Pod-Together 2020 Rules

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There are different ways to engage with this post: You can read or listen to the audio version. Or you can read along while you listen! UPDATE: Please note that the schedule in the audio is no longer accurate. See the updated schedule below.

Audio of Pod-Together 2020 Rules:

Welcome to pod_together, a challenge where writers and podficcers create together—the writer creating text specifically intended for audio, and the podficcer creating the audio.

While we encourage participants to read the FAQ, here are the basic rules you need to know going in:

Basic Rules

Minimum Length: The minimum length is 1000 words or 10 minutes of audio. A project is only required to meet one of these minimums, and it can be met by either a single longer work or multiple shorter works.

Check-ins: There are 3 mandatory check-ins for those who were matched by mods (those who used Match Maker Sign-ups). Check-ins help you make sure you’re on track to meet your deadlines, give partners specific times to inform each other of progress, and also open up conversations so you can let us know how to best support you. In addition to checking in with mods at this time, participants are required to share their rough drafts/work in progress with their partner(s) at each check-in.

Extensions and Deadlines: Each partner may request only one extension. Extensions of 3 days will be given with no questions asked. If more time is needed, you can receive an extension of up to 7 days total, but you will be required to include a plan for how you intend to finish within that time. Writing out the plan will help you structure your time and keep yourself accountable, and we can use our modly wisdom and experience to give you feedback and ideas that might make your plan even better.

After requesting an extension, you should receive a confirmation from mods when the extension request has been received and approved. If you haven’t gotten a message confirming the date of your extension within 24 hours, please follow up.

Please note that failing to meet the date of your extension counts as an automatic drop-out.

If you fail to meet a deadline without requesting an extension, you will be sent a reminder email and be given a 48 hour grace period in which to meet the deadline. Again, failing to meet that deadline counts as an automatic drop-out. In case of such an event, your partner will be offered a pinch hit and your project will no longer be part of the modded challenge. (There are no long term consequences for dropping out!) You are still welcome to complete your project and submit it as a Party Favor if you’d like.

Final Product: While this challenge primarily produces stories, as long as your submission is a collaboration with an audio component and all group members are happy, the form your submission takes is up to you. This means that meta, filk, or non-narrative poetry, for example, are possible end products.

Posting: Both writers and podficcers will need an AO3 account. If you don't have one already, please let the mods know (pod.together@gmail.com) and we will send you an invite. All projects will be posted to AO3.

Podfics should be included in the same post as the text, at the top of the post. The only exception is audio-only posts, where the text is of course not required.

Please note that groups cannot use a text (or podfic) that has been previously posted, unless it is revised significantly enough to merit a new, separate post that will go up during pod_together reveals.

Reveals happen across the course of ten days, with a few podfics from the collection revealed each day. Mods will make and post a reveal schedule before the first day of reveals.

Hosting: Traditionally all podfics were hosted on paraka's website so we could ensure active downloads/streams, which is still an option for those who want it. However, podfics can now be hosted elsewhere if the group prefers.

Your podfic must be available for listening in both streaming and mp3 download formats. A streaming player directly on the AO3 post is highly recommended, but not required. We will provide tutorials for this, and participants are also welcome to ask for support at any time on the Pod_Together Discord!

If you wish to remove your component of the project at a later date, you are free to do so, but you may not take down your partner’s work without their consent. For those hosting with paraka, if you ever want/need to have a file taken down, please email pod.together@gmail.com.

Remember: This should be an equal collaboration, although ultimately the writer gets the final say over the words of the work and the podficcer gets the final say over the audio.

Timeline

Note: This schedule has been revised from its original version. Please see this post for more information.
Sunday May 24th Match Maker sign-ups open.
Saturday May 30th Group sign-ups open.
Saturday June 13th All sign-ups close.
Sunday June 14th Assignments go out to everybody from Match Maker sign-ups.
Monday June 15th through Friday June 19th Icebreaker week.
Sunday July 5th Check-in #1.
Sunday July 19th Check-in #2.
Wednesday July 22nd Early writing submission date.
Sunday July 26th All writing due.
Sunday August 9th Check-in #3.
Wednesday August 19th Early podfic submission date.
Sunday August 23rd All podfic due.
Thursday August 27th Posting starts.
Saturday September 5th Posting ends, Party Favors due.
Sunday September 6th Party Favors posted.

Major changes from previous years of this challenge

In addition to the early podfic submission date, we have also added an early writing submission date. Like the early podfic submission date, meeting the early writing submission date will help your project have an earlier posting date.

We’ve embedded an audio version of the Rules/FAQ for those who prefer getting information in that format.

We have removed the requirement that projects stay up on AO3 for a year after posting, and replaced it with a rule that you may take down your part of the project at any time but may not ever take down your partner’s part of the project without their consent.

We have specified in the rules that podfics should be included in the same post as the text, at the top of the post.

This year, the Pod_Together Discord will be available for use for all participants from day 1. It is optional, but for participants who choose to use it, we have organized it to be more supportive and useful in a variety of ways!