big bang (def) a collaborative fandom challenge, involving long-form fanfiction with accompanying artwork

• Twitter
• Airtable
• Archive of Our Own
• Email

thank you to everyone who participated and made ffxivbb a success! we appreciate every writer, artist, pinch hitter, beta, cheerleader, and reader!

ffxivbb stats & info:

story stats:

art stats (approximate):

top five most popular characters:

top five most popular ships:

big bang (def) a collaborative fandom challenge, involving long-form fanfiction with accompanying artwork

• Twitter
• Archive of Our Own
• Email

• about & basics
• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: authors
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• faq
• mods & contact

• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: authors
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• faq
• mods & contact
• home

a big bang, is a collaborative challenge that pairs long-form fanfiction with corresponding fanart.authors have a set amount of time to write their fic, which will then be claimed by an artist (by reading anonymous summaries) who will illustrate one or more scenes. fics and art are then posted in tandem on a designated day.the required word count for big bangs can vary, but ffxivbb has settled on a 10,000-word minimum.as for art, ffxivbb focuses on illustration (which is to say, no photo manipulations, collages, mood boards, fanvids, or giftsets/edits).-(thank you to t'hy'la big bang who served as a template and inspiration for the structure of this challenge.)

• about & basics
• rules & eligibility: authors
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• faq
• mods & contact
• home

in the case of any changes, updates will be made here in blue. any updates will also be announced on the official twitter.-october 1, 2022
➊ [all] sign-ups open for all participants (authors, artists, beta readers, and pinch hit artists). to sign up as an author, you must submit a fic concept. (fic concepts should be a short elevator pitch-style paragraph.)october 10, 2022
➊ discord server opens.november 1, 2022
➊ [authors] author sign-ups close.november 15, 2022
➊ [authors] first mandatory check-in.november 30, 2022
➊ [authors] optional check-in. however, it is highly recommended authors should have at least 25% of the estimated word count written, not including notes and outline.december 15, 2022
➊ [authors] optional check-in.december 31, 2022
➊ [authors] second mandatory check-in due. authors should have at least 50% of the estimated word count written, not including notes and outline.january 15, 2023
➊ [authors] third mandatory check-in form opens. authors must submit: fic information, summary, rough draft, and an outline for anything still unwritten. fics must be at 75% of the estimated word count. this information will be used to match the story with an artist.
➋ [artists] artist sign-ups close.january 22, 2023
➊ [authors] third mandatory check-in due and the form closes. this is the last day authors can withdraw without penalty.january 25, 2023
➊ [artists] claims form will be sent to artist, including fic information, summary, and previews.february 1, 2023
➊ [artists] claims form due.february 5, 2023
➊ [all/teams] the mod(s) will create match-ups and notify the teams.february 15, 2023
➊ [all/teams] mandatory team check-in due. teams must confirm that they are in communication and provide their posting preferences via the provided form. authors must provide a status update with the estimated percentage of completion.
➋ [all/teams] teams are no longer required to maintain anonymity. posting on social media about their stories and art is allowed after this point.february 28, 2023
➊ [all/teams] posting schedule releasedmarch 1, 2023
➊ [all/teams] optional check-in.march 15, 2023
➊ [artists] first mandatory check-in due. artists must submit a sketch.
➋ [pinch hit artists] will be assigned as needed using the results of the first artist check-in.
➌ [authors] fourth mandatory check-in. fics must be nearing completion.april 1, 2023
➊ [all/teams] posting begins.april 30, 2023
➊ [all/teams] posting ends.may 15, 2023
➊ [all/teams] discord server closes.may 16, 2023
➊ [all/teams] event is officially over. a feedback form and wrap-up email will be sent to all participants.

• about & basics
• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• faq
• mods & contact
• home

ffxivbb general
➊ must be 18+ years old.
➋ read and agree to all applicable rules and the schedule.
➌ provide an email address or join the discord server in order to receive updates/participate in check-ins.
➍ communicate with your partner and the moderators in a courteous and timely manner.
➎ participate in all mandatory check-ins. if you fail to check in within two weeks of a mandatory check-in, you'll be withdrawn from the challenge.
➏ behave kindly. ffxivbb will not tolerate bullying or harassment from participants.writing general
➊ fics must be at least 10,000 words long. (there is no maximum limit. you may write as long of a story as you wish. however, please note that extensions will only be granted in the case of emergency, so plan the length of your story to what you will be able to complete within the timeframe of the challenge.)
➋ authors may sign up to write one work for this challenge.
➌ existing works in progress may only be used as long as no part of it was made public previously. the majority of the fic should be written during the challenge timeline.
➍ fics can be a part of an existing series or universe but should stand on their own.
➎ keep your fic anonymous until the specified date (see the schedule). this means you should not promote your fic in social media or elsewhere until after that date.
➏ you must post your fic in its complete form on your designated posting date. no incomplete fics or serial postings are allowed.
➐ finished fics must be added to the ao3 collection.
➑ you may sign up with a co-writer (i.e. two writers collaborating to create one work). to sign up, please have each individual fill out the sign up form separately and indicate that you are signing up as a team.
➒ for the collaboration aspect, artists decide what they want to illustrate. artists are welcome to communicate and collaborate with their author, but the artist has the final say and creative choice when it comes to their art. [note about WoLs/Azems/OCs: because artists have full discretion over their art, this means that an artist may or may not choose to illustrate an OC character.]fic content
➊ fanfic must be about final fantasy xiv. this includes original characters such as the warrior of light.
➋ all ratings and genres of fic are welcome. ffxivbb has no content restrictions. however, please keep in mind that this is a collaborative event that involves match-ups. it may be hard to find a match for graphic or disturbing content.
➌ provide accurate information (such as rating/pairing/etc) and content warnings for your fic at the appropriate check-in. after this point, you should not change content materially, as artists will rely upon it for matching.beta readers
➊ a beta reader edits and provides feedback on a fic. ffxivbb highly recommends utilizing a beta reader to polish your work.
➋ signing up as a beta reader is not a commitment. ffxivbb will not match authors with beta readers but instead create a pool of beta readers that authors may ask for help.]
➌ participants may sign up as any permutation of author, artist, pinch hitter, or beta reader. there are no restrictions on how many categories an individual may sign up for.

• about & basics
• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: authors
• sign up
• faq
• mods & contact
• home

ffxivbb general
➊ must be 18+ years old.
➋ read and agree to all applicable rules and the schedule.
➌ provide an email address or join the discord server in order to receive updates/participate in check-ins.
➍ communicate with your partner and the moderators in a courteous and timely manner.
➎ participate in all mandatory check-ins. if you fail to check in within two weeks of a mandatory check-in, you'll be withdrawn from the challenge.
➏ behave kindly. ffxivbb will not tolerate bullying or harassment from participants.artist general
➊ artists must complete at least one full illustration for their claimed fic. ffxivbb encourages creating two (though the second can be a sketch or something more simple), but one is all that is required. (additionally, there is no maximum limit.
➋ art pieces must be drawings/paintings/illustrations. ffxivbb does not count photo manipulations, collages, mood boards, fanvids, giftsets/edits, or other artworks towards the requirement.
➌ artists may sign up to be matched with between one and three stories. the artist must produce at least one full illustration for each story they sign up for.
➍ artists decide what they want to illustrate. artists are welcome to communicate and collaborate with their author, but the artist has the final say and creative choice when it comes to their art. (please read this follow up question about illustrating WoLs/OCs.)
➎ keep your art anonymous until the designated preview period. this means you should not promote your art on social media or elsewhere until after that date.
➏ when it comes time for posting, art can be embedded with the fic or posted to a website of the artist's choice. it must be publicly accessible.
➐ all ratings and genres of fic are welcome. ffxivbb has no content restrictions. accordingly, this is also true for accompanying art.pinch hit artists
➊ if an artist cannot complete the challenge, ffxivbb may need artists who can work fast and on tight deadlines to step in.
➋ signing up as a pinch hitter is not a commitment. in the case a pinch hitter is needed, ffxivbb will send out a call for an artist to those who signed up.

• about & basics
• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: authors
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• mods & contact
• home

this page will be updated to reflect new questions as they come in. please direct questions through the designated channels on the contact page.
-
eligibility & requirements
➊ why was 10,000 words chosen as the requirement?
several reasons. first, big bangs were initially created to encourage long-form fanfiction and ffxivbb wanted to do a scaled-down version that still considered that purpose. second, this is the first iteration of a big bang (that i know of) in ffxiv fandom. which means ffxivbb isn't certain how much artist and author interest there will be. setting a slightly higher word count will hopefully help balance the matching logistics.
➋ can i get an extension?
extensions are only granted in cases of emergency. please do your utmost to keep yourself on schedule by participating in check-ins, joining the discord, and adding any deadlines to your calendar or planner.
➌ i don't think i'm going to finish. how and when can i drop out?
authors should drop out no later than january 20 if they aren't confident they'll be able to finish. this cut-off is in consideration of artists. if an author still wants to be involved with the challenge but is uncertain of their ability to finish, you may elect to continue on but without being matched to an artist. as for artists, if you need to drop out, please let the mod know as soon as possible, as a pinch-hit artist will have to be assigned.
➍ how do i withdraw if i need to?
please send an email to the mods from the email you signed up with.content & posting
➊ can i write about my warrior of light or OC?
yes. as long as your story is primarily ffxiv, you may write your warrior of light/azem/OC.
➋ can i write an AU/trope/etc?
yes. again, as long as your story is primarily ffxiv, you may write any trope or AU.
➌ are crossovers supported by in-game events (e.g. Dissidia's canon-compliant memory-loss thing, FFXIII with Lightning Strikes Back) permitted?
This Big Bang aims to focus on FFXIV content. Which is to say, the heart and soul of a fic should be primarily about the characters/world/etc of FFXIV. However, while keeping that in mind, canon crossover elements are allowed.
➍ is there a maximum allowed wordcount?
you must write at least 10,000 words. but there is no maximum limit. you may write as long of a story as you like, so long as you are able to finish it within the time constraints of the challenge.
➎ can i post my fic in chapters?
yes, you can post in as many chapters as you like. however, all chapters must be posted on your scheduled posting day.
➏ are any pairings allowed? or are there any pairings that are banned?
any and all pairings are allowed. in general, the challenge has no content restrictions but will require appropriate/thorough tagging and information. for writers, please keep in mind that this is a collaborative event that involves match-ups. it may be hard to find a match for graphic or disturbing content. as for artists concerned about matching with content they are not comfortable with, authors will be required to provide a complete listing of content warnings, summary, rating, and other fic information so that artists can match with content that suits their comfort level. artists will also have the option to note which fics/content they do not want to be matched with.
➐ i've talked a little bit about the idea i'd like to use on social media before, but haven't yet written any of it. is it still fair game?
this rule is meant to preserve anonymity. please use your best judgment. for instance, if you've spoken about it in painstaking detail, it might compromise anonymity. if you've just tossed out some ideas, then it's probably fine.
➑ what happens on our scheduled posting day?
on your scheduled posting day, the author and artist will post their fic or art. authors must submit their work to the ao3 collection. then, the team should enter their information into the master list (information on how to do so will be provided at a later date in this document).
➒ can an author post their own illustration/gpost/etc with their fic?
While we understand your enthusiasm for your work and your enjoyment of multiple mediums, we must ask that due to the spirit of the challenge, you refrain from posting any additional illustrations for your fic, whether art or gposes or anything else, until after the entire event has ended. Based on our current number of participants, we expect this will be around May 15. This will let the focus of the event remain on the community: not only the artist who will be illustrating your fic, but also other authors and artists who are participating, and our readers. After the event has ended, you are free to gpose and otherwise illustrate your own work to your heart's desire!matching & collaboration
➊ can i sign up with an artist/author?
most authors and artists will be matched anonymously. however, as we had some interest in allowing teams to sign up as a team, there will be an option to do so on the sign-up form.
➋ i am concerned about matching with content i am uncomfortable with. what can i do about this?
authors will be required to provide a complete listing of content warnings, summary, rating, and other fic information so that artists can match with content that suits their comfort level. artists will also have the option to note which fics/content they do not want to be matched with.
➌ how much creative control do i have in this collaboration?
each respective creator has creative control over their work. authors make all final decisions about their fics; artists make all final decisions about their art. while you may collaborate together, this is not a commission.
➍ What happens if a fic cannot be matched with an artist?
the tl;dr is that we will try our best to find a match, one fic to one art. please read more about the approach here.
➎ How will artists illustrate OCs/WoLs?
By nature, big bangs are supposed to be a collaboration, so we encourage artists and authors to work together to create works that speak to each other; HOWEVER, authors have final control over their words, and artists have final control and decision-making over their illustrations. Artists will illustrate as they think best. The artist has full discretion to choose the scene/aspect/etc—including how a WoL/OC will be depicted (or not). (read a longer explanation here.)beta readers & pinch hitters
➊ do you assign beta readers?
ffxivbb does not assign beta readers. however, there will be a pool of beta readers authors may ask for assistance or authors may utilize the discord to find a beta reader.
➋ do i need to work with a beta reader?
ffxivbb highly recommends having a beta help with grammar spelling, plot holes, and generally polishing your work. ffxivbb will not assign a beta but will try to help you locate one if needed. you can work with a beta affiliated with the challenge or not, it's up to you.
➌ participants may sign up as any permutation of author, artist, pinch hitter, or beta reader. there are no restrictions on how many categories an individual may sign up for.

• about & basics
• 2022 schedule
• rules & eligibility: authors
• rules & eligibility: artists
• sign up
• faq
• home

contact:
please use the official big bang channels for questions regarding the challenge. (i.e. please do not DM the mods or send a message via platforms not listed here.)• email @ [email protected]
• discord - check the sign-up confirmation email for the link
• twitter dm @ ffxivbb [no longer a preferred method]

dylan (reclamation)
head mod • they/them
tired gay; writer; ffxiv enthusiast
[ ao3 • twitter • tumblr ]

highconcept
mod • he/they
bi disaster; local lalafell; writer
[ ao3 • tumblr ]