(no subject)
Dear Yuletide Writer,
I've been planning this letter for weeks before signups even opened, but now I get to it, I don't actually know what to say. Isn't that usually the way of it. So, let's start with you, my dear writer. You're writing me a story, and that is amazing. I am appropriately -- possibly even more than appropriately! -- grateful. You like a small or virtually nonexistent fandom that I like. Taken together, all the evidence suggests there is a 99% chance that I will love whatever story you end up writing. This letter is here to take care of that last 1%.
Basically, I'm easily pleased. I like plot-driven stories, and I like stories that are mostly talk. I like lots of action, I like lots of dialogue, I like lots of nice-flowing prose, and most of all I like a good balance of the three. I like it when writing makes me laugh, and when it makes me cry. And I love the worlds and characters I've asked for.
General things I don't like: single-character introspective pieces, graphic violence, graphic sex, excessive angst, preaching either religious or political, overt racism/misogyny/etc. You'd think that last one would be unnecessary to mention, and I don't mean to slight you, but I've been burned, and find it better to be safe than sorry. The graphic sex also deserves a clarification. Unless a sex scene is there solely to say something interesting about the characters and their relationships, and that is immediately clear, I don't read sex in fic.
That messiness out of the way, I'll move on to specific fandoms, where it is hoped I'll be a little more concise.
The Dalemark Quartet - To my mind, these have always been the books, from the first time I read them when I was eleven. They elevated reading from something I did because I had always done it to something I wanted to share with everyone, because why wouldn't everyone want to feel the way these books made me feel? (This is a hint that even if you aren't here to write me this fandom, you should check these books out. Really.) That said, the Spellcoats has always been my favorite of the four, and Hern my favorite character. If you'd rather another topic, I'd be delighted to read about Robin and Tanamil, about Navis, about any character you think doesn't get enough attention. (Which, basically, means the only I'd rather you not write me is Mitt and Maewen, much as I love them.)
Havemercy series - This is where I was going to tell the exciting and somewhat embarrassing story of how I read Shadow Magic in about eight hours, but -- well, I suppose I've already told it. The general idea I want to get across here is that it's been a while since I've shipped anything with the sudden and entirely unexpected fervor with which I, within the first of those eight hours, proceeded to ship Caius/Alcibiades. Which means that anything you write me about them will be welcomed with joy and love and eternal glee.
Fringe - I feel it's important to mention that I watch Fringe almost entirely for the characters, hardly at all for the plot, and not even remotely for the science. Proceeding from that: somehow I came out of season one raging at the fandom for the utter and complete absence of Sharp/Broyles, which meant the first episode of the current season gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling of vindication. Which, again, means that if you write me a story about them, I am liable to build an altar upon which to worship you.
The Baroque Cycle - Oh, how I dithered about requesting this fandom at all. Neal Stephenson is my Favorite Writer. There are a few pieces of music and a few places on earth that make me feel the way his writing does, and that's about it. Which of course means the idea of fanfiction for his work strikes me with a foreboding of doom, but Yuletide writer, I trust you. If this is the fandom you've been matched with, it means you offered it. And that means you are a braver, more valiant soul than I. The other things you need to know in relation to this request: I have always, always loved maritime stories, and I am a linguist. Which means that there are very few things higher on my list of instant win than sea-faring linguist, and behold! for Dappa is a sea-faring linguist, and fantastic besides. Van Hoek caters to my natural love for angry short people (of which I mostly am one). Something about their last few scenes just clicked in my brain, and voila, here I am rambling at you, hoping that you will understand that click and be able to give me just a little bit more. (Since, reading that over, it seems like putting way too much pressure on you, I would never say no to a story about Enoch. Doing anything at all, any time, any place.)
Hopefully this has been more helpful than annoying. Happy writing!
I've been planning this letter for weeks before signups even opened, but now I get to it, I don't actually know what to say. Isn't that usually the way of it. So, let's start with you, my dear writer. You're writing me a story, and that is amazing. I am appropriately -- possibly even more than appropriately! -- grateful. You like a small or virtually nonexistent fandom that I like. Taken together, all the evidence suggests there is a 99% chance that I will love whatever story you end up writing. This letter is here to take care of that last 1%.
Basically, I'm easily pleased. I like plot-driven stories, and I like stories that are mostly talk. I like lots of action, I like lots of dialogue, I like lots of nice-flowing prose, and most of all I like a good balance of the three. I like it when writing makes me laugh, and when it makes me cry. And I love the worlds and characters I've asked for.
General things I don't like: single-character introspective pieces, graphic violence, graphic sex, excessive angst, preaching either religious or political, overt racism/misogyny/etc. You'd think that last one would be unnecessary to mention, and I don't mean to slight you, but I've been burned, and find it better to be safe than sorry. The graphic sex also deserves a clarification. Unless a sex scene is there solely to say something interesting about the characters and their relationships, and that is immediately clear, I don't read sex in fic.
That messiness out of the way, I'll move on to specific fandoms, where it is hoped I'll be a little more concise.
The Dalemark Quartet - To my mind, these have always been the books, from the first time I read them when I was eleven. They elevated reading from something I did because I had always done it to something I wanted to share with everyone, because why wouldn't everyone want to feel the way these books made me feel? (This is a hint that even if you aren't here to write me this fandom, you should check these books out. Really.) That said, the Spellcoats has always been my favorite of the four, and Hern my favorite character. If you'd rather another topic, I'd be delighted to read about Robin and Tanamil, about Navis, about any character you think doesn't get enough attention. (Which, basically, means the only I'd rather you not write me is Mitt and Maewen, much as I love them.)
Havemercy series - This is where I was going to tell the exciting and somewhat embarrassing story of how I read Shadow Magic in about eight hours, but -- well, I suppose I've already told it. The general idea I want to get across here is that it's been a while since I've shipped anything with the sudden and entirely unexpected fervor with which I, within the first of those eight hours, proceeded to ship Caius/Alcibiades. Which means that anything you write me about them will be welcomed with joy and love and eternal glee.
Fringe - I feel it's important to mention that I watch Fringe almost entirely for the characters, hardly at all for the plot, and not even remotely for the science. Proceeding from that: somehow I came out of season one raging at the fandom for the utter and complete absence of Sharp/Broyles, which meant the first episode of the current season gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling of vindication. Which, again, means that if you write me a story about them, I am liable to build an altar upon which to worship you.
The Baroque Cycle - Oh, how I dithered about requesting this fandom at all. Neal Stephenson is my Favorite Writer. There are a few pieces of music and a few places on earth that make me feel the way his writing does, and that's about it. Which of course means the idea of fanfiction for his work strikes me with a foreboding of doom, but Yuletide writer, I trust you. If this is the fandom you've been matched with, it means you offered it. And that means you are a braver, more valiant soul than I. The other things you need to know in relation to this request: I have always, always loved maritime stories, and I am a linguist. Which means that there are very few things higher on my list of instant win than sea-faring linguist, and behold! for Dappa is a sea-faring linguist, and fantastic besides. Van Hoek caters to my natural love for angry short people (of which I mostly am one). Something about their last few scenes just clicked in my brain, and voila, here I am rambling at you, hoping that you will understand that click and be able to give me just a little bit more. (Since, reading that over, it seems like putting way too much pressure on you, I would never say no to a story about Enoch. Doing anything at all, any time, any place.)
Hopefully this has been more helpful than annoying. Happy writing!