the things I wrote for yuletide.
So it seems to me that the author reveal happened (yay) - and I want to thank redbrickroses again for my gorgeous gift!
I wrote five things for yuletide this year (and yes, the muse has felt incredibly burnt out ever since and will only work on silly projects like Bones/Castle crossovers and ... well, futurefic and AUs and apocafics and such. But oh well. Note: I feel like a whiner saying that, someone over at the community just announced they wrote 21 stories... gah.) and those were:
Ring Out, Wild Bells, Castle/Beckett, G, Case-file: when a body is found dressed as Santa in the days before Christmas, Beckett tries to solve the murder while Castle makes unhelpful jokes about the Grinch upping his ante. -- this was my actual gift for my assigned recipient. It's long-ish, for a yuletide fic, but I wanted to write something that covered all bases (the request was fairly general) and also, once it got started it refused to be done. I actually wrote this in two sittings, including one all-nighter (which sort of showed, *blush*, 10 edits later!) but I mulled over the plot for days (heh, that's embarrassing, it's pretty standard in the end). I wanted to get the feel of an episode, because I do love a good case-file and I think it's something that no fandom since The X-files has managed to perfect! I did my best to do the genre justice. I set it at Christmas time too, because who doesn't love a bit of holiday fic? All in all, it's got a few growing pains, but it was the second thing I wrote in the fandom and I actually like the feel of it. And the last scene had been in my head for ages, so I was pleased to find it a home! Also there were a few bits I loved - I always love it when Beckett throws office supplies at Castle (thanks fandom!), and I think Castle got a few of his exposition-y moments that the show loves to give him - but ultimately, this one was for Beckett -- sort of a normal case that they solve together, as opposed to Castle's wild theories turning out to be right at the last minute like in the show. Heh. I'm sort of planning to write a series of case-files in this vein, sort of as practice writing the genre and also just because I'm interested to tackle the idea of writing them in a relationship but still mostly at work? Idk. I always bitch and complain about the writers of the show not doing it, I thought I should walk the walk.
(My recip hasn't commented yet, so I hope they enjoyed it too! Eeeeeep. If not, and they're reading this, I really did do my best with it and I'm sorry. You're welcome to leave con-crit, as always.)
The Beginning After the End (& AO3), Castle/Beckett, M-ish (for the incredibly tame sex scene), Kate Beckett, Richard Castle and the zombie apocalypse. -- this was austen's idea/request, so you'll have to thank her for THAT brilliant stroke of genius. I've recently developed a bit of a thing for apocafic, so it was incredibly fun to write one, and these two. They're perfect for it. I had a lot more ideas in this sort of verse, and I have the vaguest intentions of novelising this, but I think in a way it would lose something? Idk. I actually had a plot in mind for what Ryan and Esposito get up to, and Lanie(!) - who I figure Kate and Castle run into in the post-apocalyptic Manhattan running a make-shift hospital. (And yes, Lanie gets to kill a zombie with the saw she uses to crack rib cages, of course she does. BAMF.) I also wanted to write a scene for Alexis (and a bit of a coming-of-age story), one of those classic zombie movie scenes where you have to kill your friend/lover/someone you care about who has turned -- but this piece sort of focused more on Castle and Beckett, and I also couldn't decide if I would be cruel and make it Ashley, nicer and make it Paige or slightly less cliche and make it one of her teachers. I kind of love this story though, it was the absolute hands-down easiest thing to write (of the 5 stories) and it was just -- fun. It was nice to write something where Castle and Beckett could just be without the angst of should we, shouldn't we? or Josh and Gina or anything that came before, because the apocalypse sort of takes care of all that doesn't it? None of it matters anymore. And I love them sharing the coffee and the last scene, where pretty much Beckett is saying I love you and Castle is saying it back, but they don't ever actually say it. (That was also inspired by the request, so props to austen for literally the BEST dear YT writer letter I saw. You really described what you like and what you don't in a way that was easy to work with. It should be used for instructional purposes!) TL;DR: FUCK YEAH, ZOMBIES.
the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts (& AO3), Castle/Beckett, PG-13ish, Castle is staring. Well, he's trying to be subtle about it, but no, he's definitely staring. -- this was because when faced with fanfic cliches I am literally unable to not write something silly and fun. (I'm self-indulgent that way.) I think the comments on this one are particularly insightful - someone pointed out that it's fun to read in fandom but not something you'd want to see in canon, and I completely agree with that. This isn't exactly an epic about how I think the relationship should/will play out, but it was fun to write. (And also angsty jealous bathroom sex -- implied only, sorry -- is a huge kink of mine. As is making characters do things they know are mistakes but feel compelled to do anyway.)
happiness hit her like a train on a track (& AO3), Alexis/Kate femslash (future fic, so Alexis is of age), PG-13ish, Alexis Castle's guide to dating a homicide detective. -- this one surprised me because when I saw the request I was like "HUH?! WHAT?!?!" (in a YKINMK ATOK kinda way) but then I had a bath (true facts) and started thinking about it and was like "no wait, this could be really awesome, if I kill off Castle", so I did, and despite that minor spot of character death and hints at seriousness it's rather light and I'm rather pleased with the result. Like most of the things I wrote this year I had other ideas that I didn't explore (I wrote it for madness, so there was an 1000 word limit) but it was an absolute pleasure to write. I'm so glad people requested this stuff I'd never thought of! It really broadened my mind.
(WOW DO YOU THINK SOMEONE RECENTLY DISCOVERED FLORENCE + THE MACHINE OR SOMETHING?)
For Rizzoli and Isles -
this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart (& AO3), Jane/Maura, PG-13ish, Post-finale, Maura and Jane find something new in the aftermath. -- hi new fandom! I offered and requested for this fandom but saw it was fairly small when the list of requesters/offerers was posted, so I thought I'd write treats for it. I meant to write more actually, and as it turns out the two recips of this treat actually received their gifts in this fandom too, heh. Anyway, it was just fun to get to write some femslash for a pairing I really truly ship, and to approach that in my way? I don't know. I like to write femslash/slash that isn't necessarily completely weighed down by the fact that the characters are gay. Obviously that is part of the whole story, but it was nice to focus on the relationship development without the external pressures of being gay and a coming out story (since this is basically about the characters taking a weekend away together, they're very isolated from the world).
I'm slowly replying to all the comments left on my stuff -- I'm not really sure how much people do that at AO3 so I feel a little bit stupid replying to every single person saying "thanks" but Idk, I really am grateful for the feedback so wth right?
One of the things I loved the most about the experience was writing queer characters. I guess I tend to have het ships, but writing gay ladies and receiving a beautiful little piece about Emily, Alison and Maya which really (to my mind) contained some beautiful character analysis -- how Alison experimented and essentially got off on the power dynamics of the relationship, how Emily had real feelings for her, I loved how my author explored that -- was great. I guess it's part of my own sexual identity I don't usually touch on in my writing (see above re: het pairing junkie), and I really enjoyed doing so. It was one of the many ways yuletide expanded my horizons as a writer. (I mean, I have actually written femslash before, but mostly in Grey's Anatomy fandom in the summer of 2006 and it was a) probably pretty terrible and b) not really about serious relationships between ladies. By this I mean it was porn.)
All in all, yuletide was a great experience for me. This was my first year playing, and I definitely had fun. I received a nice little story for a fandom that's pretty much non-existent AND I got to write a whole bunch of stuff for people, and that for me was the real joy. I felt inspired and challenged in a way that I haven't in a long time, and excited by fandom. It was awesome to be able to share that excitement with other people too - even if they were from completely different fandoms, everyone comes together to squee over the stories and it's FUN.
(I'm surprisingly wordy when I get started talking about myself. /embarrassed)
Happy 2011 everybody! I feel like this one is going to be a good one.
ETA: 1/1/11 - TEE HEE.
I wrote five things for yuletide this year (and yes, the muse has felt incredibly burnt out ever since and will only work on silly projects like Bones/Castle crossovers and ... well, futurefic and AUs and apocafics and such. But oh well. Note: I feel like a whiner saying that, someone over at the community just announced they wrote 21 stories... gah.) and those were:
Ring Out, Wild Bells, Castle/Beckett, G, Case-file: when a body is found dressed as Santa in the days before Christmas, Beckett tries to solve the murder while Castle makes unhelpful jokes about the Grinch upping his ante. -- this was my actual gift for my assigned recipient. It's long-ish, for a yuletide fic, but I wanted to write something that covered all bases (the request was fairly general) and also, once it got started it refused to be done. I actually wrote this in two sittings, including one all-nighter (which sort of showed, *blush*, 10 edits later!) but I mulled over the plot for days (heh, that's embarrassing, it's pretty standard in the end). I wanted to get the feel of an episode, because I do love a good case-file and I think it's something that no fandom since The X-files has managed to perfect! I did my best to do the genre justice. I set it at Christmas time too, because who doesn't love a bit of holiday fic? All in all, it's got a few growing pains, but it was the second thing I wrote in the fandom and I actually like the feel of it. And the last scene had been in my head for ages, so I was pleased to find it a home! Also there were a few bits I loved - I always love it when Beckett throws office supplies at Castle (thanks fandom!), and I think Castle got a few of his exposition-y moments that the show loves to give him - but ultimately, this one was for Beckett -- sort of a normal case that they solve together, as opposed to Castle's wild theories turning out to be right at the last minute like in the show. Heh. I'm sort of planning to write a series of case-files in this vein, sort of as practice writing the genre and also just because I'm interested to tackle the idea of writing them in a relationship but still mostly at work? Idk. I always bitch and complain about the writers of the show not doing it, I thought I should walk the walk.
(My recip hasn't commented yet, so I hope they enjoyed it too! Eeeeeep. If not, and they're reading this, I really did do my best with it and I'm sorry. You're welcome to leave con-crit, as always.)
The Beginning After the End (& AO3), Castle/Beckett, M-ish (for the incredibly tame sex scene), Kate Beckett, Richard Castle and the zombie apocalypse. -- this was austen's idea/request, so you'll have to thank her for THAT brilliant stroke of genius. I've recently developed a bit of a thing for apocafic, so it was incredibly fun to write one, and these two. They're perfect for it. I had a lot more ideas in this sort of verse, and I have the vaguest intentions of novelising this, but I think in a way it would lose something? Idk. I actually had a plot in mind for what Ryan and Esposito get up to, and Lanie(!) - who I figure Kate and Castle run into in the post-apocalyptic Manhattan running a make-shift hospital. (And yes, Lanie gets to kill a zombie with the saw she uses to crack rib cages, of course she does. BAMF.) I also wanted to write a scene for Alexis (and a bit of a coming-of-age story), one of those classic zombie movie scenes where you have to kill your friend/lover/someone you care about who has turned -- but this piece sort of focused more on Castle and Beckett, and I also couldn't decide if I would be cruel and make it Ashley, nicer and make it Paige or slightly less cliche and make it one of her teachers. I kind of love this story though, it was the absolute hands-down easiest thing to write (of the 5 stories) and it was just -- fun. It was nice to write something where Castle and Beckett could just be without the angst of should we, shouldn't we? or Josh and Gina or anything that came before, because the apocalypse sort of takes care of all that doesn't it? None of it matters anymore. And I love them sharing the coffee and the last scene, where pretty much Beckett is saying I love you and Castle is saying it back, but they don't ever actually say it. (That was also inspired by the request, so props to austen for literally the BEST dear YT writer letter I saw. You really described what you like and what you don't in a way that was easy to work with. It should be used for instructional purposes!) TL;DR: FUCK YEAH, ZOMBIES.
the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts (& AO3), Castle/Beckett, PG-13ish, Castle is staring. Well, he's trying to be subtle about it, but no, he's definitely staring. -- this was because when faced with fanfic cliches I am literally unable to not write something silly and fun. (I'm self-indulgent that way.) I think the comments on this one are particularly insightful - someone pointed out that it's fun to read in fandom but not something you'd want to see in canon, and I completely agree with that. This isn't exactly an epic about how I think the relationship should/will play out, but it was fun to write. (And also angsty jealous bathroom sex -- implied only, sorry -- is a huge kink of mine. As is making characters do things they know are mistakes but feel compelled to do anyway.)
happiness hit her like a train on a track (& AO3), Alexis/Kate femslash (future fic, so Alexis is of age), PG-13ish, Alexis Castle's guide to dating a homicide detective. -- this one surprised me because when I saw the request I was like "HUH?! WHAT?!?!" (in a YKINMK ATOK kinda way) but then I had a bath (true facts) and started thinking about it and was like "no wait, this could be really awesome, if I kill off Castle", so I did, and despite that minor spot of character death and hints at seriousness it's rather light and I'm rather pleased with the result. Like most of the things I wrote this year I had other ideas that I didn't explore (I wrote it for madness, so there was an 1000 word limit) but it was an absolute pleasure to write. I'm so glad people requested this stuff I'd never thought of! It really broadened my mind.
(WOW DO YOU THINK SOMEONE RECENTLY DISCOVERED FLORENCE + THE MACHINE OR SOMETHING?)
For Rizzoli and Isles -
this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart (& AO3), Jane/Maura, PG-13ish, Post-finale, Maura and Jane find something new in the aftermath. -- hi new fandom! I offered and requested for this fandom but saw it was fairly small when the list of requesters/offerers was posted, so I thought I'd write treats for it. I meant to write more actually, and as it turns out the two recips of this treat actually received their gifts in this fandom too, heh. Anyway, it was just fun to get to write some femslash for a pairing I really truly ship, and to approach that in my way? I don't know. I like to write femslash/slash that isn't necessarily completely weighed down by the fact that the characters are gay. Obviously that is part of the whole story, but it was nice to focus on the relationship development without the external pressures of being gay and a coming out story (since this is basically about the characters taking a weekend away together, they're very isolated from the world).
I'm slowly replying to all the comments left on my stuff -- I'm not really sure how much people do that at AO3 so I feel a little bit stupid replying to every single person saying "thanks" but Idk, I really am grateful for the feedback so wth right?
One of the things I loved the most about the experience was writing queer characters. I guess I tend to have het ships, but writing gay ladies and receiving a beautiful little piece about Emily, Alison and Maya which really (to my mind) contained some beautiful character analysis -- how Alison experimented and essentially got off on the power dynamics of the relationship, how Emily had real feelings for her, I loved how my author explored that -- was great. I guess it's part of my own sexual identity I don't usually touch on in my writing (see above re: het pairing junkie), and I really enjoyed doing so. It was one of the many ways yuletide expanded my horizons as a writer. (I mean, I have actually written femslash before, but mostly in Grey's Anatomy fandom in the summer of 2006 and it was a) probably pretty terrible and b) not really about serious relationships between ladies. By this I mean it was porn.)
All in all, yuletide was a great experience for me. This was my first year playing, and I definitely had fun. I received a nice little story for a fandom that's pretty much non-existent AND I got to write a whole bunch of stuff for people, and that for me was the real joy. I felt inspired and challenged in a way that I haven't in a long time, and excited by fandom. It was awesome to be able to share that excitement with other people too - even if they were from completely different fandoms, everyone comes together to squee over the stories and it's FUN.
(I'm surprisingly wordy when I get started talking about myself. /embarrassed)
Happy 2011 everybody! I feel like this one is going to be a good one.
ETA: 1/1/11 - TEE HEE.