Dear Author - Yuletide 2013

Oct 08, 2013 00:50



Dear Yuletide Author,

Thank you so much for writing in Yuletide this year! I’m going to say upfront that I’m simply delighted a story is going to be added to one of these fandoms, so remember that optional details are optional, and please disregard any that don’t work for you.

I’ve made a few prompts if you need a starting point, and some of my general loves include slice of life, character studies, alternate POVs, epilogues, backstories, missing scenes, and what-comes-nexts. Adventures, worldbuilding, characters displaying expertise, imperfect characters, and camaraderie are wonderful as well, and I have a soft spot for sweetness and sincerity, and with this year's prompts, definitely a dash of romance!

I don’t have a lot of squicks, but non-canonical character death and abuse/debasement/torture make me sad. I would suggest canon as a general guideline for rating and tone. I'm not so active on LJ anymore, but feel free to poke around, and my AO3 account is also open for perusing, if you'd like more info.

I feel I was already pretty detailed in my requests, so I won’t elaborate too much further, except maybe to describe how I see these fandoms and why I like them.

Brief Encounter
I fell into this completely backwards, because I saw the recent Broadway/West End play first, and then found the movie afterwards. I love them both, but the play helped introduce me to the story and magnified the emotional undercurrent by highlighting the difference between the feelings that Alec and Laura had and what they were able to express. I love the tragedy of that story, and what I saw as their incredible honor and self-control. IMHO, here's the most pivotal scene, and the second. The New York Times's review of the play also captures a lot of how I see the play/movie as well. A sweet or bittersweet continuation would both work for me-I can see it both ways.

I highly recommend the movie, even if you’re not writing this fandom! You can see it on YouTube here.

Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Trilogy
These games are among my all-time favorites because they hold all my favorite elements of a good game: Amazing adventure story, fun characters, witty banter, a lovely narrative, gorgeous worldbuilding, beautiful scenic designs, and satisfying platforming experience. I will admit that I did not like Warrior Within at all, because I was so attached to Sands of Time, and I felt like WW had none of the things that made SoT fun. Luckily, everyone else seemed to think so too, and Two Thrones was a return to form, and I love it even more than SoT because of the touch of psychological darkness and personal struggle. (In my headcanon, the events of WW still occurred, but the details of how are very hazy.) I love the Prince as an imperfect character with a good heart, and I liked the message of TT that had him stop running to face his demons, and to take personal responsibility. The idea of him taking leadership, inspiring his people, and rebuilding Babylon after contributing to its destruction seems incredibly redemptive. I love his chemistry with Farah and the witty sizzle that they have. Farah herself is smart and heroic in all the right ways, and able to be proactive about the fate she's been handed.

The House of Mirth
I crave fix-it fic! I think the book and its original ending are great classics, but I am SO curious about what the story could have been if circumstances had been different. Plus, it's yuletide, and I can ask for some hope and cheer in my serious literature, right? It doesn't have to be fluffy, but I'm interested in exploring what would have happened if Lily's luck had turned, or if she had a chance work for the better, to build upon her new-found self-respect, or to grow what was between her and Selden. I love Lily's struggle between her better nature, her romanticism, her mercenary leanings, and her instinct to survive. She and Selden are definitely imperfect characters to me, and Selden has his own flaws and responsibility to take, but it would be lovely to see the potential of the flipside. Agency from Lily and acknowledgement/contrition from Selden for his carelessness would be greatly welcomed. I also love the Gilded Age, so any period details you'd like to throw in would thrill me to bits.

Roman Holiday
Can this movie be any better? It's just so much fun. The banter is great, Ann is adorable, and Joe is charming and chivalrous despite himself. And unlike with The House of Mirth, I am extremely dissatisfied with the ending! Come on, it can't just end like that; what happens next? I'm all for Ann being responsible, but a princess gets a private life, too! All I really want is for a continued relationship (romantic or not) between Joe and Ann, where they influence and impact each other's lives. Dear writer, only you can resolve this story (and all that incredible UST.)

Again, thank you, thank you for writing this year! I’m truly looking forward to your story.

See you at the reveal!
S

yuletide

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