Dear Yuletide Writer
So, here is my letter for you this year. I always have a lot of trouble writing these, but hopefully this will give you a little insight into what kind of stories I would like. Thank you so much for taking on the task of writing a story just for me.
I guess my loves are a great place to start. I love characters. I love watching them express, in action or in speech, their feelings--love, anger, fear, friendship. Show me what makes a person tick and I'm right there. I've always been all about the characterization, and I've been known to forgive a show or story anything plot wise if it gives me believable character interaction. So, yes. Good characterization. Respect for the characters you are writing. Interaction that feels real and not forced or over the top. Simplicity. Life is made up of the amazing little things, and I love those. Strong women. Love in all shapes and forms, not just romantic love, though that's awesome, too. If you can write a beautiful story that shows and doesn't tell and that is believable, I know that I'll love it.
My dislikes: I don't really like slash in most circumstances (though there are exceptions). I like stories of all ratings, but I don't really like the sexual stuff you have to warn for--rape, incest, kinks, fetishes, torture, etc. My tastes are about as vanilla as they come. Oh, another thing I'm not really a fan of is over the top syruppy stuff. The constant barrage of "I love yous". I'd prefer to see it not hear them say it over and over. Give me subtle and heartfelt over gushing declarations any day.
Now that the general stuff is over, I'll say a little bit about my specific requests. I'm going to reiterate what I said in my sign up and try to add a bit if I can think of anything that I missed.
1. The Nanny, Niles and CC:
I am really in love with this pairing right now. I just love them to pieces. I've always been a sucker for characters who thought they didn't like each other and then ended up in love...and Niles and CC do this better than most. I've got to tell you, pretty much any kind of story featuring the two of them would be welcomed. Stories I like most are ones where they get together or ones where they are already together, and how happy it has made them. Saying that, I'm going to like whatever you write, if it features these two. I know I will. Any rating is also welcome, though I have a strong aversion to rape, fetishes, and pretty much anything you have to warn for. My tastes are very vanilla.
I guess the only thing I've really got to add to this is I'd like to see CC treated as a sympathetic character and not just a one dimensional witch. I don't really like stories where it's implied that CC was horribly mean and terrible to Niles and he was the helpless victim to her cruelty. Cruelty was a two way street with these two, and I found he got her as often, and probably more than she got him. There are two sides to every story, and I like to see inside CC's mind and see what's in there. Why is she who she is?
2. Jolene, Narrator:
This has been one of my favorite songs for a long time, and I always thought that it would make a great story. I'd like to have a story about the narrator and possibly her confrontation with Jolene. (Though if you can think of something else about the song that inspires you, I'll take that as well. This is why I only chose The Narrator for character, so you would have the flexibility to interpret the song as you saw fit. As long as it deals with her and how she handles the situation, I'll leave the rest up to you.
Pretty much what it says here. I'd love to see what you could come up with for this. What does this woman, put in this situation, do?
3. Remington Steele, Remington and Laura:
I like dramatic stories with these two. Something that deals with their feelings. It doesn't even have to be their feelings about each other. I like these two both as friends and as a romantic pairing. Maybe you could deal with a traumatic event in one of the character's pasts and how the other helps them deal with the memory.
Laura and Remington are so different in their approaches to life and yet they are so much the same as well. I think this makes them a fascinating duo both as friends and as lovers. I'd like something here that breaks down walls, something that makes one or both of them share something they'd never thought they'd share. What do they say? What do they do? What is the result?
4. Earth 2, John and Devon:
I'm dying for a Devon/John story from near the beginning that deals with both their conflict and their developing feelings for each other.
In my opinion, there just aren't enough Devon/John stories from near the beginning. I'd love to see the clash between their original antagonistic attitudes and their developing feelings for each other, with the feelings winning out. And, hey, if the result is something steamy, I won't complain. ;)
Anyway, that's it, I guess. Thanks again for writing for me! I can't wait to see what you come up with.
I guess my loves are a great place to start. I love characters. I love watching them express, in action or in speech, their feelings--love, anger, fear, friendship. Show me what makes a person tick and I'm right there. I've always been all about the characterization, and I've been known to forgive a show or story anything plot wise if it gives me believable character interaction. So, yes. Good characterization. Respect for the characters you are writing. Interaction that feels real and not forced or over the top. Simplicity. Life is made up of the amazing little things, and I love those. Strong women. Love in all shapes and forms, not just romantic love, though that's awesome, too. If you can write a beautiful story that shows and doesn't tell and that is believable, I know that I'll love it.
My dislikes: I don't really like slash in most circumstances (though there are exceptions). I like stories of all ratings, but I don't really like the sexual stuff you have to warn for--rape, incest, kinks, fetishes, torture, etc. My tastes are about as vanilla as they come. Oh, another thing I'm not really a fan of is over the top syruppy stuff. The constant barrage of "I love yous". I'd prefer to see it not hear them say it over and over. Give me subtle and heartfelt over gushing declarations any day.
Now that the general stuff is over, I'll say a little bit about my specific requests. I'm going to reiterate what I said in my sign up and try to add a bit if I can think of anything that I missed.
1. The Nanny, Niles and CC:
I am really in love with this pairing right now. I just love them to pieces. I've always been a sucker for characters who thought they didn't like each other and then ended up in love...and Niles and CC do this better than most. I've got to tell you, pretty much any kind of story featuring the two of them would be welcomed. Stories I like most are ones where they get together or ones where they are already together, and how happy it has made them. Saying that, I'm going to like whatever you write, if it features these two. I know I will. Any rating is also welcome, though I have a strong aversion to rape, fetishes, and pretty much anything you have to warn for. My tastes are very vanilla.
I guess the only thing I've really got to add to this is I'd like to see CC treated as a sympathetic character and not just a one dimensional witch. I don't really like stories where it's implied that CC was horribly mean and terrible to Niles and he was the helpless victim to her cruelty. Cruelty was a two way street with these two, and I found he got her as often, and probably more than she got him. There are two sides to every story, and I like to see inside CC's mind and see what's in there. Why is she who she is?
2. Jolene, Narrator:
This has been one of my favorite songs for a long time, and I always thought that it would make a great story. I'd like to have a story about the narrator and possibly her confrontation with Jolene. (Though if you can think of something else about the song that inspires you, I'll take that as well. This is why I only chose The Narrator for character, so you would have the flexibility to interpret the song as you saw fit. As long as it deals with her and how she handles the situation, I'll leave the rest up to you.
Pretty much what it says here. I'd love to see what you could come up with for this. What does this woman, put in this situation, do?
3. Remington Steele, Remington and Laura:
I like dramatic stories with these two. Something that deals with their feelings. It doesn't even have to be their feelings about each other. I like these two both as friends and as a romantic pairing. Maybe you could deal with a traumatic event in one of the character's pasts and how the other helps them deal with the memory.
Laura and Remington are so different in their approaches to life and yet they are so much the same as well. I think this makes them a fascinating duo both as friends and as lovers. I'd like something here that breaks down walls, something that makes one or both of them share something they'd never thought they'd share. What do they say? What do they do? What is the result?
4. Earth 2, John and Devon:
I'm dying for a Devon/John story from near the beginning that deals with both their conflict and their developing feelings for each other.
In my opinion, there just aren't enough Devon/John stories from near the beginning. I'd love to see the clash between their original antagonistic attitudes and their developing feelings for each other, with the feelings winning out. And, hey, if the result is something steamy, I won't complain. ;)
Anyway, that's it, I guess. Thanks again for writing for me! I can't wait to see what you come up with.