chacusha: (mischievous chuckle)
chacusha ([personal profile] chacusha) wrote in [community profile] crackthewip2026-01-01 08:13 am
Entry tags:

2026 Round of Crack the WIP - Rules and Sign-up!

Hi everyone! I'm running a round of Crack the WIP during the first half of 2026. If you want to start the year by finishing off some old projects, and maybe need a deadline and some company or encouragement to push it across the finish line, come join us!

How it works:

Sign up below and tell us a little bit about what you're working on if you want! You can always change your mind later and drop or switch to a different project(s) as your plans change -- signing up isn't a commitment, just an idea of what you might make.

Then when it's finished, post your completed work to the AO3 collection. Note: Important change for this round is that the AO3 collection does NOT keep works hidden. So you can add your works to the collection as long as the work is complete. The collection is moderated and only complete works by people who have signed up will be accepted into it.

Throughout the creation period, we'll have regular (optional) check-ins (and round-ups/celebrations of any newly-finished works), and a final round-up of works at the end.

Sign-ups:

To sign up, copy the text below, paste it into your comment, and answer the questions. If you want to sign up to make more than one thing, just answer once for each thing. Anon comments are turned on, so you can sign up even if you don't have a DW account.



Schedule:

The deadline for WIP-finishing is June 30 this year. Sign-ups are open until then. After that date, the collection will be closed!

Helpful links:
2026 AO3 collection

Rules/FAQ


1. What is Crack the WIP?
Crack the WIP is a multifandom community challenge to finish your WIPs, or Works in Progress, that have been sitting around on your hard drive gathering dust. It was started by [personal profile] snickfic, but [personal profile] chacusha is running the round this year!

2. How do I participate?
Sign up on this post with the WIPs you're planning on working on (you can change your plans later). Post a completed work to the AO3 collection before June 30th! Optionally, you can chat about your projects when we post check-in posts.

3. What works are eligible for this challenge?
Anything you've started that you'd like to complete! We're not enforcing any kind of word minimum.

4. Can I submit works besides fic?
You bet! All fanwork media including fanfic, fanart, fanvids, podfic, etc. are all welcome.

5. Can I submit more than one thing?
Sure! You are welcome to submit any number of works.

6. What if I sign up and then I drop out?
There's no penalty for dropping out. We know that's just how it goes sometimes. <3

7. If I've already posted part of a work, is it okay to finish it for Crack the WIP?
Yes! If part of the work is posted somewhere other than AO3, then you can finish it and post it like you would any other work, either all at once or in installments. If it's already partially posted to AO3, then you may complete it on your own schedule and then add it to the AO3 collection once done.

8. Do I HAVE to post my work to AO3 for it to count for this event?
Yes, for the purposes of this event, only works added to the AO3 collection will count for work round-ups and so on. If this event inspires you to finish something that you share somewhere else other than AO3 or don't share at all, we're glad for you, though!

9. Can I submit a work to both Crack the WIP and another collection (for a fannish bingo, for example)? What about if I want to gift my work to someone?
Both of those are fine! You are welcome to post your Crack the WIP work to another collection as well, and you are welcome to gift your work to someone.

10. What if I have a work that I haven't actually started yet? Can I write it and submit it to Crack the WIP?
That's fine with us! We will assume it's already a WIP in your heart. :D

11. What if I finish my fic late? Can I still post it to the collection after this year's posting deadline?
No, but we congratulate you on finishing!

12. Are all ships and kinks eligible for the challenge?
Almost all of them! We ship and let ship here. For example, RPF, incest, underage, and noncon works are all welcome. Original works are also welcome. The one exception is that explicit sexual content involving real people currently under the age of 18 is not allowed.

13. Do I have to sign up in order to participate?
Yes, please! That's so we know that you know what the collection is about when you submit a work to it.

14. Is there a deadline for signing up, then?
No, as long as you sign up before you submit the work to collection. :)

15. I'd like to promote this event in other spaces. Is that okay? Is there a banner I can use?
Sure! There's a banner over here.


If you have a question we didn't answer here, you can ask by replying to the questions thread on this post.
kalloway: a frying pan with 'you never know when the Frying Pan of Inspiration is going to THWAP you...' (Frying Pan of Inspiration)

Re: QUESTIONS

[personal profile] kalloway 2026-01-01 09:50 am (UTC)(link)
Is using AO3 required to participate?

Re: QUESTIONS

[personal profile] kalloway - 2026-01-01 12:53 (UTC) - Expand

Re: QUESTIONS

[personal profile] pebbleinalake - 2026-01-01 13:55 (UTC) - Expand

Re: QUESTIONS

[personal profile] pebbleinalake - 2026-01-01 19:37 (UTC) - Expand
smallhobbit: (Default)

[personal profile] smallhobbit 2026-01-01 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: Small_Hobbit
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: There's a Spooks (MI5) fic with Lucas North which I'd like to get finished. The first two chapters are already on AO3 (as I thought it would encourage me...)
I'll also promote this on [community profile] ushobwri especially as February is our 'Let's Get WiP-ed Into Shape' month.
evandar: (Pennywise)

[personal profile] evandar 2026-01-01 02:12 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: [personal profile] evandar
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I've got a WiP for IT (Muschietti movies) sitting on my hard drive that I'd like to get dusted off and finished.
flockofcrows: (art » Event Horizon)

[personal profile] flockofcrows 2026-01-01 02:13 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: flockofcrows
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic!
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I have a Bruce Wayne/Hal Jordan fic that's almost done but I need to edit and post the last two chapters. I have the first draft version of each chapter written so it should be doable.
samuraiter: (Default)

[personal profile] samuraiter 2026-01-01 02:32 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: Samuraitet
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: A long time ago, I had the idea to take a the first chapter of my longest story and rewrite it from the ground up as a one-shot with different focus characters and pairings. Since I can't write the way I used to, I figured, why not take the same idea and see how the modern version of me does it? Fandom is Fire Emblem.
seraphikiss: (joker angry)

[personal profile] seraphikiss 2026-01-01 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: seraphikiss
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fanfiction
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like:: i currently have multiple goals, but the first one is to finish my winter themed identity v joker/mike fic which only has two more chapters. my next goal is to finish my joseph/frederick soulmate au.

(no subject)

[personal profile] seraphikiss - 2026-01-04 19:37 (UTC) - Expand
ryulynn: erika drawing 032425 (Default)

[personal profile] ryulynn 2026-01-01 04:37 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: ryulynn
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fanfic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I think for this round I'm going to try to finish the Konoe/Rai (Lamento) 5+1 fic that I started sometime in the midle of last year. I have a bunch of other WIPs that I would like to finish as well but this one I think is a priority.
Edited 2026-01-01 16:38 (UTC)
skysedge: (pic#18019891)

[personal profile] skysedge 2026-01-01 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: skysedge
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: Fandom is Touken Ranbu, I have a long AU series which I've been working on for years but have been stuck on getting the latest installment done. It's multi-part, multi-story series so this WIP will stand along it's just part of the bigger universe!

TLDR: left my readers a note that a character was in jail then never updated to explain why. Need to write the next part.
tarlanx: Joe hugging Nicky on colored background (Film - The Old Guard 8 - Joe-Nicky hug)

[personal profile] tarlanx 2026-01-01 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: Tarlan
What medium is your project in?: FIC
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: It is a crossover story for The Old Guard and Stargate Franchise. I have around 2600 words written but haven't touched the story for many months. It would be great to get it finished.
annadante: (Default)

[personal profile] annadante 2026-01-01 06:59 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: annadante
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: It's a reincarnation and fantasy AU for satosugu ship in jujutsu kaisen fandom. I have the three remaining chapters planned in my mind but I truly don't have the energy to do it. The title of the fic is "howl" and it was meant to be a one shot but you know it grew and now I just wanna finish it!
yuuago: (Denmark - Lucky)

[personal profile] yuuago 2026-01-01 08:16 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: yuuago
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: Fluffy rarepair PWP :) Might try to finish more than one WIP if I have time.
sodomhipped: (Default)

[personal profile] sodomhipped 2026-01-01 08:43 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: [archiveofourown.org profile] reclamation
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fanfic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like:
Fandom: The Outsiders
Ship: Dallas/Ponyboy & Sodapop/Ponyboy
Summary: Ponyboy starts to get curious about sex. He finds unexpected help in Dallas and Soda.
Other info: This story, "all fits and starts," is already partially posted on Ao3. I have about half of the fic left to write, so I need the motivation!

(no subject)

[personal profile] sodomhipped - 2026-01-02 15:46 (UTC) - Expand
thissugarcane: studio 60 (ah think yer the devil)

[personal profile] thissugarcane 2026-01-01 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: thissugarcane
What medium is your project in?: fanfic!
Tell us a little bit about it if you want: Oh sweet merciful gods, this has been an outstanding fic for more than three years. I must finish it: anger doesn't mend a broken heart. the untamed, pre-wwx/jc, post-canon. It's probably 100k in total, 75k of which is posted. Very doable if I can just get the inspiration or motivation to get there.

(no subject)

[personal profile] thissugarcane - 2026-01-02 15:21 (UTC) - Expand
penaconysprincess: (Default)

[personal profile] penaconysprincess 2026-01-02 02:00 am (UTC)(link)

AO3 username: more_smores

What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic!!

Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: this was a fic i was planning to write for an event monthsss ago, but didn't get to finish to to college work!! it's kojimacest (sano/akira from boyfriend to death). just a simple little jealousy prompt where akira is jealous that his brother is jealous over his brother being so busy, and decides to do something ( ;) ) about it.

Edited 2026-01-02 02:01 (UTC)
tellmewhatyousee: (Default)

[personal profile] tellmewhatyousee 2026-01-02 02:57 am (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: tellmewhatyousee
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: Complex platonic kink fic. I started it around April of last year as a sequel of sorts to another fic I'd posted, I was really hype about it and then I got distracted by writing another series so it took a back seat. But I have the rest of it planned out, I just have to get writing 🏃
marigoldlife: (ryuj whiskers)

[personal profile] marigoldlife 2026-01-02 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: vacillations
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: it's a sports rpf fic that i submitted the first chapter of for a fest and i want to rework and complete it because i'm not very happy with what i have on the page rn. it's a coffee shop au which is a fun challenge because i can't rely on the canon-specific interactions and events as much
veronyxk84: (Default)

[personal profile] veronyxk84 2026-01-02 01:10 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: veronyxk84
[I won’t post to AO3 but I do appreciate having a deadline and accountability checks, so thank you for allowing that 💕]
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fanfic, multi-chapter.
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: BtVS/Spuffy which was supposed to be a December gift for someone during a December event. I realized I didn’t have enough time to complete, so I gifted them a one-shot but I really want to still finish this one and maybe post it as a birthday gift for that same person. Their birthday is in May, so it pretty much lines up with the deadline here.

The story is based off a banner/manip created by the recipient (which was created specifically to inspire stories) and it's a Pirate AU setting, to which I added chaos and fairytale vibes. It's a convoluted concept. 😂

(no subject)

[personal profile] veronyxk84 - 2026-01-03 09:32 (UTC) - Expand
sephstone: (Default)

[personal profile] sephstone 2026-01-02 01:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Love the concept of this challenge!

AO3 username: sephstone
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I have an Arcane Sevika/Vi WIP that was last updated on AO3 in June 2025. 15k is posted and I probably have another ~30k to go. I'd really like to make a push to get moving on this fic again so that I can wrap it up.

Edited 2026-01-02 13:44 (UTC)
maevedarcy: Ilya Rozanov from Heated Rivalry smiling shirtless (Default)

[personal profile] maevedarcy 2026-01-02 03:23 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: maevedarcy
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic!
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: so, I'm writing this Teen Wolf vampire!Stiles fic that was supposed to be a one shot and now it's actually a series and I'm a little stuck on part 2 but I really, really want to finish it this year (link to the series: https://archiveofourown.org/series/4666321 )
This is the biggest project I've worked on in YEARS. I'm excited! I'm terrified! I hope I can do justice to this beautiful story I started on a whim. This is my favorite thing I've ever written. I hope I have the ending in me (I know I do, I know it's there damn it)
I'll try to do updates on my journal as well in case someone wants to check it out!
littleliability: Silly depiction of Kon-El drawing on a pad of paper. (Default)

[personal profile] littleliability 2026-01-02 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: LittleLiability
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic!
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I've been meaning to finish a DamiTim same age au fic, and also start on a AU where Janet Drake lives so either one (or both) may end up posted!
vanyalanthiriel: hawkeye cat ears trials of mana (Default)

[personal profile] vanyalanthiriel 2026-01-03 03:26 am (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: Vanyalanthiriel
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fanfic / Doujinshi
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like:
Been planning on making a Hawkeye/Riesz (Trials of Mana) doujinshi since before, and have started making fic for it, so I consider the whole doujinshi as the WIP, with several entries in it. So far I have 7 (?) that are at various stages of completion. Some are barely written, while others have a few thousand words already. Looking forward to working with everyone else in this endeavor!!!
nea: (misc: kissing?)

[personal profile] nea 2026-01-03 06:06 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: [archiveofourown.org profile] Nea
What medium is your project in?: Fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: Almost 20 years ago I started a German 30 kisses challenge for Seth/Ryan from The OC.

Then tons of other pairings happened, I started writing in English, the community died and a few years ago I left LJ. And yet, in all these years it never even crossed my mind to abandon the challenge completely and not look back.

Long story short, there are still at least 12 prompts that need to be filled (in English, this time) and I want to try it. Not today, but soon.
Edited 2026-01-03 18:15 (UTC)
gutweed: (Default)

[personal profile] gutweed 2026-01-04 07:56 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: gutweed
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: I think I finally figured out the ending for my Quodo HateFuck WIP, so I'm going to go with that!
celli: Danny from Sports Night spitting out water while Natalie sets off an air horn behind him (writers block)

[personal profile] celli 2026-01-04 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: [archiveofourown.org profile] celli
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: fic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: A BTS fic, the last chapter of a Sentinel/Guide WIP.

(Anonymous) 2026-01-05 12:17 pm (UTC)(link)
AO3 username: Ghostofafruit
What medium is your project in (fic, fanart, vid, podfic, etc.)?: Fanfic
Tell us a little bit about it if you want! Fandom, ship, premise, etc. Be as vague or specific as you like: Stolen, Borrowed, and freely given, A Doctor Who, every Doctor/Rose Tyler Soulmate au, with eight chapters left to write and post, originally intended to finish it in December but the chapters ended up needing a lot more dedication than I'd previously anticipated

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