Tis the season to be jolly!
Nov. 17th, 2011 11:02 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
st_aurafinaDear Yule-entity,
Thank you for signing up this year! I love Yuletide, even more than Christmas: the spirit of the exchange, the atmosphere of squee, the lavishing of attention on rare fandoms, the incredible surprise when you finally get your assignment.
You got me! Um. Don't fret, I'm easy to please! My primary concern is that you have fun writing this year, so I'll say this up front:
Whatever you write, I will love it. Don't even worry. You and I have a fandom in common; that's so awesome I'm already smiling about it.
Things I like:
World building. Expanding on the world we're given in canon. Exploration of the little details - what's out in the garden? How do they get to work each day? What's that little annoying thing they've always meant to do something about but they're so busy it keeps getting shunted aside until it suddenly becomes relevant in ways they could not have imagined! (Okay, that last one is a bit specific. It's more of an example than an suggestion.)
Plot! Big roller coaster plot that is full of surprises and dark tunnels! Tiny little bits of plot about what's for dinner. Incidental plot that gives the characters a chance to chat. Plot that's a big excuse for sexy fun times. I like my characters doing something while they interact with each other. It doesn't have to be epic, but I do like action better than talking heads.
Women! Female characters doing the Bechdel. Competent, confident women being awesome at their jobs. There's a reason I've got Miranda Zero and Mysterious Total Eclipse Woman and H G Wells on my list here: they go and do what has to be done, they exist independently of relationships with men, and they are believably capable at their chosen occupations. (Fair enough, I'm presuming a lot about Bonnie Tyler here, but she looks awesome to me, anyway.)
Diversity. Visibly queer characters, non-neurotypical characters, characters with different gender presentations. (Twin Peaks is here because it's the most non-neurotypical town on TV. Even though these things are sometimes played for laughs, it's so awesome to see people like me up there on the screen.)
Things I don't grok so much:
Sad endings, sorry. I'm a big old softie, and I like things to work out in the end, if possible. Or at least for character deaths to be kept to a minimum.
I'm not a fan of power dynamics like teacher/student or cross-gen relationships. If we've matched on fandoms because of, say, Audrey/Dale or Miranda Zero/Aleph, if you could keep their relationships at the mentor/friendship level, I'll probably be more comfortable reading.
I need more information!
Never fear! Here are my previous Yuletide letters:
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
And for some good ideas about my narrative tastes, from this year's original fic exchange:
Dear Junetide Author
Twin Peaks:
Case fic, prequel or sequel fic, anything that expands on the world building in this series would be lovely. I'm a Dale/Albert shipper more so than Dale/Audrey, but would love friendship fic for any of these four. Or any of the characters on the show.
I love all the characters on this show, and would love any story about them. Not very helpful, am I? Things that float my boat in Twin Peaks fic: mythology, casefic, sideline stories that gel with canon. I'd love to see Dale and Albert working together before the series, I'd equally like stories of the Bookhouse Boys dealing with evil on site in Twin Peaks. I love the terrifying dynamic of the Palmer family and the way that Laura's life was so wrapped up in the mythology of the town. I'd love to know more about Sarah Palmer: why did she end up married to Leland? What was her relationship with Ben Horne like? I love the highschool girls in this show: Laura, Donna, Audrey, Shelly and Maddie, and would love to see something about their history, or the way they view their lives in Twin Peaks.
Total Eclipse of the Heart, music video:
Anything you'd like to say about this amazing clip would be welcome. What is going on at this school? Who is this lady, what is the source of her heartbreak, and why has it led her to this patently supernatural school? I feel like it has a gothic horror vibe/Midwich cuckoos type vibe going on, but I'm open to any interpretation.
I'm a child of the eighties. Well, no, I'm a child of the seventies, but I'm a teenager of the eighties, and this kind of clip was the stuff I watched on Saturday morning, sang into my hairbrush like a rock star, and wondered endlessly about. I'm happy with you stretching this world; it's only five and half minutes of canon, after all. Fill the gaps where you need to. Give them names and purposes, whatever you need. (You can see the clip here.)
Warehouse 13:
Helena and Myka are my darlings in this show, I'd love to see them working together on a case. Or Jinxy and Claudia working out their friendship as Warehouse agents and partners. Alternatively, some exploration of themes of family would be fun: I love the dynamic between Artie, Claudia and Josh; Pete's awkward reunion with his mom, or the odd relationship between Mrs Frederic and Leena.
I'm largely a Myka/Helena shipper, but I'm perfectly happy with gen or friendship fic or anything really. I love the entire cast, to be honest, so if you want to write me some Claudia and Jinxy adventure fic, or Pete and his mom getting to know each other, or a day in the life of Mrs Frederic, I'm going to be happy. Basically, the thing I love most about Warehouse 13 is the Warehouse and the systematic filing of awesome Artifacts. My favourite episode this season was the flashback to Warehouse 12, with Helena and Woolly and all of those jolly chaps, so if you're yearning to set your story in London, please feel free to indulge yourself.
Global Frequency:
I'd love anything set in this universe: case fic, mentorship/friendship between Miranda and Aleph, background stories, stories set inside Aleph's world, stories of Miranda's contacts, stories of individual agents and how they view the Frequency overall.
The thing about Global Frequency, for me, is the Frequency network and how it lends itself to stories set in all sorts of places, with agents from all sorts of backgrounds. I love that no matter your race, gender orientation or sexuality, your expertise can contribute to making the world safer. I also have a huge crush on Miranda Zero. She's basically the most competent person in the history of ever. Global Frequency has an infinite world, and I'd love to see anything set in it.
If there's anything you need to check out, run it pastlilacsigil, she is the other half of my brain. (But she can keep secrets better than me.)
Thank you for signing up this year! I love Yuletide, even more than Christmas: the spirit of the exchange, the atmosphere of squee, the lavishing of attention on rare fandoms, the incredible surprise when you finally get your assignment.
You got me! Um. Don't fret, I'm easy to please! My primary concern is that you have fun writing this year, so I'll say this up front:
Whatever you write, I will love it. Don't even worry. You and I have a fandom in common; that's so awesome I'm already smiling about it.
Things I like:
World building. Expanding on the world we're given in canon. Exploration of the little details - what's out in the garden? How do they get to work each day? What's that little annoying thing they've always meant to do something about but they're so busy it keeps getting shunted aside until it suddenly becomes relevant in ways they could not have imagined! (Okay, that last one is a bit specific. It's more of an example than an suggestion.)
Plot! Big roller coaster plot that is full of surprises and dark tunnels! Tiny little bits of plot about what's for dinner. Incidental plot that gives the characters a chance to chat. Plot that's a big excuse for sexy fun times. I like my characters doing something while they interact with each other. It doesn't have to be epic, but I do like action better than talking heads.
Women! Female characters doing the Bechdel. Competent, confident women being awesome at their jobs. There's a reason I've got Miranda Zero and Mysterious Total Eclipse Woman and H G Wells on my list here: they go and do what has to be done, they exist independently of relationships with men, and they are believably capable at their chosen occupations. (Fair enough, I'm presuming a lot about Bonnie Tyler here, but she looks awesome to me, anyway.)
Diversity. Visibly queer characters, non-neurotypical characters, characters with different gender presentations. (Twin Peaks is here because it's the most non-neurotypical town on TV. Even though these things are sometimes played for laughs, it's so awesome to see people like me up there on the screen.)
Things I don't grok so much:
Sad endings, sorry. I'm a big old softie, and I like things to work out in the end, if possible. Or at least for character deaths to be kept to a minimum.
I'm not a fan of power dynamics like teacher/student or cross-gen relationships. If we've matched on fandoms because of, say, Audrey/Dale or Miranda Zero/Aleph, if you could keep their relationships at the mentor/friendship level, I'll probably be more comfortable reading.
I need more information!
Never fear! Here are my previous Yuletide letters:
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
And for some good ideas about my narrative tastes, from this year's original fic exchange:
Dear Junetide Author
Twin Peaks:
Case fic, prequel or sequel fic, anything that expands on the world building in this series would be lovely. I'm a Dale/Albert shipper more so than Dale/Audrey, but would love friendship fic for any of these four. Or any of the characters on the show.
I love all the characters on this show, and would love any story about them. Not very helpful, am I? Things that float my boat in Twin Peaks fic: mythology, casefic, sideline stories that gel with canon. I'd love to see Dale and Albert working together before the series, I'd equally like stories of the Bookhouse Boys dealing with evil on site in Twin Peaks. I love the terrifying dynamic of the Palmer family and the way that Laura's life was so wrapped up in the mythology of the town. I'd love to know more about Sarah Palmer: why did she end up married to Leland? What was her relationship with Ben Horne like? I love the highschool girls in this show: Laura, Donna, Audrey, Shelly and Maddie, and would love to see something about their history, or the way they view their lives in Twin Peaks.
Total Eclipse of the Heart, music video:
Anything you'd like to say about this amazing clip would be welcome. What is going on at this school? Who is this lady, what is the source of her heartbreak, and why has it led her to this patently supernatural school? I feel like it has a gothic horror vibe/Midwich cuckoos type vibe going on, but I'm open to any interpretation.
I'm a child of the eighties. Well, no, I'm a child of the seventies, but I'm a teenager of the eighties, and this kind of clip was the stuff I watched on Saturday morning, sang into my hairbrush like a rock star, and wondered endlessly about. I'm happy with you stretching this world; it's only five and half minutes of canon, after all. Fill the gaps where you need to. Give them names and purposes, whatever you need. (You can see the clip here.)
Warehouse 13:
Helena and Myka are my darlings in this show, I'd love to see them working together on a case. Or Jinxy and Claudia working out their friendship as Warehouse agents and partners. Alternatively, some exploration of themes of family would be fun: I love the dynamic between Artie, Claudia and Josh; Pete's awkward reunion with his mom, or the odd relationship between Mrs Frederic and Leena.
I'm largely a Myka/Helena shipper, but I'm perfectly happy with gen or friendship fic or anything really. I love the entire cast, to be honest, so if you want to write me some Claudia and Jinxy adventure fic, or Pete and his mom getting to know each other, or a day in the life of Mrs Frederic, I'm going to be happy. Basically, the thing I love most about Warehouse 13 is the Warehouse and the systematic filing of awesome Artifacts. My favourite episode this season was the flashback to Warehouse 12, with Helena and Woolly and all of those jolly chaps, so if you're yearning to set your story in London, please feel free to indulge yourself.
Global Frequency:
I'd love anything set in this universe: case fic, mentorship/friendship between Miranda and Aleph, background stories, stories set inside Aleph's world, stories of Miranda's contacts, stories of individual agents and how they view the Frequency overall.
The thing about Global Frequency, for me, is the Frequency network and how it lends itself to stories set in all sorts of places, with agents from all sorts of backgrounds. I love that no matter your race, gender orientation or sexuality, your expertise can contribute to making the world safer. I also have a huge crush on Miranda Zero. She's basically the most competent person in the history of ever. Global Frequency has an infinite world, and I'd love to see anything set in it.
If there's anything you need to check out, run it past
lilacsigil, she is the other half of my brain. (But she can keep secrets better than me.)
no subject
Date: 2011-11-17 02:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-11-18 06:29 am (UTC)