Archive of Our Own

Welcome! This is an exchange driven by the power of song!

don't let go... you got the music in you

What are signup requirements?
You match by fandom and character/pairing. You will have to submit a link to a song, with the title of that song. There will be optional details exclusively for three (3) DNWs and, if the song is in a non-English language, translation information. Giving translation information is optional. 3-10 requests, 4-10 offers. You may request more than one thing in the same fandom, as long as you have 3 different fandoms.

What counts as three (3) DNWs?
Please treat this sensibly. This is an experiment in how DNWs can work for flash exchanges. Mod reserves right as total sovereign authority to ask you to tweak them. If your fic doesn't work out for you, there is no harm in refusing the gift. The purpose of limiting DNWs is to balance the needs of people with strong DNWs with the demands of a short, casual flash exchange.

Can I submit a song without lyrics?
Yes.

Can I submit a song in a non-English language?
Yes. You may optionally submit a link to translation information in the optional details slot.

Can I submit a spoken word poem?
No.

This spoken word poem has some music behind it...
Okay, maybe. If you want to have a detailed philosophical dispute about the definition of a song, I'm down, but realistically we are following the Jacobellis v. Ohio test for obscenity: your mod knows it when she sees it and she is the sovereign with total power.

Is this a songfic exchange?
No! In fact, you can't write traditional songfic due to Ao3 terms of service. Ao3 considers the use of the full lyrics of a song to be unacceptable use of material under copyright. Their guidelines suggest that you limit any direct quotes of songs to around 10%.

In that case, how should I use the song prompt?
However you want! Does the song have some imagery that inspires you? Is it narrative and do you want to tell that story? Does it give you characterization ideas? Did they just give you "The Masochism Tango" by Tom Lehrer and can you feel the expectant leer behind the computer screen? This is a flash exchange, it is supposed to be casual and low-pressure.

How much do I have to write?
300 word minimum, thus our clever name.

Pinch hits?
Pinch hits will be sent out on 300bpm.dreamwidth.org, 300bpm.tumblr.com, the Exchanges After Dark Discord server, and probably FFA too.

Who are you and how do I contact you?
I'm seinmit. @seinmit on twitter and seinmit on tumblr. [email protected], though. Contact me with any questions. I also haunt FFA pretty regularly.