ON FANDOM EXCHANGE NORMS
I haven't been doing fanwork exchanges for very long. I did my first this January, Candy Hearts Exchange, and then immediately launched into High Adrenaline Exchange (the one where you have two weeks to write 10 thousand words). I have, since then, apparently made the missteps of:
-Including a reason for why I defaulted in an email (my tablet pen broke)
-asking dumb questions/having memory issues about rules
Exchange norms in fandom spaces are. Interesting. Now, let me say this: I am completely, 100% of the opinion that most people in exchange spaces mean well and just want everybody to have a good time. But Bangs, Fests, and Exchanges (as it is called on the anonymous fan forum Fail Fandom Anon) is big (2k members in the main discord server for the topic, I believe), and there are bound to be issues in any big space. Most of them arise from people unaware of unspoken exchange norms/etiquette. Recently in the the topic of unspoken exchange norms came up in aforementioned discord server, and it got me thinking about how there's no big write-up of fandom exchange norms for people new to the exchange scene —- something I massively would've benefitted from in my early days. I thought about doing one, but I came across some issues in the process of actually planning this out.
First, like I said, I've only been doing exchanges for a very short period of time. When I first got into exchanges, I had a massive hyperfixation on them, where they were all I thought about every single day. I ate, slept, breathed exchanges and did as many as I possibly could, pre-planned nominations and 3k-word-long letters months before exchanges began, and a lot of other subjectively-unhinged behavior surrounding exchanges. But this still does not compare to someone who has been hanging out in BFE spaces for multiple years. How much did I really know?
And then I realized: yes, BFE spaces are big, like I said before. Exchange spaces are massive, and there are multiple subpockets of the multifandom exchange scene, too—-apparently Minecraft Youtube fandom had its own giant Battleship exchange recently—-so how could I possibly come up with a guide to all of it? It would be impossible to write up a comprehensive guide that would help every single person, which was the original vision I had.
I realized that if I wanted to go through with this project, I would have to make it clear that it's not comprehensive and is highly subjective because it is based on my own personal experiences and mindset. It is not entirely based on that - like, I'm not just making this stuff up based on nothing; it would incorporate all my months of experience in BFE spaces as well as (many, many) conversations I've had with seasoned BFE participants about exchange conduct, etiquette, and norms - but it still would be, you know, one person's passion project. But I thought that might still be doable, you know?
SO, long 500 word introduction aside, here's…
Agnes's Super Duper Unofficial Guide To Not Getting Yourself Flamed On Anonymous Fandom Forums MultiFandom Exchange Norms & Etiquette
Here are some terms it might help you to know when going through exchange spaces.
anon, anon period: Most exchanges require works to be anonymous for a certain period of time, beginning at the moment of which you receive your assignment to the end of the anon period/start of the creator reveals phase. The exchange interface will automatically do this for you. This means that until the creator reveals phase, you cannot discuss who your recipient is or what you're writing for them in a public space.
beta: someone who reads over your work before you post it to check for spelling and grammar errors, and sometimes characterization, etc.
recipient, recip: Who you're assigned to write for.
deanoning: since 99.9% of exchanges have an anon period (see above), discussing your works, offers, or recipient in a public space is referred to as deanoning, and is very, very frowned upon, as anonyminity is most of the time central to exchange functionality.
noms, nominations: Refers to the nomination phase, which is when we add fandoms, ships, characters, and freeform tags to a tagset that will be the basis of the exchange. Think of it like a database - the requests you make in an exchange can take any tag from this database, but most of the time, it does not take tags from outside of this specific database (tagset), so in order to request something in an exchange, you must nominate the tag into the tagset. I go into how you do this later. (Hint: many exchanges are themed, meaning they will only accept nominations of a certain eligibility. Be sure to check!)
disambugating: generally, when nominating things, most exchanges require you to disambugate your nominations. This typically means adding the fandom they're from in parentheses after the ship/character/applicable freeform tag. Some examples: Heinz Doofenshmirtz (Phineas & Ferb), Phineas Flynn/Isabella Garcia-Shapiro (Phineas & Ferb), Worldbuilding: O.W.C.A Recruitment (Phineas & Ferb), Waterbending (AtLA).
nominations query: When nominating, sometimes the exchange mods will need to ask questions about certain nominations, or inform the nominators of some issue with their submission. Since nominations are always anonymous, they typically do this via a Dreamwidth (or whatever social media they run the info off of) post called a Nom Query post.
signups: The period in which you can sign up to the exchange.
requests: The things you want to receive in an exchange. You input these requests on the first part of the signup form, which will usually be customized to the specifics of each exchange. You can request pretty much anything, as long as it is in the tagset and relevant to the exchange theme (if applicable). Some exchanges have a fandom minimum, which means you must request a certain amount of unique fandoms to be garuanteed a gift. Some will not require you to request multiple fandoms and will allow a single fandom signup, and sometimes exchanges will withhold gift gaurantees from single fandom signups. The ao3 interface allows a maximum of ten requests.
DNW: Stands for "do not wants"—a list of things you do not want to receive in a gift that your creator must 100% avoid including.
DNM: do not match request. A request made to the mods of an exchange typically by email that you do not match with a certain participant(s). You never have to include a reason, and most mods will prefer that you don't include a reason. All good mods take every DNM request seriously. You can do this for any reason. Many mods will ask what you wish them to do if your DNM request tries to treat you or pick up your pinch hit (e.g. tell them you've DNMed them). Not all exchanges allow these.
matching: Exchanges match you with a recipient based on your offers. You are matched to a gifter based on your requests.
unmatchable: This means no one wants what you're offering. Mods will typically contact you via the email you signed up to Ao3 for and ask if you want to add any offers. They typically have a limited response period before they move on and send out assignments (commonly 12 or 24 hours), so be sure to check the email you signed up for frequently.
pinch hits, PH: If you are sent for an initial pinch hit, this means no one offered what you requested. Do not fear, someone will pick your pinch hit up eventually! People very fequently pick up new fandoms for exchange PHs. This is neutral. When your pinch hit is claimed, it means someone has offered to write your pinch hit! To claim a pinch hit, you typically comment on a Dreamwidth post (comments are screened in these cases, so only the mods can see them) with your ao3 name and email address, OR you email them with the same information. Post-deadline pinch hits are pinch hits that have come out after the assignment due date, and the exchange will not typically reveal gifts until all pinch hits have been turned in. They are given their own due dates. Emergency pinch hits typically mean (I think) the gift did not fulfill an exchange requirement for whatever reason (common ones: gift included a DNW, was spitefic, did not include requested character/ship/freeform, was below minimum, was incomplete, was deleted, did not fit exchange theme enough).
minimum: The minimum amount of words required for your gift. For example, a 500 word minimum means your gift must be 500 words or more. Art minimums vary, but common ones are that it must be of a quality and effort level you'd be happy to receive as a gift yourself. Other medium minimums (what a tongue twister!) vary as well. High minimum exchanges are exchanges that typically have minimums of 5 thousand or 10 thousand words. Low minimum exchanges typically refer to exchanges with minimums under 1000 words, but especially ones with a minimum of 300-500 words. Maximums are not common but do happen sometimes, like with drabble exchanges.
permissions statement: A statement in your profile that says what people can or cannot do with your work. For example: "You may podfic or create fanart as long as you link back to me", "Do not redistribute", "Do not feed to generative AI".
recursive fandom: Fanworks of fanworks. Like writing a fic about a fic or original fannish piece you or someone else wrote.
offers: what you are willing to write as a gift for someone else in the exchange you're participating in. These are secret! You can view how many people have signed up to offer a specific fandom, but you cannot view specifically who. In addition, discussing what you plan to offer is typically considered de-anoning.
assignment, mint: The request that you are assigned to write! You will be assigned a request based on your offers. You can write anything your requester has asked for, even if you matched on only one request.
reveals, collection opens: This is when gifts are revealed! Before this point, gifts are unviewable. This means you cannot read them or see who wrote them until the collection opens and reveals are done.
gift shaking: You can, however, see WHAT YOUR GIFT CONTAINS. Sort of. An overview. This can be done one of two ways: on the gift page via a userscript, or by going to fandoms on the collection page, scrolling down until you find one of the fandoms you requested, and looking at the filters tab under fandom, relationship, character, or additional tag. The second method will not work if you have requested fandoms that have multiple works for them in the collection. Neither method will work if the exchange is moderated and your gift has not been accepted into the collection yet.
treat, treating, treated, extra gift: Gifts made for you by someone who was not assigned as your main gifter. You cannot tell what is the main assignment and what is a treat unless the author has indicated it is a treat on the work page.
gift guarantee: If an exchange has a gift guarantee, it means that if you do not have a gift in the collection by the time of reveals, reveals will be delayed until you are assigned a pinch hitter. Treats often do not count for gift guarantees; you typically must have an Officially Assigned Gifter before reveals can be done, even if someone has already treated you.
EAD, exchanges after dark: The "main" and largest exchange Discord server.
creator reveals: The end of the anon period. You can say the work you posted is yours now! Yay!
AO3 app: an external website, https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/, that allows you to easily search for, bookmark and sort through exchange and prompt meme requests.
prompt meme: A different kind of collection challenge where you leave prompts and people can claim them. We won't be going into this much.
podfic: An audio-only medium in which an actor or podficcer records themselves reading a fic out loud.
mediums: The medium in which you can create a gift. Different exchanges have different allowed mediums. [Fic in a Box](https://ficinabox.dreamwidth.org/), for example, allows an insane amount of mediums. Fic is the default in most cases, but art, comics, and podfic are commonly included as well.
defaulting: If you cannot complete your assignment FOR ANY REASON, you hit the default button on the AO3 interface. **You do not have to explain why you default and mods prefer that you do not explain.** Assignments that are defaulted on will be sent out for pinch hits. Some exchanges have a deadline where, if you default by that time, you must complete a gift or request in order to participate in the next round, but this is not that common.
extension: If you need an extension (extra time to complete an assignment), you may ask the mods for an extension (via email or comment-screened Dreamwidth post), but not all exchanges grant them. Read the rules first before requesting.
FFA, fail fandom anon: a Dreamwidth community where anonymous discussions are had about fandom, and which BFE participants commonly frequent and create threads for. It's anonymous, so.. you can imagine the kind of things that go on there.
Dreamwidth: an online journaling service and Livejournal code fork that is where information for many exchanges are hosted.
letter: a letter of likes, interests, thoughts on requests, etc that you can include in your signup to allow your gifter to get a better idea of what you'd like in a gift. Commonly hosted on Dreamwidth Tumblr or Google docs, but I like to use notion.
Never harass another participant, especially over their interests. This is a good way to get yourself banned and hated on in FFA.
ODAO, meaning Optional Details are Optional—-your recipient may include a list of things they like, or a letter, but these are optional and as a creator you are not bound by them. You are only required to not include any of their DNWs.
Additionally, as a requester, do not attempt to "box in" or force your creator to make a specific kind of work by utilizing your DNWs (e.g. no DNW that's, like, "DNW fics where Perry the Platypus isn't carrying Doof's hybrid babies").
When you need a clarification on a recipient's DNW or likes or something, you must ask through the mods via email. They will contact your recipient for you. You cannot contact the recipient directly, unless it is an exchange with no anon period. This is deanoning and Bad.
Kinkshaming is never cool; see first entry. Also referred to as KINKTOMATO/YKINMKATO (Your Kink Is Not My Kink And That's Okay).
Don't Like, Don't Read. Simple as.
Never say something in your signup like, "This is ordered by which fandoms I'd like to receive most!" When you signup you are open to receiving anything in your signup equally. If you don't want something, don't request it.
Never say something in your DNW section like, "DNW: Phineas/Ferb (eww!!)" or "DNW: Hanahaki (ugh i HATE that trope)" or "DNW: piss kink (ew who could ever be into that LOL)". Basically, don't judge. Actually, don't explain why you DNW something at all.
Typically most exchanges ask that you ask questions about the exchange on Dreamwidth or email, and not over Discord.
Don't, like, trauma dump to mods, and don't lie to them. They receive a lot of weird emails, don't be that guy.
Don't get in over your head or overwhelmed by signing up for too many exchanges.
NEVER sign up for an exchange with the intention of defaulting so you get a gift without making something. Ever. If you default later, that's fine, but doing so with this deliberate intention is another good way to get banned.
Don't try to pick up a PH for the same exchange if you've already defaulted on your original assignment. This is one I learned recently.
If nominating a recursive fandom, you should check that the creator of the piece allows recursive works in their permissions statement.
Don't use generative AI. Ever. Also don't trace or steal art.
And most importantly: READ THE RULES. READ THEM FIRST. READ THE RULES THEN READ THEM AGAIN. THEN READ THEM ONE MORE TIME.
That's all I can think of for now. I was also going to include a technical guide to using the interface but I fear I am too lazy.
Anyway, as you can see, exchange norms are pretty complex, and I've DEFINTIELY forgotten a few things, too! But I hope this helps someone out there.