A new '90s TV fanfic exchange

[brightknightie]

I just learned from senmut's post that there is a 90s_channel_tv_exchange! It looks like perhaps the latest successor to myoldfandom and retrotvexchange...?

Here's how 90s_channel_tv_exchange describes itself:

Timeline:

• Nominations: 25 Jan - 01 Feb
• Sign-ups: 03 Feb - 10 Feb
• Due: 21 May
• Reveals: 28 May

Requirements:

• Minimum 1K words or equivalent art
• Live-action or cartoon fiction TV series that aired at least 1 new episode in any country in the '90s, or were dubbed into English for the first time in the '90s
• Matching is "or" on one medium (art or fic), one fandom, and one relationship field tag
• Nominate 1-4 fandoms and 1-5 single characters or relationship groups per fandom
• "You may request the same fandom multiple times, but a gift is guaranteed only if your requests and offers each have 3 unique fandoms." See the rules for anthology shows and crossovers.
• "Requests are 3-10 fandoms with 1-10 character tags, and Offers are 4-10 offers and 1-10 relationship field tags."

I don't understand this "relationship field tags" system and feel like I'd end up assigned a romance that I can't write, so I'm thinking I won't play, but I will look at the nominations and consider!

Some eligible series: FK, HL, BaTB, TNG, DS9, VOY, XF, BtVS, AtS, QL, E:FC, SG1, DS, Doctor Quinn: Medicine Woman, Sailor Moon, Babylon 5, Farscape, Lois and Clark, Gargoyles, Darkwing Duck, Pinky and the Brain, Batman Beyond, ReBoot and many more...

Comments

[sholio]

I think they just mean they're using the "relationship" field in the AO3 form for matching, so that's where you'll put characters, gen relationships, and ship relationships for requests and offers. It's not different from any other Ao3 exchange except that they're allowing both characters and relationships, so they had to pick either the "character" or "relationship" field to use for both (if that makes sense).

[brightknightie]

Thank you. As I read it, it seemed to say that you could nominate "solo" characters, but could be matched only on the "relationship" field. I haven't done many events via AO3-matching, so I was confused.

[argentum_ls]

To add to what Sholio said, you’d one get assigned any relationship if you offered it. There wouldn’t be any surprises.

It’s the same as any other ao3 exchange except that you can nominate, request, and offer individual characters and/or specific combinations of characters (relationships).

[brightknightie]

Thank you. I haven't done many AO3-matched events, and this one seemed to describe allowing solo characters only in nominations, not matching, so I was confused.

[argentum_ls]

Yeah, it looks like the moderator is working under the assumption that participants will know that Solo: Natalie Lambert (e.g.) is a relationship for matching purposes.

The moderator who started this event is one of the people who mods Yuletide, so he likely is so immersed in “exchange culture” that it seemed obvious to him.

[greerwatson]

It may help if you have a more detailed example, based on FK.

In the "Relationship Field", you get five nominations. These can be written in any of the following formats:

Solo: Natalie Lambert
You're nominating Natalie on her own.

Nick Knight/Natalie Lambert
You're nominating Nick/Nat as a couple, i.e. romantic and/or sexual.

Nick Knight & Lucien LaCroix
You're nominating Nick and LaCroix in a non-sexual (CotK) relationship.

Solo: Worldbuilding (Forever Knight)
You're nominating worldbuilding, specifically in FK.

In each case, you'll specify further details in your prompts, if you go on to request the tag when you sign up.

[brightknightie]

Thank you. I think perhaps this fest didn't describe itself as clearly as I needed. It seemed to say that while you could nominate solo characters, matching was on relationships only. Probably everyone who regularly does AO3 events wasn't confused.

It also seems not to have advertised itself on any of the usual DW communities. I'll suggest that to the moderator and see what happens.

[greerwatson]

If you think you may take part, you should ensure that the things you might be interested in writing/requesting are in the tag set. If you want, I'm sure those of us more familiar with the way these exchanges are run would be glad to help you with formulating the tags correctly.

Up to you, obviously.

[brightknightie]

Thank you! I am thinking about it.

[thefruitbat]

Thanks for explaining. I was equally confused (still am a bit) but this clears it up some.

[argentum_ls]

To hopefully clarify a bit:

The language of Solo: Natalie Lambert is for nomination purposes only, and is used to keep the exchange’s tags differentiated from the general ao3 tags.

In many other exchanges, they use simple or matching. So, if I offered to write the characters “Natalie” and “Nick,” I could be matched to someone who requested “Natalie” or “Nick.” This could be a problem for the match if the person really wanted a “Natalie/Nick” story and didn’t provide any indication that they’d be happy with only one of the characters.

The way this exchange is being set up, a person who wants a “Natalie/Nick” story will have to request the specific relationship “Natalie/Nick.” If I offer “Natalie” and “Nick,” we won’t be matched because “Natalie” is not the same relationship as “Natalie/Nick.”

In other words, it cuts down on avenues of miscommunication (provided people use the tags correctly).

[sholio]

Yeah, chiming in with a bit of additional explanation: AO3 won't let you put "Natalie Lambert" by itself into the "Relationships" field; it'll give you an error, because AO3 has that specific tag already as a character. (And if it does let you, this will cause problems for everyone else using that tag, forever.) The "Solo: Natalie Lambert" language is solely to allow the exchange to get around that. Exchanges may do something similar with "Group: Natalie/Nick" in the "Character" field for similar reasons.

[senmut]

I often sit out the nominations phase, but in this case I read and re-read until I was certain how to nominate. The way the SOLO: CHARACTER works is just to allow them to have the options of both gen and romantic set ups.

And when sign ups happen, I will likely ONLY request solo characters, but use optional details to let the writer assigned know if I can/will tolerate which 'ships I don't mind as background details for the characters I requested. So like, I might say Amanda (okay for 'ships with Blaine, Rebecca, or Duncan) with a focus on Amanda herself, not her relationship? If that makes any sense.

[argentum_ls]

If it's to your taste, you could also request gen relationships that are in the tagset, e.g. Amanda & Rebecca.

Otherwise, I know I'd definitely appreciate notes that indicated which non-requested characters/relationships were welcomed!

[senmut]

I might. It all depends on what is in the final tag set. I am one of the oddballs that always requests differently than I offer.

[argentum_ls]

I am one of the oddballs…

Is that weird? I took it as a given that most people do that.

[senmut]

The band of folks I run with generally nominate, request, and offer all the same... with maybe a safety fandom that can be consumed quickly or that is so large someone is sure to match.

[greerwatson]

Yes, I generally have a heavy overlap between my requests and offers. And that means nominations, too, since I want to be sure the things I want are in the tag set.

In some exchanges, I also write "treats", i.e. extra gifts. There I write more widely, sometimes in fandoms I've never written before (but have read/watched), because the prompt inspires a plot bunny. However, for my formal offers, I take care to play it safe.

[brightknightie]

I also generally request and offer the same fandoms and characters, fwiw... but, again, I haven't done many AO3-matched events, or very large events.

[argentum_ls]

Interesting! Thanks for sharing that.

Most of the people I've had opportunity to talk to who do multi-fandom exchanges seem to split the difference: a couple fandoms that are the same offer/request and a couple that are not.