#'right here right now' you have access to google and i am 8 timezones away asleep

[transmalewife]

What I want you to tell me right here right now is what some good plants would be to plant that enrich the environment but don’t attract too many tics (specifically around the Colorado area)

how the fuck should I know? I live in poland and this is the extent of my gardening space at the moment

[id in alt]

my expertise in this discussion comes from having lyme and knowing how to avoid it, and what types of environements are higher risk than others.

even if i were a botanist, ecologist, environementally responsible farmer etc etc, it would be unlikely that i knew much about your area in particular.

even if i were an expert in your area, you should never take the word of random strangers on tumblr as the basis for a decision that will, to some extent, affect years of your life. the best a random stranger online claiming to be an expert can do is point you in the right direction to do your own research to confirm it. i wish more people had taken 'it requires a lot more research, risk awareness and work to restore biodiversity in your space than just letting things grow wild" from that post. yes, I know i could have made it clearer. I was not expecting it to get more than 30 notes, as very few of my posts ever do. If I did, I would have added a lot more info about tick removal, because i also wish people didn't assume they can get everything need to know to protect themselves from ticks from a random tumblr post. that post was meant to at least scare you into learning more about them, and about the many, many other diseases they carry

and thirdly, even if i were an expert on low ground cover plants native to colorado, it would have taken less effort for you to check the notes on that post, than to send this ask, and wait for my reply, and certainly less effort than it would for me to answer every single one of the hundreds of people asking the same thing.

something i've learned having this post blow up, is that if you see a tumblr post with over 10k notes, any question you may have about it has most likely been long since answered in the notes

here is a reblog chain that may have some of the info you're looking for, and here is a version of this post that includes info on how and why to remove ticks properly, and how to get tested and treated for lyme. there are dozens more replies, tags, and reblogs on the post with more information.

[carry-on-big-bang]

FAQ

Here is a big list of questions that we’ve gotten over the years/ things we want to clarify. We hope that this is a helpful tool for you. Each section has a big section header with individual questions under each of those. The sections are in the order as followed: general, Before signing up, Writer, Artist, Explicit content, Partner problems, Claiming, Dropping out, Check-ins, and Posting.

Who are the mods and where can I find them?

The mod for these events is currently Mod Simon and Mod Autumn. You can find us at @isthisisagoodkiss (Mod Simon) and @angelsfalling16 @Autumn)

What event is happening right now?

Right now we are hosting the Carry On Big Bang 2021, our fourth event.

What does that mean?

A big bang is a collaborative fandom event in which writers and artists come together to create masterpieces. Basically, the writers write a bunch of (usually quite long) fic and the artists choose one each (“claiming”) and make art for the fic. Then it will all be posted more or less at once in an explosion of fanwork.

Before signing up

1. How do I sign up?

We will post a link to the writer google form and artist google form on both tumblr and the discord server. Anyone can apply. You must provide your email, other contact information, and agree to our rules.

2. Do I need experience or a certain age to participate?

No! Though we do ask that participants under 18 do not make explicit fic or art.

3. What is a “pinch-hitter”?

A pinch-hitter is someone who is willing to cover for others. This usually only applies to artists, but is vice versa with writers. If someone drops out we will send an email out to those who said yes to being a pinch-hitter and ask someone to step in.

4. Can I sign up as both an artist and a writer?

Yes!

5. Do I need to have a certain skill level to participate?

No. We welcome all skill levels. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been writing/ creating art for one day or 10 years!

6. How many projects per person?

You can do as many as you would like. We ask you to keep your limits in mind though.

7. Why do you need my tumblr? What about discord? Why both?

We ask for these things because it’s another way to contact participants. We usually only resort to using these when someone hasn’t responded to a check-in through email.

8. What if my contact information changes?

Just send one of the mods a message with your past contact info and what you would like it changed to and we can fix that right up.

9. Will we get reminders about check-ins and posting?

Yes! We send out an email when the check-ins go live and those that haven’t responded once the due date is a day or two away will receive another email. On the final day of the check-in we will send out a reminder through tumblr/discord to those who have still not checked in.

10. I heard there was a discord. What’s that about?

We use our discord as a place to answer questions, bring people together, and give participants a space to talk about their works (without going too much into detail). There are separate channels for artists and writers as well as some general channels. We also have participants who participated in years past who have stuck around.

11. What timezone are dates set in?

PST. That’s where Mod Simon lives and seems like a pretty good “true end of the day” time.

12. What time of day do emails go out?

We don’t have a specific time that emails go out, but it’ll usually be between 9 am and 2 pm PST.

13. What parts of my information will be shared with others?

We will share your email address and tumblr handle with your partner, but nobody else. If you do not have a tumblr, then we will share your discord username and 4 digit code.

14. I missed sign-ups. Can I still participate?

Unfortunately, no. We feel like we give a significant amount of time for people to sign-up. We’d be glad to have you next year, though!

Writer

1. When can I start writing?

You can start writing whenever you want! We suggest that you start before the second check-in on May 1st.

2. How much can I write?

The minimum word count is 4,000 words, but beyond that you have free rein.

3. What happens if my plot changes?

If this happens after you’ve submitted your fic concept and before preview day, send one of the mods a message and fill out the form again. If it happens after teams have been announced just talk to your partner about it.

4. The minimum word count for fics is 4k. How does that work for chaptered fics?

If your first chapter is more than 4k words, then post just that on your day of posting and finish posting after July 31st when all of the posting for the event is complete. If your first chapter is less than 4k words then post as many chapters as it takes for you to get across the 4k words mark on your posting date.

5. What if I don’t know what my word count for my fic will be?

Just give us an estimate. It doesn’t matter to the mods if your mind on this changes, just be sure to talk to your partner.

6. Can we co-write?

Yes! We have a place on the form for you to put the email and tumblr handle of your co-writer. If you have a co-writer, we only need one of you to fill out the check-ins but if both (or more) of you want to do it, you’re welcome! The artist for the cowriters still must fill out the check-ins as usual.

7. Can we write tropes/AUs that have been used in past COBB events?

Of course!

8. How will we send in our fic concepts?

We will send out an email to writers on February 19th with a link to a google form for you to fill out.

9. Can I write AUs, crossovers and the like as well?

Yep!

10. Do I need to include Snowbaz?

No. You can write whatever.

11. Are writers required to have a beta reader?

No.

12. Do I need to have an AO3 account?

You do not, but we recommend it.

Artist

1. What is Preview Day?

Preview Day is the day in which all fic concepts are posted on airtable and available for all artists to see. Claiming has not started yet so this gives artists time to see which fics they might be interested in making art for.

2. When can I start making art?

You can start making art when you know your team. We recommend also talking with your writer about your art.

3. Is there a limit to how much art I can make?

Nope!

Explicit Content

1. Do I need to be a certain age to make explicit content?

We ask that participants under 18 do not make any explicit content.

2. Can I make explicit art?

You can, but we will not have it on the masterpost that you send in. You can, however, post a link to it on that post.

Partner Problems

1. My partner isn’t being respectful. What do I do?

Tell the moderators and we will have a talk to them as well as possibly kick them out of the event.

2. What if my partner doesn’t respond?

Send the mods a message and we will try to contact them.

Claiming

1. How do I claim a fic?

We will send out an email to all artists on February 24th with a link to a google form where you will put your top three fic concepts.

2. Where will the fic concepts be posted for claiming?

On airtable! We will send an email out to artists with a link on February 23rd.

Dropping Out

1. What happens if I want to drop out?

You should communicate with your partner about dropping out and then send us an email at carryonbigbang@gmail.com

2. What happens if my partner drops out?

You will have to decide whether you want to keep going with your project or drop out as well. If you want to drop out, just tell us. If you’d like to keep going we will send out an email asking for someone to step in and work with you. We should have you a new partner within a week.

Check-ins

1. Who needs to fill out the check-ins?

Everyone on your team must fill out the check-ins (unless you have cowriters. Then only one of the cowriters has to fill out the check-ins. More info can be found above in the writer section).

2. When must my response for check-ins be turned in by?

A week after they open. The first check-in must be turned in by March 19th. The second by May 7th. And the 3rd by June 8th.

3. How do check-ins work?

We will send an email out to all participants on the day of the check-in (March 13th, May 1st, and June 2nd) with a link to the check-in. You will fill out the form answering how your progress is coming and if you need help with anything. It should take about 5-10 minutes to fill out each form.

4. What if I don’t have access to the internet when a check-in or posting happens?

If you know prior to the check-in that you won’t have internet access send one of the mods an email and we can give you the form early. If you do not know prior, then message us once you have access again and we’ll be understanding. If this happens during posting your partner can submit your masterpost. Make sure that both people have access to the fic and art!

5. Are check-ins mandatory?

Yes.

6. What if I’m too late to turn in a response for a check-in?

Try not to be too late, especially since we’re giving you a week to submit them, but we’ll be understanding.

7. I’m working on two teams. What should I do for the check-ins?

You should fill out the form once for every team that you’re on. There’s also a place for notes on the form. Be sure to tell us which partner you’re working with for each submission.

Posting

1. When should I post my works?

Posting will take place between June 16th and June 30th. You will be assigned a day to post based on your preferences.

2. Where should I post my works?

You can post them wherever!

3. What will posting look like?

First, you and your partner will post your things where you would like. Then, one of you will compile a masterpost that you will submit to our tumblr and we will post it.

4. Will there be an AO3 collection to add my works to?

Yep! More information about that will come out in June.

5. Is there a certain time of day that our fic/art should be posted?

No but if you can do it before 11 pm PST on your assigned day that would be great.

6. How do I submit my masterpost?

On our blog, there is “Submit your masterpost”. Click on that and it will take you to the place you should put in the masterpost. Make sure to click “submit” at the bottom. The information for what a masterpost should look like will come out in June. If you want another example you can look at older submissions.

7. Why do our projects need to be done by the 3rd check-in?

We have this as a deadline because it means that there is extra time should you need it.

8. What do I do if I think my part of the project won’t be done by the posting date?

Talk to your partner about what you should do and then send a message to the mods, preferably before June 9th.