The Terror Big Bang

a collaborative 15k+ fic & art creation challenge. check out our pages or our carrd for more info!

[theterrorbigbang]

Hi!

If I'm interested in signing up as an artist, are you going to ask examples of my art and what is the "skill level" you are expecting?

Also will I be informed if I am accepted as one of the artists? Or are the names of the artists publicly shared somewhere?

Hello!

We don't ask for art samples and we don't have a skill level requirement. This is a fan event, and all levels of experience are welcome—we aren't trying to hold anyone to professional standards. Additionally, "skill level" at a baseline can just mean a lot of different things, especially when you consider different mediums. We've had artists do oil paintings, digital collage, traditional and digital painting/drawing, gif sets, etc. The only thing you can't do is use AI.

You will be informed that you have been accepted, yes. We send out welcome emails following the sign-up period—authors recently got theirs. Due to the secrecy element of the event, we don't post participant lists publicly, but if you have specific needs surrounding pairings there are places in the sign-up forms to let us know.

Somethings to think about as you consider signing up:

Do you feel like you can put out a complete, polished art piece (or two polished edits/gif sets) for your author that you would be proud to display?

Artists get to pick which fics they want to do art for in the claims process. This means you can pick fics that play to your strengths. If there's a fic that revolves around cars and you don't feel comfortable drawing cars, you don't have to claim that one.

-The Terror Big Bang Mods

[theterrorbigbang]

If we signed up as an author, do we get a beta reader automatically or is that an extra thing to opt into?

Hello!

We do not assign/pair authors with beta readers for several reasons, the largest being we usually don't get enough beta readers for that kind of one-to-one pairing to be feasible. Additionally, some authors go to friends outside of the event to act as their beta readers because they prefer working with someone they are already familiar with/who is already familiar with their writing.

Currently, the way we do author/beta connections is through the Discord server. There is a dedicated beta channel and role that authors can ping when they are looking for a beta reader. If, for whatever reason, you are unable to join the Discord and you want a beta reader, please reach out off anon to a mod and we can help you connect with someone.

While beta reader sign-ups formally open alongside artist sign-ups on June 19th, folks can join the Discord and offer their services as a beta reader at any time during the event period.

-The Terror Big Bang Mods

[theterrorbigbang]

Can we combine our fic with another event? Such as a bingo card?

Hello!

Apologies for taking so long to respond. I needed to consult with the whole mod team, because this was not a call I wanted to make on my lonesome.

The answer, which might be frustrating to hear, is perhaps, but we need to know more about the specific circumstances. There are some situations where this could be okay, but others where it is very much a no-go. The best thing to do would be to reach out to a mod off-anon, either on Tumblr or Discord. We'll be happy to chat specifics.

Below, I more broadly lay out why this is as complicated an issue as it, so that you, and others who might have similar questions, can understand where the mod team is coming from.

1. "Your bang fic must be original to this event"

This is a key rule for this event, which inherently complicates using your bang fic as a fill for another event. Bingos are actually one of the few situations where this can work out, because bingo prompts can often be applied to other works by simple word/theme association.

2. We do not know the exact parameters of the other event

Some events are very strict about no crossovers with other events, and we also have our limits. For example, using your Bang as an Exchange fill is absolutely not allowed. Knowing the rules of both events involved is important, and we can't make a call without knowing that other event.

3. We also don't know the specific situation you are asking about

There is a difference between coming in with an idea based off of a Bingo prompt and a bit of a draft, and finishing a 15k fic for a Bingo prompt and then wanting to use it for an upcoming Big Bang. We don't like to doubt our participants, but the unfortunate reality is we've dealt with duplicitous people in the past who have tried to take advantage of perceived rule ambiguity.

Generally speaking, the more we know about a situation the easier it is to make a call, which is why we encourage participants to reach out and ask a mod if there are any questions. We don't bite we promise. As a reminder our mods on tumblr are:

@solomontoaster, @mitarashi8, @werewolfsone, and @leofitzgender

-The Terror Big Bang Mods

[theterrorbigbang]

Author sign-ups for The Terror Big Bang are open!

The sign-up form is here: https://forms.gle/SotAZbk9pdokTaGo7

Reminders:

Signing up indicates intent to write a 15k minimum fic over the course of the event period.

There will be multiple check-ins designed to give you goals to work toward to help keep you on track.

While there are penalties for late stage (post artist pairing) dropouts, signing up now does not automatically tie you to completing the event. You can easily withdraw from the event at any point prior to the finalization of author/artist pairings.

Upcoming Dates:

Fri, May 22 - Author sign-ups close

Fri, June 19 - Artist and beta sign-ups open

Fri, June 26 - First author check-in

Fri, July 17 - Artist and beta sign-ups close

We look forward to having you join us!

-The Terror Big Bang Mods

[theterrorbigbang]

A Rules Clarification

Hello all!

Based on some questions we received last year and this year, we wanted clarify one of our major rules.

The Rule:

Works submitted for this challenge must be new and previously unpublished.

This is the third rule on our rules page, and it has kept this verbiage since the event's inception.

This rule is not changing, but we've gotten a lot of questions about what constitutes as "new" and "unpublished," and we figured that it was worth updating the language of the rule for greater specificity.

The Clarification:

The following text has been added to the rules page to clarify the parameters of what we mean when we say a new and unpublished work:

This means your work must be written originally for this event, and not be part of a pre-existing series or have been previously published on Ao3, Tumblr, Wattpad, etc.

We have also added two new questions to our FAQ page:

The first addresses a specific that has come up in some of the questions we've gotten.

Can I write a continuation of an existing series/AU if it functions as a standalone? No. This goes against our rule that the works created for this event must be both new and previously unpublished. Writing for an existing series breaks both components of this rule. This does not mean that you have to think up a whole new fic idea just for the event, you can use one that you’ve had percolating for a while, but you cannot use the event to write the next installment of a series, even if it does function as a standalone, because the series is already published, which we also do not allow. 

And the second addresses a related question that we've also started seeing with more frequency.

If I want to write a sequel/prequel to my bang fic after the fact, am I allowed to do so? Yes! There have been several authors who have gone back to expand or iterate on their past bang fics. We would simply ask that authors publish any major additions as a separate fic, utilizing Ao3’s series function, so that it is clear what was written for the event originally and what was added at a later date. 

We're looking forward to seeing all your fic ideas!

-The Terror Big Bang Mods

[theterrorbigbang]

The Terror Big Bang 2026 is here!

I know it's April 1st, but we promise this isn't a joke! We not only have two new mods to introduce to you, but we have the event schedule too. You can expect to see our various social sites getting gradually updated with this year's schedule in the coming days/weeks.

Hi new mods!!!

We are welcoming @werewolfsone and @mitarashi8 as our two new mods who will be joining the existing mod team! They'll be helping out variously with Discord moderating and backstage event management.

The Schedule:

Our event dates should be appear on the @cold-boys-fandom-hub soon, and our full schedule is here:

[theterrorbigbang]

Call for Moderators for The Terror Big Bang 2026

We've gotten a few asks about the running of the Big Bang for 2026, and the answer is, "Yes, we intend to." However, most of our longstanding mods are very busy with major life events in both the personal and professional spheres. As such, we are opening moderator applications before we formally kick off this year's Bang.

Terror Big Bang Moderator Application

The Terror Big Bang is looking for new mods! If you are interested please fill out the following form and a mod will reach out to you.

[theterrorbigbang]

Call for Moderators for The Terror Big Bang 2026

We've gotten a few asks about the running of the Big Bang for 2026, and the answer is, "Yes, we intend to." However, most of our longstanding mods are very busy with major life events in both the personal and professional spheres. As such, we are opening moderator applications before we formally kick off this year's Bang.

Terror Big Bang Moderator Application

The Terror Big Bang is looking for new mods! If you are interested please fill out the following form and a mod will reach out to you.

[argonauttish]

Heres the artwork I created for @k1ll3r-k4rg0’s brilliant Nedconte fic for this years @theterrorbigbang, it’s been really fun working together, sharing music and learning about this fics setting in Romania! Check it out here! More images under cut!

[roundtriptojupiter]

raghghghghghGHGHHG IT'S HERE Y'ALL

TEN CHAPTERS. 38,000 WORDS. DEVASTATING ANGST. SOMEBODY LIVES/NOT EVERYBODY DIES BUT NOBODY'S HAPPY ABOUT IT.

READ IT ON AO3 FEATURING ART BY @dadforplaid FOR @theterrorbigbang

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[explodes into a million pieces]

[noughticalcrossings]

I got the immense privilege of doing a couple of illustrations for @stoportotouch and their marvellous fic for @theterrorbigbang, combining the dramatic highs and lows of a romance conducted around not one but two fateful expeditions.

Read it here and give it some love, as it’s a feat of epic, or indeed operatic, proportions!

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

[asparklethatisblue]

The tighter the fist, the looser the sand

My contribution to @theterrorbigbang 2025, in collaboration with the amazing @ishmaelsail ! Stanley and McDonald strike up a strange little affair as the ships are stuck in ice, and it's such a gripping read, I had so much fun coming up with things to draw

[sail-me-ishmael]

McDonald and Stanley find each other somewhere on Beechey Island and fall into an under-negotiated situationship (definitely not in love) as things fall apart. Is it an AU? Is it a fix-it? Who can say.

my work for @theterrorbigbang 2025! with art by the amazing and talented @asparklethatisblue, please go give them all the love because everything they create is incredible and I am forever a fan. this was my first time participating in a challenge like this and writing a full fic on a deadline so no one is more surprised than I am that this actually (just barely) got done in time holy shit! if u ever saw this gifset of McDonald and Stanley and thought “huh wonder what’s going on with those guys” then boy is this the fic for u. 

ao3 is gonna be down for maintenance tomorrow buds so download ur fics!

[theterrorbigbang]

Ao3 will be down for 20 hours on 9/26

If you’ve been waiting to read any of our wonderful Bang fics this is your sign to download them for shutdown! We’ve had some fantastic reveals and they’re just waiting for you!!

If you are scheduled to post on the 26th or later, we have decided to push everything back a day to accommodate the shutdown and ensure that your fics don't get overlooked in the shuffle. A mod will be reaching out to you. For everyone else, this means more little (or not so) treats to look forward to afterward!

[vandrawsing]

My illustrations for @goldenzingy46's rhyme of the old marineer meets a moebius' ribbon of fate and tragedy meets piscine space horror with a dash of lovecraftian, PERDO

For the 2025 edition of @theterrorbigbang

Drafts and doodles below the cut 🐟🐟🐟

(special thank-yous to sparklethatisblue for the help figuring out a colour scheme :))

[worm-person]

I was super lucky to work with the very talended @jonphaedrus for this year's @theterrorbigbang!

For their incredible fic: when a man has been a naughty baronet. It's a delightful opera modern au that was crafted with so much care and extensively researched - go read and comment! See if you can catch the moment depicted in chapter 5...

23 x 22 inches

Summer 2025

Oil on canvas

[stoportotouch]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

by some miracle. i did in fact finish my fic for @theterrorbigbang on time! (with illustrations by @noughticalcrossings!) now You Too can read about georgie hodgson experiencing the plots of a plurality of operas of the early-mid 19th century from the point of view of the soprano!