This page is maintained for historical interest only. These guidelines and nomination requirements are not representative of the current format of the DeanCas Fic Club. If you're looking for the current discussion and nomination guidelines, please refer to this page.
The following guidelines/requirements were in effect April 2018 - April 2021:
The DeanCas Fic Club is a fanfiction discussion group for readers hosted on the ProfoundBond Discord server. Each month we choose a fandom classic fic to read as a group and discuss. These discussions can range anywhere from squeeing over feels to debates about the plot to discussions regarding overall impact the fic had on fanfic trends.
¶ What defines a fandom classic?
According to Fanlore, a fandom classic is a fanwork that is more or less recognized as 'must-read' by fans within the same fandom. Most fandom classics were written years ago and have gained notoriety within the fandom for their quality. There are however fics that have gained fandom classic status within months of being written, usually referred to as instant classics.
- While debate is encouraged, remember that all ProfoundBond server rules still apply. Be excellent to each other and be especially excellent to the authors who wrote the fics we get to read.
- We are not giving concrit here. We are discussing the story and its content. Discussion of grammar, Americanisms, tense preference, etc. is discouraged in most cases. Discussing how the story's style may have influenced fandom trends is fine.
- There will be no discussion of the author's personal life or any fandom drama surrounding them personally. Discussing drama and/or wank surrounding the fic is acceptable as long as it doesn't devolve into wank itself. A large part of discussing classics is talking about their impact on us all as a community. This aspect of the discussion should remain mostly impartial.
- The fic must be Dean/Cas main pairing. No threesomes or OT3 fics will be accepted.
- You may not nominate a fic; written by you, betad by you, one you did art for during a fest, or one gifted to or commissioned by you.
- The fic must be at least 40k for the monthly Fic Club. If interest is there for a bi-weekly club we will open a second discussion group for shorter classics.
- The fic must be to the best of your understanding a classic or instant classic. There is no hard or fast kudo, comment, or posting date rule
- The fic may be hosted anywhere. Ao3 is the preference, but many early classics were hosted on livejournal and never got moved over. We will do our best to have epubs, mobis, and pdfs available of all fics regardless of hosting site.
- Make sure you include all warnings, tags, and information as given by the author.
- Fics are not selected based on mod preference outside the "mod pick" we do about once a year. The top ten nominated fics are put into a poll for voting. If there is a tie, priority is given to fics which add the most variety to the list, or that have been near the top ten in the past rounds without being selected.
The following guidelines/requirements were in effect May 2021 - June 2021:
The DeanCas Fic Club is a fanfiction discussion group and channel hosted on the ProfoundBond Discord server. These discussions can range anywhere from squeeing over feels to plot theories to discussions regarding overall impact the fic had on fanfic trends.
Starting in May 2021 we switched from a monthly reading group format to a rolling chapter based reading format for the DeanCas Fic Club. We also dropped the "fandom classic" requirement for club nominations. If you'd like to see the old format, you can check that out here.
The #fic-club channel is open to anyone with the @SPN Fam role to read and send messages.
If you would like to be notified when new fic club fics are starting or when the nomination surveys are posted, request the @Fic Club role in #cryptos-cubicle.
- While some debate is encouraged, remember that all ProfoundBond server rules still apply. Be excellent to each other and be especially excellent to the authors who wrote the fics we get to read.
- We are not giving concrit here. We are discussing the story and its content. Discussion of grammar, Americanisms, tense preference, etc. is discouraged in most cases. Discussing how the story's style may have influenced fandom trends is fine.
- There will be no discussion of the author's personal life or any fandom drama surrounding them.
- If sharing or discussing NSFW/explicit content, please use spoiler bars with a content warning.
For example: CW: NSFW topic ||explicit details or NSFW excerpt from fic||
- Fic Club fics are discussed on a rolling schedule. This means that the mods break long fics into weekly chapter sections. When a fic finishes, the next one is announced and starts the following week. This allows for discussion of fics of varying length and keeps the discussion moving.
- For members who prefer to read the whole fic in one go from the beginning we recommend making notes privately as you read or waiting to join in until the final week.
- Official Fic Club announcements will tag the @Fic Club role. Selection announcements will include the reading schedule and will be pinned in channel.
- Members are welcome to use this channel to discuss any fics they're reading as a group, share excerpts, yell, and squee.
- The fic must be Dean/Cas main pairing. No threesomes, multishipping, or OT3 fics.
- Authors are welcome and encouraged to participate in discussion of their fics, but should not start a discussion of their own fics nor pressure other server members to start such discussions. We are excited to read fics by server members, but this channel should not be used as a means of self promotion.
- To prevent confusion please include the title of and/or the link to the fic you're discussing at the beginning of excerpts and discussions.
- You may tag @Mod to have fics which are being frequently discussed pinned. If doing so please use the rectemplate format.
- Please be diligent about redirecting off-topic conversation to other rooms.
- The fic must be Dean/Cas main pairing. No threesomes, multishipping, or OT3 fics will be accepted.
- You may not nominate a fic: written by you, betad by you, one you did art for during a fest, or one gifted to or commissioned by you.
- The fic may be hosted anywhere. Ao3 is the preference, but many early fics were hosted on livejournal and never got moved over. We will do our best to have epubs, mobis, and pdfs available of all fics regardless of hosting site.
- Make sure you include all warnings, tags, and information as given by the author.
- Fics are not selected based on mod preference outside the "mod pick" we do about once a year. The top ten nominated fics are put into a poll for voting. If there is a tie, priority is given to fics which add the most variety to the list, or that have been near the top ten in the past rounds without being selected.