Rules: Three is Not a Crowd 2026

[maevedarcy]

Below you will find the general rules for this exchange. Please make sure to familiarize with them before signing up.

• Minimum requirements are 300 words (for fic and podfic) or original fanart that is not on lined paper. Gifts must be complete. There are no minimums for treats.
• You must be at least 18 years old to participate.
• Gifts must not include any element that the recipient has listed as a DNW (Do Not Want). If you have any questions or concerns about whether or not you're creating something that might hit a DNW, please contact the mod email.
• The mod can only enforce DNWs that are listed in your signup. Please phrase your DNWs in a clear and neutral way: "DNW: Peter" is fine, "DNW: gross characters like Peter" is not. DNWs cannot be used to box your creator into producing an extremely specific work.
• Please sign up with only one account.
• AI use IS NOT ALLOWED for this exchange. Please do NOT upload works created using GenAI.
• Don't be an asshole. Harassment and shaming will not be tolerated and will result in a ban

FAQ: Three is Not a Crowd

[maevedarcy]

What do we need to know for signups?

You may request 1-10 fandoms, each with 1-10 relationships and at least one medium (Fanart, Fanfic, and/or Podfic). You can also request Any, which means you are requesting gifts for any of the nominated relationships for that fandom.

You can offer 1-10 fandoms, each with 1-10 relationships. You can also offer Any, meaning you're willing to create a gift for any nominated relationship in that fandom.

In your additional details, make sure to include any DNWs. These are things you Do Not Want, i.e., things that would ruin a gift for you and which your creator must avoid.

You can also use the additional details box to list likes, prompts, and anything else that might help your creator make a gift you will enjoy. You can also provide a link to a letter posted on your Dreamwidth, Tumblr, etc.

Gifts are NOT guaranteed, but I will do my best to post PHs to all relevant communities though work reveals won't be held back.

If you shame or harass other participants, or if there are signs that you have deliberately caused problems in past exchanges, the mod will delete your signup.

 

How does the matching work?

You will match on at least one fandom, one medium (fic, art, or podfic), and one relationship within that fandom.

If none of your offers match any requests at the time signups close, I'll contact you, and you'll have 8 hours to add relevant offers. If that time elapses, or if you choose not to add any offers, I'll delete your signup.

What are the rules for assignments?

Assignments are only guaranteed to match on one fandom, one relationship, and one medium.

Minimum work requirements for fic and art are one fic of 300 words or one piece of original art that is not on lined paper. Manips are not allowed at this time. The minimum requirement for podfic is a recorded work of at least 300 words. The work you post must match a medium, fandom, and relationship requested by your recipient.

Works should remain anonymous during the collection's anonymous period. Do not post your work elsewhere, link to it under your name, or put your name anywhere on the AO3 page until after creators have been revealed. Artists may sign their work, and audio recordings may include identification of the podficcer.

What about treats?

Treating is allowed and encouraged! Treats to the collection are also allowed (i.e., gifts that don't have a listed recipient).

If your AO3 account was created after February 1, 2022 and you would like to receive treats, please make sure your account is set up to allow additional gifts: Go to Preferences and click "Allow anyone to gift me works."

I encourage people who do not want treats, and who have not enabled their account to be open to treats, to specifically mention that in their additional details.

I have a question that's not answered here.

Please leave a comment on this post and I'll do my best to answer as soon as possible. Anonymous comments are enabled. Comments are NOT screened.