Freeform Clarifications

[genfreeformmod]

Below are freeform clarifications that I haven't been able to accept into the tagset yet. If you have a tag that isn't accepted into the tagset and isn't listed below, please let me know.

• 5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened — The tag 5+1 Things is already in the tagset. Does that suit your needs? If it doesn't, I'll accept as-is.
  
  
• Thank You For Being A Friend — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Freeforms are, ideally, a specific and distinct element with a mostly unambiguous meaning and that will hopefully be relatively easy to make a mod call about whether or not the requested freeform is included in a given work. Would a freeform like "A Thanks B For Being Their Friend" suit your needs, or does this freeform mean something different?
  
  
• A D&D style adventure — Is this freeform asking for A) a work where the requested character(s) are living in a D&D setting AU (eg, Forgotten Realms) or B) a work where the requested character(s) form or join an adventuring party or C) a work where the requested character(s) experience a fantasy dungeon crawl with monsters, traps, etc or D) some combination of the above or E) something else entirely?
  
  
• Winter Soldier AU — The tag Winter Soldier storyline applied to other fandom is already in the tagset. Does that suit your needs? If it doesn't, can we come up with a more specific freeform that does?
  
  
• Parallels — I can think of a couple different ways that this tag is used on works on AO3, and I want to make sure it's as specific as you want it to be. For example, do you want a work that highlights parallels in canon (eg, a vid that juxtaposes parallel scenes or something) or are you hoping for a work that includes new parallels (eg, a fic exploring the similarities between two requested characters that shows similar things happening to them)? If you're into gifts that have either/both, I'll accept as-is.
  
  
• Temper tantrums aren’t just for children — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift - for example, something like "Adult Character Has A Temper Tantrum" although I'm not 100% sure that's what you mean.
  
  
• Canon but make it horror — Freeforms are, ideally, a specific and distinct element with a mostly unambiguous meaning and that will hopefully be relatively easy to make a mod call about whether or not the requested freeform is included in a given work. Does this freeform mean something like "Alternate Universe - Canon But With Additional Horror Elements" or "Alternate Universe - Canon Elements Made Horrific" or something else? I'm willing to add multiple freeforms to cover all your horror bases. You can also be specific on the fandom level, if you're struggling to phrase how you want to add horror to whichever canon.
  
  
• This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? Character Says 'This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things' would be acceptable, if that's what you mean?
  
  
• "You've got nowhere else to go." — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? It seems related, but obviously different to, the freeform Injured A shows Up on B's doorstep Saying "I didn't know where else to go" which is already in the tagset, if that helps with phrasing.
  
  
• haunted — the freeform tag Ghosts is already in the tagset. Does that suit your needs? If not, can we make this tag more specific to what you're looking for?
  
  
• the worst person you know — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? I'm sorry, I don't have any suggestions for rephrasing.
  
  
• What could possibly go wrong if we stay at this secluded cabin in the woods? — Freeforms are, ideally, a specific and distinct element with a mostly unambiguous meaning and that will hopefully be relatively easy to make a mod call about whether or not the requested freeform is included in a given work. Could we rephrase this to something like Thinking Nothing Will Go Wrong At Secluded Cabin In The Woods?
  
  
• There's Something So Wrong With You (Reluctantly Affectionate) — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? I'm sorry, I don't have any suggestions for rephrasing.
  
  
• "I'm sorry I wasn't there." — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? If you need help with rephrasing, maybe something like Character Apologizes For Not Being Emotionally/Physically Available During Crisis ?
  
  
• "I was wrong about you." — I'm uncertain what exactly this means in the context of a freeform for this exchange. Could we come up with a rephrasing that identifies specifically what you'd like to end up included in your gift? If you need help with rephrasing, maybe something like A Acknowledges That They Made Incorrect Assumptions About B, if that's what you mean by this freeform.
  
  
• offering your friend sex in fear that they will leave you (friend is in shock) — I'd like to bake in the friendship staying platonic for this tag. My suggested rephrasing is A Offers Their Friend B Sex To Prevent B Leaving; B Is Shocked And Refuses, but I'm of course open to other rephrasing options if that doesn't capture everything you want. It's only 74 characters long so you could probably shove more details in there.(The limit is 100 per tag)
  
  
• a offers sex because they think b expects it and would leave them otherwise (but it's platonic) — this tag disappeared from the tagset back end (possibly transformed into the tag queried above?) but I spent some time thinking up a rephrasing I was going to ask about so I'm keeping it in this query! Please let me know if you would like it added to the tagset instead of or in addition to the tag above: A Offers Sex Thinking B Requires It To Stick Around; B Doesn't So They Stay Platonic
  
  
• Crossover - Chars w/similar powers from different canons can't immediately recognize each other — I'm a little stumped by this freeform. Do you mean you want the characters to be strangers rather than, say, their shared powers coming from a previous acquaintance? Or are you implying that they should recognize each other, but are prevented from doing so? Is it important that you leave a window open for them to slowly recognize each other? I don't want to strip anything from the tag that's important to the kind of work you want to receive or require you to request a tag with less wiggle room for your creator than you want to give them, but I'm hoping we can clarify/simplify this because I'm not very sure that I've understood your meaning. The most straightforward rephrasing I can come up with is Crossover - Characters w/similar powers from different canons meet as strangers but I'm obviously open to a different rephrasing if that doesn't capture everything that's important to you about the tag.
  

If one of these tags is yours, please reply below clarifying/letting me know what you want.

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Crossover - Chars w/similar powers from different canons can't immediately recognize each other

This was me. I had in mind power sets that would normally allow immediate recognition of another person with that power, but being from different canons changes it just enough that it's not recognizable at first meeting. For example, characters who might be able to recognize other qi users at a glance don't recognize characters who can manipulate energy in similar ways until they see it in action. I'd be open to "Crossover - Chars w/similar powers don't recognize each other's powers until they see them used" or similar if you think this gets the idea across better?

[genfreeformmod]

Thanks for the quick reply! That's a super fascinating set up but without your explanation I think I'd still be lost -- and I really want you to get a gift/assignment that includes what you were looking for. Rather than trying to generalize it for any possible crossover, I wonder if it would be clearer if you came up with one freeform along the lines of one of these for each fandom you'd like to request or offer the freeform for:

Crossover - A & B both cultivators; neither realizes until they see each other use qi
Crossover - A&B both magic users; both slowly realize as they see each other do magic

This is obviously kind of a clunky solution, but I'd rather add more freeforms than leave a freeform confusingly phrased.

[(Anonymous)]

I wanted it to be usable by multiple fandoms, so go ahead and reject it then.

[genfreeformmod]

Okay, sorry we couldn't come up with a good phrasing!

[unhindered_dreams]

For Parallels, I think keeping it as-is is the best option. I plan to request fic and vids with a set of crossover characters—Anakin Skywalker, Buffy Summers, and Harry Potter—and there are multiple parallels in their lives that can be explored in various ways, so I don't want it to be too specific.

[genfreeformmod]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll accept as-is.

[(Anonymous)]

nominator for "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things" - honestly, saw that in another tagset and thought it could lead to humor fics. it was an impulse nomination and wouldn't crush me to lose it )) your variation is fine, or cut it entirely, no preference

[genfreeformmod]

Thanks for the quick reply! I'll accept my suggested phrasing.

[cricketdust]

These are mine:

Haunted -- Hmm I feel like ghosts suggests characters and haunted suggests more of a vibe, but you can just nix it entirely.

What could possibly go wrong if we stay at this secluded cabin in the woods? -- This is a pretty specific horror trope as is, but if you think it will give you trouble in determining whether something fits, you can toss it, too.

"I was wrong about you." -- maybe just "A Realizes Their Impression Of B Was Incorrect," if that works.

Thank you!

[genfreeformmod]

Haunted — will do, thank you!

"I was wrong about you." — will do, thank you!

What could possibly go wrong if we stay at this secluded cabin in the woods? — I do recognize it as a horror trope! I definitely should have included more detail in my initial clarification note, sorry. The problem with it is more that phrasing a freeform as a sarcastic question like this leaves a big ol' door open for understandable miscommunication between creator and recip if, for example, a creator matched on this freeform doesn't realize this is referencing a standard horror trope and just thinks something like, "Oh, being remote could cause all kinds of problems! Maybe there's a big storm and they have to (platonically) cuddle for warmth." It's not super likely, but people come to multifandom exchanges from all kinds of places and experiences, so it could happen and if it did it would be terrible for everyone. My suggested rephrasing is not my best work, for sure, but if we can somehow switch the freeform from a question implying/evoking the trope to something that outright states it, then there'd be absolutely no problem. I just want to be certain you'll get to recieve/create an actual horror fic if you request/offer this tag!

[cricketdust]

I actually love when people interpret freeform tags in ways I didn't expect, which is probably part of the problem 😅 But I can also just request another tag or two and suggest this as an idea in my sign-up, so I'm totally fine to just delete it. :)

[genfreeformmod]

Haha, I understand, it can be kind of exciting when it happens to me as a participant but then when I have my mod hat on I have to try to minimize it 😔Thank you for understanding!

[kimaracretak]

There's Something So Wrong With You (Reluctantly Affectionate)

This was me! I'm interested in the relationship vibe where Character A recognises that Character B is not as nice/good/normal as they appear, and reluctantly realises that they like that about B. Would a rephrase to Character A recognises the darkness in Character B; reluctantly appreciates B more because of it work?

[genfreeformmod]

Yes, that works, thank you!

[(Anonymous)]

I'm the two offers sex tags! I'm good with the first one being rephrased to
- A Offers Their Friend B Sex To Prevent B Leaving; B Is Shocked And Refuses
The second one I was thinking more of
- A Offers Sex Thinking B Requires It To Stick Around; B Doesn't
but then somehow including the implication that it was never going to be romantic/sexual in the first place it's more of a desperate last measure, so it's coming out of the blind side for B. Not sure how to add this vibe without putting (No Romantic/Sexual Undertones) behind it XD

[(Anonymous)]

Different Anon thinking about how to rephrase your second tag. I came up with these if either work:

A Offers Sex Thinking B Requires It To Stick Around; B Doesn't And Is Blindsided By Offer

A Offers Sex Thinking B Requires It To Stick Around; B Doesn’t Expect Romance/Sex At All

[genfreeformmod]

Thank you for the reply! For the first one, I'll go ahead and input that. For the second one, I think the anon above has some great suggestions and I'm willing to add either, both, or some secret third option you come up with after seeing that comment — just let me know!

[(Anonymous)]

First Anon here, love both options by second anon and would love to see them thank you!

[genfreeformmod]

Hooray! I'll put those into the tagset for you.

[dark_luke]

These are mine and all seem to have the same issue?

"Thank You For Being A Friend" - This wasn't really meant to be anything more specific than it is, it was meant to evoke vibes (the friendship kind) for the request rather than defined something (outside of friendship) I expect to see in the gift.

"A D&D style adventure" - All of those interpretations would be valid as would something that had the characters LARPing or that used D&D style tropes in modern/Alt setting and situations. I'm not overly interested in defining exactly how the tag should be used in the gift.

"Canon but make it horror" - I didn't really want to be more specific or distinct? I like they idea of letting the writer determine how they're going to interpret the tag (how would they make the canon horror and/or add horror that wasn't there before etc)? If that's not allowed I guess just cut it or change it out for whichever of the alt suggestions you've listed (but I probably won't use either of them, tbh)

[genfreeformmod]

Unfortunately, it's important for freeform tags to be specific and clear in interpretation, as vague tags or tags based around vibes can lead to a less than enjoyable experience for participants and can be very hard to moderate. The tagset already has Friendship which should work to indicate that you would like a gen fanwork with friendship in it. I could also add the tag Horror if you would like, and you'd certainly be free to add a DNW about changing the canon setting too much to your sign up.

Would Inspired by Dungeons & Dragons fit your needs for the D&D tag?

[dark_luke]

Just reject them as I will likely no longer be participating.

[withthekeyisking]

Hello! I'm the nominator of "You've got nowhere else to go."

Would a change to this work instead? Char A tells Hurt Char B "You've got nowhere else to go."

[genfreeformmod]

Yes, that works fine! I'll get that in for you.

[(Anonymous)]

I nominated both 5+1 Things and "5 times this happened and 1 time something else happened". I also generally call them N Times/N Things (the exact number doesn’t matter to me, though I’m sure it does to some people). Both were in last year’s tag set (not nominated by me) so when thinking about what to nom I nominated them separately.

After thinking about it, could you edit the unapproved nom to "N+1 Things" or "N times something happened and 1 time it didn’t" (both fine with me)

https://archiveofourown.org/tag_sets/18934/nominations/322474

[genfreeformmod]

Oh, sorry, I missed that they were both in last year's tagset. Yes, I'll make that change for you, thanks for replying!