Yuletide Letter: 2011
It's that time again!
YULETIDE.
So, Yuletide Author - here we are! I just want to start off by saying thank you so much for taking on my request, whichever one that may be. Just know that no matter what you write, I will appreciate it. And will, in all honesty, love it.
I also hope you enjoy writing this assignment; please remember to have fun with the story because that's important too!
I will probably get tl;dr about my requests, but I figure a little extra information couldn't hurt in case you're staring at the assignment with a blank look and a rising sense of anxiety. If you're feeling confident, just take this as some vague guideline-shaped monstrosity to get the ball rolling!
→ GENERAL LIKES/DISLIKES
→ Romance and angst
Romance and angst are not requirements, but if it works, I do like a little of this, a little of that. I also generally prefer happy endings because at the end of the day, this is Yuletide season. (But don't force it if it doesn't work out that way!)
→ Characters staying in character + character/plot development
These two concepts are so important to me when reading a good story. I love to see an author take a pre-existing character and really bring out new facets of their personality that would make total sense in canon. It's kind of like filling in the bits that the original author did not see, didn't have the time to include, etc. I love character studies with a healthy dose of plot.
→ On pairings and ships
I am generally a het reader, and I'm one of those people who also willingly gravitates towards canon ships. I can't help it! However, that does not mean I am opposed to reading slash or femslash, but it's got to be convincing and it's got to have development like any relationship. In other words, I don't like slash for the sake of slash. I also really like exploring the threesome dynamic when it applies, but again - not simply for the sake of it. I do encourage things like well-written epic bromances and sisterhoods. Witty banter. Humour. Characters being challenged and put out of their element.
→ Adventure - plot, cont'd
I also love a bit of adventure in a story. Usually this stuff comes naturally in the plot development, but a good adventure running alongside the emotional bit (romance/angst/etc.) are good ingredients for a fantastic story. So roll with any number of these things (which I hope shouldn't be too hard) and you're guaranteed a seriously ecstatic me.
But every request has to have its dislikes, and I've got a few.
→ Sexual content and disturbing themes
I'm not too keen on explicit porn/smut. I prefer to leave things to the imagination for the most part anyway; and particularly because most of my fandoms are in the YA bracket, it's a bit skeevy to me, so ... please try to avoid this.
Because of my love of plot development, I'm not terribly keen with concentrated schmoop, fluff and purple-prose either.
Disturbing themes - also not a fan. Again, judging by my fandoms, they are generally quite void of things like rape/noncon, molestation, incest, mpreg, etc. So, I don't need to see that in a Yuletide fic, please!
→ FANDOMS
→ Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld
Deryn Sharp, Aleksander of Hohenberg, Wildcount Volger, Nora Barlow
I haven't actually had the chance to read the last book of the Trilogy yet, so this may put a bit of a damper on what you write. I don't actually mind spoilers! But I also don't want to get lost, not having the canon context. So - uh. Take that into account when writing, I guess? (ETA: I've just bought the new book and will probably get to it/finish reading for the holidays! So if you had a great post-trilogy idea that you've been dying to go with, I say go for it!)
Having said all that, what I'm really interested in is seeing little moments that aren't written by Scott Westerfeld. I love little slice-of-life moments outside of the official canon, things that the characters experience outside of the main plot arch.
If that doesn't float your boat, I'd also love to read about any of these characters pre-canon: their childhoods, what they were up to before everything got rolling, etc. Any of the characters would, I imagine, have such interesting backstories. Of course Deryn is my favourite character (omg, she is so awesome I can't even), so I'd prefer her over the others!
I included these four characters but I don't expect you to write all four of them into the story. If you want to pick one or two, that's completely cool with me. Cameos from other characters are also cool.
→ New Girl
Jess Day, Nick, Schmidt, Winston, Coach
I'm loving this series a whole lot, even if I'm well aware of how shaky the writing can be at times. And with said shaky writing, I feel like this show is kind of made for fanfic this year. Fanfic writers often fix and rectify all of the things canon misses out, and this is a chance for a fic writer to go crazy. And because the show is still a baby, with only 6 episodes in (as I write this), anything is possible. ANYTHING.
So: basically? Go to town with this one, Yuletide Author. I would love a Jess/Nick possible scenario because the chemistry: I SEE IT, but I'm also completely kosher with platonic friendships everywhere. If you want to include Cece, please feel free too. I'm a bit sad she wasn't nominated this year so I could pick her.
I included Winston and Coach because they're both awesome too, and they could possibly lend to a better, more fun story. Either way, as long as you keep with the tone of the show, and keep true to the characters, I will love anything.
→ His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Lord Asriel, Marisa Coulter, John Parry
Ah, His Dark Materials. Possibly my favourite series ever written ever. I just love everything about it, and I am ever, ever inspired by the characters, the story, the world: everything.
This year I decided to pick a few characters I've always been fascinated by but never really focused my fandom-mind on. (I almost always go for stories about Will and Lyra, for example!)
Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter, in particular, are some of my favourite antagonistic characters of all time - so anything at all about their history together, how they got together, how they fell apart, their internal thoughts, hopes, dreams, thoughts before their deaths, etc. would fill my little heart with glee. Additionally (separately or in conjunction to the previous idea), anything about John Parry's adventures, his leaving his family, his history, his life, etc., would be fascinating to explore.
Any cameos from any of the other characters are welcome. If you manage to weave their points of view into a part of the canon while you're at it, I will probably have to do something ridiculous like build you a shrine.
→ Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan
Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang
I picked these four characters but that doesn't mean they ALL have to be included in the story. If you want to focus on one or two of them but leave the others out - hey, that's fine with me.
I'm fascinated by every one of these characters and their viewpoints and backstories, so I've got nothing in particular in mind. Like all my other requests, if you want to include some cameos from other characters (Percy, Nico, Annabeth, etc.), please feel free to. Other than that, just have fun with this. Add a little adventure, character studies, Rick Riordan-ian dialogue and tone, and I'm a happy, happy camper. (No pun intended.)
Thank you again, Yuletide Author, and have an awesome holiday season!
Happy writing,
Zelly / dynastessa
YULETIDE.
So, Yuletide Author - here we are! I just want to start off by saying thank you so much for taking on my request, whichever one that may be. Just know that no matter what you write, I will appreciate it. And will, in all honesty, love it.
I also hope you enjoy writing this assignment; please remember to have fun with the story because that's important too!
I will probably get tl;dr about my requests, but I figure a little extra information couldn't hurt in case you're staring at the assignment with a blank look and a rising sense of anxiety. If you're feeling confident, just take this as some vague guideline-shaped monstrosity to get the ball rolling!
→ GENERAL LIKES/DISLIKES
→ Romance and angst
Romance and angst are not requirements, but if it works, I do like a little of this, a little of that. I also generally prefer happy endings because at the end of the day, this is Yuletide season. (But don't force it if it doesn't work out that way!)
→ Characters staying in character + character/plot development
These two concepts are so important to me when reading a good story. I love to see an author take a pre-existing character and really bring out new facets of their personality that would make total sense in canon. It's kind of like filling in the bits that the original author did not see, didn't have the time to include, etc. I love character studies with a healthy dose of plot.
→ On pairings and ships
I am generally a het reader, and I'm one of those people who also willingly gravitates towards canon ships. I can't help it! However, that does not mean I am opposed to reading slash or femslash, but it's got to be convincing and it's got to have development like any relationship. In other words, I don't like slash for the sake of slash. I also really like exploring the threesome dynamic when it applies, but again - not simply for the sake of it. I do encourage things like well-written epic bromances and sisterhoods. Witty banter. Humour. Characters being challenged and put out of their element.
→ Adventure - plot, cont'd
I also love a bit of adventure in a story. Usually this stuff comes naturally in the plot development, but a good adventure running alongside the emotional bit (romance/angst/etc.) are good ingredients for a fantastic story. So roll with any number of these things (which I hope shouldn't be too hard) and you're guaranteed a seriously ecstatic me.
But every request has to have its dislikes, and I've got a few.
→ Sexual content and disturbing themes
I'm not too keen on explicit porn/smut. I prefer to leave things to the imagination for the most part anyway; and particularly because most of my fandoms are in the YA bracket, it's a bit skeevy to me, so ... please try to avoid this.
Because of my love of plot development, I'm not terribly keen with concentrated schmoop, fluff and purple-prose either.
Disturbing themes - also not a fan. Again, judging by my fandoms, they are generally quite void of things like rape/noncon, molestation, incest, mpreg, etc. So, I don't need to see that in a Yuletide fic, please!
→ FANDOMS
→ Leviathan - Scott Westerfeld
Deryn Sharp, Aleksander of Hohenberg, Wildcount Volger, Nora Barlow
I haven't actually had the chance to read the last book of the Trilogy yet, so this may put a bit of a damper on what you write. I don't actually mind spoilers! But I also don't want to get lost, not having the canon context. So - uh. Take that into account when writing, I guess? (ETA: I've just bought the new book and will probably get to it/finish reading for the holidays! So if you had a great post-trilogy idea that you've been dying to go with, I say go for it!)
Having said all that, what I'm really interested in is seeing little moments that aren't written by Scott Westerfeld. I love little slice-of-life moments outside of the official canon, things that the characters experience outside of the main plot arch.
If that doesn't float your boat, I'd also love to read about any of these characters pre-canon: their childhoods, what they were up to before everything got rolling, etc. Any of the characters would, I imagine, have such interesting backstories. Of course Deryn is my favourite character (omg, she is so awesome I can't even), so I'd prefer her over the others!
I included these four characters but I don't expect you to write all four of them into the story. If you want to pick one or two, that's completely cool with me. Cameos from other characters are also cool.
→ New Girl
Jess Day, Nick, Schmidt, Winston, Coach
I'm loving this series a whole lot, even if I'm well aware of how shaky the writing can be at times. And with said shaky writing, I feel like this show is kind of made for fanfic this year. Fanfic writers often fix and rectify all of the things canon misses out, and this is a chance for a fic writer to go crazy. And because the show is still a baby, with only 6 episodes in (as I write this), anything is possible. ANYTHING.
So: basically? Go to town with this one, Yuletide Author. I would love a Jess/Nick possible scenario because the chemistry: I SEE IT, but I'm also completely kosher with platonic friendships everywhere. If you want to include Cece, please feel free too. I'm a bit sad she wasn't nominated this year so I could pick her.
I included Winston and Coach because they're both awesome too, and they could possibly lend to a better, more fun story. Either way, as long as you keep with the tone of the show, and keep true to the characters, I will love anything.
→ His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Lord Asriel, Marisa Coulter, John Parry
Ah, His Dark Materials. Possibly my favourite series ever written ever. I just love everything about it, and I am ever, ever inspired by the characters, the story, the world: everything.
This year I decided to pick a few characters I've always been fascinated by but never really focused my fandom-mind on. (I almost always go for stories about Will and Lyra, for example!)
Lord Asriel and Mrs Coulter, in particular, are some of my favourite antagonistic characters of all time - so anything at all about their history together, how they got together, how they fell apart, their internal thoughts, hopes, dreams, thoughts before their deaths, etc. would fill my little heart with glee. Additionally (separately or in conjunction to the previous idea), anything about John Parry's adventures, his leaving his family, his history, his life, etc., would be fascinating to explore.
Any cameos from any of the other characters are welcome. If you manage to weave their points of view into a part of the canon while you're at it, I will probably have to do something ridiculous like build you a shrine.
→ Heroes of Olympus - Rick Riordan
Jason Grace, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang
I picked these four characters but that doesn't mean they ALL have to be included in the story. If you want to focus on one or two of them but leave the others out - hey, that's fine with me.
I'm fascinated by every one of these characters and their viewpoints and backstories, so I've got nothing in particular in mind. Like all my other requests, if you want to include some cameos from other characters (Percy, Nico, Annabeth, etc.), please feel free to. Other than that, just have fun with this. Add a little adventure, character studies, Rick Riordan-ian dialogue and tone, and I'm a happy, happy camper. (No pun intended.)
Thank you again, Yuletide Author, and have an awesome holiday season!
Happy writing,
Zelly / dynastessa