Together for Starlight
Together for Starlight is an FFXIV NPC x NPC gift exchange, with gifts being posted through the Starlight season at the end of December!Everyone is welcome - authors and artists. Gifters will receive prompts provided by their giftee, and will need to create, at minimum:Authors - a fic of at least 1000 words
Artists - one completed, colored pieceYou are of course allowed to create more should you choose to, but there’s no pressure for anything beyond the minimum requirements.
About & FAQ
Is the exchange SFW or NSFW?
Both! Participants can specify what they’re comfortable with (SFW only, NSFW only, or either), and we’ll assign accordingly. You will not have to create something outside of your comfort level.Are there any restrictions on ships, besides being NPC x NPC?
For SFW works, no! For NSFW works, we ask that all characters be over the age of 18 (aged up is okay!).Does Meteor count as an NPC?
For the purposes of this exchange, no. We’re looking to focus on celebrating the huge cast of non-WOL NPCs that we have!Do the prompts have to be Starlight-themed?
They don’t! This is just a Starlight exchange based on the time of year that the gifting will take place.Is this exchange anonymous?
Yes! At least, until the posting period. We ask that you do not reach out directly to your giftee - if any communication needs to be done, please contact our mods to facilitate.Will there be treats?
There will be treats! For those who don’t know what treats are - participants’ prompts will be posted so that once your first gift is completed, you can optionally choose a second or third prompt to gift to other participants. These treats - which we will call “Stocking Stuffers” for our exchange - are not subject to minimum requirements as they’re meant to be extras!You will be allowed to opt in or out of treats - if you opt in, your prompts will be posted on our Carrd so that others can see them and potentially make you a little extra surprise!
Sign Ups
From September 1st to 21st, you can sign up via the Google Form posted here!We will ask you some basic contact information, and for a list of prompts. We recommend that you include any ships, prompts, tropes, etc. that you would be interested in receiving. If there is also something specifically that you would not want to receive, you can include that too.While there’s no minimum requirement for number prompts, more prompts gives us more to match you with!You’ll also need to provide a list of what you’re comfortable and not comfortable creating. We will not match you with any prompts that you would not be okay creating.I don't want to sign up for the exchange itself, can I sign up as a pinch hitter?
Absolutely! You can sign up as a pinch-hitter here, so that you can cover if someone drops out unexpectedly. Pinch hitters will be contacted by the latest on December 16th/17th, which gives you approximately two weeks to create your piece.Can my form be edited after submitting?
Technically no, but if you really need to change something, please reach out to a mod!
Assignments
During the first week of October, you’ll receive your assignment via your preferred communication method (Discord or Email). You’ll have until the end of December to complete at least one fanwork for your giftee.I didn’t receive my assignment, what do I do?
We’ll make an announcement on our Bluesky letting everyone know when the assignments have all gone out. If you haven’t received it, it’s possible that it ended up in spam. If you still can’t find it, please reach out to one of the mods!Can I create more than one gift for my giftee?
Absolutely! We ask that you make at least one piece meeting the minimum requirements, though you’re welcome to make more than one as long as you have the time!What do I do if I have a question for my giftee?
As this is meant to be anonymous until the posting period, please reach out to a mod if you have a question, and we’ll act as a liaison between you both!
Posting
Completed assignments will be posted from December 16th through the 31st. They can be posted to AO3 or Bluesky - we just ask that you tag your giftee so that they can see it. Please also use the hashtag #togetherforstarlight when posting on social media so that we can find it and share it on our own Bluesky!You will receive a check in from the mods on the week before the 16th to make sure that you’re on track to have your piece posted. If we do not hear back from you by the 16th, we will assume that you have dropped out, and a pinch hitter will step in to take over your assignment. No-showing to this event will have you blacklisted from future events.What happens if I need to drop out?
Life happens, we understand that! We ask that you let a mod know as soon as possible, so that we can get a pinch hitter working on your assignment. Please do not wait until the last minute.Can I post before the posting period?
Please only post within the official posting period, as the idea is for the gifting to happen around the holidays!
Questions?
If you have any further questions or any of the above is unclear, please feel free to reach out to the mods for assistance! Contact information can be found on the Contact page.
Schedule
Here is the schedule - should there be any changes, participants will be notified and it will posted on our Bluesky!Sign Ups: September 1st - September 21stAssignments: 1st weekend of OctoberMod Check In: 1st - 2nd week of DecemberPosting Dates: December 16th through the 31st
Sign Up!
Participant Sign Up
Tips for signing up:
The sign-up form has three sections: contact information, your wishlist, and your likes/dislikes as a creator.- Please be as specific as possible in both your wishlist and the creator section!- For the Wishlist, we recommend that you include any ships, prompts, tropes, etc. that you would be interested in receiving. You should also specify what you do not want to receive.- While there’s no minimum requirement for number prompts, more prompts and more variety in your prompts gives us more to match you with!- For the creator section, please list what you enjoy creating, as well as any things that you are uncomfortable with. This is a good spot to list potential triggers - we will not give you prompts that you're not 100% comfortable creating!Keep in mind that if something is not listed in either of the above sections, the mods have no way of knowing! The more specific you are, the better!Click here to go to the PARTICIPANT sign up sheet!
Pinch Hitter Sign Up
Pinch Hitters are creators who step in to take over assignments if participants drop out. If you sign up as a pinch hitter, you are not required to create a piece unless a mod reaches out for your help.You can sign up as both a Participant and a Pinch Hitter. If you do, you'll be required to create your one main piece, and then may be asked to create a second one in the case of drop outs.Pinch hitters will know by December 16th at the latest if they need to create a piece. If needed, we will offer up to a week extension to complete the piece.Click here to go to the PINCH HITTER sign up sheet!
Contact
Should you have any questions (either prior to or during the exchange's creation period, you can use the following resources to get in touch with us!