Yuletide 2017 Letter!
Sep. 27th, 2017 04:13 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ionthesparrowDear New Yuletide Friend,
Thank you so much for writing for me!
If you’re coming into this assignment with an idea you’re super passionate about - by all means run with that. I’m super stoked about all the media below and even more excited to hear what about it excites you!
As an author, I like to have some idea of what my recipient likes, so if you’re the same way, read on :)
General Likes and Preferences
As a fanfic consumer, I read mostly gen and slash. I will not be horrified if you want to write something explicit (although I’ve got a couple fandom-specific caveats below) and I will not be disappointed if you want to write gen (honest). In the fandoms I’ve picked this year, there’s tons of room for characterization and world building - both things that I love. I love when a character’s distinct voice shines through. I love the details of how created worlds work, and I especially love if you work in places or settings or universes that you as an author are passionate about. I love sci-fi twists and elements, magic, and ghosts. I tend to write about characters being put through the emotional wringer myself, so don’t be afraid to go dark or grim. I’m also a big fan of good people doing bad things and moral gray areas and making tough choices. But I also love humor! And I especially love the humor that comes from characters being dropped into ridiculous situations and having to deal. I love when things get weird: comedy like Monster Factory or Welcome to Nightvale is right up my alley :) Finally, I like stories that experiment with structure, format, or POV — this is by no means required, but if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to play with one of those elements, or wanted to do something unconventional but weren’t sure how your recip would feel about it — go for it!
Trope-wise I tend to steer away from the fluffier romance tropes, but I do love teamwork, partners relying on each other, found family and ride-or-die loyalty.
Fandom Specific Stuff!
-=-
Awful Squad (characters = any)
Link to a playlist of episodes: HERE
Things I like about this series: I’m actually not a big video game person, but I got into Polygon’s various series via the McElroy brothers. I love Awful Squad in particular because the very thinness/ridiculousness of the PU:BG universe really appeals to me. You get dropped on an island for no clear reason and there are just guns lying around and you have to kill everyone? What? But also: YES. I also love that Polygon, and Griffin McElroy in particular, tends to take video games as settings and then transform them into playgrounds to make whole new games and narratives. All the custom matches they create? I love it. Outside the game play, I love the team’s banter. I love Griffin’s palpable frustration when no one can get their shit together. I love, love, love that they’re SO very not good at this, but doing it anyway. I love that Russ tends to just wander off like he’s just spotted something shiny. I love that Simone keeps accidentally shooting people. I love that Justin passive-aggressively whips out his guitar every time he dies. Basically, I love all of them, and their ridiculousness and how they so often fail their way to success :)
Also, this particular nomination is interesting to me, because I don’t know if people offering to write this fandom had in mind writing about the Creators of the series (i.e., RPF) or the Characters in this videos (i.e. the avatars). For the record: I’d be totally cool with either. One of the things I like about the series is that it exists in a sort of weird, hybrid FPF/RPF space, and if you wanted to write something that moved between those worlds, I think that’d be amazing.
Stories I’d love to see about this series:
* I would love a story where the real-life Awful Squad cast members are transported to the PU:BG universe and actually have to play/survive. Especially if it was in Zombie mode! I would read one million words of their disorganized attempts to outwit, hide from, communicate with or mow down zombies.
* If you wanted to going entirely in-game and fictional, I’d love the WHOLE ENTIRE STORY of the Zombie match in which Kaysauce shows up. Who are they? Where did they come from? What happens after they communicate with the Zombies? Are there consequences for killing them? Why is everyone so insistent on taking their clothes off?
* Maybe some elements of the game escape Jumanji-style and the Awful Squad has to save New York from destruction (oh no)
* Other particular moments in the series that I would love to hear more about: Griffin being constitutionally incapable of leaving his brother behind and going back for him. Simone’s inability to parachute near her peers and her overland journeys to get back to them. Simone accidentally shooting people. Russ wandering off and getting lost.
Things I would prefer Not to see:
I mentioned zombies above, and I’m totally cool with body horror and gross stuff. I tend to be much more sensitive to havoc wreaked on female bodies though, so I would appreciate if you could tread lightly there, and maybe also leave any sexual violence out of the story. Also, if you’re going to focus on the real-life people involved, I don’t ship any of them. If you do, that’s cool, but maybe keep any romance non-explicit. Finally, I’m super okay with other, not-nominated cast members from the series appearing in the story (I love Justin! I love Jake! Especially every time Jake is like, "Maybe lets try killing people?" And everyone else is like, "that sounds fake"!), but I’d prefer if you’d leave out Nick Robinson.
-=-
Neck of the Woods
Link to the text and a reading of the poem: HERE
Things I like about this poem: the imagery in this poem is KILLER.
Two girls ride ruthlessly
Beside one another—one filthy as a story, the other filthy
As a storyteller. One girl might leave a trail of crumbs
Behind her. One might leave a line of poured-out gasoline.
I mean, HONESTLY. I love the way the story skirts around What Happened or Who They Are or Where They’re Going, but you still get these waves of dread, of longing, of regret and ache. I’m a huge, huge fan of country town/southern gothic where bad things are going on just underneath a beautiful landscape. I love stories about road trips and dive bars and music and poor decision making and this poem seems to play with all those elements.
Stories I’d love to see about this poem:
* tell me who the girls in the poem are. Are they lovers? Ex lovers? Sisters? All of the above?
* WHAT HAPPENED. Tell me what went down. What are they on the road for? Running from something? Are they Thelma-and-Louise-style cross country crime-spreeing? Running to something? Dodging the end of the world? Do you want to write something chronicling how it all goes down in flames? Is the narrator one of them or someone else? How do they fit in?
* Do you want to write a fix-it? Do you want to write a many-years-later sequel? I’m INTO IT.
* Heist gone wrong fic. If you want to write about lesbian bank robbers, I would love you forever.
* Enemies to lovers (to enemies?) What kind of break up ends with imagery of "pouring out a trail of gasoline"?
* Unreliable narrator stories. Drama clearly happened in this poem, what do the same events look like through several sets of eyes?
Things I would prefer not see:
There’s a lot violence running under the surface of this poem, and I love that and the anxiety it evokes, but I guess I do want to say that if you want to write about violence against women or sexual violence, please don’t make it too graphic.
-=-
EDS “Cat Herders” Commercial
Link to the commercial on youtube: HERE
Things I like about this commercial: Okay, this commercial came out one million years ago, and I still think about it, so that says something. This commercial taps right into my love of ridiculous situations played straight. I love the deadpan listing of scars. I love the cowboys casually cradling the cats. I LOVE THE DETERMINED CATS GOING ACROSS THE RIVER. I also love cowboy stories in general. I love stories that give a good sense of place and cowboy stories are full of that.
Basically what I would most like out of this fandom nomination is world-building. I'd love to you see you take one or more of the characters (cowboy or cat) and make them your own. I know there's not a lot to go on in this super-short bit of media, but I'm hoping you'll view that as a plus.
Stories I’d love to see about this commercial:
* WHAT IS THIS WORLD? Where are the cats going? What happens when they get there?
* What are the tricks of the trade? What are stories and lore of cat herders? CAT GHOST STORIES???? CAT TALL TALES? Songs about cats around the campfire?
* What are the cats like? Do you want to write from the POV of a cat? This seems like a challenge, but if you're up for it, I'm willing to listen
* Are they on another planet?
* The story of the Formative Learning Experiences of Young Cowboy?
* The story of the One Cat that stands out in someone’s memory?
* Listen, if you want to throw in a Brokeback element, and have two of the cowboys be in love? I would be totally fine with that. Match-making cats?
Things I would prefer not see:
graphic violence/cruelty to cats.
Thank you so much! I'm so excited to see what you come up with <3
Thank you so much for writing for me!
If you’re coming into this assignment with an idea you’re super passionate about - by all means run with that. I’m super stoked about all the media below and even more excited to hear what about it excites you!
As an author, I like to have some idea of what my recipient likes, so if you’re the same way, read on :)
General Likes and Preferences
As a fanfic consumer, I read mostly gen and slash. I will not be horrified if you want to write something explicit (although I’ve got a couple fandom-specific caveats below) and I will not be disappointed if you want to write gen (honest). In the fandoms I’ve picked this year, there’s tons of room for characterization and world building - both things that I love. I love when a character’s distinct voice shines through. I love the details of how created worlds work, and I especially love if you work in places or settings or universes that you as an author are passionate about. I love sci-fi twists and elements, magic, and ghosts. I tend to write about characters being put through the emotional wringer myself, so don’t be afraid to go dark or grim. I’m also a big fan of good people doing bad things and moral gray areas and making tough choices. But I also love humor! And I especially love the humor that comes from characters being dropped into ridiculous situations and having to deal. I love when things get weird: comedy like Monster Factory or Welcome to Nightvale is right up my alley :) Finally, I like stories that experiment with structure, format, or POV — this is by no means required, but if you’ve been looking for an opportunity to play with one of those elements, or wanted to do something unconventional but weren’t sure how your recip would feel about it — go for it!
Trope-wise I tend to steer away from the fluffier romance tropes, but I do love teamwork, partners relying on each other, found family and ride-or-die loyalty.
Fandom Specific Stuff!
Awful Squad (characters = any)
Link to a playlist of episodes: HERE
Things I like about this series: I’m actually not a big video game person, but I got into Polygon’s various series via the McElroy brothers. I love Awful Squad in particular because the very thinness/ridiculousness of the PU:BG universe really appeals to me. You get dropped on an island for no clear reason and there are just guns lying around and you have to kill everyone? What? But also: YES. I also love that Polygon, and Griffin McElroy in particular, tends to take video games as settings and then transform them into playgrounds to make whole new games and narratives. All the custom matches they create? I love it. Outside the game play, I love the team’s banter. I love Griffin’s palpable frustration when no one can get their shit together. I love, love, love that they’re SO very not good at this, but doing it anyway. I love that Russ tends to just wander off like he’s just spotted something shiny. I love that Simone keeps accidentally shooting people. I love that Justin passive-aggressively whips out his guitar every time he dies. Basically, I love all of them, and their ridiculousness and how they so often fail their way to success :)
Also, this particular nomination is interesting to me, because I don’t know if people offering to write this fandom had in mind writing about the Creators of the series (i.e., RPF) or the Characters in this videos (i.e. the avatars). For the record: I’d be totally cool with either. One of the things I like about the series is that it exists in a sort of weird, hybrid FPF/RPF space, and if you wanted to write something that moved between those worlds, I think that’d be amazing.
Stories I’d love to see about this series:
* I would love a story where the real-life Awful Squad cast members are transported to the PU:BG universe and actually have to play/survive. Especially if it was in Zombie mode! I would read one million words of their disorganized attempts to outwit, hide from, communicate with or mow down zombies.
* If you wanted to going entirely in-game and fictional, I’d love the WHOLE ENTIRE STORY of the Zombie match in which Kaysauce shows up. Who are they? Where did they come from? What happens after they communicate with the Zombies? Are there consequences for killing them? Why is everyone so insistent on taking their clothes off?
* Maybe some elements of the game escape Jumanji-style and the Awful Squad has to save New York from destruction (oh no)
* Other particular moments in the series that I would love to hear more about: Griffin being constitutionally incapable of leaving his brother behind and going back for him. Simone’s inability to parachute near her peers and her overland journeys to get back to them. Simone accidentally shooting people. Russ wandering off and getting lost.
Things I would prefer Not to see:
I mentioned zombies above, and I’m totally cool with body horror and gross stuff. I tend to be much more sensitive to havoc wreaked on female bodies though, so I would appreciate if you could tread lightly there, and maybe also leave any sexual violence out of the story. Also, if you’re going to focus on the real-life people involved, I don’t ship any of them. If you do, that’s cool, but maybe keep any romance non-explicit. Finally, I’m super okay with other, not-nominated cast members from the series appearing in the story (I love Justin! I love Jake! Especially every time Jake is like, "Maybe lets try killing people?" And everyone else is like, "that sounds fake"!), but I’d prefer if you’d leave out Nick Robinson.
Neck of the Woods
Link to the text and a reading of the poem: HERE
Things I like about this poem: the imagery in this poem is KILLER.
Two girls ride ruthlessly
Beside one another—one filthy as a story, the other filthy
As a storyteller. One girl might leave a trail of crumbs
Behind her. One might leave a line of poured-out gasoline.
I mean, HONESTLY. I love the way the story skirts around What Happened or Who They Are or Where They’re Going, but you still get these waves of dread, of longing, of regret and ache. I’m a huge, huge fan of country town/southern gothic where bad things are going on just underneath a beautiful landscape. I love stories about road trips and dive bars and music and poor decision making and this poem seems to play with all those elements.
Stories I’d love to see about this poem:
* tell me who the girls in the poem are. Are they lovers? Ex lovers? Sisters? All of the above?
* WHAT HAPPENED. Tell me what went down. What are they on the road for? Running from something? Are they Thelma-and-Louise-style cross country crime-spreeing? Running to something? Dodging the end of the world? Do you want to write something chronicling how it all goes down in flames? Is the narrator one of them or someone else? How do they fit in?
* Do you want to write a fix-it? Do you want to write a many-years-later sequel? I’m INTO IT.
* Heist gone wrong fic. If you want to write about lesbian bank robbers, I would love you forever.
* Enemies to lovers (to enemies?) What kind of break up ends with imagery of "pouring out a trail of gasoline"?
* Unreliable narrator stories. Drama clearly happened in this poem, what do the same events look like through several sets of eyes?
Things I would prefer not see:
There’s a lot violence running under the surface of this poem, and I love that and the anxiety it evokes, but I guess I do want to say that if you want to write about violence against women or sexual violence, please don’t make it too graphic.
EDS “Cat Herders” Commercial
Link to the commercial on youtube: HERE
Things I like about this commercial: Okay, this commercial came out one million years ago, and I still think about it, so that says something. This commercial taps right into my love of ridiculous situations played straight. I love the deadpan listing of scars. I love the cowboys casually cradling the cats. I LOVE THE DETERMINED CATS GOING ACROSS THE RIVER. I also love cowboy stories in general. I love stories that give a good sense of place and cowboy stories are full of that.
Basically what I would most like out of this fandom nomination is world-building. I'd love to you see you take one or more of the characters (cowboy or cat) and make them your own. I know there's not a lot to go on in this super-short bit of media, but I'm hoping you'll view that as a plus.
Stories I’d love to see about this commercial:
* WHAT IS THIS WORLD? Where are the cats going? What happens when they get there?
* What are the tricks of the trade? What are stories and lore of cat herders? CAT GHOST STORIES???? CAT TALL TALES? Songs about cats around the campfire?
* What are the cats like? Do you want to write from the POV of a cat? This seems like a challenge, but if you're up for it, I'm willing to listen
* Are they on another planet?
* The story of the Formative Learning Experiences of Young Cowboy?
* The story of the One Cat that stands out in someone’s memory?
* Listen, if you want to throw in a Brokeback element, and have two of the cowboys be in love? I would be totally fine with that. Match-making cats?
Things I would prefer not see:
graphic violence/cruelty to cats.
Thank you so much! I'm so excited to see what you come up with <3
