Archive of Our Own (BETA)

A fest for people who are interested in exploring ideas about Christianity in fanfic. The writing takes place over Lent, culminating with fics revealed on Easter.

Is this fest intended to proselytize for Christianity?

No. This fest is not intended to proselytize for Christianity. Certain stories may do so, but they will be clearly marked as doing so, in order that people who do not want to read such content can avoid it.

OK, then what are the intentions behind this fest?

There are a number of intentions. The primary one is to interrogate and examine Christianity rather than allow it to function as the assumed default. Christianity is mixed up with western culture, and as such, has a rather extensive global reach. This fest hopefully will encourage us all to be more mindful of our assumptions about characters' religious beliefs and backgrounds, and the worlds in which they live.

The secondary intention is that this fest might serve as a piece of Lenten discipline to those who observe Lent.

Finally, the intention is to have fun and provoke interesting stories that might otherwise not be told.

Can I take part in this fest if I am not Christian?

Yes. This fest is for anyone who wants to participate.

Are any specific types of stories encouraged?

Stories that emphasize particular types of Christianity, rather than "Christianity" as an overarching idea, are to be encouraged (for instance: stories with a focus on Orthodoxy, on Anglo-Catholicism, on being a Lutheran or a Presbyterian or a Congregationalist or a Christian-identified Quaker, etc ad infinitum).

Stories that are about struggles with Christianity (and even fighting against Christianity) are just as welcome as stories about the joys of faith, and stories that are about Christianity from the perspective of a non-Christian are also more than welcome.

Can I write a story that is explicitly anti-Christian for this fest?

It depends what you mean. You can write a story about a character losing their faith. You can write a story with Christianity, or Christian characters, as villains, and a non-Christian character as the hero. However, please remember that there are Christians and non-Christians taking part in the fest, and try to genuinely engage with the concepts of Christianity if you choose to critique them, rather than constructing a straw man to be knocked down.

Can I write a story featuring characters from the Bible for this fest? Is that considered RPF?

You can write a story featuring characters from the Bible and classify it as RPF or not depending on your own views on the matter. General fandom procedure seems to be not classifying Bible fic as RPF. Please make sure to warn for all content assiduously as not all participants in the fest are likely to want to read about biblical characters gettin' it on!

Can I write a story with sexual or romantic content for this fest?

Of course. And, though it should go unsaid - your story can be of any pairing, not just heterosexual cisgendered couples.

Which Easter are you talking about for the due date? Orthodox Easter...?

This year, they're the same! Next year... um... we'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Where else can I engage with this fest?

If you want to discuss this fest or the stories in it, do so on the Dreamwidth community, Good_Ficday. We hope to have discussion and commentfic over the course of the fest there.

Write a story during Lent that engages with Christianity on some level. It can be in any fandom, of any length, and of any pairing (or none at all). It can be about Lent and Easter, but it does not have to be.

If you want to discuss this fest or the stories in it, do so on the Dreamwidth community, Good_Ficday.

Post it to this collection.

Make sure it is tagged and marked very explicitly. Some people do not want to read stories that assume a Christian worldview. Some specifically want to. Some people do not want to read stories that are evangelical in nature. Others do. The more specific you are with your tagging, the more likely your story is to find its audience.

Stories will be revealed on Easter.