- Some just pointed out a massive flaw in the guidelines. I'm going through it and may end up reposting the thread. I recommend holding back on signing up for now
Hey there I am JJ the creator of Beautiful Lies. I may not have been very active on forums due to real life stuff going on but I am always here for our Secret Santa!
For past few years, I've set up a Secret Santa for artists to draw each other's OC's and post them around Christmas! You can see the previous ones here:
I'm starting the sign up sheet early this year so we can give plenty of time for people to join.
Important: This year we will be experimenting with a new Secret Santa that involves both Novelists and Comic artists! Technically, there will be two sections to the Secret Santa: one will be illustrations and the other will be writing. You can sign up for both if you would like but don't take more than you can handle!
The following information is what you will need to provide. You HAVE TO sign up through Google Forms this year in order to be added to the participants list. Both Secret Santas have slightly different rules for what you need to provide
Deadline for signing up will be November 10
**After signups are complete, I will post the assignments and the deadline the following Friday.
Secret Santa Rules and Guidelines
Comic Artists
You will be assigned to someone's comic at random and have until the deadline to draw the character or characters your assignee requests in the theme they want. If they give no special requests, it's up to your creativity.
Below is what you need to provide for your Secret Santa:
- Must have a story on Tapastic with at least one chapter that includes the character/characters you want drawn/written about.
- This is so we can get a good idea of your character's personality
- You must have at least one full body, coloured reference of your character
- Doesn't have to be "good." Just need colours so we know what they look like!
- Name any special requests
- Willingness to volunteer (if someone drops out, are you willing to take their place and draw two secret santas?)
Novelists
You will be assigned to someone's novel and have until the deadline to write a short story about their character or characters. Ideally, at least a ten page chapter that illustrates what your assignee requests. If they make no specific requests, it's up to your creativity to bring their characters to life through writing.
Below is what you need to provide for your Secret Santa:
- Must have a story on Tapastic with at least one chapter that includes the character/characters you want to be written about.
- This is so we can get a good idea of your character's personality
- You must provide a (drawn or written) physical description of your character or characters. If you have a unique setting you want your character to be in, make sure to describe this as well.
- This can be provided through links to specific pages or by writing a custom description on the sign-up sheet.
- Name any special requests
- Willingness to volunteer (if someone drops out, are you willing to take their place and draw two secret santas?)
Everyone
If you are signing up for both, you will have to fill out the form twice. This will be like signing up for two different Secret Santas so it's a lot of work! You will also need to inform me because the sign-up sheet assumes Novelists will have novels only and Comic artists will have comics only.
After the signup deadline has passed, everyone will be given a Secret Santa at random
- A deadline will be given as encouragement to complete the work, especially as a Christmas gift!
- Once completed, there will be a new thread for which you can post your secret santa on. More details will be added later.
- If you decide to drop out half way through, message me and I will have someone take your place
- I value commitment so this is for emergencies only. Do not sign up if you do not think you can commit to it.
Additional Information
- Make sure to bookmark this thread so you can stay up to date with any news or changes
A lot has changed since I last hosted the Secret Santa. Novelists are now here on Tapas and I want to make sure to include them. Previously, I still made the Secret Santa a drawing event only but we will be testing a new system this year. I always conduct a survey at the end of every year and I will gladly accept suggestions for the future!
In the rules, I say you must have a story with at least one chapter on Tapas. This can be in the form of a novel OR webcomic. All that matters, as stated above, is that you are able to provide a full image of your character(s) and can make one for your present.
When you complete your piece, email it to me at this address. Your email should include "Secret Santa" and your participant number in the title. Comic artists can email me any picture format. Novelists must email me either a Word document or PDF file of their short stories.
(I am also gladly accepting future suggestions to make this process smoother)
Reply to this thread for any questions you have, that which I'm sure there will be many.
I also want to ask that we may be able to get the Secret Santa results getting featured (I have to ask Michael again, he probably forgot the conversation, it WAS a year ago after all).
(pssst. Also, if you're reading this, you guys can join too!)
Secret Santa Deadline: TBD
Info About Results
This year, I am going to publish the secret santa as a series on the main website. Everyone's secret santa will be posted as an episode and we can guess who's whom. I think this will be a fun experiment to see them all together.
I imagine Novelist's secret santa will be harder to guess so for this year, Comic artist's secret santas will be secret (until they reveal themselves) and Novelists will have their name included in their gift.
The link to the series will be included here when it is made available.
- 2018 Tapas Secret Santa Results (not available yet)
Participants Example
1c.
Name: jjfresh
Comic: Beautiful Lies
Character(s): Jun and Mana
References: Mana and Mana 2
Jun and non coloured Jun
Comments: Their interactions are pretty obvious but surprise me
Volunteer: Y
1n.
Name: jjfresh
Novel: A Fake Novel
Character(s): Alec Benson and Jacob
Description: Alec is a really tall, 6 foot, high school kid. He's described throughout the novel but he has light blonde hair and a man bun (lel). Jacob isn't described a lot since they just met. He's average male height but well built. Always wears hoodies but very handsome face so girls always notice him. He doesn't talk much obviously but he's very dry humour type.
[This info is really anything that isn't explained in the novel already and you think could be important for your Secret Santa]
Comments: I want these two "lovebirds" to have some interaction in Steward's barn on Christmas. Remember, they actually fight a lot. They could be stuck in a blizzard or anything you think up. There's a description of the barn in beginning of chapter 3. Note that the barn does have a small loft in the back if that could be important to include.
Volunteer: Y but only if really needed