Yuletide Letter 2020
Dear Yuletide Author,
First of all, thank you so much for writing for me. Yuletide is one of my favorite times of year, both for seeing all the wonderful writing that comes out of the woodwork and for giving me a reason to keep writing myself. And for celebrating the fandoms that we both have in common! So rest assured that I will love whatever you write, and NONE of these prompts are intended to be binding requests but merely to give you ideas if you are struggling.
Things I like:
Strong friendships, especially between men
Emotionally vulnerable romance, especially between men
Complex characterization (seemingly "evil" characters having reasonable motivations, "good" characters being petty or morally ambiguous sometimes)
Strong adherence to canon (stories that feel like "missing scenes" or logical developments/precedents)
Tone adherence to canon
Body swapping
Time travel
canon divergence AUs (what if so-and-so had made a different choice?)
Genre/setting AUs if done well
Crossovers
Do Not Want:
RP sex
Fandom Specifics:
Thai BoysLove Actors
Characters: Krist, Singto
Okay, so I loved them in SOTUS, but then I found "Friendship with KristSingto" and they are just so precious when they get to be themselves! I love their relationship; they're so supportive and understanding of each other's various phobias/quirks but also willing to tease each other about them. And they complement each other well: Krist cooks, Singto makes it look pretty, what a partnership!
Prompt ideas: Krist and Singto go to Europe or America! Krist and Singto commiserate about weird fans! Krist and Singto get mistaken for international spies and have a wild adventure that involves heights and boats and fleeing for their lives! Krist and Singto open a restaurant where Krist cooks and Singto does food design! (These are so optional and intended only to showcase the wide range of things I would be happy with as well as to maybe spark some creative juices. Go where the spirit takes you!)
Am more than okay with either close platonic bro-love or something more romantic! (or something they both think is close platonic bro-love until one or both has the ~realization~) I don't like RP sex, but because these two already play up the shipping themselves--and talk about their dicks on screen!--I'd be okay with something a little more PG-13.
The Great British Bake-Off
Characters: Henry & Michael OR James & Peter
I hardcore ship Henry and Michael, but I also love their friendship with the other bakers, especially Alice and Helena. MEMORIAL PINS after Helena and Michelle left?! My baby boys (and Alice) are the most thoughtful and precious. The bittersweetness of Henry getting star baker the same week Michael was eliminated! MY. HEART. And the ties after Henry went out make me think he was behind the Helena & Michelle pins. <3 If you're willing, I'd love if Alice and/or Helena were to play at least a small role in helping the boys get together... (Now, while I do ship them, I get squicky about sexy RPF so keep it pretty PG, please. More like a slow realization, friendship-into-romance thing than a bangfest. And nothing against David, but most of the Michael/Henry fics that do exist tend to involve him, and I am less interested.)
On the other side, I started watching the current season and lo and behold, a baby Scot who is a baking wunderkind? Sounds familiar...Would love to see Peter looking up to James as he grows up, Peter reacting to being (constantly?) compared to James, James watching the show and not seeing the comparison, an older and wiser James meeting bright-eyed, fannish Peter, them being Scottish and loving baking together...
Or just either pair or all four of them being buds and baking things, hanging out with other bakers, meeting (or reuniting with, in James's case) Mary, Mel, and Sue? Coming back for an all-star/holiday episode? I would not be mad at something set at Hogwarts...
(I love both Mary and Prue, and Mel, Sue, and Noel are my favorite hosts. Nothing against Matt Lucas, but please try to avoid including him in any major way.)
SOTUS: The Series & SOTUS S
Characters: Dae OR Wad OR Knot OR Tod
I mean, I love Arthit and Kongpob to death but the show explores them and their relationship pretty thoroughly. I am super intrigued with some of the secondary characters that don't get enough screentime/fleshing out!
Dae gets compared to Kongpob as the freshman who stands up to the SOTUS system, but Kongpob was actually into it and just wanted it to be less abusive. Dae strikes me as more like Wad: not into it at all. I'd love to see them interact and discuss their various experiences. And frankly, just more Wad!
On that note, I know Wad/Prem was teased a bit in the first series, but I never liked Prem much. I'd love to see Wad interacting with Knot more. Knot's unbelievably chill reaction to Arthit's confession was 1) very heartwarming, and 2) deeply intriguing. Why did Arthit go to Knot first? What are the hidden depths of that friendship? What other hidden depths does Knot have behind that "strong silent type" exterior?
And then Tod just cracks me up. I love his liberal use of "bro" and other English slang; it seems like he maybe watches a lot of American TV, but his English is also good enough that maybe he studied/lived abroad for a bit? I love that he seems kind of goofy, dumb, and a little shallow at first, but turns out to be good-natured and really supportive. I love his sweet pursuit of Earth, and moreso his acceptance of her rejection. (Something I really appreciate about SOTUS overall, actually; nobody is cling/jealous/stalkery and they take no for an answer...except Kongpob.)
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Characters: Sebastian/Lady Crystallia, Frances
Unf, this book! The straightforwardness of a genderfluid/queer character and the way that's not the entirety of their personality! The intersectionality of queerness and class! The (eventually) accepting parents, and especially dad's diving in on the fashion show (and, I mean, what an outfit)!
I don't super love the romance between Sebastian and Frances, honestly. I think they're drawn to each other because each is the first person in the other's life to really care about them and know them fully, and that is powerful. (I have my own long [and let's be real ongoing] history of mistaking platonic attraction for something romantic.) I think after a little while they will realize they are really good friends, part amicably, and pursue others. And that's something I'd be interested in exploring in fic.
If you're willing to include other characters: Emile's relationship with Sebastian/Crystallia is also really intriguing?? And where is Frances's family?? I could see both Frances and Sebastian/Crystallia falling for Lady Sophia, and them either dealing with the drama of that or, y'know, figuring out some kind of poly arrangement...So many potential things to explore. Go nuts.
Emma
Characters: Mr. Knightley
Mr. Knightley is my favorite Austen hero! I love that he is tender and sweet, but does not hesitate to call Emma out on her bullshit. I love partners that make each other better! I also love how sensitive and insightful he is toward other characters. (Does Jeremy Northam also have something to do with it? ...I mean, yes.)
I would love to see more of the time before the novel begins, particularly the development of their friendship and the evolution of Knightley's feelings toward Emma. I realize that's something that squicks some people out about the original novel, and it is a tricky line to walk! I certainly don't want 20-something Knightley lusting after prepubescent Emma. But as she gets older, and he finds himself still single, when does that start to change, and why? Does someone (John maybe?) jokingly suggest he could marry her, and that starts the wheels turning? Did she pull an Amy March and ask him to kiss her before she died, or marry her if she became an old maid, or did she simply declare (as young children do) that she was going to marry him and it was a big family joke?
If that is still too squicky for you, I totally get it and that's fine. Platonic scenes from Emma's youth are also delightful! Or anything from his youth/young adulthood, pre- or post-Woodhouse. Brother time with John? Managing an estate? Youthful dalliances or pinings (would not be mad at bi!Knightley)? Scenes from the novel from his perspective?
First of all, thank you so much for writing for me. Yuletide is one of my favorite times of year, both for seeing all the wonderful writing that comes out of the woodwork and for giving me a reason to keep writing myself. And for celebrating the fandoms that we both have in common! So rest assured that I will love whatever you write, and NONE of these prompts are intended to be binding requests but merely to give you ideas if you are struggling.
Things I like:
Strong friendships, especially between men
Emotionally vulnerable romance, especially between men
Complex characterization (seemingly "evil" characters having reasonable motivations, "good" characters being petty or morally ambiguous sometimes)
Strong adherence to canon (stories that feel like "missing scenes" or logical developments/precedents)
Tone adherence to canon
Body swapping
Time travel
canon divergence AUs (what if so-and-so had made a different choice?)
Genre/setting AUs if done well
Crossovers
Do Not Want:
RP sex
Fandom Specifics:
Thai BoysLove Actors
Characters: Krist, Singto
Okay, so I loved them in SOTUS, but then I found "Friendship with KristSingto" and they are just so precious when they get to be themselves! I love their relationship; they're so supportive and understanding of each other's various phobias/quirks but also willing to tease each other about them. And they complement each other well: Krist cooks, Singto makes it look pretty, what a partnership!
Prompt ideas: Krist and Singto go to Europe or America! Krist and Singto commiserate about weird fans! Krist and Singto get mistaken for international spies and have a wild adventure that involves heights and boats and fleeing for their lives! Krist and Singto open a restaurant where Krist cooks and Singto does food design! (These are so optional and intended only to showcase the wide range of things I would be happy with as well as to maybe spark some creative juices. Go where the spirit takes you!)
Am more than okay with either close platonic bro-love or something more romantic! (or something they both think is close platonic bro-love until one or both has the ~realization~) I don't like RP sex, but because these two already play up the shipping themselves--and talk about their dicks on screen!--I'd be okay with something a little more PG-13.
The Great British Bake-Off
Characters: Henry & Michael OR James & Peter
I hardcore ship Henry and Michael, but I also love their friendship with the other bakers, especially Alice and Helena. MEMORIAL PINS after Helena and Michelle left?! My baby boys (and Alice) are the most thoughtful and precious. The bittersweetness of Henry getting star baker the same week Michael was eliminated! MY. HEART. And the ties after Henry went out make me think he was behind the Helena & Michelle pins. <3 If you're willing, I'd love if Alice and/or Helena were to play at least a small role in helping the boys get together... (Now, while I do ship them, I get squicky about sexy RPF so keep it pretty PG, please. More like a slow realization, friendship-into-romance thing than a bangfest. And nothing against David, but most of the Michael/Henry fics that do exist tend to involve him, and I am less interested.)
On the other side, I started watching the current season and lo and behold, a baby Scot who is a baking wunderkind? Sounds familiar...Would love to see Peter looking up to James as he grows up, Peter reacting to being (constantly?) compared to James, James watching the show and not seeing the comparison, an older and wiser James meeting bright-eyed, fannish Peter, them being Scottish and loving baking together...
Or just either pair or all four of them being buds and baking things, hanging out with other bakers, meeting (or reuniting with, in James's case) Mary, Mel, and Sue? Coming back for an all-star/holiday episode? I would not be mad at something set at Hogwarts...
(I love both Mary and Prue, and Mel, Sue, and Noel are my favorite hosts. Nothing against Matt Lucas, but please try to avoid including him in any major way.)
SOTUS: The Series & SOTUS S
Characters: Dae OR Wad OR Knot OR Tod
I mean, I love Arthit and Kongpob to death but the show explores them and their relationship pretty thoroughly. I am super intrigued with some of the secondary characters that don't get enough screentime/fleshing out!
Dae gets compared to Kongpob as the freshman who stands up to the SOTUS system, but Kongpob was actually into it and just wanted it to be less abusive. Dae strikes me as more like Wad: not into it at all. I'd love to see them interact and discuss their various experiences. And frankly, just more Wad!
On that note, I know Wad/Prem was teased a bit in the first series, but I never liked Prem much. I'd love to see Wad interacting with Knot more. Knot's unbelievably chill reaction to Arthit's confession was 1) very heartwarming, and 2) deeply intriguing. Why did Arthit go to Knot first? What are the hidden depths of that friendship? What other hidden depths does Knot have behind that "strong silent type" exterior?
And then Tod just cracks me up. I love his liberal use of "bro" and other English slang; it seems like he maybe watches a lot of American TV, but his English is also good enough that maybe he studied/lived abroad for a bit? I love that he seems kind of goofy, dumb, and a little shallow at first, but turns out to be good-natured and really supportive. I love his sweet pursuit of Earth, and moreso his acceptance of her rejection. (Something I really appreciate about SOTUS overall, actually; nobody is cling/jealous/stalkery and they take no for an answer...except Kongpob.)
The Prince and the Dressmaker
Characters: Sebastian/Lady Crystallia, Frances
Unf, this book! The straightforwardness of a genderfluid/queer character and the way that's not the entirety of their personality! The intersectionality of queerness and class! The (eventually) accepting parents, and especially dad's diving in on the fashion show (and, I mean, what an outfit)!
I don't super love the romance between Sebastian and Frances, honestly. I think they're drawn to each other because each is the first person in the other's life to really care about them and know them fully, and that is powerful. (I have my own long [and let's be real ongoing] history of mistaking platonic attraction for something romantic.) I think after a little while they will realize they are really good friends, part amicably, and pursue others. And that's something I'd be interested in exploring in fic.
If you're willing to include other characters: Emile's relationship with Sebastian/Crystallia is also really intriguing?? And where is Frances's family?? I could see both Frances and Sebastian/Crystallia falling for Lady Sophia, and them either dealing with the drama of that or, y'know, figuring out some kind of poly arrangement...So many potential things to explore. Go nuts.
Emma
Characters: Mr. Knightley
Mr. Knightley is my favorite Austen hero! I love that he is tender and sweet, but does not hesitate to call Emma out on her bullshit. I love partners that make each other better! I also love how sensitive and insightful he is toward other characters. (Does Jeremy Northam also have something to do with it? ...I mean, yes.)
I would love to see more of the time before the novel begins, particularly the development of their friendship and the evolution of Knightley's feelings toward Emma. I realize that's something that squicks some people out about the original novel, and it is a tricky line to walk! I certainly don't want 20-something Knightley lusting after prepubescent Emma. But as she gets older, and he finds himself still single, when does that start to change, and why? Does someone (John maybe?) jokingly suggest he could marry her, and that starts the wheels turning? Did she pull an Amy March and ask him to kiss her before she died, or marry her if she became an old maid, or did she simply declare (as young children do) that she was going to marry him and it was a big family joke?
If that is still too squicky for you, I totally get it and that's fine. Platonic scenes from Emma's youth are also delightful! Or anything from his youth/young adulthood, pre- or post-Woodhouse. Brother time with John? Managing an estate? Youthful dalliances or pinings (would not be mad at bi!Knightley)? Scenes from the novel from his perspective?