Hello and welcome to the 2025 Moonwater Big Bang! A big bang is a collaborative event between writers, artists, and betas! Writers will be writing a fic of no less than 20,000 words and be paired with a beta reader! Writers can also use pre-established beta readers if they so wish! Betas and writers will work together to create a fic that is focused on Moonwater (Regulus Black/Remus Lupin). Artists will ‘claim’ a fic to create two (or more!) original artworks for.
Community it’s important to fandom so we are very excited to bring you the Moonwater Big Bang, even if you do not plan creating for it! We love Regulus Black/Remus Lupin and we cannot wait to see what everyone comes up with as a community!
For any questions contact us via tumblr or email ([email protected])! When sign ups open every participant will also be provided a link to the discord server via email! If you do not have a discord account you may struggle to participate in this fest due to important announcements and updates being provided there. We will also be providing updates via email however the fastest way to contact us and for us to contact you is via discord!
For more information including FAQ, Rules, and Schedule please see under the cut!
SIGN-UPS CLOSED!
RULES
GENERAL RULES
All participants MUST be 18+ in order to participate in this event. This is do to the safety of our writers, artists, and betas. If we have found out you lied about your age you will be prohibited from continuing to participate in current and future big bangs.
Due to the fact this is a Moonwater (Regulus/Remus) focused big bang, your works must be focused on that pairing. Side ships are permitted in your works as well as Remus & Regulus being paired with other characters in your works but these ships should not be the main focus of your work. If your work includes either character in a ship that takes away the main focus from Regulus/Remus we ask that you change your idea to be more focused around the pairing. If a side ship also becomes the main focus or even 50% of the focus we ask that you also change your idea to be more focused around the pairing.
All ratings are welcome for this fest, this includes NSFW and DD:DNE (Dead Dove: Do Not Eat). All works must be tagged appropriately and cannot be missing important tags or warnings. Betas will work with writers to ensure that their fic is properly tagged before being officially added to the collection.
All characters depicted in a sexual setting whether in fic or art must be 18+.
WRITER RULES
In order to sign up for the fest you must have posted a fic that has a word count of 20,000 or more. This work can be a WIP and it can be for any fandom and pairing, not just Regulus/Remus. If you do not meet this requirement but think you can still reach the required word count (20,000) reach out to us via tumblr or email ([email protected]) and we will discuss from there.
All works created for this big bang must be a minimum of 20,000 words. You do not have a max word count but be sure that your estimated word count can be achievable by the deadline. If you are not meeting the deadlines and have yet to request for an extension a mod will be reaching out to you via discord to discuss what is going on and if you can continue with the fest.
All fics created for this fest must be a new, complete, and original idea. Your work cannot be a sequel, prequel, or apart of a series, and must be a standalone story. All ideas cannot be shared publicly and will remain anonymous until posting begins. You cannot share snippets publicly. Works cannot be a rewritten fic of an already published AO3 work.
The use of AI for writing will get you banned from this fest permanently and you will not be allowed to participate in current or future events.
All writers will require a beta. If you have an established beta you can use them as long as you have them sign up using the beta form and join the discord server. If you do not have an established beta reader we will assign you one based off your fic concept and beta’s comfortability.
Due to the nature of a big bang we ask that you do not change your fic idea concept AFTER submitted your concept to mods. While this works in other fests it can throw off this fest because of tight schedule we have. If you have an established beta and you know their comfortability level with different works, you can reach out to a mod about potentially changing your idea. If you were assigned a beta by the Moonwater Big Bang Mods we ask that you do not change your idea because it can cause issues with your beta. (You can change details of your story and do not have to stick to your original outline, however the key plot or concept cannot be changed after concepts have been submitted).
Writers may not also participate as artists, but can participate as a beta.
ARTIST RULES
Artists must create two new and unique pieces for the fic they claimed. A banner must be created and one original artwork. You are welcome to create more than one artwork for a fic.
Artists may not also participate as betas or writers.
Artists are allowed to create for more than one fic however this shall only happen if we have a writer unassigned with an artist. You must sign up as a pinch-hitter on the artist form to be able to create for another fic. However if we do not get enough pinch-hitters and we need more artists to create for fics we will ask those who did not sign up as one if they are willing to do so.
Your artwork MUST be uploaded to the work on AO3 as soon as it is finished and ready to go. The deadline to create art will be detailed below with the schedule.
BETA RULES
All betas must be familiar with beta reading or at least know the different forms of beta reading. Betas should be able to provide timely feedback on your assigned fic(s) and be able to reach out and communicate with their assigned author.
Betas are allowed to beta read multiple fics as needed.
All betas must be prepared to help with ratings, warnings, and tags as needed by the author.
FREQUENTLY ASKED
GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q: Who can I contact for help?
A: You can email [email protected], or reach out to us in the discord server
Q: Can I have an extension?
A: Yes, but please reach out to us as soon as possible! We'll do our best to accommodate however long you need, but note that this fest does run on a relatively tight schedule. Dates are given ahead of time for this reason.
Q: What if I need to drop out?
A: This can happen, and we understand life gets in the way! If you need to drop out at any point, please let us know via [email protected] so we can find someone to fill in for you if need be.
Q: When does posting begin? Where will you advertise works? Can I post my fic/art to AO3 beforehand?
A: Posting will begin on September 1st, 2025. We will advertise on Tumblr. Please DO NOT post publicly on AO3 beforehand.
Q: Can I post my fic/art somewhere else?
A: Of course! However, please wait until the fic is public on the Moonwater Big Bang AO3 collection before cross-posting your work (fic/art) to any other platforms.
FOR WRITERS
Q: What are the minimum and maximum word counts?
A: Written works are required to be a minimum of 20,000 words. There is no maximum.
Q: Does my work have to be new?
A: Yes, it must be a new, unpublished work created specifically for this fest. And it must not be an idea that you have previously talked about on public platforms before (or during) this fest.
Q: Can I write more than one work?
A: Due to the relatively tight schedule and the word count required for this big bang, we do not permit writers to work on more than one fic. If you are co-writing a fic with someone else, that counts as your one fic and you will not be allowed to write another.
Q: Can I post my work as a WIP?
A: Your work MUST be completed in full (final draft) by July 31st, 2025. We will start posting on September 1st 2025. We ask that you wait to post your work on AO3 until it is a full completed work. Works can be posted to the AO3 before July 31st, 2025 BUT they must be fully done start to finish.
Q: Why are there checkpoints?
A: To ensure writers are on track to complete their works on time. This helps with writer/artist pairings since this fest is a collaborative effort. We want to make sure artists are claiming works that will be completed by the deadline.
Q: Where do I put my fic when it's finished?
A: We will provide more instructions closer to final deadlines, but there is a Moonwater Big Bang 2025 AO3 collection where fics can be submitted.
Q: How do I add the art created for my fic to AO3?
A: Artworks are due August 15th, 2025 when this date starts approaching we will send out instructions on how to add artwork to your AO3 work. If your artist is finished in full before this date, we can send out instructions earlier as needed.
FOR ARTISTS
Q: Can I illustrate more than one fic?
A: Yes! We will prioritize claims to first picks, and if there are leftover, unclaimed fics to illustrate, we will allocate those to artists who want to illustrate more than one fic.
Q: How many pieces of art do I have to make per fic?
A: Two — one banner and one piece of original art. You are also welcome to make more!
SCHEDULE
JANUARY 2025
01 – Sign-Ups Open!
FEBRUARY 2025
28 – Writer Sign-Ups Close
MARCH 2025
15 – Fic Descriptions & Notable Tags Due
20 – Writer/Beta Pairings
APRIL 2025
20 – Writer 50% Checkpoint & Summaries Due
MAY 2025
15 – Writer 70% Checkpoint
20 – Artist Sign-Ups Close
25 – Fic Concepts Available to Artists
JUNE 2025
01 – Writer First Draft Due
10 - Artist Claiming
15 - Writer/Artist Pairings
JULY 2025
31 – Writer Final Drafts Due
AUGUST 2025
15 – Artist Final Pieces Due
SEPTEMBER 2025
01 – Posting Starts!
If you don't think you'll be able to make a deadline or are in danger of falling behind, please reach out to one of the fest mods as soon as possible!
For all he could read about it in books, Regulus black had never been in a relationship. He had always wanted to be in one, sure, but not in the way he wanted to be in a relationship with someone specifically.
Soon though, he thought. Because he was going to start over. Be a completely new person -more or less.
This amazing fic is by @percynorthwest with lovely artwork by @phantomgrimalkin ! With this fic marks the end of MWBB, thanks for participating!
The art museum Regulus works at has gained a new regular visitor that is quickly dubbed 'handsome man' by the younger Black. When small talk leads to not-a-date coffe dates both men have to come to terms with their feeling, espically considering that Remus is dating Sirius - not knowing the two are brothers of course - and Regulus' secrets regarding past relationships. What happens when everything comes to light?
This amazing fic is by @merulaswelt with art by @jamofsunshine and beta’d by @coldsoupman
Remus has always been exceptionally good at secrets. Too good, perhaps. Except now there's a war on, and Remus is keeping more secrets than ever, the type that have the potential to ruin more lives than just his own.
Or
While still in school, Regulus Black and Remus Lupin had a secret relationship that ran deep but ultimately ended when they could not agree on their beliefs. More than a year has passed since they last saw each other when they unexpectedly come face to face on the battle field. One thing leads to another, and they find themselves embroiled in a secret affair that has Regulus questioning everything he believes in and Remus driving a wedge further and further between himself and his friends. There's only one way this can end.
This lovely fic was written by @lunymoonymoo with art by @bulsusu and beta’d by @coldsoupman ! Thank you for participating!
Remus has already lost everything, everyone. He has no home. No family. No fight. He has nothing. Everything he was, everything he had, was left in the past the moment the world rang in the New Year. So when he comes face to face with a ghost that looks too much like the man who haunts his dreams, he figures he has nothing else to lose. But maybe he’s more alive than he thought.
Or
A sad, lonely Remus Lupin gets a new house, an aloof pet, and a whole host of problems that only an unnerving proximity to one of the Black Brothers can bring.
This amazing fic is by @Written_Willis, with art by @chuueppz and beta’d by @badhairred !
Regulus is an autistic trans college student working as a barista at the Lunar Latte Lounge.
Remus is a disabled freelance audiobook narrator who's recently moved into the neighbourhood.
Neither have been very lucky with romantic relationships in the past.
When Remus starts frequenting the café, Regulus can't help but feel like he recognizes the new cute regular with the floppy hair and crutches from somewhere...
Follow along their relationship, how they nagivate Regulus' asexuality and Remus' disability, and how well suited for each other those "short comings" actually make them.
This lovely fic is by @colourfuldesert and @damnapathetic with art by @chuueppz and @ersatzdagger and beta’d by @disgruntedlybored and @badhairred Thank you so much for participating!
As of March 26, 2025 we are NO LONGER looking for artists! We have enough!
If you still would like to sign up as an artist feel free to email us at [email protected] as we are always happy to have multiple art pieces for fics! But we have enough artists for every fic!
