c_im_bigbang | Cap-Iron Man RBB - Partnership Guide (Reply)

So you have a partner... now what?

You’ll have received an email from the event mods matching you with your partner for the RBB (If you didn’t, contact us please! If you did, but have not replied to let us know you received it - please do so right now!) but what’s in store for the next few months?

Most collabers agree that the most important part of a successful pairing is communication. Make sure to reach out to your partner - don’t be shy! It’s important to connect right away so your partner knows they can contact you.

Speaking of contact, the first thing you should establish is the best way to get in touch with each other. Pick a primary platform, be it discord, tumblr, slack, irc, email, etc. Some people find email easier, some people prefer something with pm capabilities for quick chatting. Make sure that whatever you settle on, you CHECK IT OFTEN. This might mean setting up special notifications on your phone, or making it part of your daily habit. Find out which time zone your partner is in, so you know when they’ll be around to chat.

If you’d like to connect on discord, you can start by joining our event discord chat!

If you’re going to be unreachable for a period of time, or need to take a short break from working on the RBB, let your partner know. Even a quick email saying you’re going to be out of touch for a week while on vacation keeps your partner from worrying.

Once you have a reliable way to talk to each other, it’s time to get collaborating!

For writers, so far all you have to go on is your art piece. This is a collaborative event so you’re encouraged to discuss the art piece with your artist, brainstorm together, and share your work with each other as you go.

Some questions writers might want to ask their artist:

What was your inspiration for this?
Do you have anything about the story in mind already?
What would you like to see in the story?
What would you not want to see in the story?
(If the art is incomplete) What’s your final vision for the art?
How closely do you see us working together on this?

Artists! You’ve been waiting and hoping to be picked up by a writer and now you have! Be sure to share your vision with your writer. Perhaps you have a detailed plot in mind already, perhaps you just drew an image you liked, but either way, you and your art are the only starting point your writer has. Share all the thoughts you have on the story with your writer, but also be prepared that your writer might not take things in exactly the direction you had envisioned. If there are planned aspects to your art that you haven’t finished yet, discuss those plans. Be open to your writer’s ideas! Your art might’ve inspired them in unforeseen ways. Not everyone is good at writing to very detailed prompts, and art may not always convey complicated plots - try to find a middle ground! If you have any additional art, let your writer know. If you want to create more art for the fic as the writer writes and more scenes are done, tell them that too!

Here are some questions artists might want to ask their partner:

What grabbed you about this art?
How did you interpret what’s happening in the art?
Do you have anything about the story in mind already?
What would you like to see in the story/art (if not already finished)?
What would you not want to see in the story/art (if not already finished)?
How closely do you see us working together on this?

If you use Google Docs to write your story, you can share it with your artist who can make comments and suggestions as you go. Programs like picarto let artists stream their art sessions with their writers as well - team sprints anyone? :D

When collaborating it’s important to be honest and flexible. Remember that you’re a team, working together to make the best art/story combo you can. When you disagree, try to find a compromise you can both live with. It’s important that both of you are happy with the finished product!

Remember that art and fic MUST BE FINISHED by your posting date. Posting WIPS is not allowed. If you are concerned about finishing on time, discuss it with your partner and let the mods know as soon as possible.

IF YOU DO NOT HEAR FROM YOUR PARTNER, CONTACT US. Try to get a hold of them with the contact details you have, but if it’s been two weeks without word, let the mods know.

If you have any issues with your partnership or with meeting your deadline you must email the mods at cap.im.events@gmail.com.

Remember: communication is key! Have fun!

Your Cap-IM RBB 2018 mods,
laireshi, FestiveFerret, Kiyaar magicasen, Miniraven