tolkienrsb | TRSB 2019: Updated Rules and FAQs are here!

Folks, thank you for your patience - I am happy to announce that the updated FAQs for TRSB19 is live and can be found here! Please spread the word and start getting excited...

If you're thinking of signing up then we encourage you to read all the way through whether you've participated before or not - but here's a quick summary of some key changes and clarifications, based on prior year feedback:

Authors must have an AO3 account; this is to make it easier for the mods to monitor who has completed their fic in the requisite timeframe, find pinch hitters if necessary, and ensure no-one goes away disappointed. If you don't have an AO3 account and you want to take part, please either join their waiting list in plenty of time, or contact Raiyana or Narya.
This wasn't specifically stated one way or the other last year, but just to be clear, you can submit movieverse prompts, prompts for lesser known works by Tolkien (e.g. The Fall of Arthur, Leaf by Niggle) and/or other works with a clear link to his life or creative output (e.g. the new Tolkien film, the Shadow of Mordor games)
Crossovers between Tolkien canons – for example, Roverandom meeting up with Gandalf – are permitted. Crossovers with works not linked to Tolkien – for example, Elladan and Elrohir joining The Avengers – are not.
This year, for most artists, final art is due a week in advance of final check in. However...
...if artists want to be completely hands off, and choose this option at signup, they must provide the finished artwork much earlier (2nd June) to avoid the risk of an author only learning about an important detail at the last minute.
The early deadline doesn't apply if the artist chooses the 'Author's choice' collaboration level, and it is the author who chooses to be hands off.
Bans have been introduced for defaulters.
Treats are actively encouraged; hopefully this will mitigate some of the disappointment if you don't get your preferred art.
Collaboration levels are defined in the FAQs.
There was a lot of confusion around posting last year. There is more detail in the full FAQs, but here is a summarised version of the 2019 process:

1. Artists are responsible for posting their art to the platform of their choice (e.g. DeviantArt). This will inevitably have to be slightly before reveals, so that the author can link to or embed the artwork in their fic.

2. Authors must put their completed fic in the AO3 collection by 25th August.

3. Fics are revealed on 1st September.

4. One of your pair (it's up to you who) should create a Tumblr promotional post on or just after this date, advertising the amazing results of your collaboration. Details of what should go in the post are in the full FAQ, and will be provided to participants again via email nearer the time.

5. Provide the mods with a link to your promotional post via the GoogleForm which we will circulate nearer the time.

6. The mods will then reblog the posts in staggered schedule to ensure maximum exposure for each team.