FEST RULES FOR SIRIUS BLACK

[siriusblk_mod]

Prompting Opens: August 1 | Prompting Closes: August 10
Claiming Opens: August 13 | Submissions Due: October 20
Posting Begins: November 3 until we run out of submissions. One or two fic/art every day.

This year's fest is non-anonymous. Claiming will remain anonymous but not the posting. All traditional rules of the fests apply. No flaming. No bullying. Don't like, don't read, don't comment.

Rules & FAQ

What is the minimum length requirement for fic?

All fic entries must be at least 500 words in length. There is no maximum word count.

Do I have to use a fic beta?

Yes, please. You can try hp_betas or hp_betas_wanted to find a beta and we will put out a call for betas when the due date for entries draws near. The mods will be proofreading all entries and will return fic if there are a large amount of spelling/grammatical errors.

Do I have to use an art beta?

Due to the nature of art and how subjective it is, an art beta is not necessary. However, all artwork files should be of a good pixel size (at least 640x480 pixels). 2-dimensional art should be a clean work, more than a rough sketch, and scans of physical artworks should be clean and clear. Photos of crafts and the like should be clear and well-lit. If you have any questions about a piece or would like an art beta, please e-mail padfoot.mod@gmail.com.

Resources for Artists

The Most Comprehensive Drawing Tutorials Collection
The Artistry of Male Beauty (NWS) - Excellent resource for photo reference of the nude male form.

Are crafts and other unconventional art allowed?
That would be an enthusiastic yes!

What about poetry?
That would be another enthusiastic yes!

What ratings are allowed?
Anything from G to NC-17 is allowed.

Are threesomes/moresomes allowed?
Yes. As long as Sirius is the main attraction in the cuddle puddle you can have him canoodling with as many people as you think he can handle.

Are all genres allowed?
Yes. We're interested in everything from the darkest of dark fics to the fluffiest of kid!fics and everything in between.

I like more than one prompt, may I claim more than one?
The more the merrier! However, we do require you to finish your first prompt before claiming a second.

How many times may a prompt be claimed?
While we would prefer that each prompt only be used once for art and once for fic, we realize that different authors/artists can have completely different takes on a prompt and we're hesitant to stifle anyone's creativity. So, we are allowing prompts to be used up to three times for either art or fic.

Can I claim my own prompt?
Absolutely! Sirius has no objections if you'd like to play with yourself; he does it all the time.

How many prompts can I submit?
As many as you can come up with. Go wild! A large and varied selection of prompts is never a bad thing.

Can I submit a prompt(s) even if I'm not going to write or draw for the fest?
Yes please! As stated we are looking to have a wide variety of prompts for our authors and artists to choose from.

Can I claim a prompt even if I haven't submitted one?
By all means, there should be more than enough prompts to go around.

May I submit a story which is part of an existing series or a WIP?
No, we'd like brand spankin' new stories and art that are unique to this fest. However, please feel free to post your series or WIP featuring Sirius to the community before or after the fest, since we'd love to see it.

Are crossovers and fusions allowed?
Yes, so long as Sirius is the main character and remains recognizable as himself anything goes.

Are non-magical AUs allowed?
Sure! You can have Sirius doing anything from working in the local coffee shop to running away to join the circus. As long as that barista or expert sword swallower remains recognizable as Sirius Black it's all good.

Are collaborations allowed?
Yes!

I finished my entry early. May I submit it early?
Please do! Once your entry is completed and beta'd, e-mail it as an attachment to padfoot.mod@gmail.com with your username and prompt number in the subject line. Fic submissions should include all desired HTML markup (bold, italics, etc.) already done by the author and may be sent as an attached Word file, RTF, or plain text. Please do not send fic in the body of the e-mail.

For HTML assistance please see  phoenixacid's excellent HTML tutorial.

Once your submission has been accepted, you're free to claim a second prompt if you'd like!

Will you grant extensions?
Of course! We realize RL (that's real life, not Remus Lupin, although he may occasionally get in the way too) gets in the way of the best of intentions, so if you find you need an extension, or even think you may need an extension, please e-mail us.

I need to drop out. What do I do?
As with extensions, we realize things come up and sometimes you just can't get an entry done. That's life. If you find yourself in this position, just e-mail us at padfoot.mod@gmail.com as soon as possible; no harm, no foul. However, participants who do not inform us in due time of their intention to drop out may not be allowed to participate in future fests.

If you're planning to join us as an author, artist, reader, or enthusiastic cheerleader, please join/watch: sirius_black. You can also follow us at Dreamwidth: Sirius_blk. And we're on tumblr: siriuslbackfest.tumblr.com

Entries will be crossposted to AO3 as well as posted here on LJ and DW. When submitting your piece, please include your AO3 username so we may attribute your piece to you on the archive.