2010 hp_april_fools rules! Please read these, even if you have participated before as some rules/requirements have been changed.
Despite the length of my rule list, I promise this is a ridiculously fun, warm and fuzzy fest!
2010 HP April Fools Fest Rules
Age Requirement: All participants and visitors must be at least 18 years old. There be pr0n in this here fest!
Exchange Policy: If you sign up for the festival and request a fic/art, you must give fic/art in return. Simple as that!
The Foolishness: If you are an author, you will be creating art of any form for the festival. If you are an artist, you will be writing fic. If you are known for both, you will using alternative mediums. And new for this year, if you're a watcher and haven't done either fic or art, you'll be dabbling in both and making an illustrated poem!
Alternative Mediums: The alternative mediums open to those who are both authors and artists are sculpture (stone, wood, clay, butter, etc), fabric arts (quilting, needlework, etc), film (songvids, fanvids, etc), Sims, collage. The idea/requirement is to use a medium you are not experienced with. Other mediums can be cleared with the fest mods.
Illustrated Poems: Watchers must make 1 illustration (of any variety) to go with one poem (also of any variety). So this could be stick figures with a related haiku or an illuminated sonnet or a blank verse poem with oil landscape or a pornographic limerick framed with dancing penises. Be creative and surprise us!
Sign-ups: Sign-ups will run from 01 January to 14 January. Assignments will be mailed out ASAP.
Ratings/Pairings: There is no rating or pairing restriction. Everything from G-rated fluffy gen to NC-17 gay incestuous cross-dressing bestiality is permitted. (You saw who your mod is, right?)
Fic Length: Fics must be at least 1,000 words in length. To keep everyone's sanity, this year there is also a maximum limit of 5,000 words.
Betas: Fics must be spell-checked and preferably beta read. If you cannot find a beta (for either fic or art) and you want one, we will me making a post to gather volunteers.
Deadline: All fest creations must be emailed to the Fest mods at hp.april.fools@gmail.com by 16 March.
Backing Out: If you are unable to complete your creation for whatever reason, you must let the mods know ASAP so we can find a pinch-hitter. Your gift may be regifted at the discretion of the moderators.
Email Requirements for Art: Header info for art creations must be sent in the body of an email with any coding typed in (ie, do not use your email to make the required elements bold). Attach the art to your email if we are hosting, with a file name of your art title and who it is for (ie, FuzzyFunforPR1.jpg) or the like. Just don't put your name in the file name. :P JPEGs, PNG's and GIF's are fine formats. I'm not picky about which or size as long as it's not super tiny or super massive; I'll resize as needed.
Email Requirements for Fic: Fic creations must be emailed as a completed post in Word Doc 97 (basic .doc, not .docx) format, with any necessary coding and the required header in the document.
Email Requirements for Illustrated Poems: Like with fic, illustrated poems must be emailed as a completed post in a Document format with any necessary coding and the required heading in the document. And like with art, attach the images to your email with a file name that doesn't give your name.
Hosting: Hosting for artworks will be provided if you do not have your own anonymous hosting.
Anonymity: All posting will be done by the moderators to keep the gifts anonymous for the month.
Posting: Posting will begin 01 April and extend through the month. The frequency will be based on the number of received submissions.
Exclusivity: All fest creations will be exclusive to hp_april_fools until the the names of their creators have been revealed at the end of the fest. Please do not post your creation anywhere else until then.
People that Suck in a Bad Way: Participants who completely fail to comment to the gift they are given will be beaten with very big sticks for being mannerless bastards. This doesn't mean you have to respond the same day it's posted; we just had a couple people last year who NEVER commented or said thank you, and that is just not okay.
Questions: Any questions or concerns can be emailed to the moderators at hp.april.fools@gmail.com .