djhedy

[djhedy]

AFTG Mixtape FAQs are updated!

Q. What is Mixtape?

This is a gift exchange for AFTG fan writers and artists - with a twist! Instead of traditional prompts, you submit one song that is meant to be inspiration for your gift. One song and one relationship - that’s it! That’s the prompts! You create a gift, you receive a gift in return. 

Q. Can I pick any song?

You can pick any song that you can link to on Spotify. At the end of the event we will make one long playlist and several themed playlists on Spotify. 

Q. Who are the mods for this event?

Your friendly neighborhood mods are Zan (justadreamfox) and Mandi (likearecord).

Q. What support is available to creators?

We have a Mixtape discord server! It is a great space to sprint with other creators, find alphas and betas, and to ask Zan and Mandi questions. Mixtape participants will receive a link to join the server in your assignment email. 

Q. Why are there only 75 spaces in the exchange?

Short answer: for Zan’s sanity.  Long answer: we adore this exchange and all the brilliant art and writing that comes out of it, but the administrative end gets hectic. Humans are gonna human, which means there are inevitably ghosts and withdrawals and pinch-hitters to find. Last year we had upwards of 110 participants, which was fantastic to be a part of but also a lot to keep rolling smoothly alongside full-time jobs and full-time lives. We’re hoping this limit will preserve not only the aforementioned sanity, but participant confidence that they will receive a timely gift in exchange for their efforts.

Q. What if I don’t like the song I get?

You may indeed receive a prompt song that doesn’t align with your taste. Or you may feel like the song dictates a plot that you don’t want to write, or art you don’t want to create.. Or you may feel like the song doesn’t give you enough to work with. These challenges are part and parcel of Mixtape! If listening to the song a bunch and obsessing over the lyrics doesn’t work, reach out to us—we’ll dig into the song and brainstorm with you. We do ask that you sign up for Mixtape with a sense of adventure: not liking your song is not a reason to drop out of the event!

Q. Why was the word count requirement raised to 5k?

We never meant for Mixtape to be a freshman event. It’s a tricky challenge to create a gift for someone based on only one song and only one relationship option. Now that the seasonal AFTG exchange is back up and running twice a year (with lower minimums and wider prompt options), we wanted to set this event somewhat apart as something that creators mindfully take on with excitement to rise to the challenge and create something more substantial. 

Q. Why do I have to have posted a work comparable to the minimum in order to participate?

An exchange event with specific deadlines can feel like a lot more pressure than just creating something for fun on your own time. Our ghosts tend to be people who have never written anything to completion or posted their art before, so we’re hoping this qualification will reduce the likelihood that participants buckle under the task. 

Q. Who are these ghosts you keep talking about?

The bane of Zan’s existence. Kidding. Mostly. Ghosts are creators who sign up for the event, receive an assignment, and then disappear without any communication and without posting their gift. 

Q. Why isn’t there a 5k equivalent for artists?

There are so many variables in art and style and so many possibilities for ways to approach the art that it would be impossible to set parameters in the same way we can with word count. Luckily, fan artists are amazing; we trust that our artists will invest a comparable amount of care in their creations. 

Q. Why are kudos and commenting on gifts required? What if I don’t like my gift?

Your writer or artist has put in many hours to craft something custom for you in the hopes that it will scratch your itch. We believe they deserve acknowledgement of their work. Even if you don’t like your gift, it’s good humaning to thank them. You don’t have to leave a long, gushing comment, but some appreciation of their efforts goes a long way.

Q. What is this new b-sides thing?

Some of us participate in fandom in a way other than creating the kinds of things exchanges usually involve. You know the ones who engage with everything and leave beautiful comments and post incredible headcanons? We want to give these much-beloved people the opportunity to receive a gift in appreciation of their appreciation. Thus, these bonus tracks.  Creators, you will see a new part of the sign-up form that asks if you’d be interested in being in the pool of possible writers and artists who will take on one of these gifts. Checking this box does not mean you are obligated to create a second gift, but it may mean you are offered the opportunity to create a second gift. The minimum word count for these gifts will be decreased to 2.5k with comparable art investment. Appreciators, for every 10 creations you engage with, you will have the opportunity to submit an entry into a drawing for your very own Mixtape gift. The specific requirements for an “engagement” will be shared before the posting period begins. After the posting period closes, we will draw three names from this pool and match the winners with a creator who will take the new song prompt and turn it into fic or art.

Q. What if my question wasn’t answered here?

Drop us an ASK if you are okay with the answer being posted publicly - this also gives you the opportunity to ask anonymously.  Otherwise, slide into our DMs on Twitter (aftgmixtape), tumblr (aftg-mixtape), or send a good old fashioned email (aftgmixtape@gmail.com).

[djhedy]

AFTG Mixtape Vol. 5

We are so excited for our FIFTH year of AFTG Mixtape!

SAVE THE DATES

Signups Open: Nov 10, 2024 Signups Close: Dec 8, 2024 Assignments Out: Dec 16, 2024 (at the latest) Posting: Feb 2-16, 2025

CHANGES COMING THIS YEAR

Minimum word count increased to 5k for fics | Comparable expectation for art

Must have posted art or fic at or above the minimum in the previous 12 months

Kudos and commenting on your gift will be required

Sign ups will be capped at 75 participants

We will be putting together a more comprehensive FAQ about these changes closer to the sign up date.

Questions? Send us an ASK!

Your mods,

Zan | justadreamfox + Mandi | likearecord

[djhedy]

Andrew "That doesn't mean I wouldn't blow you" Minyard

[djhedy]

[djhedy]

🦊🥍Andrew takes Neil’s breath away (2/6)

2nd endpaper design for @rainbowcratebookbox ‘s special edition of aftg by Nora Sakavic ( @korakos)

Inspired by the scene in foxhole court where Neil decks it XD

[djhedy]

Dadmack and little man

[djhedy]

The raven king, chapter ten

"How interesting," they say.

(and they say it a lot)

(i'm not kidding. the entirety of the first two books is just both of them saying how interesting the other is. it's suffocating.)

Another medicated Andrew! And black haired Neil!

The two first books hold such bangers, and clearly not enough people ramble about them. I'm a sucker for the relationship they have afterwards obviously, but even before that they're hilarious. Many underrated scenes that could be worth drawing.

Also I underestimated how Neil dress and presents himself - like: he wears oversized, worn out and faded, preferably light-colored clothes; messy curlyish hair with bangs; sports hoodies; JORTS-

... He's got a banger style actually.

[djhedy]

might as well start putting them all together !

I'll add to this as I go.

[djhedy]

I got them therapy for their birthday

HBD to the Minyard twins and also to me~ :)

[djhedy]

plz n thanku

"should we tell authors on ao3 when we have discord conversations about their fics" i don't speak for everyone here but if y'all ever find a group chat discussing my fics you can should must and WILL send me screenshots of the whole damn thing. inflate my ego. gimme

[djhedy]

this is insanely Kevin coded I fear

[djhedy]

not that I expect anyone to care but I'm back? ish? sort of? maybe? I am also dabbling in bluesky - djhedy :)

[djhedy]

For the @aftgexchange fall exchange, I was paired with @djhedy with the prompts, "enemies to lovers with benefits" and "two people try to hide a relationship and do so badly", as well as any/any Fox. I decided to challenge myself by writing some Kevin/Dan/Matt. Kevin, drama queen that he is, decided to take this into his own hands.

I hope you enjoy! This was fun to write

[djhedy]

My darling Shuri needs to undergo dental surgery. Any donations/reblogs are greatly appreciated! Thank you for your kindness.🧡

[djhedy]

oh my god LOOK AT HIM

thanku thistle this is so beautiful😍

remembering neils obnoxious orange sweater from @annawrites and @djhedy ‘s fic ‘a different matter’ with so much fondness today <3

[djhedy]

Then & Now is a fest for the All For The Game fandom, accepting fic, art (any medium!) and podfic. 

Our only requirement is that your creations focus on canonverse (either before and during the original timeline — “Then” — or post-canon — “Now”). Otherwise it’s entirely up to you what pairing or pairings (or none at all — your creations don’t have to feature romantic/sexual pairings at all) you want to feature, what length/medium and what rating you want to go for.

TIMELINE

The prompting period will be from July 18th to July 24th, and the prompting list will be available to browse the moment prompts start rolling in.

The sign-up period starts on July 25th. You can either claim a prompt or sign-up with your own idea.

Artists, writers and podficcers will then have until the deadline on October 20th to finish and post their creations.

And FINALLY what we all really want to hear is that posting starts on October 22nd.

Reveals will be up a few days after the last work posts and then we can all finally chat about our creations openly!

PROMPTING

Prompting will open on July 18th, and will end on July 24th.

You can prompt as many ideas as you’d like using our prompting form.

Once you open the form, you’ll be asked for the following info:

- what time period your prompt fits (“Then” or “Now”);

- pairing (if applicable)

- your prompt (this can be as detailed or as vague as you want it to be)

- if your prompt is nsfw (so that creators browsing the prompts can filter those out if they want)

- your ao3 username (optional)

This fest isn’t an exchange so all prompts are there for inspiration in the first place. Creators do not have to include every single detail of a prompt if they pick it, but do have to use the main idea as a starting point for their works. If you leave your ao3 username when prompting, the creators can choose to gift the fic to you, though this isn’t at all a requirement.

Note that if you’re wanting to write your own idea, you don’t have to prompt it and then claim it later. There will be an option for self-prompting once sign-ups open!

SIGN-UPS/CLAIMING

Sign-ups will open on July 25th. We don’t currently have a closing date for claiming.

The sign-up form will ask you for your name, ao3 username and an email we can use to contact you.

You’ll be asked to specify if you’re creating art or fic, and if you’re claiming a prompt or self-prompting.

You can then pick a prompt from the list to claim if that’s what you’re doing, or leave a short description of your idea if you’re self-prompting.

For the sake of the form, podfics count as art. If you’re podficcing, please leave the link to the original fic in the prompt box.

There will also be a box for any questions/comments/concerns.

The prompts left during the prompting period will only be available for claiming once for art and once for fic. 

The option to sign-up as a team (either co-writers or writer+artist) will be available. Co-writers will be asked to sign-up only once, and leave the information that you’re co-writing in the questions/comments/concerns box. Writer and artist teams will be asked to each sign-up individually, but let us know that you are collaborating in the questions/comments/concerns box, too.

Creators will be limited to one prompt only, but you are welcome to pick a second prompt after you finish and submit your first work.

CREATING

Submissions must be completely new and finished works. Unfortunately, this means no sequels for previous fics or comics you may have, and no finishing WIPs you’ve already started posting.

Even though this is an anonymous fest, we understand the rampant issue that is reposting and art stealing, so all artists are allowed to submit watermarked/signed works. You will also be given the option to take part in the fest and post your work to the collection, but for it to be posted after reveals, so it’s never anonymous.

There is no minimum word count for fics. We trust that you know the best way to tell your story, and only ask that your works are tagged appropriately and follow the prompt.

Having your fics beta-read isn’t a requirement, but if you’d like yours beta-read and don’t know how to reach out to a beta reader feel free to ask the modding team and we can get you in touch with someone!

Podficcers are welcome to choose any fic previously posted on Ao3 that fits the Then & Now theme to read/record, as long as the original poster allows for podfics of their work to be made.

As we mentioned before, the fest will be posting anonymously so we ask you to be creative when sharing wip snippets. We trust you to know what would easily identify your fic once it posts and what is vague enough to slip through the cracks ;)

We will NOT be accepting AI-generated art or fic.

DEADLINE; CHECK-INS, EXTENSIONS AND POSTING

We will be emailing every participant during the creation period, but your final deadline for posting is October 20th. You can submit your work as soon as you have it done, though.

You’ll get detailed instructions for posting to the collection via email, and we’ll post those on both tumblr and twitter closer to the posting date.

We’ll be sending every participant a couple of check-in emails, but these aren’t as scary as they sound! We won’t be asking you to show us what you’ve got, or how much you have already. 

If you need to drop out, please don’t hesitate and do not feel guilty. Shit happens, we get it. We only ask that you do it as early as possible, so we can adjust the posting schedule accordingly. If you need a few days past the deadline to finish, we should be able to give people extensions too, so just keep us in the loop.

It is our priority above all that everyone enjoys taking part, so we’re here to minimise stress and worries.

When posting, don’t forget to add AFTG Then & Now 2023 as one of your tags and post your work to the collection — this will make sure it remains anonymous and hidden until we release it out into the world. Please don’t leave any references that reveal who you are before the anon period is over. You can add all your usual social media links, etc. after reveals. 

You can find the collection here, and you’ll be able to find it when posting if you type AFTG_thenandnow on the “Post to Collections / Challenges” section.

There will also be a form to fill in with your name, the title of the work you submitted and the link to the work, that you can fill once you’ve posted. The link to this will be shared with you in the posting instructions email :)

(A little note: after you hit post the work will be hidden in the collection until we reveal it, so the easiest way to get to it should you want to edit or just to copy the link is to go through your stats page.)

But don’t worry, we will be reinforcing all of this as we go along!! This is just so you have all the information in one place!

Once your work posts, remember to change the date to the day it’s posted so it appears on top of the list for your pairing/the fandom. 

We will be giving everyone a few days after the last work posts to catch up, and then FINALLY reveals will happen :) 

If you have any issues at any point, we’re here to help and to answer any doubts or questions. Do keep in mind we all live in different timezones and are unfortunate victims to the capitalist grindset. If you DM/ask/email us, we promise to get back to you ASAP.

We hope you have lots and lots of fun!!

Your mods,

Marion, Nikki, Róisín, and Rory

[@decaflondonfog, @rainsoakedhello, @jaywalkers, and @mostlymaudlin]

[djhedy]

There's a lot of great things about Nimona but my absolute FAVORITE thing was Ballister's character design. Specifically the fact that they made him have the huge sad eyes which just made him the embodiment of this the entire movie

I mean LOOK AT THIS SHIT IM LOSING MY MINDDDD

(Screenshot of a gif by @savagegood)