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The current state of what constitutes a "big bang" challenge is genuinely scandalous to me. I mean, I'm not such a curmudgeon that I'm going to insist they all be 50,000 words or more, although deep in my heart of hearts I kind of still believe that. But if it's less than 25,000, I'm sorry, that's not a big bang, that's a longer-than-usual fic. And if it's 15,000...fandom, I am ashamed for the both of us.

(I have heard vague whisperings of "big bangs" with a minimum wordcount of 10,000, but I choose to regard these as scurrilous rumors.)

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YES. THIS. SO VERY MUCH THIS.

(I have seen people claiming that what makes it a big bang challenge isn't the length of the story but the concept of additional media (usually art) for each story. These people seem to have missed the word 'big' in the big bang.)

That...that's not...THAT IS NOT CORRECT. I mean, just, historically! The first one wasn't actually that long ago! Go read the posts about it! THIS IS YOUR HOMEWORK, FANDOM.

yes I have mentally written this VERY POST at least 12 times but never actually posted it. OMG.

Generally I don't post or at least flock my BOFQ whining, but I'm actually willing to stand behind this one! I'm not complaining about the decreasing amount of longfic period--that's bad in some ways but the things we've gained from the shortening trend are also fantastic, and it's just something that's going to happen, really, no point in getting het up about it. But the trend of shortening definitions makes me COMPLETELY INSANE with entirely legitimate irritation.

I feel the same way about people who say they're going to run "a marathon of 10km." THAT IS NOT A MARATHON. A MARATHON IS 42.194km. WHAT YOU'RE DOING IS LIKE DRINKING "A PINT OF 200mL".

I feel like I shouldn't be so prescriptivist about this kind of thing, and usually, honestly, I'm NOT--but I cannot get behind this trend of defining length downwards. I'm fine with people tending to write shorter things in general, but you can't just CALL them long! That makes me feel angry!! [/robot devil]

In principle, I agree, but that doesn't stop me from participating in the little bang-style things because, hey, art.

Oh, for sure, they do lead to some awesome art, and I'm always in favor of challenges and exchanges and what have you, because, hey, fic! I just feel very stern and cross and curmudgeonly about the change in what "long" means.

That's fair. The one with the minimum of 10K that wants polyamory always blows my mind--I mean, it's hard enough developing a good two-person relationship, but 10K worth of poly? Shyeah.

The other problem in these situations is "I finished this MONTHS ago. Why the fuck can't I post it?" or "I would've finished this MONTHS ago had I been able to post it at the time. Can I post it yet? COME ON."

Though the people whining for extensions so they can send in half a story (...6K...) late drive me nuts too.

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