to add something the prompter has included as a DNW?
A: You can create something in your own time, and you are free to mention it was created based on a specific prompt in our event. This cannot be a fill for the prompt in question if it includes a DNW, and will not be a part of our collection.
Q: I have an idea for a fill that might contain elements the prompter did not specifically say they would enjoy. What should I do?
A: Though you are required to fulfill a prompt's basic requirements (i.e. general gist, no stated DNWs), you are not required to make something specifically for the prompter in so much as this is not a gift exchange. However, if you would like to gift your fill to the prompter and you are not sure if they would like a specific element, you can reach out to the mods at any time. We are happy to ask the prompter to check if they are okay with it before you make it! This does not supersede a DNWs list, which must always be respected.
Q: Must I only fill a prompt by writing a fic or drawing something?
A: No. You are free to create anything. This event is open to all media types, so you can use any medium to fill the prompt of your choice. Our main media type categories are: Fic, Art, Video, Podfic, but you may create something else, like a moodboard, a gif or a necklace. The categories are kept broad to help the mods categorize; don’t feel limited by the names! 'Art' does limit itself to digital or traditional art, but may include moodboards, edits, manips, etc.
Q: So, then, what counts as 'Art'?
A: Anything you say is art can be art. You can make a gif or a moodboard, an edit or a traditional paper collage. You can write a sheet of music, provide photography or make a cosplay, knit a sweater, crochet something or make something out of clay, build a lego tomb. The only thing stopping you from making art is the limit of your imagination. If you're still not certain that something qualifies, drop an ask to the mods and we'll clarify for you! Just remember: no AI-generated works will be accepted.
Q: Does meta qualify as creation for a prompt?
Q: I have a specific media type in mind for the prompt I am submitting (e.g.: fic). Can I say that I want the fill for the prompt to only be that specific media type?
A: You can mention on the prompt that your idea is initially a specific media type. However, the claimer is not required to follow it. They may fill the prompt using a different media type. This event is open to all media types, so there is no way to request a specific medium.
Q: I want to claim a prompt, but it mentions the idea is based on a specific media type (e.g.: art). I cannot create for that specific media type/my idea is for another media type. Can I claim the prompt anyway and create what I want, or must I follow the prompt’s suggested media type?
A: You can fill the prompt using any media type you want. You are not required to fill it by following the prompt’s listed media type. This event is open to all media types, so you can use any medium at all to fill the prompt of your choice. Just remember: no AI-generated works are allowed.
Q: The media types categories are very broad, and there is a specific media type (e.g.: moodboard, clay, knitting craft, etc) I absolutely don't want to receive. What do I do?
A: If this is a hard preference, you may add the specific media type in your DNWs. However, you cannot request your prompt to be filled by a specific media type or put ‘any media except X’ in your DNWs, as this event is open to all media types, so whoever claims your prompt can create anything they want, regardless of media type.
Q: Why do I need to email the mods that I have posted my creation for the prompt I claimed? Can’t they see it on AO3?
A: You are required to email the mods a posting confirmation so that we are better able to better keep track of your finished and submitted creations and a) mark you down as allowed to claim another prompt, b) be able to contact and inform you if there’s anything wrong with your fill. An email helps us avoid any stressful mistakes. Additionally, we create promo posts on tumblr for all completed fills, and an email will put your creation directly in our queue and will prevent us from forgetting or overlooking it by accident.
Q: I wasn’t notified at all that there was a problem with my posted work and it was marked as ‘Not Approved’ and now it’s not a part of the collection. Why was I not told what the problem was so that I could fix it?
A: The mods are not able to see your email on a Prompt Meme on AO3, so unless you provide your contact information by sending a posting work confirmation email, there will be no notice if your work is not approved for violating the rules and guidelines.
Q: I want to do something, but I'm not certain I can fully commit to finishing a claim. Can I be a pinch-hitter only?
A: No. As there are no assignments for this event, we will not assign pinch-hitters to any prompt claimed and then dropped. You may claim a prompt and then drop it if you are not certain that you can finish it (make sure to inform us first before dropping it!). Unless someone else claims it afterwards, the prompt will simply remain un-filled.
Q: I claimed a prompt I don’t think I can make something for. What can I do?
A: Feel free to drop that claim and claim a different prompt. Please inform us of the claim that you are dropping, and which one you have claimed instead, if any.
Q: Something unexpected happened IRL and I don't think I'll be able to complete my fill. What should I do?
A: Contact the mods as soon as possible. We'll try to work something out with an extension for you.
Q: Is there a penalty for dropping out?
A: No. You will not be banned from this event in the future if you drop out. However, if you drop out by not posting your work and not reaching out to us at all to let us know what's going on, or not respond to us when we try to reach out to you, the next time you join the exchange we might require you to finish by the earlier deadline, or provide us with more communication alternatives. Dropping out with no contact twice will result in an one-year ban from the exchange unless you contact us to let us know of your situation.
Q: Someone filled my non-anon prompt and gifted it to me, but I didn’t like it. Do I still have to comment on it?
A: We are sorry you did not enjoy your gift. Your options are the following:
1. If the work included an item you specifically listed as a Do Not Want, please let the mods know as soon as possible, as we take DNW inclusion seriously.
2. If you do not wish for the work to remain as a gift to you, please reach out to us and we will ask the creator to un-gift it. If the work is un-gifted, you are not required to leave a comment. Alternatively, you can refuse the gift yourself.
3. If you didn’t like it, but you don’t want it un-gifted for any reason, we will leave it as a gift for you. In that case, you are still required to leave a comment. Your gift was made by someone to the best of their ability. Common courtesy is required. Please at least comment with “Thank you for making this for me.”
Q: Will all the prompts be filled by the end of the event?
A: Though we ideally hope that will be the case, there is a possibility that won't be. Due to the nature of the event, we cannot guarantee that all the prompts will be filled, as this is not a gift exchange.
Q: What happens to prompts that won’t end up filled by the time the event is over?
A: Given the nature of the event, it’s difficult for the mods to prevent this from happening and ensure all prompts are filled if participants don’t wish to fill them. For any prompts left unclaimed and unfilled after the event is over, we will make promo posts with them on our tumblr blog over the course of the year to highlight them, in case someone wants to make something for them. In future runs of this event, you will also be allowed to claim an unclaimed prompt from a previous year.
Q: Can I fill a prompt even after the event is over?
A: Yes. It will simply not be a part of the event in that case, and therefore you must not post it in the collection, but you are free to gift it to the person who submitted it if you want to, or mention that it’s a leftover prompt from the Heihua Prompt Fest of that year. You are also free to tag us about it on tumblr and we will reblog it. In future runs of this event, you will also be allowed to claim an unclaimed prompt from a previous year.
Q: What’s a badge and how do I earn one?
A: Please see our post here about what badges are and how the badge system we’re implementing works!
Q: This process is confusing. I am not sure what to do in order to participate.
A: We have done our best to explain the process of a new event we’re introducing, but some things might still not be clear. We apologize for the confusion. If you’ve already read all the rules and guidelines and the frequently asked questions and there’s still something you don’t understand, please reach out to the mods! We will do our best to explain and help you understand.
Q: I have a question and it is not listed here.
A: Please leave an ask on our tumblr, or email the mods at heihuaexchange(@)gmail.com and we will answer you! We will also be available in DMs on tumblr (@tiesanjiaoshenanigans and @yueyehua) or discord.
