New Rule: Fool Me Once . . .

[sfbbmod]

Before the next round begins, I wanted to let everyone know that we will be instituting a new disqualification rule with regard to authors/artists who drop out of Small Fandoms Bang without letting anyone know.

We’ve had an issue with both authors and artists signing up to participate and then disappearing without a word since the beginning of time this challenge. It’s the kind of thing that happens with these sorts of comms, but it’s also kind of a pain, to be honest, and it sucks when it leaves me scrambling for a pinch hit artist or an author doesn’t get artwork at all because their artist bailed without letting them or the mod know they needed to withdraw from the challenge.

Let me emphasize that there is NO PENALTY for WITHDRAWING so long as you contact me to let me know that you have to withdraw. Real life happens. We all get that.

However, for those authors/artists who henceforth disappear without a word¹, there will be a penalty imposed:

~Your first infraction means that you will not be eligible for the next round.
~Your second infraction means that you will not be eligible for any further rounds (ie, you’ll be banned from participating altogether).

From here on out, that’s it; you get two chances.

¹ There will be an exception for those authors/artists who do have a very good reason for not being in contact. That means it very well might take a note from your doctor or parents.

Thank you.

Comments

[starry-wolf.livejournal.com]

Sorry, can I confirm something - if I register as an author in September, but then has to drop out without submitting a draft / register as an artist, but does not claim anything - do these count as infractions as well?

[sfbbmod]

There is NO PENALTY for WITHDRAWING so long as the author/artist CONTACTS ME to let me know that they have to drop out.

That said, the penalty for disappearing without a word will apply to both authors and artists equally. It would be unfair to penalize artists only. Disappearing authors might leave an artist without fic (which has happened before), but even if that’s not the case they causes me to do extra work trying to contact them. Even before rough drafts are due.

The rules might say that someone missing a check-in will be deemed to have dropped out, but I still do everything I can to make sure that the author/artist didn’t merely forget, including sending out e-mails to everyone who doesn’t check in, because I don’t want anyone to be disqualified for that round if I can help it. Sometimes I get a response to my e-mail – either someone did forget, or they meant to let me know they had to drop out – and other times it’s like I sent the e-mail out into a black hole. It’s really not that difficult for someone to let me know that they’re dropping out, especially when all they have to do is hit reply.

So, long answer short, if an author disappears without contacting me, even before rough drafts are due, then the penalty will apply.

[starry-wolf.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's completely understandable, thanks for the clarification!

[sfbbmod]

You're welcome!

[imera.livejournal.com]

I love this!! I've often wondered why not more fests/big bangs don't do this, maybe on fests less severe punishments.

In the last round I couldn't sign up as a pinch hitter because of the crazy size of the story I was already creating for, but I should be more ready this round.

ETA: yes, I also think writers should be punished as well, I remember one round which the author never posted their story, I don't know if I posted it either

[sfbbmod]

It has been very frustrating!

You had the fic that was over 100,000 words, right? Understandable that you couldn't do more. *g*

[imera.livejournal.com]

Yes, the fic was 200k, it was crazy long and because I was also trying to finish up several things myself I feared I wouldn't make it, but I did (when I set the goal of reading at least 10k each day in two weeks)

I'll be ready this time :D

[zippitgood.livejournal.com]

Hey, I just wanted to make sure I'm eligible to sign up. I'm not sure I have in the past or not but memory's a tricky thing.

[sfbbmod]

You're eligible! I don't recall past this last round, but even those folks are being given a pass since I just instituted the new rule -- everyone's starting with a clean slate this round and we'll go from there. *g*

[pamymex3girl.livejournal.com]

I've been thinking about maybe doing this (though I'm not sure yet) I remember signing up last roudn and I remember not being able to finish but I can't quite remember if I send a message or not. I think I did and I think it was even before the artists could choose fics but to be quite honest I'm not entirely sure.

[sfbbmod]

Hi! No worries, you let me know you had to drop out, which I appreciate.

(Even if you hadn't, I'm not counting the last round, even though it was the final straw, so to speak. Since I just instituted the rule, it'll only be going forward.)

I hope you decide to play again this round!

[pamymex3girl.livejournal.com]

Ok. I really had forgotten.

I'm leaning towards joining.