The Mechanized Crossover Event

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Welcome To The Mechanized Crossover Event!

On my main account, I wrote a fun, silly post about how to write a Mechanisms crossover. And then I kept thinking about it.

Welcome to The Mechanized Crossover Event, a fic exchange on Ao3 for crossovers with the Mechanisms.

SCHEDULE - Nominations: July 21, 2022 to July 29, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET Sign ups: July 30, 2022 to August 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET Assignments due: September 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET Works revealed: September 14, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET Authors revealed: September 15, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET

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A-Spec Flash 2022

If you missed the aro exchange this summer (my apologies for not having the time to run it – may still run it later in the year), you will love this similar flash exchange being run by koschei_b!!

Nominations and Sign Ups are running concurrently, and close this monday Nov 14, 2022.

The exchange is for characters who are aspec (on the ace and/or aro spectrum). It has a quick turnaround and 300 word minimum or nice sketch requirement.

Already nominated fandoms include: The Mechanisms, The Murderbot Diaries, The Penumbra Podcast, The Amelia Project, Buffy, Archive 81, and much more!

(pspspsps @specialagentartemis come and write some more aro murderbot content)

Here is the Ao3 profile.

Here is the tagset.

[cobalt-knave]

Fandom Gift Exchange Etiquette

This is going to be a quick, friendly post to explain some Gift Exchange etiquette for those that may be new to the game. I will refer to “writing” but fanart is often included in gift exchanges.

What is a gift exchange?

A gift exchange is a challenge / event, usually (for the sake of this guide) run on Archive of Our Own. There will be a specific theme, structure, or fandom (ex. Yuletide for fandoms with fewer than 1000 fics on the archive, or The Original Works Opportunity for original work). People make offers for what they are willing to write and requests for what they want tor receive. People are assigned to write for someone else’s request based on what they offered.

What are the expectations when writing/creating?

Every exchange has different rules. These rules will be found on the Ao3 collection and/or the associated Dreamwidth or Tumblr account. Read through them.

You will find

- Word count minimums

- What you are required to write for a request

- Format limitation (ex. Is this for fic, fanart, fanvids, bookbinding, etc? Does fanart include or exclude photo manipulations?)

- Deadlines

- Instructions for treating and pinch hitting

You are expected to read and understand the rules upon sign up. You can always ask clarifying questions, and mods are generally happy to answer them.

You must respect your recipient’s Do Not Wants, but you don’t have to follow their prompts in the optional details. If they have a “Dear Author” letter, you are welcome to but technically Not Required to read it.

Additionally, defaulting is ok! (Defaulting is having to drop out of an exchange after sign ups have closed. You will usually still receive a gift if you were not out for a pinch hit, but your assignment will go out for a pinch hit to be written by someone else.) This being said, if you know you need to default, DO IT EARLY. Give as much time as possible for a pinch hitter to write for this assignment to prevent adding stress to the moderators, pinch hitter, and potentially delay the reveal of the exchange. Try not to make a habit of defaulting, but do not feel guilty if that is what you have to do.

What are the expectations for receiving your gift work?

Ah the inspiration for making this guide.

Upon receiving a gift work in an exchange, you must leave a comment. Regardless of whether it turns out to be the best work you have ever read, regardless or whether it is right at the word minimum or is ten times the length, regardless of whether you believe the characterization is accurate, you must leave a nice comment for your author.

Comments on gift works are often (though not required) longer and more detailed, expanding on details you enjoyed from the work.

A big part of an exchange is the opportunity for engagement. Especially in small fandoms and original work, participating in exchanges is really nice to guarantee at least one comment on a work that would otherwise get very few hits and few if any comments.

I hope this helps a bit!

[cobalt-knave]

Yuletide nominations are open!

For those of you that enjoy participating in fic exchanges, you may have know Yuletide. If you don’t, it is a large fanfiction exchange for rare fandoms.

A rare fandom is a fandom with fewer than 1000 fics on Ao3.

MANY PODCASTS ARE ELIGIBLE FOR YULETIDE!

Nominate on the tagset. Noms close on September 29th.

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The Mechanisms (Band) is not eligible, BUT the individual albums, songs, and Dr. Carmilla (Musician) ARE eligible on their own.

(So is Newton the Cyborg if you are so inclined.)

Sometimes sub-fandoms may not be accepted because the characters themselves have more than 1000 works, and you may also have to make an evidence post explaining why it should be considered eligible, which could be, for example, bringing up the separate worldbuilding and characters in Ulysses Dies At Dawn vs The Mechanisms (band) in general.

You can also nominate Worldbuilding as a character now, which is really cool.

Here is the clarifying post for what is eligible.

[cobalt-knave]

Tagging On Ao3

Hello there! I was talking with someone about how people, especially new-to-fandom folk and tumblr folks, don’t really understand some of the tagging conventions on Archive Of Our Own, so I thought I’d make a little post for it. 

Warnings

- if your fic includes any of the warnings listed, tag it with that warning.

- if your fic includes NONE of the warnings, tag “no archive warnings apply”

- if you do not want to say whether your fic includes content listed in the warnings for spoiler reasons or because it is a work-in-progess and you don’t know if it will include that content, select “Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings”

- “Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings ” =/= “No archive warnings apply”

Categories

- M/M, F/F, and F/M are all self-exlanatory. Use them if you have romantic and/or sexual pairings of those genders. 

- “Gen” means no romance

- “Other” means any other romantic and/or sexual pairing that does not fit the laid out gender pairings (ex, Man/Nonbinary)

- “Multi” indicates polyamorous relationships

Relationship tags

- a slash (/) indicates a romantic and/or sexual relationship

- an & indicates a platonic relationship

- IF YOUR WORK INCLUDES PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS, ESPECIALLY AS THE FOCUS, TAG THE & RELATIONSHIP. DO NOT USE A / FOR PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS.

- you may tag both the / and & tags if both apply, for example, some queerplatonic relationships will be tagged with both (otherwise, default to & for queerplatonic) and some fic are written to intentionally be read as both shippy and platonic

General Tags

- TUMBLR PEOPLE, PAY ATTENTION: Unlike how tags work on tumblr - a way to talk and add comments - on Ao3, tags are designed for searchability and organization. They have two functions: be able to find works by searching for tags and be able to read tags to determine if a work is one you want to read. (General search vs specific fic)

- Don’t talk in the tags on Ao3. It is not the place for it. 

- Consider what genre and tone the fic is and use established tags to communicate this.

- Ex. hurt/comfort, hurt no comfort, fluff, angst

- Then, consider what subcategories your fic falls under 

- Ex. whump, alternate universe, canon compliant, 

- Consider what specific tropes you are using

- Ex. sickfic, alternate universe: canon divergence, alternate universe: coffee shops & cafes, grief/mourning, minor character death, first meetings

- Next, think about fandom specific tags. These are common (or can be newly established in fandoms with fewer fics) tags to indicate the type of fandom specific fic you are writing or popular tropes therein.

- Ex.  Episode: s01e12 Prophecy Girl, Asexual Rudyard Funn, Set in Episodes 159-160 | Scottish Safehouse Period (The Magnus Archives), Monster Jonathan “Jon” Sims | The Archivist

- You can add a clarifying tag or establish a new fandom tag, BUT BEFORE YOU DO, SEE IF THERE IS AN ESTABLISHED TAG YOU CAN USE FIRST. 

- Why is it important to use established tags and tag the subcategories? I’m glad you asked! It comes down to the first and primary function of tagging: searchability. To use an example, the other day, I went looking for fics in the fairly small fandom of Wooden Overcoats. I wanted to read some whump fics, preferably ones that maintained my personal headcanon of aromantic asexual Rudyard Funn. Knowing that are not many fics, I thought to limit my search to just the tag “whump”. Only one fic came up. Ok, not a big fandom I can accept that, so I look through the general Wooden Overcoats tag. And I immediately found at least three fics which should have been in the results of my search but did not tag “whump”. What doesn’t come up when I search “whump”? A vague talking-in-the-tags alluding to the specific plot, “whumptober”, “whumptober 2020″, “march of the whumps”, or any similar tag. You have to tag what your working with if you want it to be searchable. That is the purpose of meta tags. 

- And so let’s say I wanted a fic focused on a platonic relationship, as I often do. I can search for “Character A & Character B”, but only the fics that are properly tagged with that will come up as a result. That means that all the fic that doesn’t tag for platonic relationships, only romantic/sexual ones, will come up in the results. 

Summary

- This is where you say what your fic is about. Use a few lines from the text, write a separate summary or do a mix of both. 

- Do Not: Disparage yourself or your writing in the summary. This is not the place for it. 

Author’s Notes

- HERE is where you can put whatever you want. Want to ramble in the tags a la tumblr? Do it here! This space is for whatever you as the author want to say to your reader. It does not negatively impact searching nor is something your reader is forced to read. 

- This is also where you can put content warnings, requests for comments, requests for critique, your @ on other social media, or links to the playlist your made for your fic

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The Mechanized Crossover Event Works

Now that authors are revealed, let’s do a rec list of the works!

Please leave comments for these wonderful authors!

And All The Devils Are Here by LadyDragonKiller

Fandoms: Welcome To Night Vale, The Mechanisms

Summary: There was always a time when supplies ran low or panels got dented beyond repair or somebody shot a hole through one of the fuel tanks. In those times, Nastya would sigh, put up a “0” on the “- Days Since Tomfoolery” sign, and go talk to Brian about the nearest suitable place to land.

That sign hadn’t gotten above a “10” for as long as Nastya could remember. At least it saved on the amount of number signs that had to be made.

Beyond the desert haze, a few minutes walk away from the landing site, was a town. Low-slung houses clustered around a marginally taller city center, though none of the buildings were particularly large or impressive even there. However, there was a large radio tower stuck smack-dab in the middle of town, and another on the far side of the settlement. Neither had any signs of disuse, and Nastya wondered at the necessity of having two separate towers for such a small community.Maybe there were a lot of radio enthusiasts about.

Painted World by PrydonianAlchemist

Fandoms: Howl’s Moving Castle, The Mechanisms

Summary: The Mechanisms stop somewhere new and Raphaella has a small encounter with a slightly strange shop owner.

libraries by Koschei_B

Fandoms: Welcome To Night Vale, The Mechanisms

Summary: Ivy wants to see the local Library. 

A Tantalising Door by RamdomReader

Fandoms: The Magnus Archives, The Mechanisms

Summary: In which The Toy Soldier encounters a door and meets Michael. 

A Pocket Full of Posies by Claribelle

Fandoms: Wooden Overcoats, The Mechanisms

Summary:  Rudyard Funn runs a funeral home in Piffling Vale. It used to be the only one. It isn’t anymore. Rudyard remembers a time when the dead stayed dead, however his latest client has taken to getting up every time he turns his back. As he rushes around trying to find a missing corpse, a group of tourists keep getting in his way. Jonny d'Ville is an immortal space pirate. He says he's the captain. He's only the first mate. Jonny is having a terrible time. He woke up dead in the middle of Piffling Vale and now an undertaker has taken to hunting him down. To make matters worse, his crew keeps killing him so they can stay in the village longer.However will these two men survive?

The Toy Soldier's Adventures In Faerun by Rosemarycat5

Fandoms: The Adventure Zone, The Mechanisms

Summary: Only one of the Mechanisms every really interacted with any of the tragic figures who made up the crew of the Starblaster.

But before it could do that, the Toy Soldier found itself in a place full of bright lights, games, horror, and wooden mannequins. This is that story.

Meditation For A Moon by laughs_in_distortion

Fandoms: Doctor Who (1969), The Mechanisms

Summary: It seems the only time you have to stop and think, is when you've just about run out of it.

[the-mechanized-crossover-event]

WORKS REVEALED

Gender identities, check your email for your gift! Works are now revealed.

Authors will be revealed tomorrow.

Crossovers are the Mechs and... Welcome To Night Vale, The Magnus Archives, Howl’s Moving Castle, Wooden Overcoats, The Adventure Zone, and Doctor Who!

Read the works here and be sure to leave comments!

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One day until works go live! I'm excited!

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LESS THAN TWO HOURS LEFT TO UPLOAD YOUR ASSIGNMENT!

Currently, 3/7 have been uploaded to the collection!

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TONIGHT IS THE DEADLINE

All assignments must be uploaded to the collection by 11:59pm ET TONIGHT. This is in under 12 hours.

Once you have uploaded it, PLEASE double check that it is

a) Uploaded to the correct collection / fulfilling your assignment

b) Gifted to your recipient

c) Not in draft mode

I ask that you check that even if you have uploaded it already.

I look forward to reading all this great fic!

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The Deadline Draws Near

Time, illusion though it may be, is dwindling.

ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 AT 11:59pm EASTERN TIME.

If you are considering creating a treat, now is the time for that as well! Treats can be added to the collection any time before reveals on September 14. Treats do not have to meet word count minimums and can be fic, art, podfic, etc.

ANYONE can treat for this event, regardless of if they signed up.

Treat info here. Peruse requests here.

(Also, feel free to post additional treats any time after the collection goes live. A late treat is still very fun!)

THAT BEING SAID, do not write treats before completing your assignment. GET YOUR ASSIGNMENT IN BY 11:59 PM ET SEPTEMBER 10.

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So I've finished my fic for the event and tried to submit it, but it said the event isn't currently open. Do I need to wait until the day of to submit, or is there a different method that I should be using?

Oh! Thanks for letting me know!

It is now open. Please let me know if you still can't post.

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FOUR DAYS LEFT TO WRITE

Fic for The Mechanized Crossover Event are due at 11:59pm ET September 10, 2022!

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Due Date Reminder

Nine days remain to write your assignment for the Mechanized Crossover Event!

Reminders:

Fics must be a minimum of 300 words

Assignments are due on September 10, 2022 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time

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KILLERS AND RENEGADES, LIARS AND THIEVES, ASSIGNMENTS FOR THE MECHANIZED CROSSOVER EVENT ARE NOW OUT!

Check your email for your assignment. And watch this account to be informed of any pinch hits that may arise.

Treats are always welcomed by anyone (regardless of if you’ve signed up for the exchange). Tutorial on treating here. Requests and prompts from the exchange here.

Assignments are due on September 10, 2022 at 11:59pm ET.

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Assignments Update

Sign Ups are officially closed, and I have gone over the matching options.

Two people have been contacted about being unmatchable or partially unmatchable.

If you signed up for The Mechanized Crossover Event, and your username beings with “P” or “R”, please check your email and respond to me ASAP.

If there are any pinch hits, they will be posted here to this account. Keep an eye out for that. Treats will also be encouraged.

Thank you!

[the-mechanized-crossover-event]

Assignments Update

Sign Ups are officially closed, and I have gone over the matching options.

Two people have been contacted about being unmatchable or partially unmatchable.

If you signed up for The Mechanized Crossover Event, and your username beings with “P” or “R”, please check your email and respond to me ASAP.

If there are any pinch hits, they will be posted here to this account. Keep an eye out for that. Treats will also be encouraged.

Thank you!