Sprinters' Delight
Table of Contents
It’s called Sprinters’ Delight — is this exchange strictly about sprinters?
I normally post works in a language other than English — can I still participate in this exchange?
I’m interested in writing more than one work for this exchange — what are my options?
I’m not able to complete my work before the posting deadline — what should I do?
So… What exactly is this anyway?
Sprinters’ Delight is a new character-focused flash fiction exchange for the Yowamushi Pedal series. The period for its inaugural exchange will open on October 1st, 2021.
More information about future laps of this exchange will be made available in January 2022.
It’s called Sprinters’ Delight — is this exchange strictly about sprinters?
The “sprint” in Sprinters’ Delight actually refers to the length portion of the exchange! Participants in this exchange will be creating flash fiction — a short “burst” of written work between 500 and 1,500 words.
While participants are more than welcome to request any of the series’ sprinters in their sign-up, the exchange allows requests for all characters (including support and minor characters) from Yowamushi Pedal.
If you'd like to request a character that isn't currently listed as an option in our tag set, please contact the moderation team.
What are the requirements?
Participants will be expected to create a completed work in English that is no less than 500 words and no greater than 1,500 words in length. These length parameters were chosen to encapsulate the wide range of definitions out there for how long flash fiction is. Works that are under 500 words or over 1,500 words will not meet the requirements of this exchange.
Each work must meet the following parameters of one of their recipient’s requests:
It must prominently feature the primary character that was requested.
It must include at least one of the themed prompts that were requested. It does not have to be a prompt that created the initial match!
It must, in good faith, respect any included DNWs.
Works may also include any of the following, but it is not part of the required parameters:
It may include any additional character request(s), if any were provided by the recipient. Participants are encouraged to take these requests into consideration, especially in cases where a participant included the character(s) in question in their offers.
It may include more than one of the themed prompts that were requested, so long as the completed work remains within all other required parameters.
It may include additional prompts, if any were provided by the recipient, so long as one of the themed prompts is also included in the completed work.
I normally post works in a language other than English — can I still participate in this exchange?
Yowamushi Pedal has fans all over the world, but in order to have the greatest chance of finding a match for all participants, limiting the posting language to one option ensures that all participants will receive a work that they are able to read. Additionally, the moderation team at this time is based in the United States and comprised of native English speakers, meaning that all communication with participants on social media and by email will be in English.
However, participants are still welcome to share their works in other languages! This can be done by:
…adding an additional chapter with the alternate language version to the English version of their work. The work will show approximately double the word count if this option is selected; please contact the moderation team by email so we can note the word count of the English version only!
…attaching a separate work to their English work, either as a part of a series or as a related work. Please note that separate works will be revealed immediately unless they are marked as fulfilling a challenge assignment prior to posting!
Please note that the word count requirement will not be enforced on a work’s alternate language version — so long as the English version meets the parameters, all is well!
I’m interested in writing more than one work for this exchange — what are my options?
In the event that a match cannot be made or a recipient’s assignment has been defaulted on, the moderation team will have a list of pinch hits available. Participants interested in taking on a pinch hit should email the moderation team with their own AO3 pseud and the corresponding number(s) for any requests they’d like to fill.
Participants are also welcome to write as many treats as they desire! Treats must meet the same work parameters as required works, but can be written for anyone participating in the exchange.
Participants are encouraged to fill any pinch hit requests first before committing to any treats, as recipients on our pinch hit list have not yet received a work!
I’m not able to complete my work before the posting deadline — what should I do?
Life can throw a wrench into things at any time and force you to take a step back from things. If this is the case, please get in touch with our moderation team by email as soon as possible. Participants will need to include their own AO3 pseud and the AO3 pseud for their assigned recipient.
If a participant requires an extension, please let the moderation team know as soon as possible. Extension times will vary and are granted on an individual basis.
If a participant needs to default before the default deadline, everything is golden — there will be no penalty for defaulting and no questions asked. The moderation team will either reassign the recipient that was defaulted on to another participant or (if no appropriate matches can be made) add their requests to the pinch hit list.
If a participant defaults after the default deadline but before the posting deadline, the moderation team will make a note of the default. In order to prevent frequent defaulting, if they default during the next exchange they participate in, they will not be able to participate in the following two exchanges (if exchanges are quarterly).
If a participant defaults during the 24 hours before the posting deadline, they will not be able to participate in the following four exchanges (if exchanges are quarterly). In cases where frequent defaulting has been noted, a participation ban for all future exchanges may occur. Exceptions to this rule are made at the sole discretion of the moderation team.
I have a question about...
...my assignment / I need more information — what should I do?
Please email the moderation team — do not contact recipients directly! The moderation team will act as a go-between so that all assignments remain a secret until authors are revealed.
...something specific to the current exchange — where are those guidelines?
Please click here to view the additional guidelines on AO3! If you still have questions, please email the moderation team.
...something else that wasn't covered here — how can I ask it?
Please send an email to the moderation team — we're happy to help answer any questions you might have!
As the moderation team all hold regular jobs during the week, please allow up to 24 hours for a response. Thank you for understanding!