Dear Yuletide Writer 2013
Oct. 10th, 2013 01:19 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
foxinthestarsHello and Happy Yuletide! Glad you signed up for Yuletide this year, and hope my prompts can give you something fun to write!
Actually I'm kind of badly disorganized this year and didn't even manage to participate in nominations, but I just knew I'd regret it later if I didn't sign up...
General tips on writing for me: I tend to be a genfic person. Big things to avoid would be humiliation, rape/noncon, and explicit sex (my comfort zone for the latter is too idiosyncratic to want to lead you into that minefield), also brutal grimdark that would invite Frank Miller comparisons (although more sensitive forms of angst and tragedy are okay). Things that excite and delight me include meditations on characters, situations, worldbuilding, etc.; and playing in sticky messes (any sticky mess, but especially ones canon did not address).
My prompts for this year:
Natsume Yuujinchou
I love this show, and I love (or at least could be interested to read about) pretty much everyone in it. Just try for the canon atmosphere of sentiment and warmth, don’t include explicit sex, and I’d rather you didn’t ship any of the high schoolers with characters above that age range or ship Matoba with anyone, really. Within that, anything you want to write is fine. If you want a few possibilities to get the ball rolling, characters of interest include Taki (who never gets enough screentime) and Tanuma's Dad (whose sticky situation in all this isn't really acknowledged). Ships of interest include Natsume/Taki/Tanuma (or any permutation of those three), Shigeru/Touko, and Natori/Hiiragi (their fraught mutual stealth-caring doesn't even have a relationship tag on Ao3 yet, I can't believe it). Sample plot ideas... Have relatives Natsume used to live with stop by for dinner and things get tense. Give me the view from Nanatsujiya. I'm usually not into A/Us or crossovers, but in this case I'd be interested in a Japanese historical period A/U or a crossover with Red Data Girl or with Shinrei Tantei Yakumo (the latter just to play with mutually exclusive seeing youkai vs. seeing ghosts). Really, though, whatever you want within the few rules I gave.
Canon Review and Notes
The series on Crunchyroll: Seasons 1-3, Season 4
As I said, I love this series and pretty much everyone in it. I love the deep compassion of it, how the youkai (and sometimes humans) aren't reduced to being monsters but it isn't glossed over that they can be dangerous and their values alien to ours, how the characters' emotions move forward with hope and humor and quiet courage without glossing over fear and sadness... As the show went on, I developed more love for the recurring characters and the ongoing arc plot and feel a mix of appreciation and frustration at how slowly it moves. Tanuma is probably my favorite, but I'd like to read about anyone here, even peripheral characters you wouldn't usually think about. So yeah, with the few noted exceptions, anything you want to do in this fandom is appreciated.
Castlevania: Aria & Dawn of Sorrow
Characters: Soma, Genya
I want a genfic with Soma and Genya, focusing on the tension/contrast between their relationship in Soma’s last incarnation and their relationship now --- bonus points: Soma gets tired of Genya telling him what to do and/or finds out who Genya really is. Alternatively, I would enjoy seeing Soma in just a high school slice-of-life type of story, but without leaving his true nature, his adventures, and his friends from said adventures entirely out of it (yes, write me the most boringest Castlevania fic ever and I will love it; Genya not required on this option). No explicit sex, please. Also, please don’t ship Soma and Genya even a little (possible squick aside, I’d rather not see Alucard with anyone but Maria), although any WAFFiness you can manage without breaking character would be welcome. I like Castlevania fic relatively warm and uprightly heroic rather than completely dark.
Canon Review and Notes:
Aria of Sorrow Playthrough
Dawn of Sorrow Playthrough: First Half, Second Half
If you’re going to write Genya you should also see: Symphony of the Night Playthrough
More than that is probably excessive, but if you want to go overboard grounding yourself in the series mythos (or just read some comments from me about each game), my "cv playthroughs" tag goes through practically the whole series in playthrough links (be warned, though, I haven't checked and freshened those links in awhile).
Castlevania is actually the oldest fandom of mine that I’m still in love with; I had Castlevania phases over the NES games when I was just a girl, although I really fell head-over-heels when Symphony of the Night came along. I’ve played all of the “Metrovania” ones and solved most of them, and Symphony is still my favorite, followed by Aria --- Dawn got a bit silly (and in playing it I was utterly defeated by the brakka-frazzin’ magic seal BS), but I do love Soma’s story, and also the new chapter it represents for Aluca-* er, Arikado (in my own headcanon he tries to be stony and distant but he gets very protective of the Belmont and Belnades “kids” --- and Soma). If I were to say why I like Castlevania, I do enjoy the gothic element and the morality play, but especially starting with Symphony there’s a human aspect that deliciously complicates the morality play without negating it.
Saiunkoku Monogatari
I want a fic where Shuurei is not the first female official --- one of her seniors is (at least biologically) a woman, disguised (or presenting) as a man. Who is it? Could be an original character, or any canon character you care to press into service. Why do they do it? Woman with a dream? Transgendered man? How do they feel about seeing the rules change for Shuurei? Glad? Relieved? Resentful? Nothing much? Will the change affect their life? Will they come out or stay undercover? No explicit sex, please.
Notes:
Can't help you with canon review on this one, sorry. I'm fishing up a prompt from my very first Yuletide (my year of high-concept genfic prompts) and haven't watched Saiunkoku lately, but this idea is still interesting to me. I actually suspected Kou Kijin of this at one point, and still think it would make relatively good sense with him (could explain his odd reaction to the rule change, and people who see him unmasked tend to be distracted from details like gender); if I were to write the prompt myself I'd go with Li Kouyuu, but neither of these are recommendations unless you want them to be --- as I said, an OC or any canon character you care to press into service.
Uchouten Kazoku | The Eccentric Family
This has been my favorite new anime of this year, and I love how it blends humor and drama and slice-of-life, plus I am a sucker for shows based on Japanese lore about the supernatural. I love the Shimogamo family both individually and in their dynamics with each other, and Mother, Kaisei, and Benten are all such awesome ladies in their various ways. Anything you want to write in this fandom is fine (well, okay, a straight Kinkaku&Ginkaku story might be disappointing), just please try for that canon feel and don’t include explicit sex.
Canon Review and Notes:
The series on Crunchyroll. I'm not familiar with the original novel.
And with apologies, this 13-episode anime is the closest thing I have to a "gimme" prompt this time, but I do totally recommend seeing it. Not too much else to say... I actually have a lot of sympathy and affection for Yajirou and was sad to see him not nominated, although I wouldn't want you to write about him necessarily even if I could request him.
Seirei no Moribito | Guardian of the Sacred Spirit
Character: Shuga
I just want a genfic about Shuga. Yes, it helps that he’s white-haired and pretty, but he’s also a genius who rose from being a fisherman’s son to being in line to become the most politically powerful man in the country, he’s a very principled person thrown into a situation where those principles will be constantly challenged, just, mmmph! So anything about him you want to do: backstory, day-in-the-life, whatever. Just as possibilities: In the novel, he and Torogai promised to teach each other about their respective disciplines, that could be fun to watch (especially with their personalities so perfectly mismatched). The canon is a bit short on details of the new official story that was invented to square this circle, so you could tell me exactly how it goes, what hand Shuga had in writing it and how he felt about it. Or, now that Chagum is back in the palace, explore how their relationship has changed. I’m thinking primarily of the anime canon, but I have read the first two novels, as well. No explicit sex please --- in fact I’d prefer no romance on this one at all.
Canon Review and Notes:
The anime series on Crunchyroll
The two translated books at ABE, at Amazon
(BTW, the second novel won’t help you with the prompt at all, because Shuga isn’t even mentioned, I just recommend it because it’s awesome.)
Moribito is basically here as the Official Representative of My Taste In Anime. As much as I enjoy driving trucks through plot-holes you can do that with, I love things like this with compelling characters, brilliant worldbuilding that’s so grounded and well-thought-out (the complex interplay of society and folklore and the spirit world is a particular high point), and in general an author who just so manifestly knows what she’s doing. You’ve probably gathered already that I also love it when no party to a conflict is cartoonishly evil, and Moribito is very much that (especially in the anime). It also ranks highest among my requests on the Women Being Awesome scale, which is always good to see, although it’s not necessarily relevant to my prompt. I’d say I have a weakness for scholarly characters as well as sticky messes, so yeah: Shuga.
And that's it! Again, thanks for signing up! I look forward to reading your story, and I hope your Yuletide wishes are granted in return!
Actually I'm kind of badly disorganized this year and didn't even manage to participate in nominations, but I just knew I'd regret it later if I didn't sign up...
General tips on writing for me: I tend to be a genfic person. Big things to avoid would be humiliation, rape/noncon, and explicit sex (my comfort zone for the latter is too idiosyncratic to want to lead you into that minefield), also brutal grimdark that would invite Frank Miller comparisons (although more sensitive forms of angst and tragedy are okay). Things that excite and delight me include meditations on characters, situations, worldbuilding, etc.; and playing in sticky messes (any sticky mess, but especially ones canon did not address).
My prompts for this year:
Natsume Yuujinchou
I love this show, and I love (or at least could be interested to read about) pretty much everyone in it. Just try for the canon atmosphere of sentiment and warmth, don’t include explicit sex, and I’d rather you didn’t ship any of the high schoolers with characters above that age range or ship Matoba with anyone, really. Within that, anything you want to write is fine. If you want a few possibilities to get the ball rolling, characters of interest include Taki (who never gets enough screentime) and Tanuma's Dad (whose sticky situation in all this isn't really acknowledged). Ships of interest include Natsume/Taki/Tanuma (or any permutation of those three), Shigeru/Touko, and Natori/Hiiragi (their fraught mutual stealth-caring doesn't even have a relationship tag on Ao3 yet, I can't believe it). Sample plot ideas... Have relatives Natsume used to live with stop by for dinner and things get tense. Give me the view from Nanatsujiya. I'm usually not into A/Us or crossovers, but in this case I'd be interested in a Japanese historical period A/U or a crossover with Red Data Girl or with Shinrei Tantei Yakumo (the latter just to play with mutually exclusive seeing youkai vs. seeing ghosts). Really, though, whatever you want within the few rules I gave.
Canon Review and Notes
The series on Crunchyroll: Seasons 1-3, Season 4
As I said, I love this series and pretty much everyone in it. I love the deep compassion of it, how the youkai (and sometimes humans) aren't reduced to being monsters but it isn't glossed over that they can be dangerous and their values alien to ours, how the characters' emotions move forward with hope and humor and quiet courage without glossing over fear and sadness... As the show went on, I developed more love for the recurring characters and the ongoing arc plot and feel a mix of appreciation and frustration at how slowly it moves. Tanuma is probably my favorite, but I'd like to read about anyone here, even peripheral characters you wouldn't usually think about. So yeah, with the few noted exceptions, anything you want to do in this fandom is appreciated.
Castlevania: Aria & Dawn of Sorrow
Characters: Soma, Genya
I want a genfic with Soma and Genya, focusing on the tension/contrast between their relationship in Soma’s last incarnation and their relationship now --- bonus points: Soma gets tired of Genya telling him what to do and/or finds out who Genya really is. Alternatively, I would enjoy seeing Soma in just a high school slice-of-life type of story, but without leaving his true nature, his adventures, and his friends from said adventures entirely out of it (yes, write me the most boringest Castlevania fic ever and I will love it; Genya not required on this option). No explicit sex, please. Also, please don’t ship Soma and Genya even a little (possible squick aside, I’d rather not see Alucard with anyone but Maria), although any WAFFiness you can manage without breaking character would be welcome. I like Castlevania fic relatively warm and uprightly heroic rather than completely dark.
Canon Review and Notes:
Aria of Sorrow Playthrough
Dawn of Sorrow Playthrough: First Half, Second Half
If you’re going to write Genya you should also see: Symphony of the Night Playthrough
More than that is probably excessive, but if you want to go overboard grounding yourself in the series mythos (or just read some comments from me about each game), my "cv playthroughs" tag goes through practically the whole series in playthrough links (be warned, though, I haven't checked and freshened those links in awhile).
Castlevania is actually the oldest fandom of mine that I’m still in love with; I had Castlevania phases over the NES games when I was just a girl, although I really fell head-over-heels when Symphony of the Night came along. I’ve played all of the “Metrovania” ones and solved most of them, and Symphony is still my favorite, followed by Aria --- Dawn got a bit silly (and in playing it I was utterly defeated by the brakka-frazzin’ magic seal BS), but I do love Soma’s story, and also the new chapter it represents for Aluca-* er, Arikado (in my own headcanon he tries to be stony and distant but he gets very protective of the Belmont and Belnades “kids” --- and Soma). If I were to say why I like Castlevania, I do enjoy the gothic element and the morality play, but especially starting with Symphony there’s a human aspect that deliciously complicates the morality play without negating it.
Saiunkoku Monogatari
I want a fic where Shuurei is not the first female official --- one of her seniors is (at least biologically) a woman, disguised (or presenting) as a man. Who is it? Could be an original character, or any canon character you care to press into service. Why do they do it? Woman with a dream? Transgendered man? How do they feel about seeing the rules change for Shuurei? Glad? Relieved? Resentful? Nothing much? Will the change affect their life? Will they come out or stay undercover? No explicit sex, please.
Notes:
Can't help you with canon review on this one, sorry. I'm fishing up a prompt from my very first Yuletide (my year of high-concept genfic prompts) and haven't watched Saiunkoku lately, but this idea is still interesting to me. I actually suspected Kou Kijin of this at one point, and still think it would make relatively good sense with him (could explain his odd reaction to the rule change, and people who see him unmasked tend to be distracted from details like gender); if I were to write the prompt myself I'd go with Li Kouyuu, but neither of these are recommendations unless you want them to be --- as I said, an OC or any canon character you care to press into service.
Uchouten Kazoku | The Eccentric Family
This has been my favorite new anime of this year, and I love how it blends humor and drama and slice-of-life, plus I am a sucker for shows based on Japanese lore about the supernatural. I love the Shimogamo family both individually and in their dynamics with each other, and Mother, Kaisei, and Benten are all such awesome ladies in their various ways. Anything you want to write in this fandom is fine (well, okay, a straight Kinkaku&Ginkaku story might be disappointing), just please try for that canon feel and don’t include explicit sex.
Canon Review and Notes:
The series on Crunchyroll. I'm not familiar with the original novel.
And with apologies, this 13-episode anime is the closest thing I have to a "gimme" prompt this time, but I do totally recommend seeing it. Not too much else to say... I actually have a lot of sympathy and affection for Yajirou and was sad to see him not nominated, although I wouldn't want you to write about him necessarily even if I could request him.
Seirei no Moribito | Guardian of the Sacred Spirit
Character: Shuga
I just want a genfic about Shuga. Yes, it helps that he’s white-haired and pretty, but he’s also a genius who rose from being a fisherman’s son to being in line to become the most politically powerful man in the country, he’s a very principled person thrown into a situation where those principles will be constantly challenged, just, mmmph! So anything about him you want to do: backstory, day-in-the-life, whatever. Just as possibilities: In the novel, he and Torogai promised to teach each other about their respective disciplines, that could be fun to watch (especially with their personalities so perfectly mismatched). The canon is a bit short on details of the new official story that was invented to square this circle, so you could tell me exactly how it goes, what hand Shuga had in writing it and how he felt about it. Or, now that Chagum is back in the palace, explore how their relationship has changed. I’m thinking primarily of the anime canon, but I have read the first two novels, as well. No explicit sex please --- in fact I’d prefer no romance on this one at all.
Canon Review and Notes:
The anime series on Crunchyroll
The two translated books at ABE, at Amazon
(BTW, the second novel won’t help you with the prompt at all, because Shuga isn’t even mentioned, I just recommend it because it’s awesome.)
Moribito is basically here as the Official Representative of My Taste In Anime. As much as I enjoy driving trucks through plot-holes you can do that with, I love things like this with compelling characters, brilliant worldbuilding that’s so grounded and well-thought-out (the complex interplay of society and folklore and the spirit world is a particular high point), and in general an author who just so manifestly knows what she’s doing. You’ve probably gathered already that I also love it when no party to a conflict is cartoonishly evil, and Moribito is very much that (especially in the anime). It also ranks highest among my requests on the Women Being Awesome scale, which is always good to see, although it’s not necessarily relevant to my prompt. I’d say I have a weakness for scholarly characters as well as sticky messes, so yeah: Shuga.
And that's it! Again, thanks for signing up! I look forward to reading your story, and I hope your Yuletide wishes are granted in return!
