Oct. 17th, 2018 10:11 pm
Dear Yuletide Writer
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partypaprikaDear Yuletide writer,
Thank you so much for writing for me! And I hope you’re having a great fall 😊!
I’ve included some thoughts below on my preferences and fandoms. Please don’t stress too much if you’re inspired to write something else (although I’d prefer if you didn’t delve into my DNWs). I’ve given some specific prompts, but feel to take a general theme from my general likes if that’s more inspiring!
I'm not active on LJ anymore, although you're welcome to poke around here. I'm slightly active on tumblr and you can also check out my pinboard. I'm on ao3 as partypaprika.
General likes:
General dislikes:
Not Quite A Husband - Sherry Thomas
Bryony Asquith, Leo Marsden
Canon: Dr. Bryony Asquith is a doctor working in a remote area of India at the turn of the 19th century. She’s devoted to her work, very much an introvert and also very estranged from her husband, Leo, who she hasn’t seen in a few years. Imagine her surprise when Leo shows up at her family’s request when she’s needed back home.
I love the angst in Leo and Bryony's relationship--how Leo's always had feelings for Bryony (in one form or another, for so long), how Bryony thought that Leo hung the world when they got together initially (and continues to love Leo, even though it's incredibly painful for her). And then they fell into the many traps that they encountered. They both had baggage that they both brought into the relationship that they weren't able to overcome their first go of it. I love how incredibly flawed both Bryony and Leo are and how that’s influenced the course of their relationship, including how difficult they’ve found it to communicate with each other.
I would love to see how they’ve continued to grow as a couple after the end of the book. What are some of the stumbles that they work through? How do they handle society? I definitely wouldn’t be averse to them finally getting in on that bedroom action that they’ve missed out on for so long!
I would also be really into seeing Bryony and Leo in other settings--maybe they've fallen in love across countless lifetimes. Or maybe their story is set in a different time--the roaring 20s or the 60s. If you're a fan of other Sherry Thomas books, feel free to have them meeting characters from her other works--maybe Bryony and Charlotte Holmes end up knowing each other!
I would also love a look at Leo’s perspective as he fell in love with Bryony back when they were younger, before Bryony even thought of Leo in that way.
Guns of the Dawn - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Cristan Northway, Daffed Mallen, Emily Marshwic
Canon: It's a book about (kind of) napoleonic era land war, combined with the never-ending decimation of WWI, and then a dash of magic, focusing on a woman who watches as the war depletes her country's rescources and men, ultimately being drafted herself. This book nails some of my favorite tropes: competence, people being thrust into extreme situations, a slow burn romance that happened very organically. I loved it.
This book totally took me by surprise! I found myself completely engaged by the war that Emily was fighting as well as the changes that shaped Emily. Emily's introspection and determination drove the book, but she did it amongst a fascinating set of characters.
I'd love really love more of just about anything post-canon. I would love to see an exploration of what Cristan and Emily do after going back to town after the events of the book. Does Emily begin to reconcile her war self with her peacetime self? Does Cristan help Emily adjust, even as they both know that the war has irrevocably changed them and their relationship? They also will likely have to deal with confusion and censure over their relationship--Emily is the golden hero whereas Cristan is hated. How do they support each other when there are issues in public?
I'd also love to know what happens to Mallen. Does he find the Denland woman that he was in love with now that the war is over? Do he and Emily reconnect at any point in the future? I feel like they had a very interesting connection and a deep respect for each other that could play out as platonically or romantically. Maybe they meet up a few years down the line as Emily is still having issues adjusting to peacetime and realizes that the swamps are the only place where she feels remotely normal.
I also loved the Survivor's Club and would be very happy to see them meet up down the line. Where do they all end up and what brings them all together again?
Summers at Castle Auburn - Sharon Shinn
Coriel Halsing, Elisandra Halsing, Kent Ouvrelet, Roderick
Canon: A fantasy book that takes place in a vaguely medieval world and follows the life of a young woman, an illegitimate daughter of the noble Halsing house, as she spends every summer at the royal castle. There's political intrigue, an awesome sisterly relationship and a few great romances.
I love Corie, Kent, Elisandra and Roderick so much and how they all develop over the course of the book. I love the incredible subtlety of the relationship between Elisandra and Roderick. I would love to know more about how they fell in love and what drew them to each other. Did they just keep re-meeting each other or did one of them seek the other out? I'd love a look at the night before Elisandra's wedding--the desperation and comfort that Roderick and Elisandra shared, not knowing what the future held. Or, a look at what pushed Roderick to decide to stay at the castle even though it made him miserable.
For Corie and Kent, I would love to see Kent's side of the relationship. When did he know that he was in love with Corie? How do they navigate their lives after the events of the book--the hectic wedding, Lord Matthew, Corie having to navigate court society? Are there people who try (and almost succeed) at coming between them once they arrive? How do they work through some stumbling blocks and obstacles set before them.
If you wanted to focus on one of the characters and just do a gen piece, I'd love to see Kent's perspective and how he comes to deal with his growing feelings for Corie or his alliance with Elisandra to keep Bryan in check. I'd also love to see Roderick's perspective: falling in love with Elisandra, sacrifcing his happiness because he knew she was miserable or, more happily, what it's like living together with her on Jaxon's estate. I'd also love to see more about Elisandra--we know so little of what she's really thinking or how she's coping for most of the book. How did she keep herself together and moving forward during the events of the book? As for Corie, how does she cope with being Queen?
I'd also be interested in a modern AU--modern day royalty scandal and intrigue!
Lady Sherlock Series
No tags
Canon: This is a take on the Sherlock Holmes story, genderflipped. I know, right now there is an overload of Sherlock Holmes media, but I promise this one is worth the read. Charlotte Holmes is a brilliant young woman in London in the 1800s who rebels against her family and is forced to leave home. Initially she begins solving mysteries in order to clear her family from suspicion but she comes to find that she is quite good at it. However, the more that she solves, the deeper the mysteries around her seem to go.
Since there are no character tags, I’ve included several different prompts! I know that the newest book is out, so feel free to either use the end of the second book as the last of canon or the third book (although there are spoilers for the third book here).
I absolutely love the UST between Charlotte and Lord Ingram so incredibly much. It’s so deliciously fraught. I would love to see what happens now that they’ve dipped into having an affair (even if it was only for the purpose of solving the case). Can they compromise between their desires? Feel free to explore their past as well—what was their friendship like? How did both of them struggle with their feelings?
I would also love to see more of Livia and Mr. Marbleton! Livia is so much alone in the series and I love how she connected with Mr. Marbleton. What happens now? I love how Livia has started to come into her own and would love to see more of that!
I’m intrigued by Myron—what has his life been like? Does he assist Charlotte and Livia going forward?
For general world building, I would love to see some outsider perspectives of all of this unfolding. Does anyone else connect Charlotte/Sherlock? What happens when the information is made public?
Mystery Skulls Animated
Vivi, Lewis
Canon: Three music videos set to Mystery Skull’s songs Ghost, Freaking Out and Hellbent (all available on youtube). The music videos focus on a group that’s very similar to the Scooby-Doo crew (although there are not quite as many members as the original gang) who find themselves caught up in actual paranormal issues. It’s like Scooby-Doo, it deals with the actual supernatural and it is way more angsty, all set to AMAZING music.
I am all about the Lewis/Vivi relationship. It’s so wonderfully angsty…When Lewis holds out his heart to Vivi in Ghost, I die in the best possible way.
I would love for there to be a happy ending—some way that Vivi and Lewis can get to be together again. Maybe Vivi’s memory returns and she’s able to put two and two together. Or, maybe she doesn’t remember, but as she interacts with Lewis, she slowly realizes that he’s watching out for her and she starts to fall in love with him.
Maybe the investigation team is forced to team up with Lewis while battling Shimori (during which, Lewis is unable to say anything about their past, but Vivi and Arthur somehow start to figure it out, they are investigators after all!).
If you’re more into gen or would rather not focus on the romance aspect, I would love to see the team reach a place of forgiveness as they work to figure out what possessed Arthur and killed Lewis.
Hellbent ends on a cliffhanger (literally!) and you’re free to go in whatever direction you’d like from there, but I do ask that you not go any more tragic than it currently is (in terms of character deaths).
Thank you so much for writing for me! And I hope you’re having a great fall 😊!
I’ve included some thoughts below on my preferences and fandoms. Please don’t stress too much if you’re inspired to write something else (although I’d prefer if you didn’t delve into my DNWs). I’ve given some specific prompts, but feel to take a general theme from my general likes if that’s more inspiring!
I'm not active on LJ anymore, although you're welcome to poke around here. I'm slightly active on tumblr and you can also check out my pinboard. I'm on ao3 as partypaprika.
General likes:
- Hurt/comfort
- Conflict
- Slow burn
- Pining and UST
- Sacrifices, especially if characters are making big sacrifices on behalf of someone that they care deeply about
- Angst (ideally ending in a HEA)
- Having dysfunctional relationships
- Enemies being forced (either directly or by circumstances) to work together
- Enemies to lovers
- Opposites attracting or coming to understand each other
- Marriages of convenience, fake dating, etc.
- People being thrown together in wildly unexpected situations
- Magical realism and magical powers
- Time travel, time loops, time do-overs etc.
- Modern royalty AUs
- Secret identities and identity porn
- Settings that have a sense of mystery: cemeteries, forests, abandoned temples etc.
- Epistolary and non-linear storytelling
- Canon divergence
- Mythology
- Hidden displays of affection
General dislikes:
- Major character death
- Noncon
- Incest
- Painplay
- Torture
- Humiliation kink
- A/b/o
- Dom/sub
- Mpreg
- Knotting
- Coffee shop AUs
- High school AUs
Not Quite A Husband - Sherry Thomas
Bryony Asquith, Leo Marsden
Canon: Dr. Bryony Asquith is a doctor working in a remote area of India at the turn of the 19th century. She’s devoted to her work, very much an introvert and also very estranged from her husband, Leo, who she hasn’t seen in a few years. Imagine her surprise when Leo shows up at her family’s request when she’s needed back home.
I love the angst in Leo and Bryony's relationship--how Leo's always had feelings for Bryony (in one form or another, for so long), how Bryony thought that Leo hung the world when they got together initially (and continues to love Leo, even though it's incredibly painful for her). And then they fell into the many traps that they encountered. They both had baggage that they both brought into the relationship that they weren't able to overcome their first go of it. I love how incredibly flawed both Bryony and Leo are and how that’s influenced the course of their relationship, including how difficult they’ve found it to communicate with each other.
I would love to see how they’ve continued to grow as a couple after the end of the book. What are some of the stumbles that they work through? How do they handle society? I definitely wouldn’t be averse to them finally getting in on that bedroom action that they’ve missed out on for so long!
I would also be really into seeing Bryony and Leo in other settings--maybe they've fallen in love across countless lifetimes. Or maybe their story is set in a different time--the roaring 20s or the 60s. If you're a fan of other Sherry Thomas books, feel free to have them meeting characters from her other works--maybe Bryony and Charlotte Holmes end up knowing each other!
I would also love a look at Leo’s perspective as he fell in love with Bryony back when they were younger, before Bryony even thought of Leo in that way.
Guns of the Dawn - Adrian Tchaikovsky
Cristan Northway, Daffed Mallen, Emily Marshwic
Canon: It's a book about (kind of) napoleonic era land war, combined with the never-ending decimation of WWI, and then a dash of magic, focusing on a woman who watches as the war depletes her country's rescources and men, ultimately being drafted herself. This book nails some of my favorite tropes: competence, people being thrust into extreme situations, a slow burn romance that happened very organically. I loved it.
This book totally took me by surprise! I found myself completely engaged by the war that Emily was fighting as well as the changes that shaped Emily. Emily's introspection and determination drove the book, but she did it amongst a fascinating set of characters.
I'd love really love more of just about anything post-canon. I would love to see an exploration of what Cristan and Emily do after going back to town after the events of the book. Does Emily begin to reconcile her war self with her peacetime self? Does Cristan help Emily adjust, even as they both know that the war has irrevocably changed them and their relationship? They also will likely have to deal with confusion and censure over their relationship--Emily is the golden hero whereas Cristan is hated. How do they support each other when there are issues in public?
I'd also love to know what happens to Mallen. Does he find the Denland woman that he was in love with now that the war is over? Do he and Emily reconnect at any point in the future? I feel like they had a very interesting connection and a deep respect for each other that could play out as platonically or romantically. Maybe they meet up a few years down the line as Emily is still having issues adjusting to peacetime and realizes that the swamps are the only place where she feels remotely normal.
I also loved the Survivor's Club and would be very happy to see them meet up down the line. Where do they all end up and what brings them all together again?
Summers at Castle Auburn - Sharon Shinn
Coriel Halsing, Elisandra Halsing, Kent Ouvrelet, Roderick
Canon: A fantasy book that takes place in a vaguely medieval world and follows the life of a young woman, an illegitimate daughter of the noble Halsing house, as she spends every summer at the royal castle. There's political intrigue, an awesome sisterly relationship and a few great romances.
I love Corie, Kent, Elisandra and Roderick so much and how they all develop over the course of the book. I love the incredible subtlety of the relationship between Elisandra and Roderick. I would love to know more about how they fell in love and what drew them to each other. Did they just keep re-meeting each other or did one of them seek the other out? I'd love a look at the night before Elisandra's wedding--the desperation and comfort that Roderick and Elisandra shared, not knowing what the future held. Or, a look at what pushed Roderick to decide to stay at the castle even though it made him miserable.
For Corie and Kent, I would love to see Kent's side of the relationship. When did he know that he was in love with Corie? How do they navigate their lives after the events of the book--the hectic wedding, Lord Matthew, Corie having to navigate court society? Are there people who try (and almost succeed) at coming between them once they arrive? How do they work through some stumbling blocks and obstacles set before them.
If you wanted to focus on one of the characters and just do a gen piece, I'd love to see Kent's perspective and how he comes to deal with his growing feelings for Corie or his alliance with Elisandra to keep Bryan in check. I'd also love to see Roderick's perspective: falling in love with Elisandra, sacrifcing his happiness because he knew she was miserable or, more happily, what it's like living together with her on Jaxon's estate. I'd also love to see more about Elisandra--we know so little of what she's really thinking or how she's coping for most of the book. How did she keep herself together and moving forward during the events of the book? As for Corie, how does she cope with being Queen?
I'd also be interested in a modern AU--modern day royalty scandal and intrigue!
Lady Sherlock Series
No tags
Canon: This is a take on the Sherlock Holmes story, genderflipped. I know, right now there is an overload of Sherlock Holmes media, but I promise this one is worth the read. Charlotte Holmes is a brilliant young woman in London in the 1800s who rebels against her family and is forced to leave home. Initially she begins solving mysteries in order to clear her family from suspicion but she comes to find that she is quite good at it. However, the more that she solves, the deeper the mysteries around her seem to go.
Since there are no character tags, I’ve included several different prompts! I know that the newest book is out, so feel free to either use the end of the second book as the last of canon or the third book (although there are spoilers for the third book here).
I absolutely love the UST between Charlotte and Lord Ingram so incredibly much. It’s so deliciously fraught. I would love to see what happens now that they’ve dipped into having an affair (even if it was only for the purpose of solving the case). Can they compromise between their desires? Feel free to explore their past as well—what was their friendship like? How did both of them struggle with their feelings?
I would also love to see more of Livia and Mr. Marbleton! Livia is so much alone in the series and I love how she connected with Mr. Marbleton. What happens now? I love how Livia has started to come into her own and would love to see more of that!
I’m intrigued by Myron—what has his life been like? Does he assist Charlotte and Livia going forward?
For general world building, I would love to see some outsider perspectives of all of this unfolding. Does anyone else connect Charlotte/Sherlock? What happens when the information is made public?
Mystery Skulls Animated
Vivi, Lewis
Canon: Three music videos set to Mystery Skull’s songs Ghost, Freaking Out and Hellbent (all available on youtube). The music videos focus on a group that’s very similar to the Scooby-Doo crew (although there are not quite as many members as the original gang) who find themselves caught up in actual paranormal issues. It’s like Scooby-Doo, it deals with the actual supernatural and it is way more angsty, all set to AMAZING music.
I am all about the Lewis/Vivi relationship. It’s so wonderfully angsty…When Lewis holds out his heart to Vivi in Ghost, I die in the best possible way.
I would love for there to be a happy ending—some way that Vivi and Lewis can get to be together again. Maybe Vivi’s memory returns and she’s able to put two and two together. Or, maybe she doesn’t remember, but as she interacts with Lewis, she slowly realizes that he’s watching out for her and she starts to fall in love with him.
Maybe the investigation team is forced to team up with Lewis while battling Shimori (during which, Lewis is unable to say anything about their past, but Vivi and Arthur somehow start to figure it out, they are investigators after all!).
If you’re more into gen or would rather not focus on the romance aspect, I would love to see the team reach a place of forgiveness as they work to figure out what possessed Arthur and killed Lewis.
Hellbent ends on a cliffhanger (literally!) and you’re free to go in whatever direction you’d like from there, but I do ask that you not go any more tragic than it currently is (in terms of character deaths).