SUNBOLT is for BAEKCHEN pairings! While fanworks including OT3's, OT4's, and OT+ are welcomed in SUNBOLT, we do require BaekChen to have focal roles in your work—they cannot be mere side-characters.

We ask that all participants be 18+ because we expect to host mature fanworks; it is to the mod's and writers' comfort for minors not to interact.

Fanworks may not include the following banned topics: graphic non-con, pedophilia, and any depiction of bestiality*.

SUNBOLT requires writers to tag any commonly triggering content and will screen works prior to posting to ensure this rule is followed. Additionally, because we are lax in our content restrictions, we require that archive warnings be used to their full extent (even if they "spoil" an aspect of the story). This is a courtesy to our readers, but nuance is possible! Feel free to ask the mods privately about your specific situation.

Plagiarism is not tolerated. This includes AI-generated fanwork, which is made possible by data-scraping software—many of which "learn" from existing fanworks without permission. Infractions will result in a fanwork's removal from the fest, and a permanent participation ban.

There is no minimum or maximum word-count restriction for submissions (within reason). Artists may submit sketches or polished pieces. Meta may also be submitted, providing it is posted as a work on AO3.

There is a five fanwork submission restriction per round, but please contact the mods if you find that number limiting. We'd be loathe to turn away your fanwork, and can try figure out a way to include your pieces (possibly with doubling up on your posting days, etc.)

Writing submissions, and AO3 hosted "meta" will be anonymously posted during the fest's promotion period. This is to be fair to both the newest writers among us and the most established. We ask that you not share the details of what you're working on publicly until reveals, but who are we to stop a cheeky #WIP_Wednesday post!

Works should generally be posted in-full, and should generally be standalone. Due to the nature of other mediums, such as twt-fic, we're happy to quote the beginning of your twt-fic during the promotion period, but won't promote that twt-fic's updates moving forward (in fairness for AO3-hosted works only having one promotion post). As far as the standalone requirement, submitted works may be companions to already posted works of yours, but cannot be linked to that work until reveals (whether through your author's note, or the AO3 linked work functionality).

SUNBOLT will correspond with participants through email, using X (formerly Twitter) as a secondary form of contact—we recommend following the account, since X's messaging guidelines have changed frequently since its change in leadership.

For scheduled posting, the fest runs in KST. However, for deadlines—so long as it is the deadline date anywhere in the world, you're still on time!

There are no penalties for dropping out, or even ghosting us before submissions. If the timeline for the first round doesn't work out for you, we get it. We don't want you to be afraid to give another round a shot because you think you left a poor impression—we're very forgiving. That said, it is always appreciated to have you communicate your dropping out, rather than ghost!