Dear Yuletide Writer
Dear Yuletide Writer,
First of all I would like to say thank you so much for volunteering for this and I'm really sorry for not writing this earlier. This is the first year I've done Yuletide and it didn't occur to me to write a letter as I think I put everything I wanted to say into my requests in the first place. Then I was looking through some of the posts on the main site the other day and realised that some people consider the letter to be a staple of the process, and to not write one is seen as a bit rude, which is the last thing I wanted to be so... this is far too late to be of any use and I don't think I've got much to add to what I said before anyway but I'll use this letter as my opportunity to say thank you for writing and honestly, if I get anything at all I'll be delighted. I'm pretty hard to displease when it comes to books and stories and with the fandoms I've requested, there is very little anyone could write that I would be serously put off by, because I love the books and the characters that much! I'll post my original requests below and try to add something else if I can but a) it's so late now that additional specifics would probably worry you more than help you and b) I think I was about as clear as I could be the first time round. I mean, I wasn't necessarily clear the first time round, I just don't think I'm likely to be all that much clearer now...
RequestFandom1: Louisa May Alcott - Little Women series
RequestFandomChar1: Any
RequestDetail1: I'd be happy with anything to be honest! I don't really like incest or gratuitous smut with no plot/ character point, but otherwise I'll read pretty much anything. Things I'd maybe like to see: Jo and Amy after Amy and Laurie's return from Europe, any Jo and Laurie interplay, Nat and Dan before they arrive at Plumfield (or after Nat does but before Dan arrives), Laurie finding Nat, anything Jo-centric. I like all the characters, though, so I don't mind if none of the above suggestions appeal!
Additions: Umm, well... I've read all the books in this series a ridiculous number of times and I can't think of a character from there that I dislike. *Thinks some more.* I'm not a massive fan of Jack, but largely because he's fairly underdeveloped as a character so, no, there's no one I wouldn't like to see written about. I love the family-orientated nature of the books and, um, I really don't think I've much more to say. If you're worried about my stated dislike of incest/ gratuitous smut, don't be. It's just that I "met" these characters when I was about 8. I don't especially want to read about an incestuous relationship between Jo and Amy that's mainly based on their shared love of chains and whips. That would be incredibly weird. As long as a relationship development makes sense, I'm unlikely to have a problem with it.
RequestFandom2: Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry Universe
RequestFandomChar2: Any
RequestDetail2: I've seen very little fanfiction for this so really anything would be great! My prefered characters from the series are the original five, Loren, Matt, Diarmuid, Torc and Loren, so anything focussing on any of them or any combination of them would be amazing. Possible thoughts: Dave and Kim after leaving Fionavar for the final time, Loren and Matt before the story begins, something with Diarmuid and Aileron, Kevin and his father in between Kevin returning home and then leaving again, Kevin and Jen before the story opens, Levon, Torc and the others on the Plains after Dave leaves (either time). Or just whatever appeals!
Additions: This is my favourite fantasy trilogy of all time. I love the characters and I love the universe. If your story includes the characters and/ or is set in the universe, I'm pretty much guaranteed to like it. Seriously. I've read so little fanfiction for this that I'm not remotely fussy. Write about an inanimate object if you like, I really don't mind.
RequestFandom3: Guy Gavriel Kay - Tigana
RequestFandomChar3: Any
RequestDetail3: Again, I don't think I've seen any fanfic for this, so anything would be fantastic. Possible thoughts: Alessan and Baerd sometime before the main story opens, Catriana meeting Alessan and Baerd or confronting her parents, Devin going to see his family after the end or becoming a musician again, something where music brings them together, Alais after the end. Or, really, any of these characters involved in something!
Additions: As above, really. I've now stared at the screen blankly for about 2 minutes trying to think of something else I'd like or wouldn't like. I'd just love to see something written in this universe.
RequestFandom4: Lorna Hill - Sadlers Wells series
RequestFandomChar4: Sebastian Scott/Veronica Weston
RequestDetail4: I've selected these two characters for ease but basically mean early book stuff with those two but quite possibly also Caroline, Fiona, Stella, Jonathon or anyone else appearing in the first two books. So if a storyline focussing on, say, Caroline appeals more, that's fine as well. Possible thoughts: Sebastian after Veronica leaves before his concert, Sebestian at music school, Veronica adjusting to life in the company, the two of them beginning their relationship (from either point of view).
Additions: As with the Little Women series, I "met" these characters when I was very small and love them insanely. I'd prefer not to read a story where Veronica decides she couldn't care less about dancing and ends up in a brothel where she enters into an abusive relationship with Sebastian, who is now a mechanic, but I think the odds of someone thinking of writing that for this kind of challenge are slim so... story-ness would be great really.
In general, I'd just like to say that quite honestly, the odds of me not liking anything written around these requests are miniscule. I chose these fandoms for that reason. Please don't worry too much about any of it and take this letter in the spirit it was meant- a chance to say thank you and reassure you that I entered this as a bit of fun, to write something for someone else and hopefully get something written for me in return. It's my first time, so really anything that vaguely fits that ideal will be gratefully and (and probably squee-ingly) received!
Sarah
First of all I would like to say thank you so much for volunteering for this and I'm really sorry for not writing this earlier. This is the first year I've done Yuletide and it didn't occur to me to write a letter as I think I put everything I wanted to say into my requests in the first place. Then I was looking through some of the posts on the main site the other day and realised that some people consider the letter to be a staple of the process, and to not write one is seen as a bit rude, which is the last thing I wanted to be so... this is far too late to be of any use and I don't think I've got much to add to what I said before anyway but I'll use this letter as my opportunity to say thank you for writing and honestly, if I get anything at all I'll be delighted. I'm pretty hard to displease when it comes to books and stories and with the fandoms I've requested, there is very little anyone could write that I would be serously put off by, because I love the books and the characters that much! I'll post my original requests below and try to add something else if I can but a) it's so late now that additional specifics would probably worry you more than help you and b) I think I was about as clear as I could be the first time round. I mean, I wasn't necessarily clear the first time round, I just don't think I'm likely to be all that much clearer now...
RequestFandom1: Louisa May Alcott - Little Women series
RequestFandomChar1: Any
RequestDetail1: I'd be happy with anything to be honest! I don't really like incest or gratuitous smut with no plot/ character point, but otherwise I'll read pretty much anything. Things I'd maybe like to see: Jo and Amy after Amy and Laurie's return from Europe, any Jo and Laurie interplay, Nat and Dan before they arrive at Plumfield (or after Nat does but before Dan arrives), Laurie finding Nat, anything Jo-centric. I like all the characters, though, so I don't mind if none of the above suggestions appeal!
Additions: Umm, well... I've read all the books in this series a ridiculous number of times and I can't think of a character from there that I dislike. *Thinks some more.* I'm not a massive fan of Jack, but largely because he's fairly underdeveloped as a character so, no, there's no one I wouldn't like to see written about. I love the family-orientated nature of the books and, um, I really don't think I've much more to say. If you're worried about my stated dislike of incest/ gratuitous smut, don't be. It's just that I "met" these characters when I was about 8. I don't especially want to read about an incestuous relationship between Jo and Amy that's mainly based on their shared love of chains and whips. That would be incredibly weird. As long as a relationship development makes sense, I'm unlikely to have a problem with it.
RequestFandom2: Guy Gavriel Kay - The Fionavar Tapestry Universe
RequestFandomChar2: Any
RequestDetail2: I've seen very little fanfiction for this so really anything would be great! My prefered characters from the series are the original five, Loren, Matt, Diarmuid, Torc and Loren, so anything focussing on any of them or any combination of them would be amazing. Possible thoughts: Dave and Kim after leaving Fionavar for the final time, Loren and Matt before the story begins, something with Diarmuid and Aileron, Kevin and his father in between Kevin returning home and then leaving again, Kevin and Jen before the story opens, Levon, Torc and the others on the Plains after Dave leaves (either time). Or just whatever appeals!
Additions: This is my favourite fantasy trilogy of all time. I love the characters and I love the universe. If your story includes the characters and/ or is set in the universe, I'm pretty much guaranteed to like it. Seriously. I've read so little fanfiction for this that I'm not remotely fussy. Write about an inanimate object if you like, I really don't mind.
RequestFandom3: Guy Gavriel Kay - Tigana
RequestFandomChar3: Any
RequestDetail3: Again, I don't think I've seen any fanfic for this, so anything would be fantastic. Possible thoughts: Alessan and Baerd sometime before the main story opens, Catriana meeting Alessan and Baerd or confronting her parents, Devin going to see his family after the end or becoming a musician again, something where music brings them together, Alais after the end. Or, really, any of these characters involved in something!
Additions: As above, really. I've now stared at the screen blankly for about 2 minutes trying to think of something else I'd like or wouldn't like. I'd just love to see something written in this universe.
RequestFandom4: Lorna Hill - Sadlers Wells series
RequestFandomChar4: Sebastian Scott/Veronica Weston
RequestDetail4: I've selected these two characters for ease but basically mean early book stuff with those two but quite possibly also Caroline, Fiona, Stella, Jonathon or anyone else appearing in the first two books. So if a storyline focussing on, say, Caroline appeals more, that's fine as well. Possible thoughts: Sebastian after Veronica leaves before his concert, Sebestian at music school, Veronica adjusting to life in the company, the two of them beginning their relationship (from either point of view).
Additions: As with the Little Women series, I "met" these characters when I was very small and love them insanely. I'd prefer not to read a story where Veronica decides she couldn't care less about dancing and ends up in a brothel where she enters into an abusive relationship with Sebastian, who is now a mechanic, but I think the odds of someone thinking of writing that for this kind of challenge are slim so... story-ness would be great really.
In general, I'd just like to say that quite honestly, the odds of me not liking anything written around these requests are miniscule. I chose these fandoms for that reason. Please don't worry too much about any of it and take this letter in the spirit it was meant- a chance to say thank you and reassure you that I entered this as a bit of fun, to write something for someone else and hopefully get something written for me in return. It's my first time, so really anything that vaguely fits that ideal will be gratefully and (and probably squee-ingly) received!
Sarah