DIMENSION 20 BIG BANG: 2021

ABOUT

For the uninitiated, a Big Bang is a fandom event where artists and authors collaborate: the author will write a fic, and the artist will draw an accompanying piece of art for the fic of their choice. This Big Bang will be centered around the numerous campaigns that Dimension 20 has ran: Fantasy High (Freshman and Sophomore Year), A Crown of Candy, The Unsleeping City (Seasons 1 and 2), Tiny Heist, Escape from the Bloodkeep, Pirates of Leviathan, and Mice and Murder.

Last year, we ran this event over the course of four months, with nearly eighty artists and authors collaborating to make fics and artwork together. We are incredibly excited to be running it again this year, but with a few changes to the requirements and format of D21BB. Here's how it'll go.

Author sign-ups and beta reader sign-ups will happen first. Authors will fill out a Google form of particulars (asking them if they'd like a beta, their age, triggers, etcetera), but the most important thing they'll be required to provide upon signing up is a 500 word snippet and outline/concept of a fic idea for Dimension 20. As author sign-ups close, these snippets and concepts will be anonymously compiled into a list. Beta readers will fill out similar forms, and upon conclusion of the author sign-up period, beta readers will be given the chance to select the prompts they wish to proofread for.

Then, artist sign-ups will open. Once sign-ups conclude, the compiled form of concepts will be sent to artists. They will have a few days to choose the top five prompts they would like to draw for from the list of author fic snippets and concepts. From there, a moderator will (keeping in mind artist preferences, author preferences, trigger warnings, and other information submitted in sign-up forms) manually pair artists and authors together. Pinch-hitter sign-ups will open the same time as artist sign-ups, but will be left open for longer.

Artists, beta readers, and authors will then continue to work together through a series of deadlines, completing their project. The accumulation of their partnership will be unveiled at the end of the Big Bang.

RULES

1. All authors and artists must create new content for this event. No currently-published works will be eligible for participation in the event. WIPs will only be accepted in the event that absolutely no previews have been shared of the works at any point. WIPs will be held to the same standard as well: they must also be related to Dimension 20 and connect with your partner's work content-wise (their fic or drawing)

2. Finished written works should exceed one of two word count minimums, 7,000 words or 10,000 words, chosen early in the writing process. A writer can change their word count minimum at any time during the event, given it is discussed with moderators and their partner(s) first. Written works must also be written in English.

At least one piece of art must be fully completed by an artist during the course of the event. D21BB will allow the use of other artistic mediums for the event, but progress and amount of work should be approximate to the time an artist will have to complete it.

These requirements are due to the fact that creators will have months to work on their projects, and are also due in part to the nature of Big Bangs (which traditionally have been known to have even up to 100,000 word minimums).

3. There are no restrictions on content other than the rule that it must be a fanwork for Dimension 20, and any content rating will be allowed (from General Audiences to Explicit) but we do not allow NSFW content of characters who are canonically minors, and all art must be SFW. If you're set on submitting an NSFW art piece, it must be completed alongside an SFW piece (meaning you'll have to create a minimum of two works).

3a. Moderators also reserve the right to withhold from posting or sharing prompts that they find disturbing at their discretion (ex. torture porn, rape fic).

4. Because partner selection in the Big Bang is meant to be anonymous (that's part of the fun!), where an artist chooses the fic they'd like to draw for from a list, choosing your partner beforehand by sharing the contents of your work is expressly forbidden.

5. Reproducing other people's work or plagiarizing is not allowed.

6. Minors who submit written NSFW content will not have their entries counted. Minor artists who apply to draw for NSFW stories will have their requests rejected.

7. Authors participating in this event must have an AO3 account, as well as a form of social media (either e-mail, Twitter, or Tumblr*) which their partner will use to communicate with them. Artists must have a Twitter or Tumblr account. All creators are also encouraged to have Discord, as everyone will be invited to a Discord server for the event.

8. Authors and artists cannot share their works for the Big Bang publicly outside of the given preview dates. If evidence of this is found, the creator will be given a single warning. Please refrain from talking about the contents of your work for the Big Bang, whether vague or explicit, at any given point outside of the only given instance of sharing your preview pieces. The "reveal" period is meant to be especially fun because of the mystery of what everyone's been up to during the event period!

9. You cannot sign up as both an artist and an author - you will have to select one. If you feel as if you have the time and ability to fulfill both roles, please sign up as a pinch-hitter instead. Authors and artists cannot be betas as well. If you're not sure what those words mean, please refer to the page "What Can I Sign Up As?" linked in the main menu.

10. Most importantly of all, have fun! The purpose of the event is to reach out, talk to, and work alongside other creators in the fandom. Creating can be such a solitary task, and hopefully this event allows you to experience and enjoy creating in a group.

(*All participants are required to have and provide an email they regularly check. This is how moderators will contact them and share announcements and important information about events.)

ROLES

Now that you've reviewed our rules and understand what a Big Bang is, a new question hangs in the air: What can I sign up for this event as?

There are five roles with which you can participate: an author, an artist, a beta reader, an art pinch-hitter, or a fic pinch-hitter. Below are explanations on what they are, what it means to sign up as one, and who that role might fit.

Author. Signing up to be an author means that you'll be participating in the event as a fic author. You will need to write a minimum of either 7k or 10k words by the end of the event, and you will be working with an artist or artists who will create accompanying works for your fic.

This role would fit all authors, beginner or not, who are up to the challenge of exploring a D20 fic prompt/idea for several thousand words.

Artist. Signing up to be an artist means that you'll be participating in the event as a fan artist. You will need to create a minimum of one finished piece by the end of the event, and you will be working with an author who will create an accompanying work for your art. Depending on the number of authors available, you might not be the only artist paired with a specific author.

This role would fit all artists, beginner or not, who want to collaborate with other creators and are up to the challenge of creating expansive artwork based off someone else's fanwork.

Art pinch-hitter. By signing up as a pinch-hitter, you're becoming a moderator's favorite person a possible substitute/fill-in! If an artist is unable to complete their work and has to drop out for any reason, you're going to take their place and work with the author who was previously partnered with that artist.

This role would fit any artist who'd love to collaborate with other creators, but aren't sure if the long-term format of D21BB is for them. This way, you can still take part in the event, but with more lax requirements and less time to work depending on when you're called in to help.

Fic pinch-hitter. By signing up as a pinch-hitter, you're becoming a moderator's favorite person a possible substitute/fill-in! If an author is unable to complete their work and has to drop out for any reason, you're going to take their place and work with the artist who was previously partnered with that author.

This role would fit any author who'd love to collaborate with other creators, but aren't sure if the long-term format of D21BB is for them. This way, you can still take part in the event, but with more lax requirements and less time to work depending on when you're called in to help.

Beta reader. A beta reader's job is to simply proofread an author's written work, checking for flaws and offering constructive criticism upon an author's request*. Beta readers will not be automatically provided - an author will have to specifically request one in their sign-up sheet in the area provided.

This role would fit any D20 fan who love creative fanworks, but aren't exactly into creating themselves. You don't have to be an artist or author to participate in D21BB! Just make sure you're up to the task of reading very, very long fics.

*D21BB cannot promise authors any beta readers with the ability to efficiently sensitivity read. If individual beta readers are comfortable with looking over the fics they're assigned to for cultures/issues they are personally qualified to talk about, that is completely fine. However, since we cannot ensure quality sensitivity reading from all our beta readers, it isn't something we can provide to authors during the event.

TIMELINES AND DEADLINES

June 16, 2021. Author, beta, and fic pinch-hitter sign-up forms open. Authors will be required to submit a 500 word snippet of their fic idea for the Big Bang, as well as an outline or concept summary of their fic (not included in the 500w).

June 30th. Artist sign-up forms open and fic and art pinch-hitter forms open. Artists will be NOT be required to select a fic snippet until they are accepted and all sign-ups close.

July 12th. Author, beta reader, and artist sign-up forms close. Artists will then be sent the compiled form of anonymous concepts to choose five possible projects to work on.

July 16th. Artists should have chosen five concepts and sent them to moderators through a provided Google form.

July 17-18th. Pairing announcements will be emailed to participants by moderators.

July 31st. Check-in #1. Artists must have completed a rough sketch/plan for their artwork. Authors with the 7k word minimum must have hit 1,400 words, and those with the 10k word minimum must have hit 1,500 words.

August 28th. Check-in #2. Artists must have completed further progress on their artwork. Authors with the 7k word minimum must have hit 2,800 words, and those with the 10k word minimum must have hit 3,750 words. Artists and authors may post a preview of their work for the Dimension 20 Big Bang if they so choose.

September 1st. All pinch-hitter forms close.

September 25th. Check in #3. Artists must have completed further progress on their artwork. Authors with the 7k word minimum must have hit 4,200 words, and those with the 10k word minimum must have hit 6,000 words. Artists and authors may post a preview of their work for the Dimension 20 Big Bang if they so choose.

October 23rd. Check in #4. Artists must be nearing completion on their artworks. Authors with the 7k word minimum must have hit 5,600 words, and those with the 10k word minimum must have hit 8,250 words. Artists and authors may post a preview of their work for the Dimension 20 Big Bang if they so choose.

November 17th-21st. Final deadline. The final check-in. Authors and artists must email moderators notifying moderators of the completion of their works during this time period. Authors must add their works to the Dimension 20 Big Bang: 2021 Collection on AO3 by the last day of the deadline.

November 22nd. Reveal. Authors and artists are free to publish their works on Twitter, Tumblr, and other platforms. Moderators will lift restrictions on written works in the AO3 collection, allowing them to be viewed and read by the public.

frequently asked

Q: What if I need to drop out for some reason?
A: No problem! Just make sure to contact moderators immediately via email ([email protected]) or through dms on our social media and let us know. A pinch hitter will take your place. Just know that whatever the issue is, we are always willing to accommodate you and discuss possible solutions.

Q: What if I don't finish in time?
A: The check-ins are meant to ensure that all artists and authors are working on their collaborations at a steady pace and will be able to finish it by the deadline. However, in the occasion that you are unable to finish in time, you may still post it after the reveal date, but your work will probably gain less traction than it would if it were revealed during the reveal period with the other works! :( Again, though, in order to be respectful of your partner, we highly encourage that you take the initiative to finish your work on-time.

Q: What happens if there are no artists that select my fic? Can I not participate?
A: If this happens, then artist pinch-hitters will fill in the spot for you! Rest assured - even if you don't get a partner in the initial sign-up period, the moderators will make sure you at least have someone to collaborate with.

Q: What happens if there are no prompts/fics that I want to draw for, even though I really want to participate in the event?
A: If this happens, please contact a mod at our email [email protected], and we'll arrange something for you.

Q: Is there a preferred canvas size?
A: No, there isn't! As long as it's postable, it should be fine. While .PNGs may be preferable, please note that Twitter (if you plan to upload your art there) currently has code implemented that makes .JPEGs look better and preserve the quality of the original image!

Q: How do check-ins work?
A: The moderators will send you an email with a link to a Google form, where you will submit your work/links to your work directly and describe your progress exactly. If moderators have any concerns about your work, they will reach out via email or Discord direct messaging.

Q: What if my partner just ghosts me?
A: Let us know immediately, and we'll try to sort it out. If the situation can't be salvaged, we'll find you a new partner ASAP.

Q: What if I don't have an AO3 account but I want to sign up as a writer?
A: Register for one ASAP. If you're a pinch-hitter worried about getting an account in time for the gallery period, contact a moderator immediately via e-mail and we'll hook you up!

Q: Can I submit a sequel to a story that I've already published? / Can I submit a drawing that's a part of a series I've started on my account already?
A: You can, but the artwork/fic itself must be a new work made exclusively for the Dimension 20 Big Bang. It must be able to be read and/or digested as a standalone work.

Q: I know I can't apply as both an author and an artist, but is it possible for me to submit more than one prompt/work on more than one piece as an author/an artist?
A: This'll depend on how many submissions we get! We'll keep you updated as entries come in - remember to keep checking our twitter account for updates!

Q: Are crossovers allowed?
A: It's a bit of a tricky question! Crossovers are allowed in the sense that you're able to create inter-season works (think TUC meets FHSY), and you're certainly allowed to make AUs (like Crown of Candy characters set in the Star Wars verse), but creating content with characters from other fandoms instead of just putting Dimension 20 characters into other settings - say, Batman meeting Figueroth Faeth - is heavily discouraged. It's a Dimension 20 Big Bang, so we're trying to keep the subject matter related to Dimension 20! If you have a specific scenario or idea in mind you're not sure is allowed, please ask us about it at our curiouscat or e-mail us about it!

Q: Can an artist create more than one piece of art for the same collaboration?
A: Yes, absolutely!

Q: Can I turn my story/art in early if I finish before the deadline?
A: Absolutely! We'd love to have it! Artworks can be submitted by e-mail for proof of completion, while fics can be submitted to the collection on AO3 early. However, they can't be revealed to the public earlier than the specified date on the timeline (November 22nd, 2021).

Q: What timezone is the event in?
A: PST. All deadlines will have countdowns in our Carrd.

Q: If there are too much of one creator than another (i.e. a few more writers than artists or vice versa), how do you plan on adjusting that so each creator can be paired up?
A: If we have too many of one over the over, we'll adjust pairing as needed. If we have more artists than authors, we'll assign additional artists to each author. If we have more authors than artists, we'll allow willing artists to partner with more than one author. After that, if there's any creators left partnerless, that's when pinch-hitters come in!

CONTACT MODERATORS

if you have any questions you want to ask a moderator, please send it to our email ([email protected]), or our curiouscat. We also have a Tumblr and respond to Twitter DMs @d20bigbang. If you'd like to contact our moderators for any purposes outside of the Dimension 20 Big Bang, you can find links to reach them below in their respective profiles.


dia.

moderator

they/xe

twitter

wren.

moderator

they/them

twitter

tumblr

basil.

moderator

he/they

main twitter

art twitter

SIGN-UP FORMS

Author Forms: CLOSED
Beta Reader Forms: CLOSED
Artist Forms: CLOSED
Art Pinch Hitter Forms: CLOSED
Fic Pinch Hitter Forms: CLOSED

CURRENT COUNTDOWN UNTIL CHECK-IN #4:

    CURRENT COUNTDOWN UNTIL THE END OF D21BB:

      CURRENT STATS

      According to the sign-up forms, there are 39 authors, 43 artists, 24 beta readers, 7 artist pinch-hitters, and 7 fic pinch-hitters.

      There are 21 authors interested in writing for Fantasy High, 5 authors interested in writing for The Unsleeping City, 9 authors interested in writing for A Crown of Candy, and 3 authors interested in writing for Mice and Murder. We have beta readers interested in reading for all seasons.

      We are currently looking for fic pinch-hitters the most, seconded by art pinch-hitters.

      Last Updated: Friday, August 6th 2021, at 5:42PM PST.