Into the Unown: Rules & Schedule

[peasina]

Welcome to the first bonus/mini round of The PokéPod Project, a collaborative fan project that aims to create a fic and podfic about every Pokémon. This bonus round focuses on Unown, a generation two Pokémon with 28 forms. The collection and anthology are scheduled to reveal on 6 April 2026, the 25th anniversary of the theatrical release of Pokémon 3: The Movie in North America.

Schedule

1 Mar: Writer & Podficcer Signups Open
8 Mar: Writer Signups Close
9 Mar: Latest writing assignments go out
17 Mar: Writing Deadline & Podficcer Signups Close
22 Mar: Latest podfic assignments go out
29 Mar: Podfic Deadline
6 Apr: Anthology + AO3 Collection revealed
(All times 20:00PM UTC)

How this works

Writers sign up to create 1 – 2 stories about Unown. Unlike the project's main rounds, Unown forms will be assigned randomly, so participants really will be going... into the un(kn)own! Each story should focus on the Unown form assigned, be between 100 – 1000 words, and be posted to this round's AO3 Collection by the deadline. All participating writers consent to their work being podficced - this means a fellow Pokémon fan will perform a reading of your story and post it as a separate work using AO3's “inspired by” function.

Podficcers sign up to record between 1 – 2 stories written for the project and are also randomly assigned Unown forms.

Once all stories have been written and podficced, they will be revealed alongside a podfic anthology, unleashing all the Unown fanworks into the world to become known!

Please read the rules below in full before signing up, even if you're an event veteran. As this is not a traditional AO3 exchange/challenge, there are parts of the creation process that will differ from what you're used to, from sign-ups to posting.

Writer Sign-Ups

During the sign-up stage, writers complete our Google Form to indicate the number of stories they’re interested in writing (1 – 2). For this round, Unown forms will be assigned randomly!

Assignments go out via email, where writers will be assigned to write one or two stories (based on their signup preferences) for one or two Unown forms. Each story should focus on one Unown form. Only one story per Unown form may be added to the collection, but should you feel inspired to write more, these bonus fics can be added to the Rare Candies Generation Two collection at any time.

By signing up, writers confirm that they are 18+, that they will not use any generative AI to create their stories, and that they permit the work(s) they create for this event to be podficced. Your mods strongly encourage adding a podfic permission statement to your AO3 profile if you haven’t already. (Your profile can be found here: https://archiveofourown.org/users/YOURUSERAME/profile. You are not required to mention permission in your author’s notes.)

Podficcer Sign-Ups

During the sign-up stage, podficcers complete our Google Form to indicate the number of stories created for this project that they’re interested in podficcing (between 1 – 2). Podficcers will also be randomly assigned Unown forms.

By signing up, podficcers confirm that they are 18+.

Assignments - Writers & Podficcers

The following rules apply to all stories created as part of The PokéPod Project:

✅ Any and all official Pokémon canons are accepted.
✅ Works should be G – T rated.
✅ Works should be 100 – 1,000 words. 1,000 words is the absolute maximum.
✅ Any canon characters or original characters, such as original Pokémon trainers, are welcome.
✅ Any ships may be included, but please remember to focus on the Pokémon themselves.
✅ Works should be written/recorded in English.

❌ Works should not include any of AO3’s archive warnings (Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death, Rape/Non-Con, and Underage.) Canon-typical violence, such as battling, is fine. Canonical themes of death and grief, such as ghost Pokémon, are fine.
❌ No crossovers with non-Pokémon canons please.
❌ No romantic/sexual relationships between humans and Pokémon.
❌ Stories should not require knowledge of existing AO3 works, such as sequels.
❌ No reader-insert fic please.

Assignments will be sent via email. All stories created for this project need to be posted to the this AO3 Collection.

The following rules apply for all podfic created as part of The PokéPod Project:

✅ Podfics should be posted to AO3 and link to the original work (mods will provide the link while the collection remains unrevealed) using the "Inspired By" function.
✅ Podfics posted to AO3 should include a download link to an MP3 and/or WAV file. This is so your mods can save all the files and edit them together for the anthology.
✅ Podfics should include two seconds of silence at the beginning and end.
✅ Please read the following metadata at the beginning: [Unown form name (e.g., Unown A)]. [Title], by [author], read by [podficcer]. Summary: [original summary, if applicable]. Including "The End" is optional but encouraged.
✅ Please warn somewhere in your post if there are any sudden loud noises in your recording, including shouted lines of dialogue.
✅ Participating podficcers agree to light edits—such as noise reduction, volume changes—being made to the file that is included in the anthology. This is to ensure a smoother listening experience to those listening through the anthology chronologically.

❌ Do not use any intro/outro music and keep any sound effects to a minimum.

Podficcer assignments will be sent via email by 22 March, once the writing and writing pinch hit deadlines have passed.

Cover art is not required, though is welcomed. We have a cover art sticker that you can place anywhere on your cover, should you wish! We'll share the sticker after podficcer signups close on our DW/Tumblr.

Defaulting

Should you not be able to complete your assignment(s) for any reason, don't worry - life happens. Please let your mods know as soon as you can (via any of the methods listed on our contact post) so we can assign your Unown form new writers/podficcers or put them up for adoption (see "Pinch Hits".) There is no need to give a reason for defaulting and defaulting will not restrict you from taking part again in future.

Pinch Hits, aka Adopt-a-Pokémon!

If any Unown forms are not initially assigned, they will be added to our Adopt-a-Pokémon thread once signups close, ensuring no Unown is left behind! That’s where pinch hitters come in. After assignments are sent, we’ll open the Adopt-a-Pokémon thread here on our DW, where anyone, even those not signed up, is welcome to volunteer to write a story for that Unown form. The mods will officially assign the forms to pinch hitters on a first come, first served basis. Writers already participating in the project are welcome to pinch hit also, but only if they have not reached the maximum of two works assigned at the time the pinch hit is posted.

Posting - For Writers

Once your story or stories are complete, please post them to the project's AO3 Collection. The deadline is 17 March, 20:00PM UTC. If you can no longer fulfil your assignment, please let your mods know as soon as you can so we can find a new writer for your Unown.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer writer extensions for this bonus round.

Fanfiction should be 100% complete when posted (aka, not something you will continue to edit or expand after the deadline) as your mods will be downloading a copy of the work and passing it on to a podficcer so they can get to work. If you upload before the deadline, your uploaded story may be sent to a podficcer earlier also, so do make sure it's complete.

Posting - For Podficcers

Once the podficcer creation period begins (no later than 20:00PM UTC on 22 March), the mods will share a PDF via email of the stories you are assigned that includes the work's metadata and text. They will also provide the work's URL so you can link your podfic using AO3's "Inspired By" function. All podfics should be posted to the project's AO3 Collection.

Please note that, as the original fics will not be revealed while podficcers work, you will not be able to use the AO3 Podfic Posting Helper browser plugin for this project. You will need to copy and paste the fandom(s), characters & relationships, tags, and summary from the emailed PDF.

After the final deadline, your mods will compile the podfic anthology. This will be posted here on our DW community, on our Tumblr, and linked in the AO3 collection's profile.

Reveals

Once all Unown forms have a story and a podfic created for them, the AO3 collection will be revealed. Along with the collection, a chaptered audio anthology of all podfics in Unknown form order (i.e., A, B, C, etc.) will be posted here on our DW community, our Tumblr, and linked in the AO3 collection's profile.

We then celebrate our victory and enjoy all the new works created!

Trainer Tips - aka FAQ

Can I sign up as both a writer and a podficcer?
Yes. Please do!

If I’m assigned to write two stories about Unown, can I just put them both into one story?
Unfortunately not. Each form needs to have a story created especially for it. Each story also needs to be posted separately to the collection, not included in a chaptered work.

What happens if I can't fulfil my assignment(s)?
If you need to default on one or more of your assignments, please let your mods know as soon as you can using the methods on our contact post or by replying directly to your assignment email. Check the "Defaulting" section above for more information. If you don't post your story/podfic by the deadline, we will find a pinch hitter to write/pod the Unown.

Can I write about a canon Unown form, like Unown G from the “Address Unown!” anime episode?
Absolutely!

I’m a podficcer and have heard Unown pronounced “un-own” and “un-known” in English. Which is correct?
Honestly, it seems like not even the Pokémon Company knows the answer to this question! “Un-known” is more common, but both have been used in the anime, so follow your heart.

If I’m assigned to write two stories, can I make them sequential?
No, sorry. Each story should standalone and not require any prior knowledge of another story to be enjoyed.

I only want to write about one particular Unown form, can I still take part?
Unfortunately, no. The premise of this bonus round involves embracing randomness, so we cannot promise to assign certain forms to participants. However, if you keep an eye on our Adopt-a-Pokémon posts, which go live after signups close and after the main writing deadline, your beloved Unown may be there waiting for you!

Can other Pokémon feature in my story?
Yes! As long as your fic centres around the Unown form you have been assigned, other Pokémon are very welcome to feature alongside them.

I don’t enjoy or can’t listen to podfic, can I still take part?
Of course! As long as you’re comfortable having your work podficced, there’s no expectation for you to listen to the podfic version of your work and you can treat this as a writing challenge.

Your mods for this round are peasina and javert. We both hope you have fun taking part and enjoy the challenge of this bonus round! If you need to contact us for any reason, click here.