Patron Saint of Falling Over Things

Dear Author-shaped-person,

Yuletide #10? But how? How can it be a full decade I've been doing this amazing exchange?

I feel old, but in a festive and merry, nose-like-a-cherry kind of way.


First up, I want Yuletide to be fun for you as well as me. That means that if you're the kind of person who won't be fenced in, please don't freak out at this long and chatty letter! I like guidelines and plot bunnies, but that doesn't mean you do. I'd appreciate you steering away from my squicks, but otherwise, go be free, you magnificent wild spirit.

If you are the kind of person who wants to know all the details and preferences, or see what plot bunnies are rattling around in my head, then read on. We are sympatico!


Here are my general likes and dislikes, c&p'ed from previous letters:

Things that generally tickle my fancy:

People! Gen, slash, femslash, het. Friendship fic, relationship fic, frenemies, enemies, sexy enemies. People putting their differences aside to work with each other. Backstory, AUs (though not the no powers barista kind), crossovers (see st_aurafina for fandoms), teamwork.

Plot! Big sweeping plot, small canon-compliant plot, things for the characters to do while they're snarking at each other, things going on around them while they're getting it on. I like stuff to happen.

Competence! I have a huge competence kink. I love seeing people being really, really good at stuff. I love lateral thinkers and characters who follow their instincts and people putting their skills to use in unexpected ways.

Ladies! BAMF female characters who don't have to bring other female characters down to be BAMFs. Mothers and sisters and girlfriends and girlfriends and wives. Women with agency. Women treated with respect.

Representation! People of colour. People outside the gender binary. Queer identities and culture. Non-nuclear families, found families, poly families, family that is family because you get to define it.

Things that I don't like as much (but can handle if the story takes you there):
Sad endings, character death, angst, embarrassment.

Things I'd rather you didn't write:
Cross-gen relationships, incest, teacher/student, employee/employer, non-con.

( Selfie )

( #findthegirlsonthenegatives )

( Indiana Jones )

( Killjoys )

( Cornetto 40-Love Commercial )

( Dracula (TV 2013) )

Miscellanea

I do not have a preferred fandom. I haven't put them up in any order except how they came to me tonight as I write my letter. I might have written more about one than another, but that doesn't mean I'm fixated on that fandoms over others. I love them all, and I would be equally delighted with fic for any of them.

If we've matched on a large canon, and you feel that's not going to suit you this year, I have a couple of small fandoms that are easily absorbed. One is a hashtag! #findthegirlsonthenegatives is based on some amazing photos found in a thrift shop. Cornetto "40 - love" Commercial is a youtube video, Cornetto Cupidity Love Stories - 40 Love.

For stalking purposes, I'm st_aurafina and st-aurafina. All my previous Dear Author letters are here: Dear Author. If you have any questions, you're welcome to message my partner, lilacsigil.

Thank you so much! I hope your Yuletide is awesome.