Big Bang 2014

A blog archive for fanworks generated for the The White Queen Big Bang Challenge in 2014

[twqbigbang]

Big Bang 2014 - Final Post

It's been an amazing ride-- a little bumpy at times, but we managed to find our way. Below, you'll find a Table of Contents for the Big Bang offerings for 2014, in approximate order of submission. All links to fics direct to AO3, while artwork is linked to Tumblr. 

Red Rose Red & White Rose White by darkphoenixgoddess10

What will her roots bloom to be? Artwork by tant-le-desiree

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Ribbons Around our Hearts by octoberinflorence

Just how I would always remember you Artwork by @stardust-pond

My heart has always been yours; You know there are these ribbons...; Ribbons Around our Hearts Artwork by richardplantagent

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A Second Chance by myeverywhimx

My heart is beating in a different way Artwork by tant-le-desiree

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The Heart Remembers by grand-duchessa

Let me show you; Your heart remembers those you love; But your heart does Artwork by richardplantagent

Please read these wonderful stories and leave feedback for the writers. It's not easy writing so much fic over such a short period of time, and fandom survives on the feedback loop! 

An AO3 collection has been created:  Big Bang Challenge 2014.

Please add your stories to the collection when convenient. 

For those who signed up to participate but could not finish in time, no worries. Finish if you want to, and post your stories to AO3 on your own time. As these stories will be outside the rules of the Big Bang, you can post them whenever and in whatever format you want. 

Thank you to everyone who participated! See you in 2015!

[twqbigbang]

One week to go!

The extended deadline for the TWQ/War of the Roses Big Bang 2014 ends on June 30th. THIS IS THE FINAL DEADLINE. 

Writers still participating must post COMPLETE stories to a public archive by midnight (wherever you are located) of June 30th. 

All other posting rules still apply as usual. 

[twqbigbang]

Deadline Extension!

Due to popular demand and a fair amount of fandom stress, the deadline for posting your Big Bang stories is hereby extended by three weeks. 

Between now and June 30th, writers may post COMPLETE stories to a public archive. The rest of the posting rules still apply as usual. 

If your story is already posted and/or will be ready for posting by the original June 9th deadline, you're good to go. You may still post the story according to the original schedule. 

[twqbigbang]

Posting is now OPEN!

Between now and June 9th, writers may post COMPLETE stories to a public archive. AO3 is preferred, but if you do not have access, you may post to any public archive of your choice. 

Once you have posted your story, please link back to it here on Tumblr. Please tag your fics as #twq big bang 2014 for archiving purposes. 

A master list post of all the stories will be provided after all the stories are posted and linked on Tumblr. 

Some quick housekeeping notes: 

The format for posting fics is entirely up to you. You can (a) post a single chapter of 15,000+ words, if that is your preference (though the character limits for the submission box in AO3 may present a problem), or (b) post your story as several chapters, as long as you post all chapters at the same time. 

If you are posting to an archive other than AO3, please make sure that the archive allows forward and backward links for individual chapters. If you are posting directly to Tumblr, please put the text of the chapter behind a "Read More" cut, and make sure you have forward and backward links for individual chapters. 

I cannot reiterate this enough, but before you post, PLEASE have your story read/reviewed by another (either someone who has volunteered to beta for Big Bang or some other person you like/trust).

I cannot tell you how many stories get posted on a daily basis that are full of basic spelling and grammar errors. While the story is the important thing, errors often take readers out of the experience. We're all capable of correcting our own errors, of course. But we also tend to read past them, so a second set of eyes is the best thing here.

Happy posting/reading, all!  

[twqbigbang]

Housekeeping Post #2

1. The artist claims are posted HERE. Please contact the artist who claimed your story to discuss your piece ASAP. The artists have their own voices, but they do need some direction re: your story, characters, etc. 

2. Fics need to be complete (including review and editing) and posted by June 9th.

3. I strongly encourage using a beta reader, because there is nothing more valuable than a second set of eyes.

The following users have offered their beta services: 

cesareborjas

matsuohka

myeverywhimx

scribblesincrayon

themoonoversoho

Please contact one of them for beta help. As all our beta readers are also participating in the Big Bang, please avoid sending then 20K words to read on the night of June 8th. ;)

Meanwhile, my ask box is always open if anyone has any 11th hour questions. 

[twqbigbang]

Artist Claims!

We have artists for all your lovely stories now!

richardplantagent will be making artwork for stories written by the following writers: 

grand-duchessa

octoberinflorence

scribblesincrayon

themoonoversoho

tant-le-desiree will take stories by the following writers: 

darkphoenixgoddess10

matsuohka

myeverywhimx

thepurposeismypenis

Artists, if you disagree with the above claims list in any way, please message me, and I will try to fix the issue. 

Writers, I know that many of us are still plugging away at our stories, but this is a good time to engage with the artist who has claimed your fic and talk about the artwork. As a rule of thumb, you should provide the artists with a substantial excerpt (i.e. at least 1000 words) or a detailed treatment/summary of the basic plot. This part of the Big Bang is meant to be a collaborative effort, so I encourage you to talk with the artists as much as the artists need. Please get them the excerpt or summary by May 15. 

Also, I strongly recommend that everyone use a beta reader. We're all good writers capable of policing our own words, of course. But a good beta does more than correct your spelling. The second set of eyes is a useful and critical tool for every writer, especially when you have produced a large number of words without the instant feedback you get from posting your stories a chapter at a time. 

The following people have offered their beta services, so please consider contacting one of them (if you have not already done this): 

cesareborjas

matsuohka

myeverywhimx

scribblesincrayon

themoonoversoho

Speaking of which, a couple of housekeeping issues: 

1. You cannot post any part of your Big Bang story to a public site/archive, including Tumblr. There is one exception: you can post a de minimis amount (i.e. 25 words or less) of your story to Tumblr, if you like.You can share the whole story or any part of it privately, however. 

2. Between May 26 and June 9, writers should post COMPLETE stories to a public archive. AO3 is preferred, but if you do not have access, you may post to any public archive of your choice. 

Once you have posted your story, please link back to it here on Tumblr. 

The format for posting fics is entirely up to you. You can (a) post a single chapter of 15,000+ words, if that is your preference (though the character limits for the submission box in AO3 may present a problem), or (b) post your story as several chapters, as long as you post all chapters at the same time. 

There has been some concern that this all-at-once posting limits reader feedback. My personal experience with Big Bang challenges in other fandoms is that it does not. At most, it limits the total number of page views/hits, but unless you are deeply interested in statistical information about your own stories, this is not all that important. 

If you use the chapter format and are concerned about the feedback loop, you can certainly include an author's note that asks interested readers to leave comments on a per chapter basis rather than for the entire story.

3. On June 16, I will create a master post here with links to all the stories in a single post. I will also create a collection at AO3 for the Big Bang stories, so they can be easily found in a single location. 

Happy writing, everyone! 

[twqbigbang]

Housekeeping Post #1

So how's everyone doing with Big Bang 2014? We're hitting the home stretch, so this is a good time for a bit of cleanup and checking in. 

First, I still don't have writer check-ins from the following: cesareborjas, redxluna and fuckyeahrichardiii. 

If any/all of you have posted check-in summaries of your stories, I apologize for missing them. If you have not checked in yet, please post the following to your blog and tag it with "twqbigbang":

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

If you have decided not to participate, please send me (scribblesincrayon) a message to let me know. 

Second, I completely forgot about this, but it's time for artists to make their claims! 

We only have two artists signed up (thank you, richardplantagent and tant-le-desiree!), so I'd like to make this an open invitation to anybody who would like to contribute artwork for the wonderful stories being written for Big Bang. If interested, please message me as soon as possible. 

As for you, richardplantagent and tant-le-desiree, you get your pick from the following stories. Please send me a message indicating which stories you'd be interested in making artwork for. If there's any overlap, I will resolve it with your input: 

Name/tumblr url: Kay/myeverywhimx

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): -Pairings are going to be all fucked up until the end. Endgame for sure is RichardxAnne, etc.- "A different life. A different time. Two people whose past left them alone now have a chance to make things right. They just have to remember it all and do the right thing."

Name/tumblr url: twelvemorestopsandhome (Jojo)

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): (AU) Summer 1487, It’s been two years since Richard’s victory at Bosworth and both he and Anne are devoting their time and energy to strengthening their kingdom. Their respective brushes with mortality have pushed the issue of an heir to the forefront of their minds and with no further issue, they look to their niece and nephew, Margaret and Teddy…and to Scotland.

Name/tumblr url: Rachel/thepurposeismypenis

Brief summary of story: The British Isles and her people are the last of the great Old Matriarchies, ruled on high by the High Queen and her Sister Princesses. Margaret of Anjou, a woman seen as a She Wolf of the Continent (for so they call all lands south ruled by men) sent by the Gods as a test to the Britons’ devotion to keeping their rule pure, has just been ousted by Cecily Neville, a woman infamous for producing six children, two girls and four boys, with an envoy from France who took to calling himself Richard of York. Jacquetta, the Lady of Rivers, and Anne Neville, the Lady of the North, sit beside her, both with daughters poised to take the Queen’s chair. Far away to the south, where the Pope sits in the Throne of St. Peter, the three surviving sons of York are being tasked to convert the Isles in nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritūs Sancti. Many men have tried. All have failed. But that was then, and Edward, George, and Richard Angevin are not those men. The new God is coming to England, and He is bringing a storm in His wake. 

Pairings: Richard/Anne, Edward/Elizabeth, George/Isabel

Name/tumblr url: OctoberChild (AO3)/octoberinflorence (tumblr)

Brief summary of story: Cecily Neville feels her death is near, but she wants her granddaughter Elizabeth, now Queen of England, to know who she really is. As the story of Cecily’s life progresses, Elizabeth realises her grandmother is more than the stiff woman she remembers, she’s a woman, a lover, a wife, and a mother - and she’s still willing to fight for justice.

Pairings: Cecily Neville/Richard, Duke of York (their children/their respective spouses)

Name/tumblr url: thecivilunrest (AO3) matsuohka (tumblr)

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): Richard and Anne during the Civil War, focuses primarily on Anne and her experiences while waiting for the men to come home. 

Name/tumblr url: ChelleLeigh1917/grand-duchessa

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): Spring 1477, Anne is still mourning Isabel’s death, and during an afternoon ride is thrown from her horse. When she wakes up, Anne believes it is still 1469, and her father is still alive. She remembers nothing of the last 8 years; including marrying Richard or having their son Ned. It’s the story of Anne falling in love with Richard for the first time, and Richard falling in love all over again with the “new” Anne. 

Name/tumblr url: darkphoenixgoddess10

Brief summary of story: "Commit to nobody until there’s a clear winner, and then choose the winner and give him everything a woman can give. York or Lancaster. At fifteen, Lady Anne Neville is a suitable candidate for Edward of Westminster, the only son of Henry VI whose legitimacy was in question. However, with her father ailing and Margaret of Anjou losing support, Anne must choose carefully. Red Rose of Lancaster or White Rose of York - she could be the next Queen of England or a traitor.Inspired by “Red Riding Hood” and “Dangerous Liaisons”

Pairing: Anne x Richard (who else?)

Name/tumblr url: Roh/scribblesincrayon (medieval_scribe at AO3)

Brief summary of story: After he's reinstated to the throne, Edward IV makes Richard his man in the north, and to endow him with the necessary wealth and land, he arranges his marriage to Margaret Beaufort. Historical shenanigans ensue. 

Pairings: Richard of Gloucester/Margaret Beaufort

[twqbigbang]

Writer Check in #1 - Update - REMINDER

[twqbigbang]

  QUICK ALERT: 

I do not have check-ins or summaries from the following participants: 

redxluna

blancsanglier

fuckyeahrichardiii

If you have already checked in and posted a summary and I have missed it, please let me know. If you have not yet checked in, please post the following information to your blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

Please note that response to this check in is required.

Once all the summaries are submitted, I will compile them in a single post here. 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

Writer Check in #1 - Update - REBLOG/UPDATE

The following Big Bang participants have checked in: 

octoberinflorence

matsuohka

grand-duchessa

darkphoenixgoddess10

scribblesincrayon

myeverywhimx

thepurposeismypenis

twelvemorestopsandhome

I do not have check-ins or summaries from the following participants: 

redxluna

blancsanglier

fuckyeahrichardiii

shakesgirl

If you have already checked in and posted a summary and I have missed it, please let me know. If you have not yet checked in, please post the following information to your blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

Please note that response to this check in is required.

Once all the summaries are submitted, I will compile them in a single post here. 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

Writer Check in #1 - Update - REBLOG

The following Big Bang participants have checked in: 

octoberinflorence

matsuohka

grand-duchessa

darkphoenixgoddess10

scribblesincrayon

I do not have check-ins or summaries from the following participants: 

redxluna

twelvemorestopsandhome

blancsanglier

fuckyeahrichardiii

shakesgirl

myeverywhimx

thepurposeismypenis

If you have already checked in and posted a summary and I have missed it, please let me know. If you have not yet checked in, please post the following information to your blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

Please note that response to this check in is required.

Once all the summaries are submitted, I will compile them in a single post here. 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

Writer Check in #1 - Update

The following Big Bang participants have checked in: 

octoberinflorence

matsuohka

grand-duchessa

darkphoenixgoddess10

scribblesincrayon

I do not have check-ins or summaries from the following participants: 

redxluna

twelvemorestopsandhome

blancsanglier

fuckyeahrichardiii

shakesgirl

myeverywhimx

thepurposeismypenis

If you have already checked in and posted a summary and I have missed it, please let me know. If you have not yet checked in, please post the following information to your blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

Please note that response to this check in is required.

Once all the summaries are submitted, I will compile them in a single post here. 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

FINAL REMINDER: Artists Sign Up Close; Writer Check In #1

Artists who have already signed up OR would like to sign up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

Your sign ups are still open and will close March 28 (TODAY!). We’re still in need of more artists to sign up. Artwork can be anything: graphics, photosets, manips, original artwork, etc. 

Writers who have already signed up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

This is your first check-in. Generally speaking, your story should be about 30% written, but that is more of a guideline than a requirement. 

Between March 24 and March 28 (TODAY!), please post the following to your own blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

Please note that response to this check in is required (as a way to gauge progress and to allow artists with interest to sign up).

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box.

[twqbigbang]

Reminder: Artists Sign Up Close; Writer Check In #1

Artists who have already signed up OR would like to sign up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

Your sign ups are still open and will close March 28. We’re still in need of more artists to sign up. Artwork can be anything: graphics, photosets, manips, original artwork, etc. 

Writers who have already signed up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

This is your first check-in. Generally speaking, your story should be about 30% written, but that is more of a guideline than a requirement. 

Between March 24 and March 28, please post the following to your own blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box.

[twqbigbang]

Artist Sign Ups Close; Writer Check In #1

Artists who have already signed up OR would like to sign up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

Your sign ups are still open and will close March 28. We're still in need of more artists to sign up. Artwork can be anything: graphics, photosets, manips, original artwork, etc. 

Writers who have already signed up for TWQ/WotR Big Bang: 

This is your first check-in. Generally speaking, your story should be about 30% written, but that is more of a guideline than a requirement. 

Between March 24 and March 28, please post the following to your own blog and tag it with twqbigbang

Name/tumblr url: 

Brief summary of story (approx. 50 words; please describe situation and/or pairings): 

If you have questions, please put them in my ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

How's it going?

I've seen a smattering of "working on my Big Bang fic" posts here and there. Yay! 

So how's it going so far? Happy with your progress? Stuck on a plot point? Need company while you write? Have a writing playlist you'd like to share? Thinking about spring?

Tell us what's going on with your story!

[twqbigbang]

Write-in Info

The rules (liberally stolen from the good folks at Pulped Fictions): 

1. Grab yourself a drink and/or a snack so you don't keel over. 2. Make yourself comfy at your computer. Fire up your chat client (or feel free to chat on Tumblr) 3. Make a brief Tumblr post with what you’re going to be working on and what your goal is (a word count, a section, a specific scene – it can be anything you want to make progress on). Tag potential write-in partners, if you can.  4. Chat with your write-in partners to spur them on to glory. (It's typical to chat and write in alternating blocks of time. For example, you chat for 10 minutes, write/draw for 20 minutes, and then repeat the same pattern again).  5. Write or draw until you’ve either made your target, you get stuck, or you fall asleep on your keyboard. 6. Let us know how you did, or cry in your beer/wine over your utter failure. We're here for the congratulations and the hugs.  7. Since we're in different time zones, this is going to be a bit challenging. Here's a tentative schedule (which you can totally change to suit your own needs): 

Daily Write-in #1: From 11 AM CST to whatever time you want. 

Daily Write-in #2: From 8 PM CST to whatever time you want. 

For time zone converstion, see here. Questions go in the ask box. 

[twqbigbang]

Big Bang 2014: Sign Up Opening

Sign ups for the TWQ/WotR/15th century CE Big Bang challenge are now open! (Yes, this is a day early, because of a scheduling error). 

You can sign up anytime between now and March 3 (for writers) or March 28 (artists). 

If you would like to participate as a writer and/or artist, please complete the following form and leave it HERE: 

Name/url:

Participant status: writer/artist/beta

Summary or concept for your fic, if you have one (please include characters/pairings):

E-mail address (optional):

Skype (or other chat client):

Willing to pinch-hit (artists and/or beta only): 

The e-mail/Skype info will NOT be shared, except on request. Your name/url and story concept will be listed in a post when sign-ups are complete.

If you would like to offer your services as a beta or even just as a sounding board for story ideas, but you do not want to be an “official” Big Bang participate, please let scribblesincrayon know.