Dear Yuletide Writer
Dec. 25th, 2009 12:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
twitchbellDear Yuletide Writer
Hello there, you lovely person, you!
The first thing you need to know is that I will be away for a week over Christmas, without internet access, and I'm not coming back until 28th December. Be assured that the first thing I shall do on my return is check out Yuletide!
Secondly, please check out my profile and website if you want to know a bit more about me. A few other stories are lurking elsewhere on this journal.
Diana Wynne Jones - Chronicles of Chrestomanci
Original Prompt: One thing I'd love to see is a dark and angsty exploration of how he (as Chrestomanci) deals with a time when a magical mission all goes horribly wrong. I'm fine with canon het, gen or slash - with one proviso: Christopher loves Millie, and I wouldn't enjoy a story that failed to recognise that. I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals.
I've loved this series ever since I read 'Charmed Life' umpteen years ago; its quirky magic caught my fancy and never let it go. However, I've always detected darker undercurrents, especially in 'The Lives of Christopher Chant', so I was fascinated to read this article: http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/heroes.htm
So I guess what I'd really like is still quirky magic but with added dark. Angst is good - but I don't see Christopher as given to readily displaying his deepest emotions. What would he do if he failed to protect a world/a person from the misuse of magic? Would there be repercussions in the form of government enquiries, if the catastrophe was big enough? How would he cope on a personal level? Who would help him come to terms with it? Surprise me!
Elizabeth Peters - Amelia Peabody series
Original Prompt: I'm interested in the relationship/animosity between Ramses and his cousin, Percy. Any meeting between the two of them for whatever reason will be great: Violet's wedding? Rescue mission? Missing scenes from the books? I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals - and I'm happy with either gen, slash or het, providing no canon relationship is diminished because of it.
I'd enjoy reading a story that takes place between 'The Deeds of the Disturber' and 'Falcon at the Portal' - there is the canon encounter described in Percy's work of literary genius, of course, which could be expanded upon. Percy's sister, Violet, is a wonderful comic character in 'The Deeds of the Disturber', but I do wonder what happened to her when she grew up. Did she turn out as manipulative and callous as her brother or did she improve with age? That might be an interesting area to explore because, however she turned out, if she met up with Ramses it would undoubtedly lead to some sort of conflict with Percy.
I'm happy if this is written as a dark story, full of foreboding because we know what's to come. Or it if it's more light-hearted, maybe having Percy constantly trying (and failing) to get the better of Ramses, with just a slight premonition of something considerably more serious ahead. I don't mind where it's set (London, Egypt, wherever) and there's no character whose presence in a major/minor role would throw me out of the story. I am in your hands!
J R R Tolkien - The Silmarillion
Original Prompt: I'd love a story about Elrond's time with Gil-galad in Lindon. It would be great to have something dealing with Elrond's reaction to the death of Elros (thinking of the twin bond here). Or a little later on, the arrival of Sauron as Annatar - maybe some back story about why Gil-galad and Elrond refused to receive him. Angsty and dark is good, I'm happy with either gen or slash and I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals . No het (apart from canon) for Elrond, please.
In case you were wondering, The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Tale of Years," p. 348-49 mentions that Elrond and Elros were twins, although they'd earlier been referred to as just brothers. There's no telling whether they were intended as fraternal or identical twins, but for the purposes of establishing a bond, identical twins probably works best - and Elladan and Elrohir appear identical, so it's plausible in canon. I'm sure that Elrond and Elros would've been very close - six years old when their world falls apart, although given Eärendil's seafaring exploits, it's quite plausible that they didn't have a strong bond with him, and I'm not sure about the effects of the Silmaril on Elwing so their twin bond might even have been unusually strong already. Did they ever see each other again after they made their different choices? Did Elrond sense it when Elros died?
As for Elrond in Lindon - lots of opportunities to explore his relationship with Gil-galad, however you want to play that; I don't mind whether it's gen or slash, but I do see it as founded in trust and warmth. And Sauron, in his Annatar "Hello, I'm just a nice Elf who wants to help make some really cool jewellery" guise going around seducing the Elves of Eregion ... what happened when he made his initial overtures to Elrond and Gil-galad? Why didn't they trust him?
RPF - 15th century
Original Prompt: I've been fascinated by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick for years, and it would be fantastic to receive a story that explores the complex relationship between him and Edward of York. I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals - and I'm happy with gen, slash or het, including incest. (Thought I'd better add that in seeing as a lot of the possible protagonists are rather closely related!)
I have a fantasy in which the makers of 'The Tudors' tackle the Wars of the Roses next. Yes, the history would be all cockeyed in places, but the drama! The relationships! The pretty! (Because you know they'd all look stunning. Swoon!)
I like character-driven pieces and only such world-building details as are essential to the plot. For instance, I don't want anyone who writes this to panic about getting all the little details about medieval England correct - I'm fine with broad brushstrokes. I only really include detailed descriptions myself if there's reason to, e.g. in Year King I put in some details about what Richard III was wearing because Robin was from another century and would notice the differences. (This involved phone calls to a friend who was into costuming to check that I was calling each item of clothing by its proper name.)
As I said in the prompt, I'm especially interested in the relationship between Warwick and Edward : young Edward with Warwick as his mentor, or the growing estrangement of later years, or last stages of the road to Barnet. I wouldn't enjoy reading anything that paints them in black and white - both had faults, both handled each other badly at times. (I have to say that I'm quite taken with the notion that Edward wasn't actually the son of the Duke of York after all - probably because when I first began reading in the period I wasn't sure who exactly was the eldest son; York favoured Edmund to such an extent, that I got all confused. If you want to use this as a 'hook' in your story, go right ahead.)
That said, anything with Warwick as the focus would thrill me immensely.
Places for resources:
Wikipedia has articles on the leading players.
The Richard III Society has articles on medieval life, including food and drink, medicine and herbs. http://www.richardiii.net/
Hello there, you lovely person, you!
The first thing you need to know is that I will be away for a week over Christmas, without internet access, and I'm not coming back until 28th December. Be assured that the first thing I shall do on my return is check out Yuletide!
Secondly, please check out my profile and website if you want to know a bit more about me. A few other stories are lurking elsewhere on this journal.
Diana Wynne Jones - Chronicles of Chrestomanci
Original Prompt: One thing I'd love to see is a dark and angsty exploration of how he (as Chrestomanci) deals with a time when a magical mission all goes horribly wrong. I'm fine with canon het, gen or slash - with one proviso: Christopher loves Millie, and I wouldn't enjoy a story that failed to recognise that. I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals.
I've loved this series ever since I read 'Charmed Life' umpteen years ago; its quirky magic caught my fancy and never let it go. However, I've always detected darker undercurrents, especially in 'The Lives of Christopher Chant', so I was fascinated to read this article: http://www.leemac.freeserve.co.uk/heroes.htm
So I guess what I'd really like is still quirky magic but with added dark. Angst is good - but I don't see Christopher as given to readily displaying his deepest emotions. What would he do if he failed to protect a world/a person from the misuse of magic? Would there be repercussions in the form of government enquiries, if the catastrophe was big enough? How would he cope on a personal level? Who would help him come to terms with it? Surprise me!
Elizabeth Peters - Amelia Peabody series
Original Prompt: I'm interested in the relationship/animosity between Ramses and his cousin, Percy. Any meeting between the two of them for whatever reason will be great: Violet's wedding? Rescue mission? Missing scenes from the books? I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals - and I'm happy with either gen, slash or het, providing no canon relationship is diminished because of it.
I'd enjoy reading a story that takes place between 'The Deeds of the Disturber' and 'Falcon at the Portal' - there is the canon encounter described in Percy's work of literary genius, of course, which could be expanded upon. Percy's sister, Violet, is a wonderful comic character in 'The Deeds of the Disturber', but I do wonder what happened to her when she grew up. Did she turn out as manipulative and callous as her brother or did she improve with age? That might be an interesting area to explore because, however she turned out, if she met up with Ramses it would undoubtedly lead to some sort of conflict with Percy.
I'm happy if this is written as a dark story, full of foreboding because we know what's to come. Or it if it's more light-hearted, maybe having Percy constantly trying (and failing) to get the better of Ramses, with just a slight premonition of something considerably more serious ahead. I don't mind where it's set (London, Egypt, wherever) and there's no character whose presence in a major/minor role would throw me out of the story. I am in your hands!
J R R Tolkien - The Silmarillion
Original Prompt: I'd love a story about Elrond's time with Gil-galad in Lindon. It would be great to have something dealing with Elrond's reaction to the death of Elros (thinking of the twin bond here). Or a little later on, the arrival of Sauron as Annatar - maybe some back story about why Gil-galad and Elrond refused to receive him. Angsty and dark is good, I'm happy with either gen or slash and I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals . No het (apart from canon) for Elrond, please.
In case you were wondering, The History of Middle-earth, vol. XI, The War of the Jewels: "The Tale of Years," p. 348-49 mentions that Elrond and Elros were twins, although they'd earlier been referred to as just brothers. There's no telling whether they were intended as fraternal or identical twins, but for the purposes of establishing a bond, identical twins probably works best - and Elladan and Elrohir appear identical, so it's plausible in canon. I'm sure that Elrond and Elros would've been very close - six years old when their world falls apart, although given Eärendil's seafaring exploits, it's quite plausible that they didn't have a strong bond with him, and I'm not sure about the effects of the Silmaril on Elwing so their twin bond might even have been unusually strong already. Did they ever see each other again after they made their different choices? Did Elrond sense it when Elros died?
As for Elrond in Lindon - lots of opportunities to explore his relationship with Gil-galad, however you want to play that; I don't mind whether it's gen or slash, but I do see it as founded in trust and warmth. And Sauron, in his Annatar "Hello, I'm just a nice Elf who wants to help make some really cool jewellery" guise going around seducing the Elves of Eregion ... what happened when he made his initial overtures to Elrond and Gil-galad? Why didn't they trust him?
RPF - 15th century
Original Prompt: I've been fascinated by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick for years, and it would be fantastic to receive a story that explores the complex relationship between him and Edward of York. I don't really have any squicks - except harm to animals - and I'm happy with gen, slash or het, including incest. (Thought I'd better add that in seeing as a lot of the possible protagonists are rather closely related!)
I have a fantasy in which the makers of 'The Tudors' tackle the Wars of the Roses next. Yes, the history would be all cockeyed in places, but the drama! The relationships! The pretty! (Because you know they'd all look stunning. Swoon!)
I like character-driven pieces and only such world-building details as are essential to the plot. For instance, I don't want anyone who writes this to panic about getting all the little details about medieval England correct - I'm fine with broad brushstrokes. I only really include detailed descriptions myself if there's reason to, e.g. in Year King I put in some details about what Richard III was wearing because Robin was from another century and would notice the differences. (This involved phone calls to a friend who was into costuming to check that I was calling each item of clothing by its proper name.)
As I said in the prompt, I'm especially interested in the relationship between Warwick and Edward : young Edward with Warwick as his mentor, or the growing estrangement of later years, or last stages of the road to Barnet. I wouldn't enjoy reading anything that paints them in black and white - both had faults, both handled each other badly at times. (I have to say that I'm quite taken with the notion that Edward wasn't actually the son of the Duke of York after all - probably because when I first began reading in the period I wasn't sure who exactly was the eldest son; York favoured Edmund to such an extent, that I got all confused. If you want to use this as a 'hook' in your story, go right ahead.)
That said, anything with Warwick as the focus would thrill me immensely.
Places for resources:
Wikipedia has articles on the leading players.
The Richard III Society has articles on medieval life, including food and drink, medicine and herbs. http://www.richardiii.net/
