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graycardinalOr possibly Solstice Lama, since only a truly enlightened soul would have matched with me on a Yuletide fandom. Salaam, salaam, salami -- [pause, deep breath].
Okay, I'd better stop now, before someone reaches through the Internet and thwaps me upside the head for excessive punmanship. Suffice to say "Welcome" to my Yuletide writer (and anyone else who may end up tossing something in via pinch-hit or Yuletide Madness), and a sincere and heartfelt thanks-in-advance for the effort and attention you'll be giving to one of these requests.
General notes first: As I've noted in prior Dear Whoever letters, I am mellow and flexible in my reading preferences -- I read widely and in a number of different categories as well as fandoms. I most appreciate strong character and/or story development, whether in something as compact as a drabble or as expansive as an epic. If you poke around in this journal and my FFN material, you'll observe that I have a fondness for fandoms and fanfic featuring high levels of wit and snark; I'm not opposed to angst, but I don't tend to wallow in it. I am definitely a crossover junkie, with the caveat that the crossover needs to do full justice to everyone involved. Which can be done in more than one way, and I worship at the altar of those who cam pull off really insane crackfic with a straight face.
I am in no way opposed to hot(!) sex(!) in my fanfic as a general principle, but I generally don't read fanfic for the sex, and most of my present Yuletide requests are not strongly pairing-oriented. I've read and liked gen, het, slash, and a surprising amount of kink, but I just don't get either mpreg or most genderswap, have yet to meet a fandom-of-interest where incest made sense to me, and consider adult/child a definite squick. Also, in my book, well-rendered UST is a thing of beauty, and resolving it often has a tendency to severely dim the sparkle in a lively pairing.
Castle • Alexis Castle
I’ve listed Alexis by herself here, and (recognizing that optional details are optional) I will be deeply pleased with virtually any Alexis-centric story you choose to write. Having said that, I’d be particularly intrigued by a story that shows her interacting with one of the other women (as in “other than Beckett”) in Castle’s life – especially Lanie Parish, Martha, or even Gina-the-publisher. One other request: in deference to canon to date, I’d strongly prefer not to delve into Alexis’s sex life, with the possible exception of futurefic in which she appears as an adult.
Not a lot to add to the request proper, save that having suggested a crossover elsewhere in my requests, I'd be remiss not to note that I'd be inordinately amused by a plausibly designed crossover in this fandom -- although, as noted, that would be Way Above The Call Of Duty. Three thoughts: (1) While it's awfully tempting to peg Alexis as a possible Potential in the post-series Buffyverse, I wonder if she might not actually make a better Watcher-in-training. (2) See the Gargoyles prompt below. There are a lot of ways a crossover there might go -- Alexis crossing paths with Angela, with Demona (and/or "Dominique Destine"), with Elisa, perhaps even with Titania or the Weird Sisters. Bonus points for a meeting between Beckett and Elisa Maza, although that's probably a different story entirely. (3) Two words: Jessica Fletcher.
Also, while I've specifically requested Alexis, and made mostly female-centric plot suggestions, this emphatically does NOT mean that the various male characters are barred from appearing
Gargoyles
First: while I am not mortally opposed to Xanatos/Owen slash, neither is it remotely what I had in mind for this request, and I would be just as happy if you didn’t go anywhere near there. Optional details being optional, almost anything else goes, but I give you three plot bunnies for your consideration: (1) something mildly adversarial featuring Owen and Xanatos operating at cross purposes (this would most likely put Puck, at the least, into strong background), (2) something that explains or otherwise addresses Owen’s periodic turns as Xanatos’ personal chef (given everything else Owen does, that seems like a very odd aspect of his duties), or (3) it would be deeply, deeply amusing – though way above and beyond the call of duty – to see how these two might interact with a certain Richard Castle and his entourage.
I'll observe here that I'm only marginally aware of developments in the Gargoyles comics, so I won't be at all troubled if you concentrate on something taking place in the TV series timeframe. OTOH, I've read enough online and in fanfic so that a story taking place in later continuity should still be readable (worst case, I'll have to go hunt down some comics, O woe is me [yeah, riiiight]). Do absolutely feel free to bring in additional characters as you see fit, not excluding appropriate crossover characters if you're so inclined.
Linda Haldeman - The Lastborn of Elvinwood • Thomas Heaton
This has been my fandom-of-one request for some while now. I’ve always been curious about Tom-the-vicar’s history; there’s got to be a story about how he fell into company with the likes of Merlin and the Fernlord (presumably not at precisely the same time, but who knows?). Definitely feel free to use any other characters from the book that fit your inspiration – and/or, if the plot bunnies call for it, to spin wickedly appropriate crossover characters into the mix.
Odds are that this is not a fandom on which the YuleCode has matched us; as noted above, this book has been my Yuletide fandom-of-one for several years, and I've been pimping it fairly aggressively of late. (See various other of my posts under the Yuletide tag herein for more detailed pimpage.) I definitely recommend the book (which is obscure but not, so far as I can tell, especially difficult to track down), whether or not you have any intention of writing fic to go with it. OTOH, if by some incalculable good fortune you've read the book before now, and are at all motivated to write said fic, you will have my undying gratitude. And very possibly cookies.
Robyn Tallis - Planet Builders series • Daphne DeVries
With as large a cast as there was in Planet Builders, not everyone got as much stage-time as they should have – and of all the underused characters, I’m particularly fond of Daphne, both because of her lively personality and because I’m also a big theater fan. Almost any Daphne story you can imagine would be greeted with delight, whether during canon (or even pre-canon) or long afterward; also, feel entirely welcome to make use of other canon characters and to partner or pair her up as you think appropriate. Working in her theatrical interests counts as a definite bonus but is not required.
Barring a very late surge in popularity, it looks as if there's exactly one Yuletide player with whom the codemonkeys can match me on this fandom. If you are that Yuletider, I likely don't have to explain how amazingly cool this series was, and how amazingly cool it would be to see new Yulefic set in this milieu. The above prompt is very, very general -- but not only am I reluctant to tie down a potential writer for this too closely, this is one case where I really will be happy with virtually anything that shows up, serious or comic, epic or intimate. A romance, a career, an unknown Lost City, a 20-years-later reunion piece -- any of these will make me go all misty-eyed for at least a week.
If you are not the one Yuletider who knows what I'm talking about -- and you can find this series, which has been OP for a long time and is likely to stay that way (the packager that put it together vanished without leaving so much as a trail of breadcrumbs, and the rights issues are murkier than a Magic 8-Ball at the bottom of the Sargasso Sea) -- you've got a treat in store. Imagine Andre Norton (or maybe Charles Stross) writing Tom Swift, only with more pirates and a fair amount of Buffy-esque snark, and you have the beginnings of an idea of the tone. This was classic planetary adventure with a modern spin, the likes of which has been rarely seen, and it's a darn shame the series disappeared as thoroughly as it did.
# # #
And there you have it. Go go Gadget-Llama Word Proc- . . . no, wait, I'm getting excessively silly again. I think my typing fingers have gone off their meds or something.
Okay, I'd better stop now, before someone reaches through the Internet and thwaps me upside the head for excessive punmanship. Suffice to say "Welcome" to my Yuletide writer (and anyone else who may end up tossing something in via pinch-hit or Yuletide Madness), and a sincere and heartfelt thanks-in-advance for the effort and attention you'll be giving to one of these requests.
General notes first: As I've noted in prior Dear Whoever letters, I am mellow and flexible in my reading preferences -- I read widely and in a number of different categories as well as fandoms. I most appreciate strong character and/or story development, whether in something as compact as a drabble or as expansive as an epic. If you poke around in this journal and my FFN material, you'll observe that I have a fondness for fandoms and fanfic featuring high levels of wit and snark; I'm not opposed to angst, but I don't tend to wallow in it. I am definitely a crossover junkie, with the caveat that the crossover needs to do full justice to everyone involved. Which can be done in more than one way, and I worship at the altar of those who cam pull off really insane crackfic with a straight face.
I am in no way opposed to hot(!) sex(!) in my fanfic as a general principle, but I generally don't read fanfic for the sex, and most of my present Yuletide requests are not strongly pairing-oriented. I've read and liked gen, het, slash, and a surprising amount of kink, but I just don't get either mpreg or most genderswap, have yet to meet a fandom-of-interest where incest made sense to me, and consider adult/child a definite squick. Also, in my book, well-rendered UST is a thing of beauty, and resolving it often has a tendency to severely dim the sparkle in a lively pairing.
Castle • Alexis Castle
I’ve listed Alexis by herself here, and (recognizing that optional details are optional) I will be deeply pleased with virtually any Alexis-centric story you choose to write. Having said that, I’d be particularly intrigued by a story that shows her interacting with one of the other women (as in “other than Beckett”) in Castle’s life – especially Lanie Parish, Martha, or even Gina-the-publisher. One other request: in deference to canon to date, I’d strongly prefer not to delve into Alexis’s sex life, with the possible exception of futurefic in which she appears as an adult.
Not a lot to add to the request proper, save that having suggested a crossover elsewhere in my requests, I'd be remiss not to note that I'd be inordinately amused by a plausibly designed crossover in this fandom -- although, as noted, that would be Way Above The Call Of Duty. Three thoughts: (1) While it's awfully tempting to peg Alexis as a possible Potential in the post-series Buffyverse, I wonder if she might not actually make a better Watcher-in-training. (2) See the Gargoyles prompt below. There are a lot of ways a crossover there might go -- Alexis crossing paths with Angela, with Demona (and/or "Dominique Destine"), with Elisa, perhaps even with Titania or the Weird Sisters. Bonus points for a meeting between Beckett and Elisa Maza, although that's probably a different story entirely. (3) Two words: Jessica Fletcher.
Also, while I've specifically requested Alexis, and made mostly female-centric plot suggestions, this emphatically does NOT mean that the various male characters are barred from appearing
Gargoyles
First: while I am not mortally opposed to Xanatos/Owen slash, neither is it remotely what I had in mind for this request, and I would be just as happy if you didn’t go anywhere near there. Optional details being optional, almost anything else goes, but I give you three plot bunnies for your consideration: (1) something mildly adversarial featuring Owen and Xanatos operating at cross purposes (this would most likely put Puck, at the least, into strong background), (2) something that explains or otherwise addresses Owen’s periodic turns as Xanatos’ personal chef (given everything else Owen does, that seems like a very odd aspect of his duties), or (3) it would be deeply, deeply amusing – though way above and beyond the call of duty – to see how these two might interact with a certain Richard Castle and his entourage.
I'll observe here that I'm only marginally aware of developments in the Gargoyles comics, so I won't be at all troubled if you concentrate on something taking place in the TV series timeframe. OTOH, I've read enough online and in fanfic so that a story taking place in later continuity should still be readable (worst case, I'll have to go hunt down some comics, O woe is me [yeah, riiiight]). Do absolutely feel free to bring in additional characters as you see fit, not excluding appropriate crossover characters if you're so inclined.
Linda Haldeman - The Lastborn of Elvinwood • Thomas Heaton
This has been my fandom-of-one request for some while now. I’ve always been curious about Tom-the-vicar’s history; there’s got to be a story about how he fell into company with the likes of Merlin and the Fernlord (presumably not at precisely the same time, but who knows?). Definitely feel free to use any other characters from the book that fit your inspiration – and/or, if the plot bunnies call for it, to spin wickedly appropriate crossover characters into the mix.
Odds are that this is not a fandom on which the YuleCode has matched us; as noted above, this book has been my Yuletide fandom-of-one for several years, and I've been pimping it fairly aggressively of late. (See various other of my posts under the Yuletide tag herein for more detailed pimpage.) I definitely recommend the book (which is obscure but not, so far as I can tell, especially difficult to track down), whether or not you have any intention of writing fic to go with it. OTOH, if by some incalculable good fortune you've read the book before now, and are at all motivated to write said fic, you will have my undying gratitude. And very possibly cookies.
Robyn Tallis - Planet Builders series • Daphne DeVries
With as large a cast as there was in Planet Builders, not everyone got as much stage-time as they should have – and of all the underused characters, I’m particularly fond of Daphne, both because of her lively personality and because I’m also a big theater fan. Almost any Daphne story you can imagine would be greeted with delight, whether during canon (or even pre-canon) or long afterward; also, feel entirely welcome to make use of other canon characters and to partner or pair her up as you think appropriate. Working in her theatrical interests counts as a definite bonus but is not required.
Barring a very late surge in popularity, it looks as if there's exactly one Yuletide player with whom the codemonkeys can match me on this fandom. If you are that Yuletider, I likely don't have to explain how amazingly cool this series was, and how amazingly cool it would be to see new Yulefic set in this milieu. The above prompt is very, very general -- but not only am I reluctant to tie down a potential writer for this too closely, this is one case where I really will be happy with virtually anything that shows up, serious or comic, epic or intimate. A romance, a career, an unknown Lost City, a 20-years-later reunion piece -- any of these will make me go all misty-eyed for at least a week.
If you are not the one Yuletider who knows what I'm talking about -- and you can find this series, which has been OP for a long time and is likely to stay that way (the packager that put it together vanished without leaving so much as a trail of breadcrumbs, and the rights issues are murkier than a Magic 8-Ball at the bottom of the Sargasso Sea) -- you've got a treat in store. Imagine Andre Norton (or maybe Charles Stross) writing Tom Swift, only with more pirates and a fair amount of Buffy-esque snark, and you have the beginnings of an idea of the tone. This was classic planetary adventure with a modern spin, the likes of which has been rarely seen, and it's a darn shame the series disappeared as thoroughly as it did.
# # #
And there you have it. Go go Gadget-Llama Word Proc- . . . no, wait, I'm getting excessively silly again. I think my typing fingers have gone off their meds or something.
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no subject
Date: November 12th, 2009 03:00 pm (UTC)Oh - and UST makes a lot of sense - I knew it, just didn't know the acronym ;>
So - the real question - I've already started on one of the stories on your list - can I keep going?
:>
no subject
Date: November 12th, 2009 05:34 pm (UTC)[sticks fingers in ears]
Umm -- you're not supposed to TELL me that!
In terms of Yuletide proper, there's a mostly-automated matching process that occurs after signups close. Each participant's requests are assigned to one other participant, and that other participant becomes the "secret Santa" (emphasis secret) responsible for writing a Yuletide story based on one of the requester's prompts. Note that this is not a two-way match -- it's rare-to-impossible for two participants to actually end up as each other's secret Santas. And by tradition and etiquette, the secret Santa never ever ever so much as hints to his assigned recipient that he or she (the preponderance of Yuletide writers are female) is writing their story.
Note that in general, the assignment process will latch onto one fandom where your recipient's requests intersect with your offers. Thus I may get a list of requests that includes (for example) Remington Steele, RPF-Pirates*, and two Japanese anime series that I've never so much as heard of. Very, very occasionally the match will throw up a two-fandom match, but that's rare. OTOH, sometimes there will be a match on a fandom you didn't offer but are sufficiently interested in/familiar with to write anyway.
[*RPF="Real Person Fiction". There are a lot of RPF fandoms that pop up in Yuletide, divided roughly between large swaths of historical figures and large swaths of present-day entertainers & celebrities. Some categories of RPF are very, very weird....]
Thus, if you were to sign up for Yuletide today (which you could certainly do), the odds that you'd actually get assigned to me are relatively slender. Note that many participants offer to write in dozens of different fandoms; indeed, you're encouraged to do this in order to facilitate the matching process. With upwards of 3500 fandoms available and -- last I looked -- over 1900 people playing the game this year, it's next to impossible to predict in advance who you'll be matched with, or even on what fandom you're most likely to intersect with your recipient.
That said, if one does sign up for Yuletide, nothing in the rules prevents you from trolling the hundreds of "dear Santa" letters scattered across LiveJournal, writing stories based on such of the requests that strike your fancy, and uploading those stories in addition to the one you've been assigned to write. Indeed, there are writers who make a point of doing just this, and there are resources that help to enable those writers, notably this post in
Now of course, nothing prevents random bystanders from coming across Dear Santa letters and writing stories based on the prompts therein -- and as the point of Yuletide is to encourage the production of fanfic in obscure/small fandoms, this is certainly within the spirit of the exchange. However, unless one is a registered Yuletide participant, one can't upload stories into the Yuletide archive during the challenge period proper, which can make it difficult for said random bystanders to find a place to put their presents -- at least till the NYR gates open on January 1.