FK Fic Fest
Challenge | |
---|---|
Name: | FK Fic Fest |
Date(s): | 2010 - present (annual) |
Moderator(s): | brightknightie |
Founder: | brightknightie & amilyn |
Type: | fan fiction gift exchange (until 2018), prompt fest (from 2019) |
Fandom: | Forever Knight |
Associated Community: | FK Fic Fest (LJ), (Dreamwidth) |
URL: | AO3 FK Fic Fest Collection |
Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
FK Fic Fest is a LiveJournal/Dreamwidth community that, since 2010, has run an annual ficathon for Forever Knight-based fan fiction. For the first two years, the moderators were brightknightie and amilyn. Since then, the former has been sole moderator.
The community debuted on LiveJournal on 11 October 2009 with the intention of holding a fan fiction gift exchange in the spring of 2010, with the stories to be made available starting in the week of 18 May 2010. This date was selected as the fourteenth anniversary of the first airing of the series finale, "Last Knight".[1] Participants were hand-matched by the moderator(s).
In 2011, in advance of a second exchange, FK Fic Fest became jointly a Dreamwidth and LiveJournal community, with admin posts made on both sites. At that time, stories were posted to the community (the member deciding whether LJ or DW), with admin posts providing cross-links for readers. However, an archive for FK Fic Fest stories was also created within Archive of Our Own (AO3). From 2012, stories have been uploaded directly to the archive, with only admin posts and story announcements being posted to LiveJournal and Dreamwidth. In 2017, the community became Dreamwidth only.
Until 2020, stories had to be a minimum of 1000 words in length; this was then reduced to 500 words.
In 2019, FK Fic Fest was run challenge-style with a common prompt of "ten years" in honour of its tenth anniversary. It has since continued as a prompt fest with a slate of prompts chosen each year by the members of the community.
Rules
In the first year that FK Fic Fest was run, players submitted a slate of three prompts. Of these, one had to be gen in nature, one had to involve a pairing, while the third was a wildcard. Participants also provided a short list of things they preferred to write, and another of things they did not want to write, plus their faction affiliation (i.e. preferred characters). The moderator then hand-matched writers to recipients.
In 2012, the ficathon was expanded to allow participants to create visual works of art in fulfilment of their prompt. In the event, everyone wrote fiction. However, a picture was created in 2013 by one of the players.
In 2014, for the first time, crossovers were allowed (as an optional fourth prompt), provided more than half the content was FK related.
In 2015, anticipating the possibility of a small turnout, the mod set a contingency challenge prompt in case fewer than nine (9) people signed up. (In that case, those who had signed up to participate in a gift exchange could choose to drop out without penalty, while anyone who wished could choose to join in the challenge.) In the event, there was a quorum sufficient for a gift exchange. A contingency prompt was also announced in 2016, but thereafter the notion was dropped.
In 2018, the number of prompts was again increased. Players could now submit up to 5 prompts. The (optional) extra prompt was another wildcard, which could be gen, pairing, or crossover.
In 2019, FK Fic Fest was run to a common prompt of "ten years" in honour of its tenth anniversary. There were therefore no sign-ups and no assignments. However, there was a deadline, with reveals starting the following day.
In 2020, because of the small number of probable players, FK Fic Fest was again run challenge-style, but with three prompts voted on by members of the community. As well, to try to attract more writers, the minimum length was reduced to 500 words. After the due date, reveals started on a daily basis. The same format was followed in subsequent years.
Icons
As FK Fic Fest is run on LiveJournal and Dreamwidth, where userpics are normally employed by members for visual identification, a set of such icons was created by brightknightie for use by the moderators. She also created the ficathon's logo, and the header for the community's site.
2010
There were 20 participants, who produced 22 stories with a minimum 1000 word count.[2] In addition, the moderators wrote drabbles as "party favours" for those who completed fully-formatted uploaded stories by the posting deadline.[3] As surprise last-minute gifts for brightknightie, several of the participants wrote additional stories, mostly quite short.[4]
The stories were posted, two a day (except for longer fiction), from 18 to 29 May. The party favours and gifts to brightknightie were posted 30 May.
FK Fic Fest Stories
- Heart of Darkness by twilight2000 for abby82 (4500 words)
A series of mysterious deaths of apparently healthy young adults mystifies both Natalie and Nick. - Plus ça change by pj1228 for merfilly (6500 words)
After LaCroix brings her over, Janette has to learn how to feed. - Trials of Conscience by merfilly for skieswideopen
Janette persuades Stonetree to have Nick transferred out of the 27th Precinct. - A Contradiction in Terms by hearts_blood for amilyn (3093 words)
Natalie Lambert is the bravest person Nick knows. - Unusual by waltd for malinaldarose (1335 words)
On a quiet evening at the loft, Nick opens up to Natalie about Janette. - Sugar and Spice by malinaldarose for greerwatson (9103 words)
One of Jenny Schanke's classmates drowns during a class outing. - Girl Talk by nikfix1228 for gnosticdiva (1245 words)
After the events of "A More Permanent Hell," Janette pays Natalie a visit. - Secrets and Sins by gnosticdiva for havocthecat (3679 words)
AU where Natalie was brought across in 1228, and Nick is a mortal detective. - A Prize to Win, A Prize to Protect by foxy11814 for pj1228 (8246 words)
A homicide puts Lacroix on top of the suspect list. - Health, Food by celli for waltd (1135 words)
Not long after meeting Nick, Natalie starts her campaign to get Nick to eat food by making him dinner. - True to Life by brightknightie for wiliqueen ( ~14,000 words)
Janette visits Nick in 1857 London, where he is teaching art at the Working Men's College. With her comes everything he's trying to escape. - Six Impossible Things by waltd for malinaldarose (5030 words)
Nick is having sleeping problems, and everybody gets to say something about it. - When Night Comes Down by havocthecat for leela_cat (5813 words)
Nick tries to figure out who's responsible for a vampire population explosion that Toronto's experiencing. (AU) - Tea Leaves by wiliqueen for nikfix1228 (1,994 words)
Missing scene after the end of "Cherry Blossoms": the first time Natalie meets Janette. - Stones, Fjords and Umbrellas by natmerc for hearts_blood (1,831 words)
Denise Ford and Captain Stonetree have a working relationship, or rather, they will have, but everything needs to start somewhere. - Attachments by greerwatson for celli (~61,000 words)
An epistolary novel showing Natalie's perspective on the events of Forever Knight, told primarily through entries in her diary, found in her apartment after the events of "Last Knight". - Incident at Black Rock by waltd for malinaldarose (3824 words)
When a body is found in the basement of the Raven, the ensuing robbery-and-murder case prompts Nick's memories of an earlier incident in the Old West. - Beneath the Surface by skieswideopen for natmerc (~7800 words)
Nick and Schanke investigate the murder of a young environmental engineer. - Uneasy Allies in Untruth by amilyn for twilight2000 (~9400 words)
A year and a half ago, an unidentified vigilante went on a spree and murdered seven people in one night in Toronto. Tonight, it looks like history is repeating itself. - The Luck of the Brabantish by lisamcdavid for foxy11814 (~2000 words)
Leprechauns. - Theory of Lost Things by leela_cat for brightknightie] (~3000 words)
Because loneliness and beauty are inseparable, one is often mistaken for the other (Nick/Urs). - Freedom of the Midnight Hour by havocthecat for lisamcdavid (1,289 words)
Lacroix, after everything, is alone. It is the one thing which he finds unbearable.
Party Favours
These are true 100-word drabbles. Collectively posted here.
- "The Hard Way" by brightknightie
- "Adrenaline Rush" by amilyn
- "Conditional Love" by brightknightie
- "Impending" by amilyn
- "Full House" by brightknightie
- "Impossible" by amilyn
- "Old Scars" by brightknightie
- "To Catch You When You Fall" by amilyn
- "Mnemonic" by brightknightie
- "Outside is Frightful" by amilyn
- "If You Love, Let Go" by brightknightie
- "Appreciation in Instants" by amilyn
- "Just Desserts" by brightknightie
- "Statement of Faith" by amilyn
- "The Dying of the Light" by leela_cat
Presents for brightknightie
These were solicited and posted by amilyn to thank brightknightie, who had done the lion's share of organizing the ficathon.
- And the Weight of Night Upon My Shoulders by skieswideopen (500 words)
A cure for vampirism seems to be available, but there's an impassable moral obstacle. - The Cup by natmerc (100 words.)
A cure for vampirism seems to be available, but there's an impassable moral obstacle. - Dream in Darkness, Dream of Light by greerwatson (100 words)
Nick/Marian Blackwing - Dreaming Spires by greerwatson (568 words)
Nick and Helen Ruskin-Slater. - Heart's Blood by leela_cat (200 words)
A cure for vampirism seems to be available, but there's an impassable moral obstacle. - Long Distance Friend by merfilly (100 words)
Sequel to "1966". - A Modest Proposal by greerwatson (221 words)
A cure for vampirism seems to be available, but there's an impassable moral obstacle. Nick & Feliks Twist, mpreg. - Full of Grace by amilyn (800 words/eight connected drabbles)
Natalie suggests a new route to a cure. - July 22, 1916 by wiliqueen (1228 words)
Prequel to "Cherry Blossoms" flashback. - New Here? by twilight2000 (794 words)
Charles DuChamps and Nick, 1952. Backstory to "Blood Money". - Can I Get You a Cuppa? by twilight2000 (1090 words)
Sequel to "New Here?" - One of the Few by greerwatson (1100 words)
Gordon & Katherine Barrington. Backstory to the flashback in "Forward into the Past".
2011
There were 18 participants,[5] who produced 20 stories with a minimum 1000 word count.[6] The stories were released at a rate of two a day (except for longer stories), starting on 17 July 2011.
FK Fic Fest Stories
Listed in the order released:
- "Music of the Night"[3] by malinaldarose for sure_i_am (~3K words, posted 15/July/2011)
Nick takes Natalie to Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theatre. - "Full of Grace"[4] by lastscorpion for celli (~7K words, posted 11/July/2011)
From the time she comes to Toronto to take up a job at the Coroners Building, Grace keeps her mother regularly updated through her letters. - "Boys and their Toys"[5] by pj1228 for lafenris (~6K words, posted 13/July/2011)
When LaCroix buys a very expensive Mercedes, Nick discovers that his master doesn't know how to drive. - "To Not Be Alone"[6] by merfilly for deire (~2K words, posted 5/July/2011)
Although Nick wakes from his daymare, he still has to consider the implications of his "Last Knight" dream. - "The New Guy"[7] by greerwatson for lastscorpion (~5K words, posted 16/July/2011)
Nick's first day at the 27th Precinct. - "By Any Other Name"[8] by leela_cat for skieswideopen (~2K words, posted 14/July/2011)
Miklos observes Janette and her relationship with Nick. - "Bete Noir"[9] by lafenris for foxy11814 (~10K words, posted 20/July/2011)
Natalie's latest concoction is having an unexpected effect on Nick's self-control. - "Impasse"[10] by deire for amilyn (~2K words, posted 16/July/2011)
Natalie is drinking at the Raven when thugs arrive with demands. Janette and Natalie work together to take care of the situation. - "Dead Reckoning"[11] by waltd for greerwatson (~5K words, posted 17/July/2011)
Ernie sits at the precinct waiting to be interviewed, but is totally ignored by all the police. Takes place primarily inside the precinct. We get somebody else's view of Nick and what's going on. - "Mortal Splendour"[12] by amilyn for leela_cat (~3K words, posted 17/July/2011)
Nick meets another vampire, Erica, who is also interested in the theatre—and discovers that they have even more in common. - "Treasure Hunt"[13] by friendshipper for twilight2000 (~13K words, posted 16/July/2011)
A dead body washed up on the shores of Lake Ontario leads Nick and Schanke to a long-lost treasure map. - "Epiphanies?"[14] by foxy11814 for waltd (~11K words, posted 15/July/2011)
As if a serial killer at Harbourfront weren't bad enough, Nick finds himself at odds both with the detectives assigned to the case and with LaCroix. - "New Partners"[15] by twilight2000 for brightknightie (~3K words, posted 19/July/2011)
As Nick comes to terms with Schanke's death, Tracy gets used to her new parner. - "Nobody's Damsel"[16] by gnosticdiva for pj1228 (~5K words, posted 17/July/2011)
Natalie, after her apartment has been broken into, learns how to deal with her fear. - "From the Ashes"[17] by sure_i_am for merfilly (~2K words, posted 17/July/2011)
Nick searches for a friend during the Chicago Fire of 1871. - "Malicious Mischief"[18] by brightknightie for friendshipper (~9K words, posted 17/July/2011)
While Nick is on holiday in Germany, vandalism at the Raven escalates to murder. - "An Unearthly Height"[19] by celli for havocthecat (~1K words, posted 20/July/2011)
Aboard the space pirate ship Havoc (alias Raven). - "The Affirmation of Self"[20] by skieswideopen for malinaldarose (~2K words, posted 21/July/2011)
Moving on is an inevitable part of every vampire's life. - "Belonging"[21] by pj1228 for lafenris (~9K words, posted )
When Schanke decides to borrow the Caddy to do some shopping for Myra, he gets an unexpected surprise. - "Vampire Pirates? It's More Likely Than You Think"[22] by lastscorpion for gnosticdiva (~2K words, posted 21/July/2011)
In the future, on board the Fleur de Nuit, LaCroix's pirate space ship....
Party Favours
As in the previous year, the moderators wrote a 100-word drabble for everyone who completed a fully-formatted, queued story before the deadline. Collectively posted here on 29 July 2011.
- "While the Other Survives" by brightknightie for twilight2000
- "Breakfast in Bed" by amilyn for greerwatson
- "No Place Like" by brightknightie for leela_cat
- "A Good Decade" by amilyn for merfilly
- "Rapprochement" by brightknightie for waltd
- "The 27th Airborne" by amilyn for friendshipper
- "Only the Medium" by brightknightie for lastscorpion
- "For All Time" by amilyn for pj1228
- "As Many Facets" by brightknightie for gnosticdiva
- "We'll Have to Get Together and Talk" by amilyn for deire
- "Red in Tooth and Claw" by brightknightie for lafenris
- "Possession is Nine-Tenths of the Law" by amilyn for foxy11814
- "Catharsis" by brightknightie for malinaldarose
- "Music of the Night Sky" by amilyn for brightknightie
- "Not Strangers" by brightknightie for sure_i_am
- "Investigative Reporter" by amilyn for lastscorpion
2012
There were 13 participants,[7] each of whom produced a story at least 1000 words long.[8] All stories were submitted on time, so no pinch-hitters were needed. From 30 July to 6 August, they were released two a day, organized so that readers would get stories of different types summing to more or less 6K words. The three novelettes (over 10K words) were released over the weekend.
FK Fic Fest Stories
Listed in the order released:
- "Not in My City"[23] by Deire for WaltD (3,990 words, posted 27/July/2012)
A vampire starts leaving corpses in Toronto. Nick, Tracy, and Vachon work to stop the perpetrator. - "Buttered Noodles"[24] by malinaldarose for Deire (2,332 words, posted 28/July/2012)
Natalie has a long day, Janette has a long evening, and Nick is Nick. - "Phases of the Moon"[25] by Greer Watson for PJ1228 (~6K words, posted 28/July/2012)
77-79 A.D. General Lucius Divius Lucianus asks his old mistress, Seline, to take care of their daughter Divia while he is on campaign in Gaul. - ""We'll Always Have New Orleans""[26] by mayhavefakedit for Twilight2000 (1013 words, posted 29/July/2012)
Janette reminisces with Nick in a final goodbye. Set towards the end of Season 2. - "The Ties That Bind"[27] by MelissaTreglia for Brightknightie (3750 words, posted 29/July/2012)
“I trust no one where you are concerned.” A string of deaths throughout Toronto and Montreal lead the 96th Precinct to collaborate with the Quebecois police force. While in Montreal, Nick crosses paths with someone he thought was lost to him forever. - "Some Friendly Advice"[28] by hearts_blood for Greer Watson (1261 words, posted 29/July/2012)
Cohen gets some hard-to-swallow advice from Stonetree. - "Tinkers to Evers to Chances to Play"[29] by Twilight2000 for mayhavefakedit (4846 words, posted 27/July/2012)
There's a killer loose, Janette has an evening planned for Nicholas, but the interruptions just won't quit. - "Mandatory Training"[30] by natmerc for malinaldarose (1843 words, posted 28/July/2012)
Even the police department needs mandatory computer training sometimes. - "Chante à Nouveau"[31] by Amy R. for hearts_blood (10,090 words, posted 29/July/2012)
Lacroix asks Urs to help him fulfill a promise to Fleur. - "Knight Down"[32] by foxy11814 for Amilyn (12,059 words, posted 27/July/2012)
Nick and Nat finally get away from it all. The only problem is they want to go back! - "Generations"[33] by PJ1228 for foxy11814 (11,829 words, posted 28/July/2012)
When Nick has to take a fledgling, he finally understands why Lacroix never gave up on him and that he needs his father more than ever. - "Circumstances Unforeseen"[34] by Amilyn for MelissaTreglia (4595 words, posted 28/July/2012)
Nick, Nat, and LaCroix, trapped in an elevator. With a pregnant woman. - "Renovation"[35] by WaltD for natmerc (1923 words, posted 29/July/2012)
Be careful when tearing down walls, you might be surprised by what you find.
Party Favours
As in previous years, there were 100-word drabbles for everyone who completed and posted a story by the deadline. These were written by three authors (who uploaded their drabbles to AO3 in separate collective posts). The party favours were released on 7 August 2012 after all the stories.[9]
- "Stellar Drift"[36] by amilyn for Deire
- "Served Cold"[37] by amilyn for foxy11814
- "Dark Days"[38] by amilyn for hearts_blood
- "Matchmaking"[39] by amilyn for waltd
- "Spinning Yarns"[40] by amilyn for malinaldarose
- "Home Fires"[41] by amilyn for skieswideopen
- "The Long Game"[42] by amilyn for twilight2000
- "Long Ago and Far Away"[43] by skieswideopen for brightknightie
- "We All Fall Down"[44] by skieswideopen for Greer Watson
- "Backwards and In Corsets"[45] by skieswideopen for MelissaTreglia
- "The Fix is In"[46] by Amy R. (brightknightie) for Amilyn
- "Entropy"[47] by Amy R. (brightknightie) for Natmerc
- "Unsinkable"[48] by Amy R. (brightknightie) for PJ1228
- "Allotted Span"[49] by Amy R. (brightknightie) for mayhavefakedit
2013
There were thirteen players, one of whom (for the first time in the ficathon) created an illustration rather than write a story. Although only ten completed their assignment by the deadline, the others delivered thereafter; so no pinch-hits were required. The stories and illustrations were released two a day from 29 July to 4 August, organized so that readers would get stories of different types each day. For release, the illustration was paired with the longest of the stories.
For the first time, no party favours were written for the players.
Stories and Illustrations
Listed in the order released:
- "Moving Forward"[50] by Twilight2000 for WaltD (1308 words, posted 27/July/2013, released 29/July/2013)
Historical. In 1250, LaCroix decides to move his family from France to Italy. - "Bless the Child"[51] by MelissaTreglia for LadySilver (2394 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 29/July/2013)
All over Toronto, children are being drained of their blood. - "Shift"[52] by Greer Watson for Deire (4038 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 30/July/2013)
Backstory. When Schanke's partner decides to retire, Captain Stonetree has to decide who to team him with next. - "Never Saw This World Before"[53] by argentum_ls (LadySilver) for PJ1228 (2220 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 30/July/2013)
After a shooting, LaCroix is forced to spend the day with Nick and to broach the consequences of their push-and-pull relationship. - "Tangled"[54] by Amilyn for Twilight2000 (1669 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 31/July/2013)
Futurefic. Fifty years on, Natalie goes to see Nick. - "From Chance to Choice"[55] by Leela for Greer Watson (2961 words, posted 31/July/2013, released 31/July/2013)
Vachon and Urs, then and now. - "Closer to the Renaissance"[56] by Amy R. for batdina (4406 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 1/Aug/2013)
Historical. Thirty years before the "Partners of the Month" flashbacks, Nick arrives home in Renaissance Florence to find Janette in danger. - "Six Episode Tags: Five Times Where Janette Went to Natalie, One Time Where Natalie Went to Janette, and an Epilogue"[57] by waltd for amilyn (1816 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 1/Aug/2013)
Natalie is a little surprised when Janette turns up—but she is willing to listen. - "Talking Points"[58] by vorpalblades for leela_cat (1582 words, posted 28/July/2013, released 2/Aug/2013)
Futurefic. Nick runs into Janette almost twenty years on. - "A Time of Consequences"[59] by batdina for skieswideopen (4082 words, posted 2/Aug/2013, released 2/Aug/2013)
Futurefic. Years later, when Nick and Janette are living in San Francisco, the past catches up. - "A Moment in Time"[60] by deire for gnosticdiva (posted 28/July/2013, released 3/Aug/2013)
Artwork. Pencil sketch of Natalie and Nick. - "Knight on Duty"[61] by pj1228 for vorpalblades (7713 words, posted 27/July/2013, released 3/Aug/2013)
Janette conscripts Nick for a shopping spree in Paris. - "By Light of Day"[62] by skieswideopen for brightknightie (4192 words, posted 4/Aug/2013, released 4/Aug/2013)
Nick tries a new cure, but things don't work out quite the way he'd hoped.
2014
There were nine players, one of whom chose to write a crossover story. Although not all assignments were completed by the deadline, the remaining one was delivered thereafter; so no pinch-hits were required. The stories and illustrations were released one a day from 11 to 19 August.
Stories
Listed in the order released:
- "Never What it Seems" by LastScorpion for PJ1228 (2110 words, posted 8/Aug/2014, released 11/Aug/2014) - crossover with Murdoch Mysteries
- "A Twinge in an Old Wound" by greerwatson for batdina (7251 words, posted 5/Aug/2014, released 12/Aug/2014)
- "To Live Forever" by Leela for waltd (2437 words, posted 10/Aug/2014, released 13/Aug/2014)
- "The Long Way Home" by Twilight2000 for MelissaTreglia (4596 words, posted 10/Aug/2014, released 14/Aug/2014)
- "How to Disappear Completely" by PJ1228 for Twilight2000 (14,395 words, posted 9/Aug/2014, released 15/Aug/2014)
- "Janette in Love(?)" by WaltD for lastscorpion (2168 words, posted 10/Aug/2014, released 16/Aug/2014)
- "Rock Bottom" by gnosticdiva for leela_cat (2168 words, posted 10/Aug/2014, released 17/Aug/2014)
- "Missing Persons" by brightknightie for greerwatson (8447 words, posted 10/Aug/2014, released 18 Aug/2014)
- "Preserve Your Memories" by batdina for brightknightie (2395 words, posted 12 Aug/2014, released 19/Aug/2014)
2015
There were thirteen players, two of whom chose to write crossover stories. Although not all assignments were completed by the deadline, all were delivered before the end of the exchange, and no pinch-hits were required. The stories and illustrations were released one a day from 24 August to 5 September.
Stories
Listed in the order released:
- "One Last Drink" by lastscorpion for skieswideopen (2083 words, posted 17 August 2015, released 24 August 2015)
- "Wake the Morning After" by brightknightie for melissatreglia (14,967 words, posted 22 August 2015, released 25 August 2015)
- "Family from the Ashes" by merfilly for argentum_ls (1814 words, posted 27 July 2015, released 16 August 2015)
- "On-the-Job Training" by vorpalblades for greerwatson (2681 words, posted 23 August 2015, released 27 August 2015)
- "Ministrations and Manipulations" by dlyt for merfilly (18,640 words, posted 21 August 2015, released 28 August 2015)
- "Vale of Mysteries" by waltd for celli (2370 words, posted 20 August 2015, released 29 August 2015) - crossover with Welcome to Night Vale
- "No Requiem" by melissatreglia for waltd (16,287 words, posted 24 August 2015, released 30 August 2015)
- "Perfect Specimens" by celli for lastscorpion (1130 words, posted 23 August 2015, released 31 August 2015) - crackfic crossover with Pride and Prejudice, Stargate Atlantis, Sherlock (TV series), and Smallville
- "En Vacances" by greerwatson for havocthecat (3020 words, posted 23 August 2015, released 1 September 2015)
- "A Dozen in a Single Night" by pj1228 for dlyt (8444 words, [redated to release date], released 2 September 2015)
- "One Pin Short" by skieswideopen for vorpalblades (3085 words, posted 25 August 2015, released 3 September 2015)
- "Mortal Mistakes" by argentum_ls for pj1228 (4041 words, posted 23 August 2015, released 4 September 2015)
- "Through the Compass of the Years" by havocthecat for brightknightie (1990 words, [redated to release date], released 5 September 2015)
2016
Assignments were sent out on 26 June 2016, with stories due at midnight on 24 September 2016. The deadline was extended, and all were delivered by the noon the following day; so no pinch-hits were required. Though art was an option, all participants wrote fan fiction, one of which was a crossover. Stories were released at a rate of one per day, starting on 26 September 2016.
Players
The following 9 people signed up to play:
BrightKnightie, Dlyt, Greerwatson, LastScorpion, MelissaTreglia/Gnosticdiva, Merfilly/sharpest_asp, Nicholas_Lucien, PJ1228, WaltD.
List of Stories
The following are the stories that were produced for FK Fic Fest 2016:
- "Encounter in the Hills" by sharpest_asp for WaltD (1713 words, posted 25 August 2016, released 26 September 2016)
- "Burn" by LastScorpion for MelissaTreglia (1986 words, posted 24 September 2016, released 27 September 2016) - crossover with The Walking Dead
- "The Time Will Come" by Amy R. for sharpest_asp (2513 words, [redated to release date], released 28 September 2016)
- "A Shared Passion" by Nicholas_Lucien for PJ1228 (5568 words, posted 25 September 2016, released 29 September 2016)
- "Curios-ity" by WaltD for dlyt (1167 words, posted 22 September 2016, released 30 September 2016)
- "Broken Ties" by PJ1228 for nicholas_lucien (4490 words, posted 5 September 2016, released 1 October 2016)
- "Festival of Festivals" by greerwatson for Brightknightie (2830 words, posted 25 September 2016, released 2 October 2016)
- "Life... or Something Like It" by MelissaTreglia for greerwatson (1801 words, posted 25 September 2016, released 3 October 2016)
- "The Best-Laid Plans" by dlyt for LastScorpion (3783 words, posted 17 September 2016, released 4 October 2016)
2017
Because of commitments later in the year, the moderator decided to hold FK Fic Fest earlier. Sign-ups opened, therefore, on 11 March running to 24 March. Assignments were sent out on 26 March, with stories due at midnight (PST) on 27 May. Stories were released at a rate of one per day, starting on 29 May 2017.
Players
The following 10 people signed up to play:
Batdina, Brightknightie, Dlyt, greerwatson, LastScorpion, MelissaTreglia, Merfilly, Nicholas_Lucien, PJ1228, WaltD.
List of Stories
The following are the stories that were produced for FK Fic Fest 2017:
- "One Loss Too Many" by PJ1228 for MelissaTreglia (8522 words, posted 16/May/2017, released 29/May/2017)
- "The Decline and Fall of the Murphy Case" by brightknightie for LastScorpion (2244 words, posted 28/May/2017, released 30/May/2017)
- "The Advantages of Age" by dlyt for greerwatson (3847 words, posted 16/May/2017, released 31/May/2017)
- "Flicker of a Memory" by Merfilly for Batdina (1053 words, posted 30/April/2017, released 1/June/2017)
- "Five Things that Didn't Happen: Litovuterine-B Edition" by LastScorpion for WaltD (4239 words, posted 28/May/2017, released 2/June/2017)
- "An Orphan's Choice" by Nicholas_Lucien for Dlyt (8623 words, posted 27/May/2017, released 3/June/2017)
- "Die & Rise" by MelissaTreglia for Merfilly (1747 words, posted 27/May/2017, released 4/June/2017)
- "The Siege of Hastingues" by greerwatson for nicholas_lucien (3723 words, posted 28/May/2017, released 5/June/2017)
- "Feint of Heart" by WaltD for PJ1228 (1249 words, posted 26/May/2017, released 6/June/2017)
- "All That's Left You" by Batdina for Brightknightie (2806 words, posted 28/May/2017, released 7/June/2017)
2018
Sign-ups opened on 2 April running to 20 April. Assignments were sent out on 22 April, with stories due at midnight (PST) on 23 June. Stories were released at a rate of one per day, starting on 25 June 2018.
Players
The following 8 people signed up to play:
Brightknightie, Dlyt, Greerwatson, Merfilly, Nicholas_lucien, PJ1228, Purselover2, Waltd.
Stories
- "A Night's Work"[63] by Merfilly for greerwatson (1035 words, released 25/June/2018)
- "Off To The Circus"[64] by Nicholas_Lucien for WaltD (6517 words, released 26/June/2018)
- "Something There That Wasn't There Before"[65] by Purselover2 for Brightknightie (1971 words, posted 22/June/2018, released 27/June/2018)
- "Defying the Gods"[66] by PJ1228 for Nicholas_Lucien (6723 words, posted 21/June/2018, released 28/June/2018)
- "Curios-ity II"[67] by WaltD for dlyt (1306 words, posted 23/June/2018, released 29/June/2018)
- "The Advantages of Life Insurance"[68] by dlyt for PJ1228 (~17K words, posted 24/June/2018, released 30/June/2018)
- "Gone Where the Goblins Go"[69] by greerwatson for Purselover2 (5192 words, posted 24/June/2018, released 1/July/2018)
- "The European Occultists"[70] by Brightknightie for Merfilly (4436 words, released 2/July/2018)
2019
In honour of the tenth anniversary of FK Fic Fest, all players wrote to the prompt "ten years" (or "ten" + "years"). There were therefore no sign-ups or assignments. The prompt was officially posted to the DW community on 5 May 2019; and stories were released at a rate of one per day, starting on 15 July 2019.
Players
The following 6 people wrote fic:
dlyt (who wrote two stories), greerwatson, PJ1228, Brightknightie/Amy R., abby82, Nicholas_Lucien.
Stories
- "A Worthwhile Diversion"[71] by dlyt (3807 words, released 15/July/2019)
- "Know Why I Cry"[72] by greerwatson (2338 words, posted 14/July/2019, released 16/July/2019)
- "Unexpected Alliance"[73] by PJ1228 (8489 words, released 17/July/2019)
- "Fill in the Blanks"[74] by Amy R. (4010 words, released 18/July/2019)
- "a reminiscence sing"[75] by abby82 (2261 words, posted 14/July/2019, released 19/July/2019)
- "How To Spend The Next Ten Years"[76] by Nicholas_Lucien (9816 words, released 20/July/2019)
- "Knight Shift"[77] by dlyt (3677 words, released 21/July/2019)
2020
Once again, FK Fic Fest was run challenge-style. However, this year players had three prompts from which to choose. Stories came due on Sunday, April 20. As in previous years, they were released throughout the following week, at a rate of one per day.
Although the minimum length had been reduced to 500 words, in fact all participants wrote stories that exceeded the previous minimum of 1000 words.
Prompts
On 12 January, a poll was run to find out (a) how many people planned to take part, (b) when the 2020 game should be played, and (c) the type of fest preferred. Of the respondents, about half recommended reducing the minimum length, and about half liked the idea of playing challenge style again. Respondents also showed a clear preference for three prompts. On the basis of the results, the mod decided to play challenge-style with three prompts, a 500-word minimum, and a due date on Sunday, April 19 (the weekend after Easter and Passover).
The nomination period for prompts began on 26 January and ran for two weeks. Prompts were to be no more than ten words in length (not counting citations appended to prompts that were quotations). A total of 22 prompts were submitted.
On 8 February, the first round of voting started, with people being permitted to choose any two of the nominated prompts. Those that received no votes were then eliminated, leaving 16 prompts for the final ballot. Voting in the second round began on 11 February, with participants allowed to pick a first, second, and third choice. The mod then weighted the results: 5 points for a first-place vote, 3 for a second-place one, and 1 for third-place. A total of 13 community members took part in the final ballot.
The three prompts chosen for the 2020 FK Fic Fest were "cold case", "do over", and "when the price of your heart's desire is your heart" (this last being a paraphrase of a quotation from Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan novel, Memory).
Players
The following five people wrote stories:
dlyt (who wrote two stories), greerwatson, PJ1228, Nicholas_Lucien, and brightknightie.
Stories
- "Knight's Tally"[78] by dlyt (5904 words, released 20/April/2020)
A new case brings closure to a cold case. - "Knight of the Rose"[79] by greerwatson (1451 words, posted 16/April/2020, released 21/April/2020)
Why did LaCroix agree to give up Fleur at her brother’s insistence? - "What Lies Buried"[80] by PJ1228 (7192 words, released 22/April/2020)
The investigation of a 40-year old murder case uncovers more than Nick cares for. - "Appetency"[81] by dlyt (1786 words, released 23/April/2020)
Lucien LaCroix and Thomas Monroe compile a list of characteristics for the perfect fledgling. - "The Case of the Missing Book Thief"[82] by Nicholas_Lucien (6369 words, released 24/April/2020)
A case from the past cannot be ignored. - "Still Breathing"[83] by brightknightie (4175 words, released 25/April/2020)
Nick takes on a forgotten cold case and a new humanity therapy, while Schanke leads a project preparing for the reassignment of the homicide squad.
2021
As in the previous year, FK Fic Fest was run challenge-style with three prompts from which players might choose. Once again, the minimum length was 500 words. Stories came due on Saturday, May 15, and were released throughout the following week, at a rate of one per day.
Prompts
On 17 January, a poll was run to find out (a) how many people planned to take part, (b) when the 2021 game should be played, and (c) the type of fest preferred. On the basis of the results, the mod decided to play challenge-style with three prompts, a 500-word minimum, and a due date on May 15; the same post called for prompts to be nominated. Prompts were to be no more than twenty words in length (not counting citations appended to prompts that were quotations). A total of 16 prompts were submitted.
On 22 February, the first round of voting started, with people being permitted to choose any two of the nominated prompts. Those that received no votes were then eliminated, leaving 11 prompts for the final ballot. Voting in the second round began on 1 March, with participants allowed to pick a first, second, and third choice. The three prompts for the fest were (a) the one with the most first-place votes, (b) the next remaining prompt with the most total votes of any kind, and (c) the next remaining prompt with the most points (where a first-place vote gives 3 points, second 2, and third 1). A total of 11 community members took part in the final ballot.
The three prompts chosen for the 2020 FK Fic Fest were "It's not what you are, it's what you do with it," (paraphrased from Mary Renault's book The Charioteer), "interrupted by a disaster", and "a moment of truth".
Players
The following seven people wrote stories: Dlyt, LadyLC, merfilly (three stories), PJ1228 (two stories), greerwatson, Nicholas_Lucien, and Brightknightie.
Stories
- "Moments of Truth"[84] by Dlyt (10,902 words, released 17/May/2021)
A murder investigation is just one of the loose ends left by a recent deadly fever affecting only vampires. (Sequel to the episode "Fever".) - "Games Vampires Play"[85] by LadyLC (5140 words, released 18/May/2021)
Futurefic: Vachon's plans for Tracy's 25th Conversion Day party go awry; so Nick steps in and provides space for the party at the winery he now co-owns with LaCroix. - "What He Is"[86] by Merfilly (545 words, released 19/May/2021)
A series of snapshots depicts the evolution of Lucius to Lucien to LaCroix. - "Pawns"[87] by PJ1228 (9298 words, released 20/May/2021)
While investigating the murder of a TTC worker, Nick and Tracy are trapped in a collapsing subway tunnel. - "Stone Cold"[88] by greerwatson (3090 words, released 21/May/2021)
An old, cold case. Years later, Jenny Schanke investigates the events of "Last Knight", the series finale. - "Difficult Lesson"[89] by Merfilly (659 words, released 22/May/2021)
Addressing just HOW Janette handled leaving Toronto before the third season began. - "Moments"[90] by Nicholas_Lucien (6015 words, released 23/May/2021)
A current case triggers memories of an event from Nick's past that will test his interactions with Natalie. - "Say Otherwise"[91] by Brightknightie (3373 words, released 24/May/2021)
Postscript. Recovering in hospital after the events of "Trophy Girl", Tracy insists she's fine with what she had had to do. No one asks what she means by "fine". - "Crisis Response"[92] by Merfilly (553 words, released 25/May/2021)
An earthquake stirs LaCroix's memories. - "Passions of the Heart"[93] by PJ1228 (6292 words, released 26/May/2021)
When Nick tries to find a common link between the victims of a serial killer, he discovers that the killings aren't random at all.
2022
Once again, FK Fic Fest was run challenge-style with three prompts. Stories came due on Saturday, May 28. As in previous years, they were released throughout the following week, at a rate of one per day. The minimum length was 500 words.
Prompts
On 20 February, a poll was run to find out (a) how many people planned to take part, (b) when the 2022 game should be played, and (c) the type of fest preferred. All respondents preferred challenge style again, with three prompts.
The nomination period for prompts began on 6 March and ran for two weeks. Prompts were to be no more than thirty words in length (triple the previous maximum). A total of 18 prompts were submitted.
On 13 March, the first round of voting started. A total of 9 community members took part in the final ballot. By ranked-order eliminations, the three prompts chosen for the 2022 FK Fic Fest were "hidden witness," "when everything changed," and "You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday all the time" (the last being a quotation from Charles Kettering).
Players
The following eight people wrote stories: Calliope24, dlyt, Merfilly, TheFruitBat, greerwatson, PJ1228, brightknightie, and Nicholas_Lucien.
Stories
- "97 Years"[94] by Calliope24 (5583 words, released 30/May/2022)
In 1413, Nick and Janette begin their 97 years together. - "Knight Crossing"[95] by dlyt (4597 words, released 31/May/2022)
Nick and Natalie find a cure. That’s a good thing, right? - "Any Regrets?"[96] by Merfilly (500 words, released 1/June/2022)
After the events of "Last Knight", Janette and Natalie discuss the point they are at. - "Guilt and Atonement"[97] by TheFruitBat (9886 words, released 2/June/2022)
After being treated in a way no one had dared to in his entire immortal life, Lacroix is about to take revenge on the one who wronged him. Crossover with Harry Potter. - "Limner"[98] by greerwatson (2104 words, released 3/June/2022)
An elderly monk illuminates a manuscript with a fine painted demon. - "Food for the Soul"[99] by PJ1228 (6219 words, released 4/June/2022)
Nick and Schanke investigate the murder of a music teacher. - "Amaranth (love-lies-bleeding)"[100] by Amy R. (5468 words, released 5/June/2022)
Surviving that flaming stake through his heart took everything Lacroix had — including his memory. Recovering his memory will cost him even more. - "Paper Trail"[101] by Nicholas Lucien (4427 words, released 6/June/2022)
A vampire cannot leave identifiable proof of their existence in the mortal world - that is the Code. When the Code is violated, the Enforcers come. - "Urs in Time"[102] by dlyt (6521 words, released 7/June/2022)
This series of vignettes shows Urs working in the background and what impact she may have had on the other characters.
2023
As in previous years, FK Fic Fest was run as a prompt challenge with a minimum story length of 500 words. Stories came due by noon on June 25. They were released one per day, starting on June 26.
Prompts
On 30 January, a poll was run to find out (a) how many people planned to take part, (b) when the 2023 game should be played, and (c) the type of fest preferred. On the basis of the results, the mod decided to play challenge-style with three prompts, a 500-word minimum, and a due date on 25 June; the following post called for prompts to be nominated. Prompts were to be no more than thirty words in length (not counting citations appended to prompts that were quotations). A total of 26 prompts were submitted.
Ranked-balloting was used, and ten people voted. In the end, the vote was too close to call for three, and the mod chose to go with four prompts instead. These were: "(urban) legend", "the first week", "this experiment went horribly wrong", and "Evil is a point of view" (the last being a quotation from Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire). All stories submitted to the collection on AO3 were required to incorporate at least one of the prompts.
Players
The following nine people wrote stories: dlyt (4 stories), TheFruitBat (2 stories), Nicholas_Lucien, PJ1228, WaltD, Calliope24, LittleBlackaPony, Brightknightie, and greerwatson.
Stories
- "Life Imitating Art Imitating Life, or The Making of an Urban Legend"[103] by dlyt (7,869 words, released 26/June/2023)
Who’s responsible for a series of grisly deaths? Is it a rogue vampire? A ghost? Vigilantes? - "And that’s why drugs are bad, hmkay?"[104] by TheFruitBat (2019 words, released 27/June/2023)
Vachon and Urs reminisce after Screed's death in "Fever". - "Experiment 1260"[105] by Nicholas_Lucien (2793 words, released 28/June/2023)
Nick has tried many treatments in his attempt to find a cure. - "Prime Suspect"[106] by PJ1228 (7864 words, released 29/June/2023)
Natalie comes up with a novel approach to suppress Nick’s vampiric side, which has unexpected consequences. - "A Raven Tale"[107] by dlyt (4811 words, released 30/June/2023)
Janette gave LaCroix the deed to the Raven. Now, what? - "A Conversation"[108] by WaltD (1987 words, released 1/July/2023)
Captains Reese and Stonetree discuss the events of "Last Knight". - "Masquerade"[109] by Calliope24 (12,897 words, released 2/July/2023)
In "Dark Knight", Nick Knight has become a highly respected member of the Toronto Police Department; but it probably didn't start out that way.. - "Volare, or The Beginning of the Bargain"[110] by LittleBlackaPony (2288 words, released 3/July/2023)
In his first week as a vampire, Nicolas de Brabant has much to learn about his new existence. - "A Discussion of Evil"[111] by dlyt (716 words, released 4/July/2023)
A Nightcrawler monologue. - "Crack the Code"[112] by Brightknightie (10,418 words, released 5/July/2023)
Enforcers insist Toronto’s vampire community participate in a purge called the Census. - "CERKopter Traffic Report (News at Six)"[113] by greerwatson (2220 words, released 6/July/2023)
Nick and Tracy react to the events of "Black Buddha pt 2". - "Huic Parce Deus – God Spare Him"[114] by TheFruitBat (4363 words, released 7/July/2023)
After killing and entombing Divia, Lucius Divius is impressed by the powers of Sekhmet. - "Experimentally Flawed"[115] by dlyt (4156 words, released 8/July/2023)
When Urs and Vachon try to help with Natalie's research into vampires, it goes very, very wrong.
2024
As in previous years, FK Fic Fest was run as a prompt challenge with a minimum story length of 500 words. The nominal due date was 25 May (in practice, the following noon); and stories were then released one or two per day, starting on May 27.
Prompts
The pre-game survey of previous years was skipped; and, on 1 March,[10] Brightknightie posted the intention to run the fest again, with four prompts to be selected using brackets. A post the following day[11] called for nominations. Prompts were to be no more than thirty words in length (not counting citations appended to prompts that were quotations). A total of 55 prompts were submitted.
After initial ranking, it took four brackets to make the selection, with the final choice revealed on 16 March.[12] The prompts were: "Finding out the truth", "An unexpected event leads to chaos", "Unexpected visitor", and "early days". All stories submitted to the collection on AO3 were required to incorporate at least one of the prompts.
Players
The following ten people wrote stories: SwitchbladeEyes (4 stories), TheFruitBat (2 stories), WaltD (2 stories), Nicholas_Lucien, Brightknightie, Calliope24 (2 stories), greerwatson, PJ1228, LittleBlackaPony, and Sharpest_Asp.
The unusually large number of people writing more than one story led the moderator, Brightknightie, to post on her journal, "Was it the calendar? The prompts? Coincidence?"[13] This elicited responses that included:
- SwitchbladeEyes: "Can't speak for anyone else, but multiples for me was a function of having ideas AND *time* to execute them."
- TheFruitBat: "This year I submitted two stories only because a stray idea came up like ten days before the deadline and I just had to write it. This year's prompts were just resonating with me."
- Calliope24: "I have to admit that the information that other writers were planning more than one story prompted me to think about doing it as well. That, and the time. I finished my primary story with a month to go and figured I could get something else written as well."
Stories
The following are the stories that were produced for FK Fic Fest 2024:
- "Homecoming"[116] by SwitchbladeEyes (5390 words, released 27/May/2024)
In 1925 Los Angeles, after the episode "Father's Day", Janette finds herself on the outside as LaCroix occupies himself with drawing Nick back into the family. - "At least it's not aliens"[117] by TheFruitBat (12,409 words, released 28/May/2024)
A case leads Nick to a legend about a possible cure for vampirism. - "A Conversation, pts 3 and 4"[118] by WaltD (752 words, released 29/May/2024)
Captains Reese and Stonetree discuss things after the events of the series finale, "Last Knight". - "Listen to that Engine Purr"[119] by Nicholas_Lucien (1373 words, released 29/May/2024)
When Nick discovers an unexpected visitor, he needs Natalie's help. - "Found in the Fog"[120] by Brightknightie (5087 words, released 30/May/2024)
As a lighthouse keeper in 1890s California, Nick fights a deadly fog. - "The Strangest Inklings"[121] by SwitchbladeEyes (7045 words, released 31/May/2024)
After the episode "Games Vampires Play, Natalie pulls Nick one way but LaCroix pulls him the other. - "Day 17"[122] by Calliope24 (13,004 words, released 1/June/2024)
As a rookie, Tracy Vetter struggles to find her place on the Metro Toronto police force. - "Picking Up the Pieces"[123] by greerwatson (2523 words, released 2/June/2024)
A Last Knight story. If you like, you can call any murder case a jigsaw puzzle turned out of its box. All you have to do is pick up the pieces and fit them together. Always assuming that none of them is missing…. - "Mortal Bonds"[124] by SwitchbladeEyes (9736 words, released 3/June/2024)
As Lucius Divius Lucianus navigates the world as a young vampire, there are pieces of who he used to be that he doesn't leave behind. - "By Any Other Name"[125] by [[PJ1228] (5052 words, released 4/June/2024)
While finishing the report on the case in the episode "Ashes to Ashes", Tracy makes some connections. - "An Unexpected Visitor"[126] by WaltD (1182 words, released 5/June/2024)
Someone from Nick's early days at the Toronto PD drops in for a visit. - "Early Nights"[127] by TheFruitBat (649 words, released 5/June/2024)
Before hate, contempt, and bitterness, there was harmony in the early nights of Nicholas' new life as a vampire. - "Past and Future"[128] by LittleBlackaPony (7258 words, released 6/June/2024)
Can a Roman legionary from the far past survive in the modern world, even with Lacroix's help? - "Visiting Room C"[129] by SwitchbladeEyes (1838 words, released 7/June/2024)
Many people went missing during and in the wake of the asteroid scare. Set in season 2 shortly after the episode "A More Permanent Hell". - "To Say Goodbye"[130] by Sharpest_Asp (577 words, released 7/June/2024)
A Last Knight story: Grace relaxes after work. - "Noblesse Oblige"[131] by Calliope24 (10,109 words, released 8/June/2024)
A broken water main at the Raven creates havoc in Nick's carefully orchestrated life.
References
- ^ The reason for choosing this date is stated in the first post on the FK Fic Fest community.
- ^ A linked alphabetical list of the 22 stories from FK Fic Fest 2010 can be found in the Closing Ceremonies post.
- ^ This restriction is explained in the collective "Party Favors" post for the drabbles.
- ^ Collected in two posts, [1] and [2].
- ^ Fourteen of the players had taken part in the 2010 FK Fic Fest, and five were new. One player had to drop out.
- ^ A linked alphabetical list of the 20 stories from FK Fic Fest 2011 can be found in the Closing Ceremonies post.
- ^ After making the matches, the moderator sent out prompts to the recipients on 27 May 2012. However, it then turned out that LiveJournal had failed to post one of the sign-ups. A week's extension was made in the successful hope of eliciting another person so that there could be a match for the additional player.
- ^ A linked alphabetical list of the 20 stories from FK Fic Fest 2011 can be found in the Closing Ceremonies post.
- ^ A list of all party favours and their locations can be found here on the FK Fic Fest LiveJournal site.
- ^ In the post "The 2024 Plan Post: 'I'm sure there's a logical explanation for this...'" made by the moderator, Brightknightie, to the FK Fic Fest Dreamwidth community on 1 March 2024.
- ^ In the post "The 2024 Prompt Nominations Post: 'Have you checked yourself in the mirror? Is it working?'" made by Brightknightie to the FK Fic Fest Dreamwidth community on 2 March 2024.
- ^ In the post "The 2024 Prompts Announcement: 'You're just in time; you can help me choose a winner.'" made by Brightknightie to the FK Fic Fest Dreamwidth community on 16 March 2024.
- ^ From "FKFicFest '24 nearing finish line", posted to Dreamwidth by Brightknightie on 6 June 2024.