Ok, fake!boyfriends and fake!girlfriends, the Faking it Challenge is over!

Let's talk episode related fanworks! I know, most fanworks are episode related in one way or another, but we're looking for those stories and images that are grounded in specific canonical events. So break out your favorite episode tags, those vids centered on one or two episodes, and the AUs that ask what if this had gone differently.

This challenge will run until Monday, 26 July.

The Lost Zebras Found challenge is over! More recs were contributed by omens and green_grrl -- please check them out.

A new challenge opens... now! It's summer in Chicago, which means it's time to create excuses to stay in the air conditioning. And since the due South/C6D big bang just went live, this seems like a great time to talk about long fic! Break out your favorite long fics, epics, big bangs and multi-parters. What stories keep you hooked through to the very end?

Once again, recs can be made here in comments or as their own posts. This challenge runs until Monday, June 28th!

The Bodies in Motion Challenge is over! Thanks go to luzula for the rec in comments.

Our next challenge is Lost Zebras Found. Bring on the feel-good and the funny, the things you turn to on those nothing-goes-right days.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Small Yet Satisfying challenge! During the second week, green_grrl and ifreet added more recs to comments of the challenge post, and keerawa posted a terrific rec set. Be sure to check them out!

Our new challenge is Bodies in Motion. Benton chasing criminals across roofs or wilderness. Ray Vecchio dancing with Irene. Ray Kowalski boxing with Levon. Frannie talking with her hands. Welsh getting out from behind his desk. Rec your favorite fanworks of the due South characters in motion -- whether that brings to mind an actual vid, a sketch of someone caught mid-gesture, or the perfect action scene in a fic. This challenge will run two weeks until Monday, May 31.

May is here, and that means it's the end of our spring amnesty. Aw! It also means it's time to welcome a new guest reccer. Yay! This month, sam80853 is recommending AUs and Crossovers, so be sure to check them out!

Next up, the Small Yet Satisfying challenge. Let's show some love for short fics. Flashfic, ficlets, snippets, drabbles -- whatever the term, some dS authors pack a ton of emotion into only a handful of words.

Share a couple links in comments below, or stack up a set for a separate post. This challenge will run for two weeks.

Hi, everyone! Did you have a rec for a challenge but miss the deadline? Well, now's your (second) chance! ds_recsredux hereby declares an amnesty period for the rest of April -- you have until Monday, May 3rd to get those belated recs in.

From our poll, we've learned that while readers prefer separate posts, those of you actually making the recs are a bit more split. For the amnesty period, feel free to direct comments to this post or create your own separate posts, whichever makes you feel most comfortable. We just ask that you use the title of the specific challenge you are responding to as the subject line of your comment or post for clarity's sake -- one of us modly types will be posting a round-up of recs-so-far at the end of each week, which should help readers keep track.

Can't remember all the challenges that have run this year? Here's a handy list, with links to the complete descriptions:

due South Sekrit Santa
Icons
2009 Gen and Pre-Relationship Fic
2009 Smut
It's All About You!
The Heart of the Matter
Handsy
You Make Me Feel Like Dancing
Crossovers
Unexpected Skills
Clueless
Crossdressing

And as a general reminder, the comm is always open to Insta-Recs. If you read/hear/see/watch something awesome, you can share it anytime -- regardless of the current challenge.

We're extending the Clueless Challenge for another week. Please rec your favorite stories about due South characters in need of a clue -- or catching one!

Slightly overshadowed by last week's poll (by the way, THANK YOU for all the input!) was last week's Unexpected Skills Challenge.

So we're extending it one more week -- look for a new challenge Monday. In the meantime, the challenge encompasses any character and any skill, so please share your recs!

Crossovers are so over. Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge!

Secret abilities and hidden talents are the theme for this week. Cooking, hang gliding, MacGyvering, or tying a cherry stem in a knot sans hands -- due South characters have a variety of hidden facets. Break out the fanworks that reveal a secret skill.

Whether it's Ray Vecchio's capable hands, Ray Kowalski's expressive hands, or Benton Fraser just rolling up his shirtsleeves, hands are hot.

So let's appreciate those hands -- and since February is nearly over, let's make this a multi-media challenge. Share that fic about hands in new places -- whether that means hand-holding, hand-wringing or a handjob. Link that sketch that captures the shape of someone's fingers. Direct us to a hand-focused picspam. Or start one here -- whatever makes you happy!

Now, let's get handsy!