Yuletide 2011 Letter for posterity
I'm sorry, I got sick and this never got posted, but if there's someone interested, this is the letter that I had ready to post. My awesome author managed to hit the nail on the head with Orange Blossoms anyway.
Dear Great Julbock,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so excited we matched! The idea that someone is writing fic just for me is just awesome. Now, most importantly, I want you to have fun and enjoy the writing, I'll like whatever you write; I adore a wide range of fic, so don't worry. If you've got a brilliant idea for the characters, I'm all ears. But if you need a bit more help, that's why I'm here.
Things I like
I love the characters, and figuring out what makes them tick, why they're drawn together or work well with one another. How did they get to where they are now--either emotionally or physically. I enjoy stories about why they like Tuesdays best, or what it is they love about their car so much (though if you turn it into a commercial, that's less exciting); I love their personal idiosyncrasies, and if you want to explore why they exist, that's always cool with me.
I also adore relationships--How does the relationship work? How did it get started? What do they find so appealing about one another, and how did they even discover that in the first place? that kind of thing.
World building is something I will always love! I love the worlds these characters inhabit, and exploring the details that make the worlds is pretty cool to me. Equally interesting is forming new details and deciding on new ways to expand the existing world.
Things that make me go mmmm: massages, Hawai'i, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, horses, drums, martial arts, and swimming. Love that is meant to be, clawfoot bathtubs, gummy bears, live music, and firsts.
The story doesn't have to end on the happiest, best note ever, but I'd prefer if the ending isn't sad, please.
Things I'm not such a fan of:
I'm really willing to give most things a shot at least once, but there are some things that squick me: non-con, dub-con, character death, and cross-generation romance (I'm all for everybody finding love, but there's something I can't enjoy about things like a student getting it on with his teacher--I'd prefer those relationships stay friendly rather than romantic--and huge age gaps...I just don't get them).
I don't like an overabundance of pain--too much just seems gratuitous, you know? I'm not opposed to it for the sake of the story, but after a while it seems silly, and I also don't want to read such a downer of a fic, really.
Also, I'm not the hugest of fans of AUs where they're in a magical realm, complete with an evil queen. Otherwise, I adore AUs. Subtle changes to cannon, or AU after a certain point, all the way to transplanting the characters to a moon base as astronauts, or on a baseball team, or in high school. I'll read 'em all with a smile. It's a sickness, really, I know. But I love them all. Oh, and crossovers--I love crossovers. I don't know why, I just do. As long as I know both fandoms, I'm just a big giddy sucker for 'em.
Covert Affairs -- Auggie Anderson and Annie Walker
Auggie's my favorite person on the show, and I'd love it if you could write some kind of Augie/Annie romance. A friendship piece is fine as well, if romance isn't your thing. I just love how he's always got her back.
Ok, evidently I'm a bit behind on my watching because I just saw a commercial that seemed to have the two of them in bed. SO. I'll try to be caught up by the time Yuletide rolls around, so if you want to explore their relationship a bit more, that'd be awesome. Or just write some kind of Annie/Augie piece if it strikes your fancy. If you just want to enjoy them as friends, that's alright as well.
When I watch this show, I watch a little less for the CIA intrigue and missions, and a little more for the interpersonal relations. I love that Annie speaks seven hundred languages, and that Auggie has a tech answer to every problem. I'm also really interested in how he has adapted to being blind after years as a solider in spec-ops, and just as a person who can see to move around his apartment and city, and who can chill out watching TV. If you'd rather take a look back at Annie's days training on the Farm, that would be a lot of fun, too. Really, just have fun writing about these two, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it!
Georgina Kincaid Series - Richelle Mead -- Georgina Kincaid and Carter
I love their relationship, as friends. His hints about Seth are annoying and great. I have a theory that Georgina never got divorced before she was turned into a succubus, so if you wanted to explore how that invalidates her succubus contract, that'd be cool. If not, I just love the world, and her friends in it.
Okay, so the theory I have works like this: since she never got divorced, she still had a valid contract with Heaven working when the imp turned her into a succubus and started her contract with Hell. But since the first one never ended, the second contract is invalid, meaning if she ever realized it, she'd be entitled to a happy little human life with, y'know, Seth. It would be cool if you wanted to write her realizing this and checking with Carter. Would she remember her old life and all her old friends?
However, I realize that's ridiculously specific, and I want you to know that if this is what we matched on, there are many other ideas I'd be stoked for you to write. I mean, what does Carter do all day, anyway? How did he and Jerome become such good friends? I'm fascinated by the angels and the organization their side seems to lack...details. Has Carter always been around Georgina, just in another form? Which of her lifetimes did she like the best?--if you feel like writing something historical. Really, I just love the characters and the world they live in, so go crazy. Carter's chill confidence and acceptance in the presence of Jerome's employees, and his supportive compassion when around Georgina are what I love about him. I've always wondered what Carter's week looks like, on an average week--like, what are his day to day duties, regardless of the periodic influx of drama in the area, so if you wanted to write about that, I'd totally enjoy.
I love Georgina's enjoyment of life, her use of her shapshifting abilities, and her inability to let her friends/family suffer. I love that she loves Seth, unconditionally; a slice of their domestic haven, or hanging out with his nieces his nieces (especially the youngest and her ability to sense the other side of the human/immortal spectrum), would be a joy read. Her ability to find the good and fun in most people, and the kink in the ones she's about to feed from, if you'd like to write about an evening out with various friends, drinking or dancing or both. I enjoy the glimpses back into her past, if you're into writing/prefer to write about something that happened in the days of yore.
Like I said, I just enjoy this world, so feel free to write what you will. However much or little the two interact is up to you, though I do enjoy them together. I won't be bothered if it's strictly one of them, though, just to be clear. :)
The Chemical Garden Series - Lauren DeStefano
I loved Wither, it's the only one I've read. I liked Linden, and it'd be great if you could write something that has them actually falling for one another. I would love that. It would also be interesting if you decided to write something that has some of them actually exploring a threesome. That would be pretty cool. If it's not your thing, no worries.
This world, the whole concept fascinates me, you have no idea. I'm a little less intrigued by the idea of Rhine's escape in the whole scheme of things, and Vaughn totally gives me the creeps. If you want to fiddle with cannon a bit, say, have the new girls arrive when Rose is still healthy so she and Rhine can really be friends; or even go totally AU and have the girls live to be 25, and Linden be the one in a new home, ripped out of his old one...I say run with whatever it is that gets your fingers itching for the keyboard, I'd love to see what you come up with.
Off The Map -- Lily Brenner, Ben Keeton
I love their relationship, so any kind of exploration of that would be great. Also, I just love their individual motivations for coming down (this applies to all the doctors, not just these two), so exploring that would also rock.
I had serious love for this show, and all the broken people on it; These two were just my favorite. I think it'd be interesting to see Brenner realize how completely the place has become home, regardless of her BF's status in the fic--I'm ambivalent about him, really. I'd also be curious to have Keeton's selection process examined, because I don't think it's entirely on the up and up, exactly. I love all three of the noobs without end, so any kind of day-off hijinks would also be excellent. I just really love the show, so any fic about anything, really, would be welcomed with giddy glee.
Dear Great Julbock,
Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm so excited we matched! The idea that someone is writing fic just for me is just awesome. Now, most importantly, I want you to have fun and enjoy the writing, I'll like whatever you write; I adore a wide range of fic, so don't worry. If you've got a brilliant idea for the characters, I'm all ears. But if you need a bit more help, that's why I'm here.
Things I like
I love the characters, and figuring out what makes them tick, why they're drawn together or work well with one another. How did they get to where they are now--either emotionally or physically. I enjoy stories about why they like Tuesdays best, or what it is they love about their car so much (though if you turn it into a commercial, that's less exciting); I love their personal idiosyncrasies, and if you want to explore why they exist, that's always cool with me.
I also adore relationships--How does the relationship work? How did it get started? What do they find so appealing about one another, and how did they even discover that in the first place? that kind of thing.
World building is something I will always love! I love the worlds these characters inhabit, and exploring the details that make the worlds is pretty cool to me. Equally interesting is forming new details and deciding on new ways to expand the existing world.
Things that make me go mmmm: massages, Hawai'i, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, horses, drums, martial arts, and swimming. Love that is meant to be, clawfoot bathtubs, gummy bears, live music, and firsts.
The story doesn't have to end on the happiest, best note ever, but I'd prefer if the ending isn't sad, please.
Things I'm not such a fan of:
I'm really willing to give most things a shot at least once, but there are some things that squick me: non-con, dub-con, character death, and cross-generation romance (I'm all for everybody finding love, but there's something I can't enjoy about things like a student getting it on with his teacher--I'd prefer those relationships stay friendly rather than romantic--and huge age gaps...I just don't get them).
I don't like an overabundance of pain--too much just seems gratuitous, you know? I'm not opposed to it for the sake of the story, but after a while it seems silly, and I also don't want to read such a downer of a fic, really.
Also, I'm not the hugest of fans of AUs where they're in a magical realm, complete with an evil queen. Otherwise, I adore AUs. Subtle changes to cannon, or AU after a certain point, all the way to transplanting the characters to a moon base as astronauts, or on a baseball team, or in high school. I'll read 'em all with a smile. It's a sickness, really, I know. But I love them all. Oh, and crossovers--I love crossovers. I don't know why, I just do. As long as I know both fandoms, I'm just a big giddy sucker for 'em.
Covert Affairs -- Auggie Anderson and Annie Walker
Auggie's my favorite person on the show, and I'd love it if you could write some kind of Augie/Annie romance. A friendship piece is fine as well, if romance isn't your thing. I just love how he's always got her back.
Ok, evidently I'm a bit behind on my watching because I just saw a commercial that seemed to have the two of them in bed. SO. I'll try to be caught up by the time Yuletide rolls around, so if you want to explore their relationship a bit more, that'd be awesome. Or just write some kind of Annie/Augie piece if it strikes your fancy. If you just want to enjoy them as friends, that's alright as well.
When I watch this show, I watch a little less for the CIA intrigue and missions, and a little more for the interpersonal relations. I love that Annie speaks seven hundred languages, and that Auggie has a tech answer to every problem. I'm also really interested in how he has adapted to being blind after years as a solider in spec-ops, and just as a person who can see to move around his apartment and city, and who can chill out watching TV. If you'd rather take a look back at Annie's days training on the Farm, that would be a lot of fun, too. Really, just have fun writing about these two, and I'm sure I'll enjoy it!
Georgina Kincaid Series - Richelle Mead -- Georgina Kincaid and Carter
I love their relationship, as friends. His hints about Seth are annoying and great. I have a theory that Georgina never got divorced before she was turned into a succubus, so if you wanted to explore how that invalidates her succubus contract, that'd be cool. If not, I just love the world, and her friends in it.
Okay, so the theory I have works like this: since she never got divorced, she still had a valid contract with Heaven working when the imp turned her into a succubus and started her contract with Hell. But since the first one never ended, the second contract is invalid, meaning if she ever realized it, she'd be entitled to a happy little human life with, y'know, Seth. It would be cool if you wanted to write her realizing this and checking with Carter. Would she remember her old life and all her old friends?
However, I realize that's ridiculously specific, and I want you to know that if this is what we matched on, there are many other ideas I'd be stoked for you to write. I mean, what does Carter do all day, anyway? How did he and Jerome become such good friends? I'm fascinated by the angels and the organization their side seems to lack...details. Has Carter always been around Georgina, just in another form? Which of her lifetimes did she like the best?--if you feel like writing something historical. Really, I just love the characters and the world they live in, so go crazy. Carter's chill confidence and acceptance in the presence of Jerome's employees, and his supportive compassion when around Georgina are what I love about him. I've always wondered what Carter's week looks like, on an average week--like, what are his day to day duties, regardless of the periodic influx of drama in the area, so if you wanted to write about that, I'd totally enjoy.
I love Georgina's enjoyment of life, her use of her shapshifting abilities, and her inability to let her friends/family suffer. I love that she loves Seth, unconditionally; a slice of their domestic haven, or hanging out with his nieces his nieces (especially the youngest and her ability to sense the other side of the human/immortal spectrum), would be a joy read. Her ability to find the good and fun in most people, and the kink in the ones she's about to feed from, if you'd like to write about an evening out with various friends, drinking or dancing or both. I enjoy the glimpses back into her past, if you're into writing/prefer to write about something that happened in the days of yore.
Like I said, I just enjoy this world, so feel free to write what you will. However much or little the two interact is up to you, though I do enjoy them together. I won't be bothered if it's strictly one of them, though, just to be clear. :)
The Chemical Garden Series - Lauren DeStefano
I loved Wither, it's the only one I've read. I liked Linden, and it'd be great if you could write something that has them actually falling for one another. I would love that. It would also be interesting if you decided to write something that has some of them actually exploring a threesome. That would be pretty cool. If it's not your thing, no worries.
This world, the whole concept fascinates me, you have no idea. I'm a little less intrigued by the idea of Rhine's escape in the whole scheme of things, and Vaughn totally gives me the creeps. If you want to fiddle with cannon a bit, say, have the new girls arrive when Rose is still healthy so she and Rhine can really be friends; or even go totally AU and have the girls live to be 25, and Linden be the one in a new home, ripped out of his old one...I say run with whatever it is that gets your fingers itching for the keyboard, I'd love to see what you come up with.
Off The Map -- Lily Brenner, Ben Keeton
I love their relationship, so any kind of exploration of that would be great. Also, I just love their individual motivations for coming down (this applies to all the doctors, not just these two), so exploring that would also rock.
I had serious love for this show, and all the broken people on it; These two were just my favorite. I think it'd be interesting to see Brenner realize how completely the place has become home, regardless of her BF's status in the fic--I'm ambivalent about him, really. I'd also be curious to have Keeton's selection process examined, because I don't think it's entirely on the up and up, exactly. I love all three of the noobs without end, so any kind of day-off hijinks would also be excellent. I just really love the show, so any fic about anything, really, would be welcomed with giddy glee.