As a mod, it's the most frustrating experience ever to have someone who's agreed to participate back out for any reason, though generally it's more accepted if there's a big unavoidable thing--real life issues, for example. Whatever the trouble is, as a mod, I'd say suck it up and write it, because you signed up to participate, and you're still going to be getting a story in return when your recipient either won't get one or will have to wait or will get a pinch hit.

As a participant, there are any number of reasons I haven't made the deadline--real life, memfault, deadline problems. But I've never backed out of something because I didn't like the prompt. You have to make it work for you as best you can, IMO. I've written stuff--especially for Buffy--that I would never have done on my own, or even felt comfortable writing, because that was the recipient's request, and it might be just as challenging for someone else to write what I've requested. But I still have Tara/Anya and Giles/Oz and Faith/Dawn at the end of the day, despite how not-me it was. *shrug* It's the nature of the beast. IMO.

Well, this isn't a "write a story for someone" kind of challenge. It's just a "here's a thing, go write something!" sort of challenge. I don't know anyone involved in the challenge (which is a crap reason to think I can back out, I know, but it's on the table), and no one even ever responded to my comment of "I'd like to play" (also, a crap reason).

Gah and blah. I shall think more, I guess. And not try to go too overboard (which is what deep-sixed the last two story ideas).

It's just a "here's a thing, go write something!" sort of challenge.

If you're not writing for a specific person, then the mods won't need a pinch-hitter and there won't be a recipient bummed that they don't have a story when the challenge goes live. If you need to back out, these are the best possible circumstances for doing so.

In agreement with shrift.

[link]

Fantastic SGA AU. Mckay/Sheppard. Where Sheppard is a homeless lifeguard and McKay is running away, and it is so much better than my undersell here.

Fic Writing Lesson #7:

Dear Ailleann,

If you'd quit your whining for, like, five seconds (and maybe stop reading so much McShep, you dirty woman you), I'll find you a damn plot bunny. Jeebus, cut a girl a break.

Love,
Your Muse

So...if I finished my remix and got my beta back and made some corrections, is it tacky of me to post it? The community mod won't release it until the weekend, but if I keep hanging onto it, I'm worried I'll just keep poking at it...

Not at all tacky. It's done, get it off your plate.

So what do you do when you have a story due in two days and you realize there's canon in the shooting script that sort of almost contradicts what you have? It never aired, so it was probably cut in the editing room, but still...

Hope that no one's reading the shooting script?

Say it's AU if anyone asks?