Dear Yuletide Writer
Firstly - thank you so much! This is my first Yuletide, I'm very excited about it, and I'm so looking forward to reading whatever you feel like writing! That's the most important part really, but since I'd love to give all the help I can to make this enjoyable, I'll try and provide a bit more info about what I like.
Apologies for what I fear might have been slightly incoherent requests - I was writing them late last night in an internet cafe because of home computer troubles, and didn't have a chance to resubmit afterwards. So, in my Dalemark character list, I seem to have managed not to select Navis, who as you will see is the one I rather wanted the fic to be focused on. Oops. Sorry! I suspect Hadd-centric fic was not what you were hoping for if you signed up for Dalemark!
To start with that request, I suppose it illustrates lots of the things I particularly enjoy reading in fanfic: exploration of the characters who aren't at the centre of things; complicated family relations; characters who are cool, efficient, and can seem very emotionally distanced. Yes, I do love Navis - and his time in Holand is of particular interest to me, because it's the time when his considerable abilities haven't been given the chance to come into play, when there must be so many frustrations and fears. Things I love in Dalemark: Diana Wynne Jones's customary sharp wit; the mysterious ways of the Undying and their relationship with 'normal' humans - I love the way that it's human's decision to worship them that binds the Undying into godhead, it's not something they themselves claim (not that I've really chosen a subject that gives more scope for that; all the little odds and ends of stories that never get fully explored - that glossary is fantastic!
My love for I, Claudius stems from book and TV series equally: Robert Graves' work in creating one of the first historical novels, synthesising vast quantities of material and creating a serious novel but one full of great characters, humour and drama; the TV series for capturing the wit and drama in the script and selecting fine actors who managed to make the slightly shaky 70s production values irrelevant. I do tend to imagine the characters in the books as portrayed in the series (whilst holding both separate from their 'real life' existence) but I really don't mind if you've only read the books/seen the series and are working from there.
And as for Sayers, I hope my desire to see minor characters explored and given more of a turn isn't too much of a facer. As I said, if you generally write Peter/Harriet, I don't at all mind if either or both of them appear - how could I when I enjoy them both and think the way Sayers developes their relationship is masterful? - I would just like the main focus of the fic to be directed away from them.
I can only apologise for the Anthony Powell request. Suggesting it for Yuletide has confirmed my suspicions - I know Dance has many fans, but I seem to be the only one who's interested in writing and reading fanfic about it. I do hope one of the other requests will work for you.
I don't want to be prescriptive at all, but I will say that I am uncomfortable with explicit sexual content, though undertones and tension are fine...
Again, thank you!
Apologies for what I fear might have been slightly incoherent requests - I was writing them late last night in an internet cafe because of home computer troubles, and didn't have a chance to resubmit afterwards. So, in my Dalemark character list, I seem to have managed not to select Navis, who as you will see is the one I rather wanted the fic to be focused on. Oops. Sorry! I suspect Hadd-centric fic was not what you were hoping for if you signed up for Dalemark!
To start with that request, I suppose it illustrates lots of the things I particularly enjoy reading in fanfic: exploration of the characters who aren't at the centre of things; complicated family relations; characters who are cool, efficient, and can seem very emotionally distanced. Yes, I do love Navis - and his time in Holand is of particular interest to me, because it's the time when his considerable abilities haven't been given the chance to come into play, when there must be so many frustrations and fears. Things I love in Dalemark: Diana Wynne Jones's customary sharp wit; the mysterious ways of the Undying and their relationship with 'normal' humans - I love the way that it's human's decision to worship them that binds the Undying into godhead, it's not something they themselves claim (not that I've really chosen a subject that gives more scope for that; all the little odds and ends of stories that never get fully explored - that glossary is fantastic!
My love for I, Claudius stems from book and TV series equally: Robert Graves' work in creating one of the first historical novels, synthesising vast quantities of material and creating a serious novel but one full of great characters, humour and drama; the TV series for capturing the wit and drama in the script and selecting fine actors who managed to make the slightly shaky 70s production values irrelevant. I do tend to imagine the characters in the books as portrayed in the series (whilst holding both separate from their 'real life' existence) but I really don't mind if you've only read the books/seen the series and are working from there.
And as for Sayers, I hope my desire to see minor characters explored and given more of a turn isn't too much of a facer. As I said, if you generally write Peter/Harriet, I don't at all mind if either or both of them appear - how could I when I enjoy them both and think the way Sayers developes their relationship is masterful? - I would just like the main focus of the fic to be directed away from them.
I can only apologise for the Anthony Powell request. Suggesting it for Yuletide has confirmed my suspicions - I know Dance has many fans, but I seem to be the only one who's interested in writing and reading fanfic about it. I do hope one of the other requests will work for you.
I don't want to be prescriptive at all, but I will say that I am uncomfortable with explicit sexual content, though undertones and tension are fine...
Again, thank you!