ADMIN POST: The Mission Report Challenge

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Okay, this comes from an idea by nudaydreamer and it's like, three--three!--cool challenges in one! As she puts it:

I'd love to see a Mission Report Challenge. We all know some crazy shit happens on those other worlds, and authors could choose to a) write a (pornalicious?) Report That Will Never Actually Be Filed Because Elizabeth Would Freak Out And Such, b) write a euphemistically suggestive report that leaves those of us with dirty minds quite clear on what happened, without being explicit, or possibly c) take another author's story and write a report of type a or b for it.

Everybody got that? See, it's kind of a Document Challenge and it's kind of a Remix and it's kind of Classified and Porny--or not; it's a festival, really. Now to clarify about option c)--if you choose to write a mission report of somebody else's story, we'll ask you to credit them, but we won't require you to ask their permission Edited to add: and get their permission, or check the links below. HOWEVER, if you want to opt OUT of option c)--i.e. tell people that they can't write a mission report of your story or stories, even with credit--please leave a comment in this post ASAP. Edited to add: link to new opt-out post below! We WILL ask challenge respondents to check before posting that the writer hasn't opted out of the challenge. Edited to add: Merryish reminds me to say that it is, of course, perfectly acceptable to write a mission report on one of your own stories!

It's August 21st; stories will be due on Monday, September 4th, Labor Day, at midnight.


Edited to add: Freezing comments here: click here for a policy clarification, opt-in, and opt-out posts are above.

Comments

(frozen) (no subject)

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

Can we opt out, except if permission for a specific story has been asked for?

What I'm really concerned about is someone taking story and putting a spin on it that I didn't intend and/or want - like putting a Sheppard/Teyla spin on a story that was gen, etc, and not checking with me first, since I'm the one who had the original idea, and I know (from comments, etc) that people can read things into fics that aren't (supposed) to be there....

(frozen) (no subject)

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

(I'm asking because another writer/good friend has already asked permission to use one of my stories, and I don't want giving her permission to seem like I'm granting *everyone* permission to just take and re-write.....)

(frozen) (no subject)

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

Opting out of option C, please.

(frozen) (no subject)

[chopchica.livejournal.com]

I'm opting out, please.

(frozen) (no subject)

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

Also, sorry, another thought I had - are you limiting the writers we can choose from to sga_flashfic members, or is anyone who has ever written SGA fic fair game? Because if they're not on the list, they won't know to opt out, and I know a lot of writers who might like to opt out for whatever reason.

It would be a bit of a shock for Writer A to find out September 5th that Writer B did a mission report to their fic, and they weren't asked and are offended/insulted/etc by the fic entirely....(because yes, I'm like McKay and constantly imagine the worst case scenario).

Just hate to see the community get a bad rep for "encouraging" something like that (because people will gripe...this is the internet)....

(frozen) (no subject)

[hth-the-first.livejournal.com]

Right, because God forbid we write stories that make use of ideas someone else came up with. I personally write to Martin Gero before each and every story I post on the internet to clear it with him; I keep his postcards in a little file folder in my fireproof safe so that I can pull them out and show them to anyone who asks. Otherwise I might come across as encouraging taking another writer's material and putting a spin on it that writer might not care for, and at all costs I don't want to do that.

This is the internet, after all. *g*

(frozen) (no subject)

[jade-dragoness.livejournal.com]

*holds up hand* Can I offer a challenge? This idea has been pestering me for so long now.

The Mix It Up Challenge - mix up clothes, roles, characterization, interests, music, or lives. Change things around. Make Rodney the civilian leader. Make the Genii the first people they met. Make John the one allergic to citrus. Make Telya the one who hids knifes in her hair. Make Ronon a scientist. Take canon and mix it up.

(frozen) (no subject)

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

You can totally offer a challenge! (That one sounds fun!)

(frozen) (no subject)

[kyrdwyn.livejournal.com]

I'm opting out of Option C.

Specific exceptions may be granted, with prior permission obtained via e-mail. E-mail address is on my user page.

(frozen) (no subject)

[spike21.livejournal.com]

What about soft opt?

*rolls about clutching sides*

Trust me, if you're in alternative health care in BC, that was HILARIOUS!!

(frozen) (no subject)

[dancinguniverse.livejournal.com]

I'm not, but the delight you obviously took in making that joke cracked me up anyway. *giggles* I love dorks, and please take that the right way, because I am one myself.

(frozen) (no subject)

[shetiger.livejournal.com]

I'm also opting out of C, with the same caveat.

(frozen) (no subject)

[rhian-morwenna.livejournal.com]

I'd like to opt out of C, unless I'm contacted directly beforehand. Email/IM info on my info page. Thanks.

(frozen) (no subject)

[forcryinoutloud.livejournal.com]

Opting out of C.

(frozen) (no subject)

[an-kayoh.livejournal.com]

I have an admin question: Are amnesty challenges done regularly or in a more relaxed fashion? 'Cause it's been awhile since we've had one. :D

(frozen) (no subject)

[forlornhope42.livejournal.com]

Opting out of C. No exceptions.

(frozen) (no subject)

[cedara]

Excuse me, I'm just an occasional reader of the comm, not even a member, do I have to opt out of option C too, since my SGA stuff is publicly available? It should be common curteousy to ask first.

(frozen) (no subject)

[eretria.livejournal.com]

Also opting out of c) unless asked beforehand and privately via e-mail. The address available on my userinfo.

(frozen) (no subject)

[i-icie.livejournal.com]

I'm not a member, but I write SGA, so just in case... I'm opting out of C, unless personally asked.

(frozen) (no subject)

[mice1900.livejournal.com]

All I ask is that nobody make any of my stories into McSheps, thanks.

(frozen) ADMIN

[cesperanza.livejournal.com]

Uh, a story that changed your pairing would be a bad story, FWIW. The point isn't to change things willy nilly! The point, if you chose option C. would be to tell the same story in a different FORM.

(frozen) Won't Be Joining this Comm Ever.

[debc.livejournal.com]

You know what? I've seen this comm mentioned enough times to think "well, maybe I should join. It looks like fun."

However, after reading the rules of this challenge, in particularly OPtion C, where you blatantly say you won't require people's permissions before their fics are remixed, I am 100% certain I won't ever be joining this comm.

And yes, I'm aware that I'm only person, and not as active in fandom as I used to be (but hey, I'm pregnant right now and sitting down to type lots of fic is harder these days than it used to be)... so I'm aware that my opinions on this matter can easily be disregarded by most. I'm not changing the world by having my say.

However, I am still going to have my say, and it's this: Asking permission to remix someone else's fanfic is the polite and correct to do. It fosters good community spirit amoung the fandom.

By making the permission-getting optional, this comm has done a very tactless, tacty, and impolite thing. Any comm that doesn't care about its fandoms authors enough to care about this, is no comm worth joining.

(frozen) Re: Won't Be Joining this Comm Ever.

[misspamela.livejournal.com]

I just want to point out again, as I did above -- and I'm not affiliated with this community, just baffled by the response -- that the challenge is NOT to remix stories, just to write a mission report about a story. You wouldn't be *changing* the story at all.

I'm wondering if the message is getting mixed in the reaction

(frozen) (no subject)

[miera-c.livejournal.com]

Opting out of any option where anyone would come in and rewrite one of my fics. Ever.

(frozen) (no subject)

[rogue-planet.livejournal.com]

This makes me slightly uneasy... If by some strange chance someone is interested in one of my fics, I'd like them to ask first.

(frozen) (no subject)

[flatlanddan.livejournal.com]

I too am uneasy about option C.

People, if you're going to use someone elses fic as a starting off point please do the polite thing and ask for permission. An e-mail isn't hard to send and I know that I would appreciate it if someone took the time to send me an e-mail and ask. You obviously like the person (or at least their writing) so this should really be a non-issue. If the person says no, then so be it. But I know that if someone sent me a message and said they had a niffty little idea etc... I'd probably say yes.

(frozen) (no subject)

[phiremangston.livejournal.com]

I'm by no means a BNF in this fandom, nor do I think anyone would look into rewriting my fics, but...opting out, just in case.

I'm also putting my hand in with the small group of people saying they're uncomfortable with this. It was poor form to offer this challenge, especially since there's no option-out for those who don't read this community.

A lot of authors out there put up a note asking people to ask before they archive their fic; I would think the same would go for remixes and the like. It's common courtesy to make sure it's okay before you use someone else's work.

Basically, what you're saying, is that this is a free-for-all, and you don't need to show respect for the author's wishes.

Poor form indeed.

(frozen) (no subject)

[yin-again.livejournal.com]

Opting out of option C. Thank you.

(frozen) (no subject)

[trialia]

Opting my work out of option C, with that caveat for anyone who does fancy trying C on something of mine for permission to be requested via trialia*@*gmail.com (minus the asterisks).

ITA on it being hugely bad form for you to say requesting permission isn't necessary, especially since those who don't read this community won't be able to opt-out. I only found out about this "challenge" through miera_c.

(frozen) (no subject)

[vagablonde.livejournal.com]

On the off chance that it might apply - if someone is doing a mission report or rewrite of any fic I've written, please let me know.

Thanks!

(frozen) (no subject)

[witchofthedogs.livejournal.com]

Opting out of "c," please.

Thank you.