Big Bang 2026: Schedule and FAQ
May. 12th, 2026 02:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
talkingtothesky posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
poi_fanworksHere are the planned dates for the 2026 round of PoI Big Bang.
Schedule
Sun 05 Jul: Signups Open
Sun 02 Aug: Signups Close (Writers)
Sun 06 Sep: Summaries Due
Sun 13 Sep: Art Claims
Sun 04 Oct: Date Claims
Sun 25 Oct: Deadline
01 - 30 Nov: Posting
FAQ
What is the Person of Interest Big Bang?
A challenge where writers and artists work together to complete a longer piece of PoI fanfiction plus artwork inspired by the fic. We welcome gen and any pairings. Crossovers between PoI and other fandoms are allowed.
What is the minimum wordcount for fics? Is there a maximum wordcount?
The minimum is 10,000 words. There is no maximum.
How do I sign up?
A post will go up on the Dreamwidth community on July 5th and you can leave a comment there. If you don't want to use Dreamwidth, you can send us an email at poi(dot)fanworks(at)gmail(dot)com.
When do we start writing?
July 5th, or as soon as you sign up.
Can I sign up with a fic I've already started writing?
Yes, if you think you can add 10,000 more words before it's finished. If the beginning is already posted on AO3/elsewhere, please don't post new chapters until your posting date in November.
Can my fic be part of a series?
Yes, it can be part of a series.
Can I write more than one fic?
Yes, if you think you can manage that many words before the deadline.
Can I sign up as both an author and an artist?
Yes!
What kinds of art can I create?
Traditional art, digital art, cover art, wallpapers, banners, gifsets, manips, crafts, fanvids, fanmixes, filks, podfic. If you have an idea that isn't listed here, go for it, ask if you want confirmation.
How do art claims work?
A post will go up on September 13th with the list of fic summaries provided by writers. Artists comment on Dreamwidth to choose which fic they'd like to make art for. Choices will be first comment, first served.
What happens if there's an uneven number of writers and artists?
Artists may make art for more than one fic. There will be a second round of art claims if needed.
What are date claims?
Artists and writers decide which day in November is convenient for both of them to post their work. Once agreed, you can comment on the Dreamwidth post or send an email.
Where will the stories and artwork be posted?
To Archive of Our Own, in the collection [link]. If you don't do AO3, that's fine, on your posting date email a link to the finished fic on your chosen site so we can tell other PoI fans about it. Links to completed works will be posted to Dreamwidth and Tumblr by a mod during November.
What is pre-matching? (optional)
Say you have an artist friend who is also a PoI fan, and you already know you'd work well as a team. You can sign up together and your fic will be left out of the art claims process. There will be a line in the sign up form about this. (If you're pre-matched to a writer but interested in creating art for other fics too, please mention we can expect to match you during art claims.)
What if I can't finish and need to drop out?
There's no penalty for dropping out. Email the mods and your artist/author any time.
Schedule
Sun 05 Jul: Signups Open
Sun 02 Aug: Signups Close (Writers)
Sun 06 Sep: Summaries Due
Sun 13 Sep: Art Claims
Sun 04 Oct: Date Claims
Sun 25 Oct: Deadline
01 - 30 Nov: Posting
FAQ
What is the Person of Interest Big Bang?
A challenge where writers and artists work together to complete a longer piece of PoI fanfiction plus artwork inspired by the fic. We welcome gen and any pairings. Crossovers between PoI and other fandoms are allowed.
What is the minimum wordcount for fics? Is there a maximum wordcount?
The minimum is 10,000 words. There is no maximum.
How do I sign up?
A post will go up on the Dreamwidth community on July 5th and you can leave a comment there. If you don't want to use Dreamwidth, you can send us an email at poi(dot)fanworks(at)gmail(dot)com.
When do we start writing?
July 5th, or as soon as you sign up.
Can I sign up with a fic I've already started writing?
Yes, if you think you can add 10,000 more words before it's finished. If the beginning is already posted on AO3/elsewhere, please don't post new chapters until your posting date in November.
Can my fic be part of a series?
Yes, it can be part of a series.
Can I write more than one fic?
Yes, if you think you can manage that many words before the deadline.
Can I sign up as both an author and an artist?
Yes!
What kinds of art can I create?
Traditional art, digital art, cover art, wallpapers, banners, gifsets, manips, crafts, fanvids, fanmixes, filks, podfic. If you have an idea that isn't listed here, go for it, ask if you want confirmation.
How do art claims work?
A post will go up on September 13th with the list of fic summaries provided by writers. Artists comment on Dreamwidth to choose which fic they'd like to make art for. Choices will be first comment, first served.
What happens if there's an uneven number of writers and artists?
Artists may make art for more than one fic. There will be a second round of art claims if needed.
What are date claims?
Artists and writers decide which day in November is convenient for both of them to post their work. Once agreed, you can comment on the Dreamwidth post or send an email.
Where will the stories and artwork be posted?
To Archive of Our Own, in the collection [link]. If you don't do AO3, that's fine, on your posting date email a link to the finished fic on your chosen site so we can tell other PoI fans about it. Links to completed works will be posted to Dreamwidth and Tumblr by a mod during November.
What is pre-matching? (optional)
Say you have an artist friend who is also a PoI fan, and you already know you'd work well as a team. You can sign up together and your fic will be left out of the art claims process. There will be a line in the sign up form about this. (If you're pre-matched to a writer but interested in creating art for other fics too, please mention we can expect to match you during art claims.)
What if I can't finish and need to drop out?
There's no penalty for dropping out. Email the mods and your artist/author any time.