#dmj2025sse

Debut or Die (DMJ) 2025 Secret Santa Exchange!

Welcome to the Debut or Die/Demotjuk 2025 Secret Santa Exchange (hereafter referred to as the DMJ 2025 Secret Santa Exchange), an art & writing fandom exchange celebrating the characters from Baek Deoksoo's hit webnovel, Debut or Die!

Sign ups will open soon, in:

    Event Timeline

    * Please note that all timings indicated below follow Australian Eastern Standard Time
    (AEST: GMT/UTC+10)

    28 Sep–11 Oct: Sign-ups open
    11 Oct, 23:59 AEST: Sign-ups close for matching
    18 Oct: Pairing assignments sent out
    15 Nov: Check-in 1
    6 Dec: Check-in 2
    13–18 Dec: Posting into collection
    19 Dec, 23:59 AEST: Reveals!
    19–24 Dec: (optional) Bonus treats & pinch-hits!

    Event Rules & Guidelines

    You MUST BE 18+ and have an AO3 account to participate.Gifts may be fanfic, fanart, or other fanworks (matches are made by tagged relationships & prompts, NOT medium).Minimum requirements: 1k words for fic, a finished art piece, or equivalent. For more information on what this may look like, please click here.Fandom crossovers and AI-generated content will NOT be allowed for this event under any circumstances.

    This is a gift exchange. By signing up you’re agreeing that you will use the prompts you are assigned in good faith, just as others will for you.This also means you understand and are prepared to thank your Santa for any gift you receive, even if you need to drop out from your own assignment (it's ok, we get that irl things happen!), or other unforeseen circumstances.

    Once you’re assigned a giftee, please keep their requests in mind and respect their DNWs.Do observe and follow the deadlines as much as you can. Should you realise that you can’t fill your assignment by the posting period (13–18 December), please contact the mods ASAP so we can arrange a pinch hitter for your giftee.We completely understand that real life happens sometimes, but the earlier you let us know, the better!

    FAQs

    1. What's a secret santa?The DMJ 2025 Secret Santa Exchange is an anonymous gift exchange where participants sign up to create fic or art for someone else and receive a gift in return.When registering, you’ll share your top three character relationships, plus your interests and DNWs, so we can match you with the best possible Santa. Matches are made first by relationships, then by interests.To take part, all participants MUST have an AO3 account. Submissions will go into our AO3 collection, remaining hidden until reveals on the 19th!After that, you’re welcome to share your work far and wide, using the hashtag #DMJ2025SSE.Finally, for those with extra holiday spirit, we’ll host an optional round for treats, late gifts, and pinch-hits.

    2. When are works due?Works are due December 18th, 23:59 AEST. Giftees with unfulfilled gifts will be contacted regarding their gift privately, and will receive one during the pinch-hit round. We encourage early communication with the mods if you foresee any difficulty meeting the requirements of the exchange at any point in time.

    3. What are the art/writing requirements?Writing: Fics must be at least 1k words, and should be able to be read as a standalone story. Multi-chaptered fics should have at least one completed chapter by the time of posting.Art: Artwork must at least be colored (or shaded in case of B&W artwork).
    Chibi artworks are required to have a background. Backgrounds are optional for non-chibi artworks.    Because this is a fandom exchange rooted in generosity, we ask everyone to approach their creations with care. When you sign up, you’re pledging to use your assigned prompts in good faith, just as others will for you.

    4. I'd like to write about character X from Y fandom interacting with a character from Debut or Die/DMJ!Fandom crossovers will NOT be allowed for this exchange, unless explicitly requested by the giftee. This is to ensure that everyone can have a good time, as your giftee may not know the fandom you’d like to crossover with.

    5. Can I choose between receiving fanfics or fanart?No, you may not. Our first and foremost priority is to match Santas and their giftees based on shared character relationships and interests, over other factors. As such, you will not be able to indicate your preference for one fanwork type over the other.

    6. I noticed you had an optional round for treats. What are they?

    In the spirit of gift-giving, participants’ wishlists will be made available in the server, for bonus Santas who wish to contribute additional gifts of fic, art, and more during this round. There is no minimum requirement—only the expectation of goodwill & attention to each individual’s interests and DNWs.For more information, please feel free to browse the following nested articles.

    Event Mods

    If you have any further questions about the event, please feel free to reach out to the following mods:
    Mara: discord @meowbou, twitter @cfmarabou
    Mir: discord @meowmir, twitter @dongtruther13