Big Bang 2016 - Support and Chatter

[cap_ironman_fe]

Alright everyone! You've had a week to think about it. Welcome again to our newest Big Bang round. All information about the Big Bang can be found here.

Remember that we do not have an official sign-up period and for that reason do not do official and mandatory check-ins. As long as you get in a draft before September 28th you’re signed-up for this Big Bang. But that date is still a long way off and working away all alone and in silence can be frustrating. We all know. We've all been there. So, to keep us all excited and motivated we’re again starting up our informal weekly "Support and Chatter" posts.

Some people here are longfic writers, some people here might attempt their first longer story. Don't be afraid. Talk to each other, help each other out and share tips and ideas. We're all excited to see what comes of it in the end!

This is open to absolutely everyone who makes this challenge great -- writers, artists, beta readers, cheerleaders, and readers! Come in, make friends and talk to each other. We want everyone to have a good time and be motivated!

Come in introduce yourself or your project if you have one or just tell us what you’re excited about at the moment. Are you trying to finish something, before brainstorming for the Big Bang story? Still working on the Reverse Big Bang story before you even have time to think about this? Already working on it? Impatiently waiting to art or read? Or are you looking for ideas?

(As per community setting anonymous commenting as allowed. People who do not have an LJ account can participate that way. We mean it: EVERYONE is welcome.)

Comments

[del_rion]

Hiya!

I asked in the announcement post whether writing two stories is okay (so far, no one has answered, and the rules didn't cover that part - but also didn't forbid it).

I am feeling unrealistically ambitious, but I have two ideas between which I couldn't decide...

[navaan]

Two stories is totally fine, if you think you can handle the finishing and the collaboration with possibly two artists per fic. Two stories is the upper limit though and we'd ask you not to also sign-up as aritst in that case (in cases where someone is both writer and artists.)

Ambition is great! And before the deadline there is no harm in trying. :)

[chibimono.livejournal.com]

I always get so excited when big bangs are announced. I know that in just a few months, I'll have wonderfully epic fic to read and amazing art to swoon over. That makes me so happy, I can't even explain! I'm still considering if I'll have the time and brainpower to join in this year. (I can always try finishing the one I started last year, right?) Good luck to everyone writing at this point! Can't wait to see everyone's hard work after crossing the finish line! :)

[sineala.livejournal.com]

I am also excited! (Still writing my RBB, but excited.)

You should come join us, yes! (As long as you haven't posted the fic you are writing for the BB publicly, are the rules. Then you'd have to come up with something else. :)

[navaan]

I'm the same! We've had such great turnouts that I just get excited to know that we'll have another year of epic fic to read! :)

Actually BB is the perfect time to finishi WIPs you have lying around that you haven't published anywhere yet. ;) I started a different story last year before I settled on the one I then wrote. I may dust that off and finish it, too.

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

I get really excited, too! This comm is always keeping me in a state of hype with all the events :) there's always the promise of great fic and art on the horizon!

And there are still quite a few months left to go! I'm also still debating on joining this year, but I do find that hanging around the comm encourages me to jump in. Enablers, all of us :D

[impala-chick.livejournal.com]

Yay, I'm so excited to read all the Big Bangs! Also, I'm willing to beta just about anything.

P.S. I'm relatively new to Stony fandom (but SUPER enthusiastic), so if you've got any reccs let me know :)

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Yay! Welcome to the fandom! If you're looking for recs, have you seen this recent post (http://cap-ironman.livejournal.com/1554634.html) to the main community? It's got you pretty well covered...

And thanks for being willing to beta! You might want to consider signing up on the beta reader list (http://cap-ironman.livejournal.com/1464051.html); that's where we point writers to when they're looking for betas.

[navaan]

Welcome to the fandom! :)

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

We're glad to have you! I hope you have fun navigating all the angst, fluff, funtimes, and everything in-between!

There are a lot of good reclists in the post Sine linked, but if you wanted to name some of your favorite stories here, I might be able to rec you things that are similar!

[yohkobennington.livejournal.com]

Welcome to the fandom! I hope you enjoy your stay. *cookies for you*

[daichisun.livejournal.com]

Hey,
I'm new to this whole thing, but definitely not new to stony fics. I'm sort of rusty with my writing though-- its been quite a while since I committed to something this big. I'm also clueless as to how this site works. Regardless: I like Cap/IM though it's mainly AU stuff and I hope to find a place in this community with friendly acquaintences and writing buddies. I've had vague dreams about writing for a Big Bang since the days of early AO3.
If you're interested and don't mind occasionally explaining some aspect of this site or the LJ culture... Let me know I guess?
(Am I doing this right?)

[navaan]

Welcome to 2016 BB and this community! We're glad to have you. I've experienced this as a very welcoming place with lots of awesome, supportive people and I'm sure I would never even have attempted a story like I wrote for last year's BB if it weren't for this place!

You're definitely not the only AU lover here! Just look at the fic that were written for the RBB or previous BB rounds.

If you have any questions about LJ, just ask away! We'll also be putting up support posts once a week and the community chat is always there. There are people around pretty much around the clock. I know writing/creating sprints with people on chat always help me get going.

And if you want to bounce ideas, go right ahead! We're here for you.

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Seconding the welcome!

I've been on LJ for well over a decade now so if there's anything you want to know, I can probably tell you. :) And there are plenty of AU fans here (I have written a couple myself). I second Navaan that the chat is a good place to find people to write with -- they have a lot of informal writing "sprints" where we all write for 10-15 minutes and then cheer each other on. I owe a lot of fic to that.

(There are, as Navaan says, almost always people there, but if you prefer to go when you know there will be people there are weekly chats on either Saturday or Sunday of every week, depending on the week. Weekends and evenings are usually busiest. The chats are announced in the main community and usually on Tumblr.)

But, yeah, if you have questions or want to bounce ideas, feel free to share!

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I was an on-off writer before I got into Steve/Tony. This comm is really great for encouragement - I think I owe most of my writing motivation these past few years to it!

If other sites make you more comfortable, there'll always be announcements on tumblr! Please hit us up with any questions!

[navaan]

So, I'm definitely not getting started before perhaps the middle of June. There's just too much going on until then.

I haven't made up my mind yet which story idea I'll try my hand on. I hope I don't get jumped by a completely different idea that goes completely epic on me half-way through, though. XD That was a bit frantic.

I do have different options in mind. I have a 616 Civil War divergent AU that I've been thinking about for a long time and I have pretty detailed idea for a sequel to last year's Noir story. And, of course, there is the Noir story I started last year before the other one jumped me. And there's a possible time travel fic that would tie in Civil War and Hickman Avengers.

So as usual I'm at the stage where I need to settle on something....

But, yeah, I'll start thinking about it in earnest when the RBB is over and my second story posted. These emotionally stunted guys are driving me up the wall.

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

>616 Civil War divergent AU

yesssssssssssssssssssssss

>Noir story

:D!!!

>possible time travel fic that would tie in Civil War and Hickman Avengers

OKAY NO I TAKE IT BACK THIS ONE THIS ONE *____________________________* (I am totally predictable, okay)

These emotionally stunted guys are driving me up the wall.

Ahahaha, they just won't let us escape...

[rishabh priya (from livejournal.com)]

Hey! So I just started writing again (After a long break post glee fandom years *shudders*, and was interested in possibly writing for this event. I was thinking a cross over type of deal with 616 and MCU. Specifically, 616! Steve get thrown through a portal the day of his trial instead of dying and ends up in MCU verse post CA:CW with Tony Stark. I think that their respective anger towards their counterparts and the differences in the two timelines would make for really interesting conflict/discussion and the two of them figuring out how to proceed from there would be interesting.

Now, I guess I have two questions.

A) Does this idea have merit?

B) What's your opinion on MCU! Steve/Tony to having been in a relationship prior to CA:CW ? I often bemoan the fact that MCU really didn't portray their connection with each other, limiting the overall emotional narrative. I feel like if I don't have them in a relationship, it offers this whole "friendship" narrative to MCU! Steve/Tony that really hasn't been shown in the movies, Tony would experience such first hand with 616! Steve after the blowing up at each other, and Steve would probably see 616! Steve and MCU! Tony being friends from a distance and reflect on it from there. But, if I go the relationship route, it offers me potential to have 616!Steve reflect on his relationship with 616!Tony as he navigates a confusing connection to MCU! Tony, while also giving me the potential to write Jealous MCU!Steve watching MCU! Tony with another version of him. (which I have to admit, excites me a lot, because two Steve's fighting over Tony? YES)

Sorry if this is a double post/doesn't make sense. It's 4 am here, and I tried posting once but the comment didn't go through on my screen for some reason.

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

To your first question: UH...YES ARE YOU KIDDING ME??????

Multiverse crossover is literally my favorite trope in this fandom. SO MANY DIFFERENT STEVES AND TONYS, SO LITTLE TIME. The CW thing is especially great since they both are in a bad place and have so many angry expectations with each other that don't quite match up and yes, you're right that it's so interesting! I'd love to see it explored.

To your second question, that's really a matter of personal taste. I really adore pining, so I say the less relationships there are when a fic starts, the better! Also, I think that you could still go the jealousy route for MCU!Steve even without a previously established relationship. With extra "sudden realization of romantic feelings" while he ponders on why they feel so awful and jealous. That's just me, though :)

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

I'm still mired in RBB writing, which is my first longer fic in a while. I feel like I've forgotten how to write longfic, somehow...

But I can think of it as practice for the BB!

I haven't really nailed anything down yet, but I have so many CACW feelings that I'm thinking of trying my hand at a fix-it. Of course, that's freaking me out since I've never written MCU before, and also everyone's writing CACW fix-its right now so does the world really need mine? I'm actually avoiding reading movie fix-its because I know that if I do, I probably wouldn't write my own because geez self, you're just retreading all this territory everyone else did better already!

But who knows, maybe the CWII event this summer will actually...be good (yeah okay, no way) have enough interesting Steve/Tony interaction that I'll be inspired by that, instead? There's still a few months to go!

[navaan]

Aww. *hugs* I'm also still working on RBB. I'm sure the longfic writing gets easier again after a while. For me it's always hardest to get back in after a break.

Ohhhh, fix it sound incredible. :) Try to look it like this: Nobody will actually write exactly the fic you are writing, even if they are also writing fix-its. And if you're excited for it right now then that is reason enough to try writing a MCU fix-it right now! in my experience the retreading of paths isn't that big of a problem - because we all play with our favorite tropes, our personal takes on the personalities involved and have our own ways to build stories, use prose etc.

I hear you on not reading other fics while trying to work on your own though. I'm absolutely the same. The more I get pulled into the stories I want to write the harder it get to me to read in the same tropes, because I don't want my ideas sidetrack or discover a fic that will make me weep, because I COULD NEVER DO THIS AS GOOD.

And you still do have time to think this through or settle on another idea.

I hope at the very least CW II will give us some interesting interactions to work with. -.- *sigh* That's really the least Marvel could do for us, right?

[yohkobennington.livejournal.com]

Still working on my second RBB. BUT, ideas for BB, I have plenty. Choosing one will be my biggest challenge XD (because I love them all. T__T why brain why.)

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Yay! Good luck with the RBB. If you need any help choosing, we can try to help you out? :)

[capneverever.livejournal.com]

Eep.

I'm kind of low on inspiration this year for the BB.

I'm torn on doing on a long-form Avengers Assemble fic with Steve/Tony hijinks -- but I'm not sure if I've got in me to write a 25k + humor fic.

Or write a Steve/Tony meet up in Madripoor for a mission. They end up struggling with the mission and struggling with what redemption mean and what being a good person means. While falling for each other.

Or maybe try for some other idea. Sigh.

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Aww. *hugs*

Speaking only for myself here, 25k goes by a lot faster than I think it will. Especially if you introduce a secondary plot. So maybe if you interleave the humor with a lot of plot, you'll hit 25k?

I have to say also that I am always fond of shenanigans in Madripoor, so I really like the sound of that. Did you ever read the Avengers World issue where it was revealed that Madripoor was built on a giant dragon? :)

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Like many of the other respondents, I am STILL WORKING on my RBB so I haven't had much brain left over for thinking about any other fic. (My RBB just broke 100k today. Whoops. But I'm almost done, I swear.)

I am not sure yet what I want to do for the BB, although this year I think I want to write something short. I know it's a BB but I'm not sure I have a second 100k fic in me this year. I want a nice, tidy plot that I can wrap up in 25-50k.

So far the only idea I keep kicking around that might be long enough is a Star Trek AU, which is really more worldbuilding than plot, and also might end up too long once I try to pack a plot in there. Also knowing me the plot will be "everyone gets sexpollened on an away mission." I have zero dignity. Or shame, I guess.

[navaan]

Wow, Sine that is really going to be one epic RBB!

I want a nice, tidy plot that I can wrap up in 25-50k.

That sounds reasonable and that range is a pretty nice length for a BB still.

Oh, I'm super intrigued by the Star Trek AU! I love Star Trek so much and I'd be super excited for the sexpollend on away mission plot. We're not in fandom to be ashamed of these things. In fact some of us are here for these things! But yeah, with the worldbuilding and plot it's probably a matter of keeping that nice and tidy and not letting it get away from you.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Just touching base to say that I have had an idea for a trope I thought I'd never write in a universe I didn't know about two years ago, and -- by crikey -- it is taking my mind off Civil War a treat. So I think, for the first time I might actually finish a big bang fic... *Eyes the 100,000 words or so of rubbish from the last one I tried with some unease.*

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Sounds good to me! I think a lot of us could use some escapism from our hobby right now! Also I am a big fan of all sorts of tropes, so I am already in favor of this. :)

[laireshi]

I still have my second RBB to finish, so I really shouldn't be considering BB right now, but...well. I want to do it.
I have a few old ideas or some WIPs I could finish (one day I'll write that vampire Tony AU. One day.). And I started an MCU fic (still not over it) that already is longer than I'd thought and might reach BB length.

[sineala.livejournal.com]

Believe me, I know the feeling. :)

Vampire Tony sounds good to me! But, ooh, MCU fic. It all sounds great, actually. :)

Hiho!

[fufufuu-su.livejournal.com]

Hi! I'm new here but not at all new to reading wonderful things~
English is not my native language and I'm too shy in general to participate but I'm looking forward to enjoying it as reader!

I wish tone of inspiration to everyone <3

Re: Hiho!

[magicasen.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you for such kind words. I'm sure all the writers appreciate it!