FAQ

[treatyoself_mod]

What is it?
Treat Yo Self is an exchange designed to reduce your backlog. Creators signup with works that they want to work on, and then are matched to someone who is interested in helping them. You create for six weeks, and then the archive is revealed with your work(s). Simple!

What fandoms are eligible?
All of them. There are absolutely no restrictions on what you can put here. Fandoms, characters, sentient or non-sentient objects, there are no restrictions.

What media is eligible?
All of them.

Are crossovers okay?
Yep.

What about original fic?
Also okay.

Are there any penalties for defaulting?
None. You're your own recipient, after all.

Are there any restrictions on size of works?
Nope. No size restrictions.

Can it be a WIP?
Sure! The only restriction is that it has to be in your backlog for creating.

How will signups work?
Creators will comment to a post outlining generally what their works are about. After the window for creator signups close, I will post the summaries and open it up for cheerleaders to rank which ones they want to cheerlead. From those rankings, I will assign people together. A work can have a maximum of two cheerleaders. If someone is unmatchable for whatever reason then I will post them as a "pinch hit" to garner more attention.

Do I need a cheerleader?
Nope. So long as you're having fun, that's what matters.

Can I bring my own cheerleader?
Sure!

Will there be weekly posts so that you can talk about your works?
Yes! Anonymity doesn't apply so you can be as open about your work as you like. We're all here to support you treating yourself, after all!

Any other questions, drop them in the comments!

Comments

[doranwen]

First, I have to say I am absolutely delighted by this idea. I have such a backlog of WIPs and ideas (mostly WIPs) that I'll start working on, and then peter out because I don't have someone to bounce ideas off, a beta to check my characterization, etc. And they're growing. While there are one or two I've put aside more or less permanently (though I never say never when it comes to fic), most are just waiting for the right person to help me get them back on track and finished!

I do have a couple questions:

1) Will we be posting a description of multiple works and inviting someone to choose one of them, or do we have to pick only one to present to everyone? Because I have a couple that I'm equally happy to just pick one and work on (just to get one of them done!), and someone who would be willing and able to help with one might not be able to help with the other because it's another canon, a different type of fic, contains something they try to avoid, etc. I'd be quite content to just give everyone a "here's the possibilities" and let the cheerleader pick which.

2) Are we specifying *how* we'll be in communication with said cheerleader? For instance, I do really well with live conversation, whether that's IRC, Google IM, or Skype (I'm good with all three). I do not do as well with "turn-based" communication (to borrow a gaming term) such as e-mails, because there's so much back-and-forth I need to do, and I only get a couple times a day to check e-mail (and fewer with actual time to think/respond/write). E-mail would make things drag out for ages, and I'd be concerned about not finishing in time, if it's one of the longer WIPs I have. (Though if there's no penalties for not finishing on time and the cheerleader wants to keep going… I have a couple WIPs I hadn't even considered for this because they would be truly massive - I've already got 10-15k on each one and that's only the start!)

[treatyoself_mod]

You can post as many works as you want to complete for this exchange! If you want to do one, then that is fine, but if you want to post multiple works, then you can sign up with those works. I'll post the summaries for claiming, stripped of identifying details such as potential creators, and then cheerleaders can pick which one they want to do. That said, whatever you post will be matched to a cheerleader!

As for contact with cheerleaders, that's really a matter between the creator and the cheerleader. The initial contact is by email simply because I can then give the creator and their cheerleader(s) relevant contact details and then leave them to it. At this stage I'm reluctant to have a criteria for how creators want to get in contact if only because that would involve a lot more juggling of timezones and availability than I think I'm able to do across an exchange where I'm not sure what the numbers would be. I'd rather leave that sort of thing to the individual participants, as you know your availability and timezone better than I would.

[zdenka]

Can we write more than one thing if we finish the first one?

[treatyoself_mod]

You can! Any works that are not in your signup at the time won't get cheerleaders, but the more works the merrier.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi, I have a quick question!

Will the collection be anonymous at first, with the authors revealed later -- like with a typical exchange? I really hope so, though I do get why if not.

[treatyoself_mod]

The works will not be anonymous. Sorry about that!

[lilliburlero]

I'd just like to ask about the stipulation in the sign-up that we don't 'make reference to already published works you've done (such as "this is the second instalment of my series X") in this summary'

I have a WiP that I've published a few chapters of on AO3, and I'd love to get a kick up the arse to finish it. Would it be OK to sign up with this as long as I don't mention the title or link to it in my sign up? Or should the works for this challenge be entirely unposted (I've got one of those too, so I'm still good to go!)

[treatyoself_mod]

You definitely can sign up with a WIP! You just can't say "this is my WIP X" in your summary, because claims are anonymous.

[zdenka]

I saw on the other post that you'd like a banner, but I didn't want to clutter the sign-up post. What did you have in mind? Or you can email me at zdenka.waldner@gmail.com if that's easier.

[treatyoself_mod]

I'll send you an email! Thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

Does the work have to be posted to A03? A friend thought this might help with my current writer's block issues, but what I need help with is original fiction, and I don't want that on A03.

[treatyoself_mod]

It doesn't! AO3 is the default but if you want to post it elsewhere that is fine too. if you do sign up, drop a note to that effect on your sign up so that I can make a note of it.

[doranwen]

In the signups, should we mention if we already have part of it written? Like, in the summary, should we say "I've got so much of this already written but got stuck", or should we mention what sort of help we need, as in "I got to this point but couldn't figure out how to plot the rest"? Just trying to figure out exactly how to do the summary part of it the best.

[treatyoself_mod]

You can mention it! You don't have to, but if you think that a cheerleader would want to know then please do.

[pameluke]

Are comments on the sign-up form screened?
I don't like much sharing my email in public.

[treatyoself_mod]

They are all screened and will always remain so.

[denyce]

Morning - have a question & suggestion...

So I'm considering signing up as I think its a great idea. However, all of the stories/wip sitting on my hard drive are a bit involved and I'm not sure it I'd actually complete it in the scheduled time frame. Not that it wouldn't be my goal, but if its not complete can/do we just keep going then add it to the AO3 collection when it is?

Second, I'm like Doranwen and have several wip I'd be excited to jump into. However, I'd like a cheerleader to be interested at least initially in fandom/character pairing/concept - If signing up can we offer a few choices for a cheerleader to pick from, yet only have one cheerleader. Where they pick from the my short list on what to work on, and if a story is picked then the other offers are taken off.

So if its anonymous - say a creator has 3 stories available (but as I do, I only wants 1 cheerleader). Maybe have it that the 1st cheerleader to pick from a creator's list - ie: a, b, c and story b gets picked, then the rest are delete and taken off (unless the creator really wants to work on more than one story and is willing/wants to commit and work on a 2nd story with a second cheerleader).

Personally, I can only focus on one story and would only want one cheerleader. If a miracle happens and my muse goes into overdrive and I finish prior to the dates and my cheerleader was interested in any of my others wip... otherwise, I'm just hoping to kick my muse into gear with one fic and WRITE!

Anyhoo just a thought =)

[treatyoself_mod]

It's fine if you post after the deadline, it just means you miss the initial push of people seeing it when the archive goes live.

For this year we're just keeping it simple in terms of claims. Next year I can definitely consider your model, but this year is a test run just to get a gauge of how many people are interested in participating in future rounds. I hope that helps you in terms of signups!

[zdenka]

This may be a silly question, but I thought it was better to ask! What I'd like most for this is to finish one or more WIPs. Mentally going through my list of WIPs, I just realized that a fair number of them were started as treats for various exchanges, and when I post them, they will be a belated gift for the recipient. Would working on a fic that is also a gift for someone else be considered not in the spirit of this exchange? If you say it wouldn't be appropriate for this, I do have several other things I can work on.

[treatyoself_mod]

That would be more than appropriate for this exchange! You're rewarding both yourself (by reducing your backlog) and someone else too.

[(Anonymous)]

Hey there, I was thinking about signing up with two different stories. If there's interest in both stories from cheerleaders, fantastic! But if not, would it be possible to note somewhere in my sign-up that I only want one of them to go up as a pinch hit (I'd state which one, of course)? I'd just rather focus on only one story if that's the case.

[treatyoself_mod]

You definitely can! Just note which one and I'll make a note on my spreadsheet. Thank you!

[sumilong]

What if we sign up with a fic that cannot be posted live because it's for another fic exchange or something like that? Can we still post it to the archive if it's after the deadline?

If this is a problem, my original sign up can be deleted and I'll sign up with something else. :P

[treatyoself_mod]

I would prefer that you don't sign up with a current assignment! I have no way of enforcing this, of course, but I would prefer it to be a "backlogged" work rather than a work that is current and pending, you know?

[(Anonymous)]

If we aren't being given a cheerleader, is it still necessary to give an email address?

[treatyoself_mod]

Nope!

[(Anonymous)]

This is propably a stupid question/am over-thinking it but in the sign-up form, is the "Media" for the source (tv series, movie, video game etc.) or what we'll be doing (fanfic, web comic, original fiction, fanart etc.)?

[treatyoself_mod]

It's what you'll be creating.

[(Anonymous)]

Is there any set time when we need to start working, or can we get started whenever we like?

[treatyoself_mod]

You can get started whenever you like!

[bluebaron]

How specific should I get in my summary signup? Should I assume a basic familiarity with the premise of the fandom, or should I start from scratch, so to speak?

[treatyoself_mod]

You can assume a basic familiarity with the fandom!

[(Anonymous)]

Potentially silly question, but: Is it okay to change one's mind about the fic they posted to work on? I had totally forgotten about something I wanted to write back in March! I think it fits the idea of being in my backlog better, too.

If that is okay, how should I fix my comment? Delete and re-post, or edit the existing comment?

[treatyoself_mod]

You absolutely can! You can edit the comment or delete it - it won't worry me either way.

[dunmurderin]

Is it possible/permitted to sign up as both a restlessness a cheerleader?

[treatyoself_mod]

It sure is! You can do one or the other or both.

One last question

[dunmurderin]

I have a fix that is posted at fanfiction.net that has been unfinished for about ten years. Is it possible to use this as a challenge?

Re: One last question

[treatyoself_mod]

It sure is!

[annapods]

Hi! Sorry for the stupid question, but do we need to sign up if we're just cheerleading and not creating anything?

[treatyoself_mod]

Yes, and no. You won't need to sign up in the creators post but there will be a post going up early tomorrow with all the works and you rank the ones you want to help cheerlead. That is your signup.

[etchedinjade]

What do we do if we think we have to default or drop out? I'm almost certain there's no way I'll finish, and I don't know if I need to do anything specific for that or not.

[treatyoself_mod]

You don't have to do anything! Letting me know is nice, but you don't have to do that either.