One Wank After Another

[coalcube]

A blank assignment is a funny thing, isn't it? When you have it, you don't appreciate it, and when you miss it, it's gone.

Wednesday 10 December: Default deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 17 December: Assignment deadline (9pm UTC)
Wednesday 24 December: Main collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 25 December: Madness collection works reveals (9pm UTC)
Thursday 1 January: Author reveals, end of event (9pm UTC)

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Comments

emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

does anyone have a template re: emailing the mods for additional clarification on a letter/sign-up? How much or how little info should I include?

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

I don’t have a template because I don’t email mods often but I have sent some.

First, Yuletide mods said on the admin post when assignments went out to include your assignment link when asking questions about your assignment, and to not ask about locked/placeholder letters until at least October 29.

When asking questions if it’s a general thing/could apply to multiple fandoms you could keep it general. Though if they requested like 6-8 fandoms and you’re like "I really need an answer regarding the fandom we matched on" I wouldn’t say that so directly but I would say for example "How does the major character death dnw apply to canon deaths? Particularly for (this canon)". If it’s a fandom-specific question that can’t be made more general I’d just ask directly and embrace the fact that the mods make up decoy questions.

It’s nice to say hi and I always sign it with my username but like I don’t think that’s required (especially when they have a link to your assignment so like they know who you are from that).

Mods will reply to confirm they passed your question along and will send you another email with the recip’s response if they get one.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you! This is incredibly helpful.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Speaking from a general admin perspective, including your name within the text of the email is always wonderful for when someone's searching email later.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

+1000

- mod of other exchanges

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

what do you need to know?

If you matched to a blank sign-up and you'd just do better with more information, say that and the mods will probably use their own existing template.

Like other coalie said, include your AO3 name and the mods will appreciate if you go to the collection, click "My assignment", and copy the link of that page (unique to your specific assignment) into your email.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

thanks!

My recipient said that they really like [x] and really don't like [z], and I want clarification on [y] which could easily go in either direction.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Based on the times I did it, my advice:

- the mods will pass your questions on as-is. They might add decoys but they aren't going to rephrase them. So address them to the recip and not the mods, and don't say anything you don't want your recip to see exactly the way you wrote it.

- You don't want to have to go back and forth if the first answer isn't good enough, so be very very clear in your question. And there's a reasonable chance if you write back asking to clarify again, the mods will just tell you to do your best with what you have. Remember this is something your recip presumably thought was already clear, so you need to spell it out for them in as much detail as you can without giving away exactly what you're writing. If there's a way to answer just as unhelpfully as the original signup, they'll do that.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

I mean, the mods aren't going to knowingly pass on information that blatantly gives away what you are writing. (I say knowingly, because they may not realize that what you're saying is revealing; they don't know all fandoms, and they can miss stuff.)

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

cyrt Yeah, and presumably they won't pass it on if you call the recip an idiot who doesn't know how to write a signup, either. But generally they're not going to rephrase unless it's really obvious they have to. (and if they do, they may mess up your question, see point 2.)

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Some questions can't be phrased in a way that won't blatantly give away what you're writing and rephrasing will make them useless.

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Be clear and direct. That's the main thing; there's no 'right' way to do it beyond that.

I have some time (and am also procrastinating writing), so I've made a few templates in case anyone finds them useful:

SUBJECT: DNW clarification

Hi mods,

I am writing for [Recipient]: [Link to assignment].

My recipient has DNWed [unclear DNW]. I am wondering if this also includes [thing you want to write]. I would appreciate help in clarifying this.

Thank you for your time
[AO3 name]

------------------------

SUBJECT: DNW conflict

Hi mods,

I am writing for [Recipient]: [Link to assignment].

My recipient has DNWed [conflicting DNW]. However, they have requested [conflicting prompt or fandom], which seems to include [conflicting DNW]. I would appreciate help in understanding how the DNW applies to [conflicting prompt or fandom].

Thank you for your time
[AO3 name]


------------------------

SUBJECT: Unclear [letter/assignment]

Hi mods,

I am writing for [Recipient]: [Link to assignment].

My recipient has written [thing you are confused about] in their [letter/assignment]. I don't understand what they mean by this, and would appreciate your help in figuring it out. [Optional: Suggest what you think the unclear statement means: "I think they meant x, but I'm not sure" or "did they mean x, or y?"]

Thank you for your time
[AO3 name]

Re: emailing the mods

[(Anonymous)]

Coalie, you are a delight.