MatsuHana Big Bang '21/'22

Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Q: What is a Big Bang event?
A: A Big Bang is an event in which writers and artists are paired together to create content for that particular Bang's theme. For this Bang, writers will be submitting summaries for their projected piece and artists will be selecting summaries they are interested in according to a ranking system.Q: Are the mods over eighteen?
A: Yes, all the mods are 18+!Q: Is there an age restriction to participate?
A: Yes, to participate you must be 16 or older.Q: Are Matsukawa and Hanamaki the only characters allowed in my creation?
A: As long as Matsukawa and Hanamaki are the primary relationship and/or driver of the plot/art, you are more than welcome to include other characters, pairings, and relationships (including and not limited to love triangles, poly relationships, etc.). However, MatsuHana as a relationship (romantic or platonic) must be the focus of the piece.Q: Do all relationship portrayals between Matsukawa and Hanamaki have to be romantic?
A: Nope! Platonic / gen relationships are also encouraged, so long as the relationship between them is kept in focus throughout the piece.Q: Can I take on multiple roles? E.g., can I be both an artist and a writer, or both a writer and a beta?
A: Absolutely! However, we ask that you evaluate your own capabilities and the time requirements involved in taking on multiple roles. Artists will be asked if they would like to contribute more than one piece to the bang during sign ups. All participants are welcome to sign up to be betas and pinch hitters.

SFW & NSFW?

Q: Does this Bang accept NSFW content?
A: This Bang will accept both SFW and NSFW content, but only those 18+ will be able to create and beta NSFW content.Q: What counts as NSFW?
A: We'll be using the AO3 rating system, and creators under the age of 18 will not be permitted to create or beta works with an M or E rating. According to the site, this means:
General Audiences (G): The content is unlikely to be disturbing to anyone, and is suitable for all ages.
Teen And Up Audiences (T): The content may be inappropriate for audiences under 13.
Mature (M): The content contains adult themes (sex, violence, etc.) that aren't as graphic as explicit-rated content.
Explicit (E): The content contains explicit adult themes, such as porn, graphic violence, etc.Q: What counts as triggering content?
A: Suicide, abuse, sexual assault, self-harm, or mental health are all considered potentially triggering topics. This list is of course not definitive, and triggers vary between individuals. We ask that you tag any potential triggers for your creation very thoroughly and carefully while submitting your summaries and request that you avoid heavy discussions of them in the summary itself.Q: Is there any banned content?
A: Yes. Please avoid dead dove topics when deciding on your summary. If you are not sure what a dead dove topic is, you are welcome to message a mod.

For Writers

Q: How long will the finished fic have to be?
A: The minimum word count for each fic will be 4,000 words.Q: Can I write a fic with multiple chapters for this Bang?
A: Absolutely! However, please remember that this is a community Bang and that you must have both a) the full required word count and b) the scene depicted by your artist completed by the posting deadline.Q: I've been working on a WIP for a while and want to use it for this Bang! Is that allowed?
A: As long as you have not published any part of your wip, that is absolutely allowed! However, if you have published a piece of your wip (e.g. a first chapter, a prologue, a prequel), we ask that you create a new project for this event. We also request that you avoid sharing any sneak peeks, outlines, or story ideas for this event on social media.Q: Can I write more than one piece for this event?
A: Yes. However, make sure it is within your capabilities and time constraints. You will have to fill out a separate summary for each fic, and you will still have to abide by the word minimums for each. Please note that, pending artist participation, you may be asked to drop down to one fic.Q: Can I please talk about my wip with a friend before summary claims? I am just so excited about it!
A: We love that you're excited! However, please keep it as secret as possible... we want summary submissions to be completely anonymous until claims are complete. If you absolutely must gush about your idea, contact your mods! Then, once summaries have been claimed, you will be able to talk about your idea with your team to your heart's content.

For Artists

Q: What is considered a completed piece?
A: We are asking all artists to commit to a piece with full color, but no background is required.Q: Do artists have to be matched with a writer, or can they make their pieces separately?
A: This is a community event, which means that each artist will be paired with a writer to work with. If you would like to create a MatsuHana piece on your own time, unrelated to the Bang, we of course will welcome you to do so and share it in the appropriate channels in the Discord!Q: Does the finished piece have to be digital?
A: No! You can create art in whatever style or medium you would prefer. Traditional art is as welcomed as digital art, provided it can be shared digitally via a high-resolution scan for the posting date.Q: Does my finished piece have to be a specific canvas size?
A: Nope! You are allowed to have whatever size art you want. However, please note that all artwork will be shared online and potentially even through AO3, so we ask you to keep that in mind when designing your piece.Q: Do I have to have a specific skill level to participate in this event?
A: Absolutely not! This event welcomes creators of all skill levels. We are here to have fun and spread the joy of MatsuHana into the world - not judge whether one of Matsukawa's eyebrows is wonkier than the other ;)Q: Can I claim more than one summary to create art for?
A: Absolutely! However, please make sure it is within your capabilities and time constraints. During sign-ups, you will be asked if you would like to create for multiple summaries and can choose how many you would like to create for. Note: this does not mean that you will be asked to create all of those, but it does give us mods a little more leeway during the matching process!

For Betas

Q: What is the role of a beta reader?
A: During the summary submission process, writers will be asked whether they would like to work with a beta. This beta will be asked to assist the writer with spelling, grammar, plot direction, characterization, and/or anything else the writer may need during the writing process. Please note that each writer is different and may request different kinds of assistance depending on what they need and/or are comfortable receiving. For example, some writers may want only spelling and grammar assistance, while others will ask for more thorough help. The beta's role is to provide comments, editing assistance, and direction to the writer during this process.Q: How do you decide who betas which fic?
A: Betas will be given the chance to rank writers' summaries, just like artists. You will be able to choose your top five summaries that you want to work with, and we will be assigning your teams according to those selections.Q: Am I only allowed to beta for my assigned writer?
A: No, you are welcome to assist any writer who requests help using the #Ask-A-Beta feature in Discord.Q: Am I allowed to be part of more than one creation team as a beta?
A: Betas will be asked during sign-ups how many pieces they are willing to work on during the creation process. This does not mean you will be assigned to the full number you selected, but it will provide mods more flexibility when assigning teams.Q: How will I know what kind of assistance my writer wants from me?
A: Communication! The writing and editing process is a constant flow back and forth. Talk to your writer and ask lots of questions about what their expectations for you are.Q: What if I don't consider myself capable of providing the assistance my writer needs? For example, what if I am very good at plot hole spotting, but not so great at spelling and grammar?
A: If that's the case, please feel free to reach out to the mods. We can either find you a different team or we can assign the writer a second beta and have you both working on the same piece. Worry not! That's what the mods are here for :)

For Pinch Hitters

Q: What is the role of a pinch hitter?
A: Should a writer or artist become unable to participate in the event, a pinch hitter is the person who steps up to fill in their role. This is a purely volunteer position, and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.Q: Do pinch hitters have different requirements than writers or artists?
A: No. The requirements for pinch hitters are the same as for writers and artists. Pinch hitters are given a shorter amount of time to complete their works, and will thus be given an extension on check-ins, but must still complete their piece for the posting dates.Q: When will I find out whether I have been selected as a pinch hitter?
A: You may be contacted at any point during the creation process, or may not be contacted at all depending on whether people drop out.