F.A.Q:

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1. General
2. Prompting (for Glompees)
3. Claims & Fills (for Glompers)
4. Beta Requirements

1. GENERAL

1. So, what exactly is a Glompfest?A GLOMPFEST is a gifting fest designed to give fandom creators (e.g. fic writers and fanartists) a way to show their appreciation for readers, lurkers, and other fans who wouldn’t otherwise qualify to receive gift fic or art in a traditional exchange fest. This particular Glompfest is designed specifically to celebrate the Merthur fandom.2. What's the difference between a Glomper and a Glompee?A GLOMPEE is a reader, lurker, commenter, or other Merthur fan who wouldn't usually get to participate in a fandom fest, such as a newcomer to the fandom or an old hand who hasn't posted in a while. Glompees provide prompts, which are then filled by the GLOMPERS, otherwise known as creators.3. Okay, so how do I know which one I am?Have you:
- contributed/received a gift (fic or art) as part of an exchange fest within the last 2 years?
- written & posted more than 5k of Merthur fic, fest or otherwise, within the last 2 years?
- created & posted more than 3 Merthur artworks, fest or otherwise, within the last 2 years?If you answered YES to ANY of these questions, you're a **GLOMPER **(gifter).
If you answered NO to ALL of these questions, you're a GLOMPEE (giftee).

4. I participated in Glompfest as a Glompee last year. Does that mean I now qualify as a Glomper?Assuming nothing else has changed, no! That criterion refers to traditional exchange fests such as the Camelot Drabble Holiday Exchange or Merlin Holidays, where you create something for someone else and also receive a gift. Unless you've since participated in another exchange fest, or the other criteria now apply, you're still a Glompee and are more than welcome to sign up again.5. What counts as "artwork" for the purposes of this fest?"Artwork" in this case includes both traditional and digital art, as well as graphics such as manips, fanvids and gifsets. To count as a single artwork, each gifset must include at least 3 gifs and be Merthur-focused; likewise, a fanvid must be at least 1 minute long and focused on Merlin and Arthur's relationship. However, we know that styles can vary, so if you don't meet the requirements but still want to sign up as a Glomper, please get in touch with us to discuss things further! (Please note that AI generated images do not qualify as artwork for this fest)6. What if I've posted enough BBC Merlin fanworks to be a Glomper, but it's gen / a different pairing or moresome?In that case, you can choose to sign up as either a Glomper or a Glompee. However, please remember that this is a Merthur-specific fest, which means you will need to either provide a Merthur prompt or create a Merthur fill in order to participate.7. I create a type of content not mentioned here. Can I still sign up?Absolutely! We know there are a lot of different types of talented creators out there, so if you create a type of content we haven't mentioned here, please email us to discuss the ways you can participate in the fest.8. What if I want to be a Glomper but don't meet the criteria?If you don't meet the criteria, then you'll need to sign up as a Glompee—or you can offer your services as a Beta! However, if there are enough unclaimed prompts after the first round of claiming, we will consider opening them up to all interested parties.9. I'm also participating in another BBC Merlin fest. Do you allow crossposting?In general, we are in favour of cross-posting with other fests, provided that:a) the other fest's rules allow it, too;
b) you are able to meet the relevant minimum requirements for both fests;
c) the Glompee's likes/dislikes/prompt request are given priority; and
d) you don't reveal which prompt you've claimed or share your fill elsewhere until the fest has ended.However, because this is a gifting fest, we ask that Glompers please claim a prompt they feel they can do justice to, rather than because it fits some other requirements. If your fill so happens to work for another fest as well, you're welcome to crosspost once Glompfest has ended, but intentionally shoehorning in some other element or otherwise modifying a prompt so it will work for another fest is generally discouraged.10. Sounds great! How do I sign up?Simple! Just head on over to our sign-ups page and fill out the relevant form.

2. PROMPTING (FOR GLOMPEES)

1. How do I submit a prompt?Glompees will be able to submit up to two (2) prompts along with their sign-up information on the Glompfest sign-up form. All you have to do is fill in the boxes provided and hit submit.2. What are the requirements for prompts?There are only two (2) rules when it comes to prompts:1. Merthur (Merlin/Arthur Pendragon) must be the main pairing and/or endgame.
2. You must not submit a Mature/Explicit prompt if you are under 18.Beyond that, there are no content restrictions—prompts may include whatever tropes, kinks, genres, or AUs your heart desires.3. Can I include non-Merthur pairings/moresomes in my prompt(s)?This is a Merthur-specific fest. While pre-Merthur relationships and/or non-Merthur side pairings/moresomes are allowed, Merlin/Arthur should be endgame and/or the main focus of your prompt(s).4. Where will the prompts be hosted?We will be using Google Forms to collect sign-up information and host this year's prompts.5. I made a mistake / have a better idea! Can I edit my prompt(s) or info?You should receive an email notification that will allow you to edit your sign-up form until the sign-ups close. Alternatively, please email the mods so that we can update your info directly.6. What if no one claims my prompt(s)?Unfortunately, we can't guarantee that every prompt will be claimed or that all claimed prompts will receive a completed fill. However, if there are a significant number of unclaimed prompts after the first claiming period has ended, we will open things up for a second round of claiming. Our hope is that everyone who signs up will receive at least one gift.7. My prompt was claimed. Now what?Sit back, relax, and wait for your gift to be posted! Gifts reveals will begin on April 1. We will also post a link to each fill on Tumblr, and send you an email with the AO3 link so that you know when your gift has been posted.If you don't hear from us, it's possible your Glomper dropped out or was unable to meet their posting date, in which case your gift may be posted during the Amnesty period. Please wait until after Amnesty has concluded before getting in touch with any questions.8. Yay! My gift has been posted. What do I do now?Ideally, we hope you will thank your Glomper and let them know how much you love their work. You are also welcome to email your feedback to the mods and we will pass it along to the creator(s) if you prefer not to do so directly. However, we understand that interacting online is not always easy for everyone, so commenting is not a requirement for this fest.

3. CLAIMS & FILLS (FOR GLOMPERS)

1. How do I claim a prompt?Once sign-ups have closed, Glompers will be asked to read through the prompt list and select their top three (3) prompts via the claiming form. Prompts will then be assigned on a first come, first served basis.You're welcome to ask a proxy to claim in your stead for whatever reason. However, please make sure they submit the correct contact details so that we can get in touch with you.2. Can I claim whatever prompt I like?Not exactly. This is a gifting fest, not a prompt meme, which means that your Glompee's wishes should be taken into account as well as your own preferences.Please only claim a prompt if:i) it is something you feel comfortable with and are able to complete, AND
ii) you intend to respect the Glompee's requested rating, likes and dislikes.NB: Some of our participants are minors. For that reason, we ask that you ensure your fill(s) do not go beyond the rating limits requested. Likewise, please do not attempt to claim a Mature/Explicit-rated prompt if you are under 18.3. What if someone has already claimed the prompt I want?At present, only one Glomper may fill each prompt. If your first choice is unavailable, you'll be given your second (or third) choice. If all of your prompts have already been claimed, we will contact you and ask you to select another set of unclaimed prompts.4. What if there are no more prompts / I can't find one I like?In that case, feel free to put your name down as a pinch-hitter, and we will contact you if another Glomper drops out and/or a prompt becomes available.5. There are too many amazing prompts! Can I create more than one gift/fill?Glompers may only claim one (1) prompt to begin with. However, if enough prompts remain unclaimed at the end of the first round, we will open things up to a second round of claiming.Please be mindful of the work involved and only claim an additional prompt if you will be able to complete it before the deadline.6. What happens after I claim a prompt?We will send you a confirmation email with the name(s) of your Glompee(s), their prompt(s), and any additional information they have provided about their likes and dislikes. Then you get to work creating their gift!7. What are the requirements for a gift/fill?FANFIC: 500 words minimum (no maximum). Fics must be beta'd before submission.
FANART: At least one (1) completed sketch or drawing. Colour optional, but preferred!
OTHER: Please contact the mods to discuss the requirements for other types of fanwork.All fanworks must be stand-alones (i.e. not prequels, sequels, or parts of a series), and must NOT be generated using AI.8. Can I include non-Merthur pairings/moresomes in my fill?This is a Merthur-specific fest, so while pre-Merthur relationships and/or non-Merthur side pairings/moresomes are fine, Merlin/Arthur should be endgame and the main focus of your fanwork.9. So, how closely do I have to stick to the prompt, then?Ideally, as closely as possible. At minimum, you will need to make sure you DO NOT:i) exceed the requested rating limits.
ii) include anything from your Glompee's Do Not Want (DNW) list.Beyond that, you don't have to include everything your Glompee likes in the fic or follow the exact letter of the prompt (within reason), but please do your best to create something they will enjoy based on the info you have available. If you have any questions for your Glompee, ask the mods and we'll contact them on your behalf.10. How do I submit my gift/fill?Gifts/fills should be posted to the 2023 AO3 Collection when completed, where they will remain hidden until revealed by the mods in April. We will provide a Posting Guide with additional information on how this works closer to the deadline.11. Speaking of deadlines...what do I have to do and when?20 FEB: Check-in (mandatory).
- All Glompers must confirm participation and update us on their progress via Google Forms. If we don't hear back from you by 1 March, we'll assume that you've dropped out and will reassign your prompt(s).
- If you don't already have a beta, now is the time to get one!15 MARCH: Submissions due.
- Glompers must submit either a link to their completed work (posted in our AO3 Collection) or a copy of their current draft and an estimated completion date. It's okay if you're still editing or working with a beta, but all fanworks need to be in the final stages by this point.1 APRIL: Posting begins.
- The posting schedule will be finalised by the mods and shared with you. All fanworks will need to be complete (including betaing and any subsequent editing) before they are revealed on AO3, so if you won't be done by your assigned date let us know ASAP.12. Can I post my work before the deadline?You may post to the AO3 Collection at any point prior to your assigned date, but please don't share your work elsewhere (other than with your beta) until it has been revealed by the mods. This includes posting snippets and the like where your Glompee might see them—we want their gift to be a surprise!13. What if I don't think I can finish on time?Please contact the mods ASAP to ask for an extension. We will do our best to accommodate you, so long as you keep in touch and can give us an estimated completion date. However, we are limited in the amount of leeway we can give you, so please be realistic with your time frame!If you are unable to complete your work in time despite arranging for an extension, let us know ASAP so we can adjust our timetable accordingly. You will then have until the end of Amnesty Week to post your work to the AO3 Collection. If we don't hear from you and/or you post your fill after Amnesty has ended, it will not be included in the yearly Master List.14. What if I have to drop out?Please contact the mods ASAP so that we can arrange a pinch-hitter for your prompt(s).Anyone who drops out after the mandatory check-in without informing the mods (i.e. by ghosting us) will not be eligible to participate next year.15. My gift has been revealed but my Glompee has not responded. What can I do?Unfortunately, not a lot. While we do our best to ensure that each Glompee is notified of their gift(s) at the time of posting, commenting is not a requirement for the fest and some of them choose not to do so for various reasons. While we understand that this can disappointing for Glompers, the nature of the fest means that it does happen from time to time.

4. BETA REQUIREMENTS

1. Uh...what's a beta?A BETA READER is someone who reads through a fic before it is posted in order to help the writer fix any spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors. Depending on the beta, they may also check for plotholes, pacing, and characterisation, and help the writer polish their work to make sure it flows and/or makes sense. Some people also call this "alpha reading," but for our purposes it amounts to the same thing.An ART BETA has a similar function, but for artwork rather than fic.2. Do I have to have a beta?If you intend to create a fanfic for your Glompee, then yes, you will need a beta reader. All fest fics MUST be beta'd (by someone other than the author) before they are posted to AO3.As art betas can be harder to find, artists are not required to have one for the fest. However, we do strongly encourage you to check out the list of beta volunteers and/or find someone who can give you constructive feedback on your work before posting.3. Help! I don't have a beta. How do I find one?A list of those lovely people who have volunteered to beta for the fest can be found here, so feel free to contact one of them to see if they're available. Make sure to let them know:
- the details of your fanwork (prompt, rating, length, and warnings, as applicable).
- what you need from them (SPaG, red-lining, etc.) and when you need it by.You're also welcome to ask a fandom friend or check out the Merlin Betas Comm on LJ for someone who can help. Just make sure you leave enough time to revise your work before the deadline!4. What if I want to be a beta?Then we'd love to have you! There are no special requirements for being a beta, so all you need to do is fill out the sign-up form here to add your details to our database. A participant will then contact you if/when they need your help.If you want to sign up as both a Glomper and a beta, that's fine, but you will need to fill out both the beta form and the ordinary sign-up form to participate. However, if you are already participating as a Glompee, please do not sign up as a beta (or vice versa). We don't want you to wind up betaing your own gift by mistake!5. Does signing up mean I have to accept every beta request I receive?No. You are free to decline any beta request for any reason (though please be polite about it!). Signing up as a beta in no way constitutes an obligation to beta any specific work for the fest.6. If I do accept a beta request, what do I need to do?Your creator should be able to tell you what they're looking for in terms of feedback, but beyond that, please try to keep in regular contact with them and make sure you give them enough time to complete any changes or revisions before the fest deadline.7. I agreed to beta someone's fanwork but now I can't / I need to drop out or amend my sign-up details. What should I do?Please contact the mods and let your creator know ASAP if you won't be able to finish betaing their work before the deadline.We are happy to edit or remove your sign-up information for whatever reason, but it's important that we know what's going on so that your creator(s) can make other arrangements. Betas who ghost us or their creator(s) will not be eligible to participate in the fest next year.

2024 SCHEDULE

SIGN-UPS:OPEN: 1 January
CLOSE: 15 JanuaryPROMPT CLAIMING:FIRST ROUND: 16 – 22 January
SECOND ROUND: 25 – 31 January (if required)GLOMPER DEADLINES:✅ CHECK-IN: 20 February (‼️ mandatory ‼️)

- This check-in is a requirement for all participating Glompers. If we don't hear back from you, we will assume you have dropped out and your prompt(s) will be reassigned.

🗳 SUBMISSIONS DUE: 15 March

- Participants will need to submit either a link to their completed work (posted in our hidden AO3 Collection) or a copy of their current draft and an estimated completion date. It's okay if you're still editing or working with a beta, but all fanworks should be in the final stages by this point.

🎁 POSTING BEGINS: 1 Apr

- The mods will finalise the posting schedule and reveals will begin on 1 April. Participants will need to ensure their work is finished and posted to the AO3 Collection prior to their assigned date.

🕊 AMNESTY: May (if required)

- Pinch hitters or anyone who has an agreed-upon extension may post during this period. Fills must be posted before Amnesty ends to be included in this year's Master List.

SIGN-UPS ARE NOW CLOSED!

Thank you to everyone who signed up! You should receive an email from us soon with further information about the claiming process.Missed the sign-up window but still want to participate?Beta sign-ups will remain open indefinitely and you are welcome to email us if you'd like to become a pinch-hitter.

BETA LIST

Here you will find our database of participants who have volunteered to beta as part of the fest.If you're looking for a beta, you're welcome to contact anyone on this list to see if they are available. You will need to contact them with:
+ details of your fanwork (prompt, rating, length, warnings, &c)
+ what you need them to do (SPaG, redlining, &c)
+ when you need it done by (ideally before April 1!)Betas may decline any request for any reason. However, just as a reminder, please make sure you:
+ check the beta is comfortable with NSFW content if applicable;
+ let them know of any content warnings in advance.Please do not request or accept betaing work for a Mature/Explicit-rated fanwork if you are under 18.To sign up as a beta, please fill out the sign-up form here.

• Beta List