Dear Yuletide Author, 2017 Edition

[aegistheia]

Dear Yuletide Author,

Thank you for writing! Please behold my now-standard four-part letter for your reading pleasure! It’s archived on both Dreamwidth and Livejournal.

1. ABOUT ME
2. PREFERENCES
3. FANDOM-SPECIFIC TALK
  i. Ghost in the Shell
  ii. 7 Seeds
  iii. Gentleman Bastard Sequence - Scott Lynch
4. HELPFUL STUFF MAYBE

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1. ABOUT ME

Here are some general items of note about my current fandom and fic reading approach, in no particular order:

• I LOVE READING FIC. I repeat this every year word for word, because it's true, and it's also my most concise expression of that truth: I am so excited! You are going to do so well. I love you already. I love what you are going to write already. You are going to be okay. THANK YOU. ♥


• I’m largely in fandom for relationships. That said, I’m primarily not a shipper. I love relationships in its basest definition: "the way in which two or more people, groups, countries, etc., talk to, behave toward, and deal with each other; ...the way in which two or more people or things are connected." (From the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, 2014/09.) I am interested in relationships of all sorts; as long as the relationships make sense in context of the story, I’m on board. When I select shipfic to read I tend to prefer open relationships and/or polyamory. When I mention “relationship” in this letter, please assume the broadest interpretation (i.e. characters interacting) unless I specify.


• Treasured fics that I reread all the time tend to be predominantly gen and/or plot/theme-focused.


• As long as a story portrays its characters and/or plot with coherent development throughout its run with intact internal logic, I can almost always be convinced to read it, even if it contains viewpoints and interpretations at vast odds with canon or general fanon or my own headcanon. So while I’ve given some guidelines/suggestions/prompts, please feel free to deviate without compunction. You’re going to have a hard time writing something I won’t enjoy! I do have some things I prefer not to read right now, which are listed in PREFERENCES below, as well some fandom-specific details in their relevant sections.


• I love seeing implications that characters have lives and relationships beyond the ones in focus in the story.


• I am down for crossovers and AUs like the ocean floor. Stories that reflect and contrast the source’s main themes and/or plot in their alternate settings will render me into a melted puddle.

2. PREFERENCES

My cup of tea: Character interaction of any sort! Give me conflict, developed or developing! Or give me no conflict: slice of life! Crack! Odd happenings! Kishoutenketsu! I like seeing characters bounce off each other with snappy dialogue and/or sarcastic narrative; I also like meditative moments filled with lyrical introspection. Family (especially found families) and platonic relationships make me squirm with delight. So do developing romance and sexual tension. Blatant respect makes me so happy. I’d love it if you shove them out the door on an adventure or lock them in their towns to putter about for the day! Hurt/comfort makes up a significant part of my id vortex’s event horizon.

NSFW: You may have noticed that this year I’ve tagged all my prompts with gen/mostly gen requests, so I’d prefer the focus to be not on romantic/sexual relationships this time around. But if you would like to include a sex scene for whatever/any reason, please go ahead! I like the following: Consent. Sensory descriptions, sensual, loving, gentle, rough, descriptive, fade to black. Again, please don’t feel the need to write sex scenes; I enjoy them, but I generally read them more as part of the story as a whole and less for their own sake.

Not my cup of tea for this challenge: Infidelity or betrayals, unless directly relevant to story theme/development. Lack of communication in supposedly healthy relationships. Jealousy. Extreme embarrassment (I have a pretty sensitive embarrassment squick).

NSFW: Lack of consent. Dubcon is okay only if the negotiations beforehand are also included and consent is at least clearly implied. The word “cum”.


3. FANDOM-SPECIFIC TALK

1. Ghost in the Shell
   
   Requested characters: Kusanagi Motoko
   Keywords: Gen, Character Exploration/Development, World Building, Violence, Hijinks, Stand Alone Complex timeline, Section 9 Ensemble Fic most appreciated
   
   I think of GITS as a sort of urban myth: the Major could have so many different origin stories and no one would know which is truth, lies, or something embellished in between. My favourite incarnation is the Stand Alone Complex anime arcs and movie, so I very much prefer for something set in that particular universe with those particular team members. Section 9 teamfic would Make My Month, no lie. It could be a casefic, character exploration across the series, interaction snapshots, bystander observations, epistolaric narrations, philosophical debates across the episodes, a blast to the past when the Major was alone, I don't know. But more Major (and/or her team) is the goal of this prompt!


2. 7 Seeds
   
   Requested characters: Amacha Fujiko, Taiami Chisa, Sugurono Hana
   Keywords: Gen (or mostly gen), Respect, Character Exploration/Development, World Building, Coming of Age, Ensemble Fic extremely welcome!
   
   I can never, ever get enough of these ladies, or indeed any characters in the series. There are SO MANY stories that can be told of their character growth alone, with each other, in context of their new world, that I will always be curious. Please tell me anything you can of any of them, in some combination, in the new world they now live in, how they are adapting and growing into themselves, and the adventures they may or may not get into. I would love ensemble fic from any and all the teams! That said, you don't have to focus on all of the chosen characters; in fact, you can shift focus onto another character as the main if they intrigue you more/fit better into the story. I'm just hoping these chosen ones get mentioned in some way as a major or minor character in the story. I adore the entire cast so cameos are most welcome, and if you want to delve into any character's expertise, I won't stop you. Talk technical to me!


3. Gentleman Bastard Sequence - Scott Lynch
   
   Requested characters: Zamira Drakasha, Ezri Delmastro
   Keywords: Gen (or mostly gen), Character Exploration/Development, Hijinks, Heist?, Humour, Angst, Slice of Life, World Building, Scott Lynch’s irreverent writing style (i.e. lots of humour and swearing and layers within layers)
   
   I'm still hoping that I'll get something for these ladies, so here is my prompt from previous years, word for word:
   
   “I’M STILL NOT OVER MY LADIES. I’d love to read more about Zamira Drakasha and Ezri Delmastro at high sea, whether before they came across Red Messenger, during the events of Red Seas under Red Skies, or after, when they are picking up the pieces left behind. Please feel free to involve anybody else in this.
   
   I’ve finished The Republic of Thieves, so please explore the universe beyond that point if you wish.”

4. HELPFUL STUFF MAYBE

I’m not too active these days, but I keep accounts open on Tumblr, AO3, Dreamwidth, and Livejournal. I explore different fandoms on each account (except for DW and LJ, which are mirrors); you are welcome to explore with impunity.

As per tradition, here are some interesting things to help jumpstart your creativity:

Crocodile World Hong Kong Lion Dance Championship 2016 - Winner’s performance

“When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers.” - Oscar Wilde, from An Ideal Husband

Fake Wings, 媛星, and 目覚め live performance by FictionJunction.

Do not stand at my grave and weep.
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.
- Mary Elizabeth Frye, 1932

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I hope you enjoyed the read! Thanks again for writing for me; I can’t wait! See you in December!

Aegis

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