The deadline for Secret Santa is fast approaching on December 5th and we’d love to hear from people who’d like to volunteer as beta readers and pinch hitters! Some of you have already expressed interest, but we’re coming to the crunch now and this is where we’d like to check who’s actual available and what you’re happy to do.

PINCH HITTERS

We will be automatically assigning pinch hitters to anyone who doesn’t submit their gift by the deadline of December 5th, which should hopefully give you more time and organisation than last year. If people then do manage to submit their gift by an agreed extension your pinch-hit would be assigned as a gift to the community as a whole, but no less appreciated! We will let you know after midnight has crossed all the time zones when a pinch-hit is needed (on Sunday 7th Monday 8th at the latest) and ideally we’d like your pinch hit back the following weekend, the 12th to 15th December.

If this sounds like something you’d like to do please comment to this post with:

Type Of Gift: gift type you’re willing to pinch-hit for, such as fic, fanmix, art…

Absolutely Not: Things that are an absolute no for you, such as anything triggering, character death, certain ratings, things that you will not do.

Kinda Like: If we get as many pinch hitters as have showed interest we can match you up a bit so you get something you think you’d be good at or would have fun with, so what are your strengths or likes? Genres, AU, comics…? No guarantees, but we’ll try!

BETA READERS

We have a post discussion on beta readers and how to ask for them along with a beta directory HERE, but to make things up to date, friendly, and easy can people who are happy to volunteer to beta read Secret Santa works comment to this post saying BETA VOLUNTEER and then anyone can just comment back or PM our volunteers.

If you’re unsure of how to approach a beta reader remember it’s a creative exchange. Beta readers do it for the fun of it and to help you :) And if either of you think that the other’s style isn’t for you that’s absolutely fine and you can part ways with a smile. You might want to tell your prospective beta reader: how long your fic is, your deadline (if other than the 5th December), the rating and any warnings or triggers, what you’re stuck on if there’s something specific or even general like you’re worried about your grammar or an action scene.

GRAPHICS MAKERS

Comment if you’d like to be involved in making banners, icons, or participation gifts, with your email address. The industrious and creative frea_o will round you up and get you going. Of course if you’d just like to create some Secret Santa or seasonally inspired icons, advertising banners, or anything else do feel free to share!


To all our volunteers: THANK YOU!
To all our bar: have fun and enjoy!