Dimileth Winter Gift Exchange 2023
| Schedule | Dates |
|---|---|
| Sign-ups | |
| Assignments | |
| Works Due | |
| Works Revealed | |
| Creators Revealed | Jan 21, 12:00 PM CST |
Thank you to everyone that participated in the exchange! You can access all the wonderful works here:https://archiveofourown.org/collections/DimilethWinterGiftExchange23
About
The Dimileth Winter Gift Exchange is a fanworks exchange celebrating the romantic relationship between Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd and Byleth Eisner of the game Fire Emblem: Three Houses. Signups open on November 1, and works are due January 7 to be revealed on January 14, 2024.The exchange will be conducted via Archive of our Own (AO3)'s gift exchange feature. All participants, even artists, are required to have an AO3 account.
We guarantee all participants who fill their assignment will have a gift when gifts are revealed: we'll find pinch hitters for any assignments that the original gifter defaults on.
Treating is welcome in this exchange! If you would like to make an extra gift for someone because you were inspired by their prompt or as just a kind gesture, go ahead! More details about pinch hitting and treating can be found here.
There will be a one-week anonymity period after works are revealed, and creators will be revealed on January 21.
[I don't have an AO3 account. What do?] 💬
You can request an invite here: https://archiveofourown.org/invite_requests
Alternatively, if you do not wish to wait for the invite queue to get to you, you can email the mods at [email protected] or DM via twitter @DimilethFever for an invite. We'll be happy to give you one![Why do the exchange through AO3?] 💬
AO3 can handle a lot of the matching logic and lets us use more sophisticated logic to pair people up with requests they're interested in creating for! It also makes communication and tracking filled assignments significantly easier.
Special Thanks:
A huge thank you to @mxmearcstapa for helping with modding for this exchange! ♡
We would like to acknowledge our mod friend, Tau, for providing the blueprint for running these exchanges through AO3 and their wealth of knowledge and expertise. ♡
Guidelines
All Byleths welcome. You can specify which version(s) of Byleth you want to receive and create for.
As this exchange allows NSFW works, you must be 18+ to participate
Please tag your works appropriately and accurately
Submissions may not include a recipient's listed Do Not Wants (DNWs).
Be polite and respectful to your fellow participants, and make sure to leave a comment on your gifter's work!
Deadlines are exact: the assignment deadline is the time after which unfilled assignments will be marked as defaulted on and sent to pinch hit. If you need a little more time, request an extension.
If you are a no-show at the deadline (did not default or ask for an extension), you will not be allowed to sign up for future rounds of the exchange.
Gifts will be revealed at the reveal date or as soon as everyone who submitted their assignment has a gift, whichever comes second.
Tagset Nominations
Status: Closed
Tagset: https://archiveofourown.org/tag_sets/12822
[Nominating Tags? Why?]
Tags are how matches will be made in this exchange. We have a robust tagset from last year, but if you'd like to request a tag that isn't in the tagset, you can nominate it to be added.
Nominations are a completely separate step from sign-ups and it does not sign you up for the exchange if you nominate tags.
You are not required to nominate tags to be a part of the exchange.No one, not even the mods, can see what you have nominated–it is completely anonymous.
There are 20 fields you can fill out to nominate your favourite freeform tags.[What are Freeform tags?] 💬
Freeform tags can be:
a trope or theme (Mutual Pining, Hurt/Comfort)
a plot element, setting, or AU (Coffee Shop AU, Raised in Garreg Mach, Immortality)
a kink or sex act (Breeding Kink, Oviposition, Oral)
a character-specific idea ("Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd Has a Big Dick," "Trans Byleth Eisner" "Feral Dimitri")
Unclear or duplicative tags may be rejected: check the tagset before nominating! We group related tags in the tagset, so if you don't see what you're looking for, check under prefixes (e.g. "Sex Toys - Vibrators" rather than "Vibrators")
To keep the tagset simple, tags that are too specific may be rejected or adjusted to be more general. Final matching will take request and offer text into account.
If your nomination slots are used up from last year, you can email or DM the mods to request additional tags be added
SIGN-UPS
Status: Closed
Link: https://archiveofourown.org/collections/DimilethWinterGiftExchange23/signups/new
A signup consists of a request and an offer.
After signups close, everyone's requests and offers will get matched to generate assignments.
Requesting
(What you are asking for from your gifter)
Fandom field: You have to check Three Houses here. That doesn’t mean you’re opting out of Three Hopes, it’s just AO3 weirdness.Relationships field: Use this field to indicate which versions of Byleth you’re interested in for this request. For example, if you would be happy with either male Byleth or nonbinary Byleth, you would put both “Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/Male Byleth” and “Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/Nonbinary Byleth” here so you can match to someone offering either one.
For ease of matching, there are only three options for this field: if you'd like to request a more specific version of Byleth or a polyship involving Dimileth, you’re welcome to do so using the additional tags or optional prompts.
Additional Tags field: It’s like a prompt, except you’re guaranteed to match to someone who offered at least one of the tags you requested! Because you might match on a single tag, avoid requesting tags that you would only enjoy in conjunction with one of your other tags: that’s better suited to the prompts field.Ratings field: This field is for opting into SFW and NSFW rather than exact ratings. If you only want SFW gifts, only select T. If you’re here for smut, only select E. To indicate you’re fine receiving either SFW and NSFW, select both T and E.Prompt Text field: Use this field for more detailed or specific prompts, things you like, and your Do Not Wants (DNWs). Your gifter must create something that matches one of your requested relationships, one of your additional tags, does not include any of your DNWs, and falls into a rating you requested (SFW or NSFW), but they aren't required to follow your exact prompt text: it's best to list multiple things you'd enjoy rather than one very specific scenario. Please don't specify whether you'd like fic or art. Try to write prompts that work for both.
Requests are publicly viewable for treating purposes. You can browse them on AO3 or the Auto AO3 App.
[What are Do Not Wants (DNWs)?] 💬
DNWs are anything you absolutely do not want to see in your gift. DNWs should be clear, specific, and nonjudgmental:
“I don’t want anything with onscreen character death” = good!
“I don’t want any gross kinks” = bad.
Please be as specific as possible with your DNWs as it will save everyone a lot of grief later on. You never need to give a reason for a DNW. However, DNWs that are vague, create an impossible request, or attempt to box a gifter into making one specific thing for you will be ignored.[What if I want different tags for different Byleths?] 💬
You can add more than one request if you’d like to split up which relationships, ratings, and tags you’re requesting together.
Offering
(What you are interested in creating)
Fandom field: You have to check Three Houses here. That doesn’t mean you’re opting out of Three Hopes, it’s just AO3 weirdness.Relationships field: Use this field to indicate which versions of Byleth you’re interested in creating for. For example, if you’re happy to create for any version of Byleth, you would put all three available relationship tags in this field (or check Any).Additional Tags field: List things you would be interested in creating! If you run out of space you’re welcome to add a second offer. Avoid offering tags that you’re only interested in under very specific circumstances, as your recipient may have a different interpretation.If the tag list is too overwhelming, or you’re interested in too many tags: if you select “Any” and use the Optional Preferences field to describe broadly what you’re interested in creating, we'll match you based on your text. (Note that this is the only field we're doing special handling for Any on.)Ratings field: If you only want to create SFW, only select T. If you only want to create smut, only select E. To offer both SFW and NSFW, select both T and E. Your work does not need to match the exact rating you offered, this field is just for offering SFW versus NSFW.Optional Preferences field: You can add additional notes on what you’re interested in creating here, such as any broad tonal preferences that may not be captured in your tags, or things you really don't want to create. We’ll check these for incompatibility when reviewing the AO3-generated matches.You are guaranteed to be matched to someone who requested at least one of the relationships + additional tags + ratings you offered. They may have other prompts that don’t match anything you offered. If there’s something you would find highly distressing to read, such as prompts for noncon scenarios, let us know here and we will do our best to make sure your assignment doesn’t include it at all.
[What if I'm interested in a tag for one of my offered relationships but not the other?] 💬
You can add more than one request if you’d like to split up which relationships, ratings, and tags you’re offering together.[What if there’s someone I don’t want to be matched with?] 💬
You can specify any AO3 users you don’t want to be matched with in the Preferences field. No need to tell us why, we don’t need to know if it’s because they’re your archnemesis or your beta reader.You can only list specific individuals in this field. Do not put groups of people like “anyone who’s created for ship X/has opinion Y/etc” in here: we will either ignore them, or respect the request by deleting your signup.
Your offers and Do Not Match requests are only visible to the exchange mods, and will never be made public under any circumstances.
Matching
(So what happens with all these requests and offers?)
To be considered a match, a request and offer must match on at least one freeform tag, one relationship tag, and one rating.AO3 will generate an initial set of matches. The mods will manually review AO3's matches to make sure they're compatible with do-not-match requests, and to check for glaring tonal incompatibility (such as if a request centered on messy hatesex was matched to an offer for fluffy smut on a tag like "oral sex"). If we find any incompatible matches, we will look at both participants' other possible matches for a good swap to make.
[What if no one is requesting what I offered?] 💬
Since we're all here for Dimileth, the odds of this happening are lower than they would be in a normal freeform exchange. That said, we suggest checking requests before signups close to make sure your offer will allow you to match several different requests. If your offer does not allow you to create for any of the available requests when signups close, we'll email you to give you a chance to add more tags to your offer. If you don't respond within 24 hours, or you don't want to create for anyone, your signup will be deleted so it doesn't block matching.[What if no one is offering what I requested?] 💬
No worries: we'll find a pinch hitter!
ASSIGNMENTS
Status: Sent
Due: Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 11:59 PM CST
Requirements
Writers: You will write a fanfic of at minimum 1000 words, of a quality you would be happy to receive as a gift. There is no maximum. Fics must be complete, and they may not be part of a previously published series.
Artists: You will produce a completed flat-coloured or black & white-filled sketch as a minimum, of a quality you would be happy to receive as a gift.
Assignments will go out no later than November 16, 2023.
Your work must feature at least one of your recipient's requested tags and must be for a Byleth and rating they requested with that tag.
You aren't required to stick to the tags you originally matched on: if something else in your assignment inspires you, go for it!
If your recipient has multiple prompts, you are not required to fill them all, just one
You are not required to follow your recipient's exact prompt text, but do your best to make something you think they'll like given their prompts
Your work cannot include your recipient's DNWs
There will be no rematching unless there was an obvious error such as your giftee requesting only things you specifically asked not to create.
DOs:
Keep your assignment a secret until creator reveals!
Communicate with us! Need an extension? Have a question for your recipient? Contact us!
If you realize you won't be able to complete your assignment, default in AO3 as soon as you can. Defaulting earlier gives the pinch hitter more time to work. No need to tell us why you're defaulting. Life happens!
DON'Ts:
Do not post WIPs or talk about your work on social media until creator reveals.
Do not reach out to your gift recipient directly. If you have any questions to ask them, let us know and we can be the go-between you and your giftee.
Do not default by going silent: please hit the Default button on your AO3 Assignments page!
[Make sure you can receive gifts and treats!]
If your AO3 account was created in the last year, you might need to turn on the ability to receive treats. Go to your Dashboard > My Preferences, scroll down to Collections, Challenges and Gifts and make sure you have "Allow anyone to gift me works" checked.
POSTING WORKS
Status: Due January 7, 2024
Please use the main dimileth tag (Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd/My Unit | Byleth) so your work shows up in the ship tag!
Go to your Assignments page on AO3 and hit the Fulfill button.This will take you to the "Post New Work" page—with your giftee's name and the collection already filled in. If the information is not there, just fill it out manually.From there, just post your fic/art piece as usual including all applicable tags and then give yourself a pat on the back!
Your posted work will not appear on your Works page until work reveals. To access it, go to the Assignments page again, or go to your Works page and click the "Works in Collections" button in the top right.
Your work will be anonymous until creator reveals. (If you want it to stay anonymous after creator reveals, you also need to add it to an anonymous collection.)
Updating Publication Date:
Once you have submitted your work, your publication date is automatically the date you submitted your assignment. We recommend that you update the publication date to the work reveal date of January 14, 2024.
To do so, edit your work and scroll down to the "Associations" area and select Set a different publication date. You will then be able to enter a date. Once the date is entered, you can click post to update your work.
POSTING ART
Once you've hit the Fulfill button, scroll down to the "Work Text" area and select the Rich Text button, and then click on the image button.
AO3 does not host images, so you will need to upload your art at an external image hosting site. We recommend imgbb or lensdump, both of which allow NSFW images and hotlinking. Some other hosts will delete NSFW or block hotlinks after a few days.
Don't use Discord as an image host: they've announced they will no longer support image hotlinking going forward.
Enter the link to the image in the Source field. You don't have to enter dimensions; AO3 will automatically scale your image and voila! Post your beautiful piece of art and wait for reveals.
Make sure you use the link to the actual image, not the link to the hosting page! If you're not sure what the difference is, see below for how to get your image link off imgbb.
Don't know how to hotlink an image?
Sites like imgbb will give you a link to the imgbb page, not the actual image. All of imgbb's pregenerated link options are set up to get people to jump to imgbb instead of embedding the full image for viewing.To get an image link to give to AO3, open your image's imgbb page and right click the full image, then select "Copy image link" (or use "Open image in new tab" to launch the image in a tab where you can copy its URL from the address bar.)Image links will end with an image file extension, such as .jpg or .png.
Don't enter imgbb's "Viewer link" URL into AO3 - it won't work. Instead, click your upload to open a page with the full image, then right click the full image to get its URL.
PINCH HITTING & TREATING
Status: Open for business!
Pinch hitting
Pinch hitters come to save the day when an assignment gets defaulted on. If you’re interested in being a pinch hitter, you can join the mailing list here: https://groups.google.com/g/dimileth-exchange-pinch-hitsWorried you wouldn't be able to create for every type of request? Don't be: if a pinch hit isn't your speed, you can leave it for someone else to claim.
You do not need to be signed up for the exchange to pinch hit.
Pinch hits will be posted to the Dimileth Winter Gift Exchange Pinch Hitter mailing list. By joining the mailing list, you're just signing up to get notified when one is available: no obligations.
[Hooray, I joined the pinch hitter mailing list! Now what?] 💬
If a work requires a pinch hit, we will post details about the request in the mailing list and an email will be sent to all users in the mailing list.
If you would like to claim the pinch hit, you would reply directly to the post with your AO3 username in the body of the email.
AO3 will send you a notification e-mail when you are assigned the pinch hit. Be sure that the e-mail associated with your AO3 account is one you check regularly.
Pinch hits that go out before January 4 will be due at the regular deadline of January 7. Any pinch hits that go out after that will have their own due date specified in the pinch hit email.
Refer to the Assignments section for details in finding the assignment and filling the prompt.
Treating
In the gift-giving spirit, are you? :)A treat is something extra—not a part of your exchange assignment. If you have the time, treating is a pretty cool thing to do for a fellow participant!It is a gift you create for someone who isn’t your giftee, or it could also be a second work created for your giftee if you loved more than one of their prompts!
You don't even need to be signed up for the exchange to treat!
[Heck yes, I want to treat! How do I go about it?] 💬
Here is the link to view all the requests: https://autoao3app.firebaseapp.com/#/DimilethWinterGiftExchange23You can choose any of the requests and fill the prompt as a gift!When you submit the treat, you will have to fill your recipient’s information manually on the Post New Work page.
To make sure the treat is part of the exchange and revealed with the other works, go to the exchange's AO3 page and click "Post to Collection" - this will take you to the new work page with DimilethWinterGiftExchange23 filled in as the collection.
Specify which participant you are giving a gift to in the "Gift this work to" field by entering their AO3 username.
There is no minimum wordcount (for fic) or completeness level (for art) for a treat.
Treats posted before work reveals on January 14 will be revealed with all the other gifts, but there's no hard deadline - late treats are welcome.
If you need to edit an unrevealed treat, you can find it on your Statistics page, or by going to your Works page and using the "Works in Collections" button in the upper right.
Thank you for treating! ♡
Contact
Question for your recipient? Need an extension? Let us know! Please include your AO3 name and your recipient's AO3 name.If you need to default, don't tell us here: just go to your AO3 Assignments page and hit the Default button.
Thank you
Your message has been received.