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This post contains everything you should need to know about contacting the mods, as well as some frequently asked questions and resources.
If you are confused about anything, don't hesitate to comment or message a mod with a question!
If you have any queries, questions or concerns, or need to contact the mods for any other reason, you may use any of the following methods:
The fandoms I’m offering for all overlap (e.g. Henry VI, Richard III and Wars of the Roses RPF), can I just put them in one offer?
We generally don’t recommend this because it’s potentially confusing. An extreme example is if someone says they won't write "Richard III as evil" but have tagged Richard III - Shakespeare and Wars of the Roses RPF as the fandoms they'll write for, it’s hard to tell whether they mean they won’t write evil!Richard III at all which would mean they can’t write Shakespeare fic or could only write “Richard III was actually good” AUs of Shakespeare or will only write evil!Richard for Shakespeare fic.
I want to request a fic where the historical figures don’t quite match the Shakespeare characters, which fandom should I tag?
It really depends on what you want here. If you really just want an original work of fiction that stands apart from Shakespeare’s play, you should tag the appropriate historical RPF fandom. If you instead want an AU of the plays where the character resembles their historical counterpart better than they do (i.e. a request about Hotspur in Henry IV where he is older than Henry IV but everything else is based off the plays), you should tag the appropriate play fandom(s). If the fandom used doesn’t matter (I.e. if you’re asking for a history and/or play situation or a mashup of both), you should tag both.
I want to request or offer fic for only one of part of the multi-part plays (e.g. Henry IV, Part One, Henry VI, Part Three), how can I specify that in my sign-up? Why can’t I use a specific fandom tag anymore?
The best way to communicate that is through specifying that in the description box, if it is not already obvious through the characters or relationships you have tagged. The reason why it is no longer an option to use a specific tag for one part of the multi-part plays is because AO3 no longer recognises those tags as canonical and syncs them with to the parent tag, i.e. if you find a fic tagged Henry VI, Part Three - Shakespeare and click on that tag, it will take you to the Henry VI - Shakespeare tag. We have opted to follow AO3's guidelines here but are open to feedback.
Can I request a fic set in my own AU?
If you’re sure this is what you want to request, yes. The rule against pre-existing AUs is about avoiding potential conflict where the AU’s author doesn’t agree with a request, feel comfortable with someone else writing in their AU or someone else influencing the direction of their AU. But if it’s an AU you own/created, these problems are less important. However, being asked to write a new instalment of your AU may require more time and effort than your writer can give so please ensure you have plenty of other prompts for them to choose from. Additionally, your writer may end up taking your request and the AU in directions you haven’t foreseen and may not like so please, be sure that you are fine with this possibility before making a request.
We ask that you don’t request fic in AUs you co-write with others. We can’t guarantee a match with your co-writers, nor do we have the time to check with them if they’re alright with a new and unknown author writing in the AU. You can still, of course, request similar AUs: you can ask for a fic set in high school AU of Edward III but you can’t ask for a fic set in the same high school AU of Edward III that you and Jane Doe have been writing.
I want to request a fic about Edward III set in his father’s reign, is this allowed?
You can! Since Edward III is the subject of his own play, you can absolutely request a historical RPF fic set during the reign of Edward II. Alternatively, you can request a crossover between Shakespeare’s Edward III and Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II if you'd like to.
Folger Digital Shakespeare Library
TEAMS Middle English Texts
Harvard’s Geoffrey Chaucer Website
Hoccleve Society
List of Early Modern History Plays (most links no longer work but they are a good indicator of what else is out there)
If you are confused about anything, don't hesitate to comment or message a mod with a question!
Contact
If you have any queries, questions or concerns, or need to contact the mods for any other reason, you may use any of the following methods:
- email historiesficathon[at]gmail[dot]com; one of the mods will respond ASAP
- visit the Ficathon Discord and ask a question in the appropriate channel (if your question gives away who you are writing for, please do not use this method)
- direct message the mods over on Discord, you will find them on the Ficathon discord
- direct message the mods on their tumblr: skeleton-richard (Fyo) or heartofstanding (Lisa)
- we also have a Dreamwidth community where you can leave a comment (will be screened)
Frequently Asked Questions
The fandoms I’m offering for all overlap (e.g. Henry VI, Richard III and Wars of the Roses RPF), can I just put them in one offer?
We generally don’t recommend this because it’s potentially confusing. An extreme example is if someone says they won't write "Richard III as evil" but have tagged Richard III - Shakespeare and Wars of the Roses RPF as the fandoms they'll write for, it’s hard to tell whether they mean they won’t write evil!Richard III at all which would mean they can’t write Shakespeare fic or could only write “Richard III was actually good” AUs of Shakespeare or will only write evil!Richard for Shakespeare fic.
I want to request a fic where the historical figures don’t quite match the Shakespeare characters, which fandom should I tag?
It really depends on what you want here. If you really just want an original work of fiction that stands apart from Shakespeare’s play, you should tag the appropriate historical RPF fandom. If you instead want an AU of the plays where the character resembles their historical counterpart better than they do (i.e. a request about Hotspur in Henry IV where he is older than Henry IV but everything else is based off the plays), you should tag the appropriate play fandom(s). If the fandom used doesn’t matter (I.e. if you’re asking for a history and/or play situation or a mashup of both), you should tag both.
I want to request or offer fic for only one of part of the multi-part plays (e.g. Henry IV, Part One, Henry VI, Part Three), how can I specify that in my sign-up? Why can’t I use a specific fandom tag anymore?
The best way to communicate that is through specifying that in the description box, if it is not already obvious through the characters or relationships you have tagged. The reason why it is no longer an option to use a specific tag for one part of the multi-part plays is because AO3 no longer recognises those tags as canonical and syncs them with to the parent tag, i.e. if you find a fic tagged Henry VI, Part Three - Shakespeare and click on that tag, it will take you to the Henry VI - Shakespeare tag. We have opted to follow AO3's guidelines here but are open to feedback.
Can I request a fic set in my own AU?
If you’re sure this is what you want to request, yes. The rule against pre-existing AUs is about avoiding potential conflict where the AU’s author doesn’t agree with a request, feel comfortable with someone else writing in their AU or someone else influencing the direction of their AU. But if it’s an AU you own/created, these problems are less important. However, being asked to write a new instalment of your AU may require more time and effort than your writer can give so please ensure you have plenty of other prompts for them to choose from. Additionally, your writer may end up taking your request and the AU in directions you haven’t foreseen and may not like so please, be sure that you are fine with this possibility before making a request.
We ask that you don’t request fic in AUs you co-write with others. We can’t guarantee a match with your co-writers, nor do we have the time to check with them if they’re alright with a new and unknown author writing in the AU. You can still, of course, request similar AUs: you can ask for a fic set in high school AU of Edward III but you can’t ask for a fic set in the same high school AU of Edward III that you and Jane Doe have been writing.
I want to request a fic about Edward III set in his father’s reign, is this allowed?
You can! Since Edward III is the subject of his own play, you can absolutely request a historical RPF fic set during the reign of Edward II. Alternatively, you can request a crossover between Shakespeare’s Edward III and Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II if you'd like to.
Resources
Folger Digital Shakespeare Library
TEAMS Middle English Texts
Harvard’s Geoffrey Chaucer Website
Hoccleve Society
List of Early Modern History Plays (most links no longer work but they are a good indicator of what else is out there)