Sherlolly Fic Exchange - How This Thing Works
So, having received a few questions about how the exchange works, I thought I'd give everyone a more detailed description of how everything is run.
First and foremost, this exchange is for writers. When you sign up, you will be providing prompts for another writer to write a story, specifically four prompts, and then you will eventually receive four prompts to write a story for someone else.
1. First things first, you should join the collection. You will need to be a member to post your fic on the collection down the road, so best to get that squared away now so you won't have to worry about it in the future. Just hit that little 'Join' button on the Dashboard page.
2. Go to the sidebar on the left side of your screen and hit the 'Sign-Up Form' link. This will take you to the - you guessed it - the Sign Up form for the Exchange.
The picture above shows you the beginning of the form. The first section is the Requests' Section. This is where you will post your prompts, which will be assigned to another participant in the Exchange after Sign Ups close. The fields that are listed in red are the ones that are required for you to fill out, specifically the Characters and the Relationships fields. These fields are for you to put any additional characters or pairings that you are willing to write for. Since this is a Sherlolly exchange, they're kind of a given, so feel free to leave them out. These fields are for other characters or pairings that you would like to see appear in this potential fic. So say your prompt involves Mycroft Holmes in some way - his name should be listed in the Characters field. Same goes for the Relationships' field. Say that you'd like Warstan to appear in this potential story - so Mary Morstan/John Watson should be listed in this field.
The Prompt URL is purely optional. If you have a lot to say about your prompts, you are free to write them up and post them on your tumblr/livejournal/dreamwidth journal/wherever, leaving a link to that page in this particular field. This probably should only be used if the Description field doesn't provide enough characters for you to explain your prompt.
The Description field is, as stated, the place where you put the actual prompt. Be as specific as you like with your prompt. Also, this field is where you should also lay out your DNWs, your Do Not Wants. Say you don't want d/s or explicit content. This is where you indicate that. Say you don't want Moriarty to appear in your story. Again, spell that out in this field.
The Title field is optional. Feel free to ignore it. The Fandom field is where you'd list the actual Sherlock (TV). It's optional too, as it's kind of obvious what fandom we're writing for. ;)
There are four spaces in the Requests' Section, for four prompts. Fill out each one with a specific prompt. There are four spaces so that when the time comes for the Matching of prompts to writers, the writer in question will have a few options to choose from.
3. The next section is the Offers Section. It's very similar to the Requests' Section.
Again, the Characters and Relationships fields are required. In this case, this is where you spell out the additional characters and pairings that you are willing to write for. Say you're willing to write a story that features Eurus Holmes, or Phillip Anderson/Sally Donovan. These are the fields where you indicate that.
The Description field in this section is particularly important. This is where you should indicate the themes/pairings/characters/genres that you are UNWILLING to write. This is particularly important because it will help me when the time comes to match prompts to writers. If you don't want to write about Moriarty, then I will do my best to avoid giving you prompts that feature that character. I can't promise exact matching, but I will do my best to avoid giving you prompts for stories that you are uncomfortable writing. The Description field provides you with 5,000 characters, so please be specific. The more information you provide, the better idea I will have of what you are willing/unwilling to write.
4. Once Sign Ups close, your four prompts will be assigned to another participant in the Exchange. In turn, you will be assigned the prompts of yet another participant. Choose one of the four and write a story based on that prompt. Please adhere to the prompts DNWs. If someone asks for no explicit content, then please respect that.
5. After you have finished writing the story and have it betaed (this is not required, but it is strongly encouraged), then post the story to the collection. Go to the Dashboard page, and you will see a button that says 'Post to the Collection'. Fill out the form, and then post the story. All of the stories and authors will remain hidden until I reveal them at pre-arranged date.
I hope this has cleared up any further questions. If not, again, please PM me here on Tumblr, or drop me an email at [email protected].
