Dear Yuletide Author Letter
Dear Yuletide Author:
Thank you for writing my request. I really hope you have fun with it, enjoying the prompts you received. I provided optional details, because I understand they can be helpful. If you prefer to write something different, I am sure I will enjoy that too. I hope this letter is helpful; I am sorry it is so long.
Requests
Fandom: The Sandbaggers - TV series
Characters: Any
Optional Details: Gen definitely preferred - a nice twisty plot that shows Machiavellian machinations with a surprise ending please. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. I am sure I will like any idea you come up with as I adore this fandom and cannot get enough of it.
Possible ideas: Jeff Ross comes into his own and for once runs rings round Neil. Perhaps Wellingham teams up with Willie to manipulate Neil. Why not tell us a story of Neil as a baby Sandbagger? How about the first op Neil ran as D.Ops (and his unease at sitting in the chair sending out his agents instead of being out there himself)? How did Neil and Willie become such good friends? Was that because of an op where they had to depend on each other in a ‘life-and-limb’ situation? Marianne becomes a Sandbagger and proves herself exceptionally good (turns out she’s even more twisty than Neil). What would happen if, in Whitehall machinations, for once John Tower Gibbs and Neil were on the same side against Sir Geoffrey Wellingham? The Russian who paired up with Willie Caine in Cyprus resurfaces on another op, this time with Mike Wallace. How about backstory? One of the episodes mentions Bob Cheever as someone who helped Neil years ago in Hong Kong; why not tell us about that op? I love this fandom and anything you write will be a ‘plus’.
Fandom: The Last of the Wine - Mary Renault
Characters: Any
Optional Details: As always, I really would like something that explores Phaedo; but having said that, if he is not the character that grabs your attention, that is OK as I would be extremely pleased with anything based on this novel; it remains my favourite of the Renault historicals. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. Although I generally prefer Gen this is one of the fandoms in which I have actually written a couple of sex scenes - semi-explicit (but not very). Please see my own fan-fic on AO3 if you want to see the kind of sensual-sex-to-fade-out thing that matches my taste.
Possible ideas: Anything which sheds a bit more light on Phaedo’s character. For example: how did he manage during the siege of Athens? Alternatively: explore the relationship Phaedo has with Sokrates. Or: what is Phaedo’s relationship with one or more of the following: Lysis, Kritias, Plato or Xenophon? Or (post-book) how did Phaedo react to Sokrates’ death? Ideas for non-Phaedo stories: Lysis and Thalia - what was their relationship like? Tell us something from Arete’s point of view. What does she think of Alexias’ decision to divert money he earns during the siege toward helping Lysis instead of buying food for his sister Charis, and mother (and unborn brother)? Or how about Arete quietly learning philosophy from Alexias, with him all unknowing, but her conclusions, coloured by the position of women in Athenian society, are distinctly different from the ones Alexias draws. Myron watches Alexias as he grows up, seeing the parallels and opposites between his son and himself in their choices and experiences. Show the progression of Lysis’ relationship with Alexias as seen through the eyes of their fathers. How about a glimpse of the future? Perhaps Alexias’ son Myron shows a talent for pankration, and watching his son practice reminds Alexias of seeing Autolykos compete. What was it like to be Sokrates’ son or wife and see him spend so much of his time and attention on people who were not his family?
Fandom: The Alexander Trilogy - Mary Renault
Characters: Any
Optional Details: I am very fond of stories which include minor characters interacting with one or more of the major characters in ways which reveal more of the subtleties of either relationships or ethical dilemmas. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. Although I generally prefer Gen this is one of the fandoms in which I have actually written a couple of sex scenes - semi-explicit (but not very). Please see my own fan-fic on AO3 if you want to see the kind of sensual-sex-to-fade-out thing that matches my taste.
Possible Ideas: Show us more of Alexander’s campaigns before he and Bagoas meet. If you want to show them from someone else’s perspective (e.g. Perdikkas, Ptolemy, the common foot soldier, Antipater, etc) all the better. Alexander, Hephaistion and Roxane: the eternal triangle. Alexander and Sisygambis: show us their relationship developing. Eurydike channelling the shade of Alexander. Kleopatra as she grows up. Life in the Persian harem: the women’s power bases and how they change as Darius loses control and Alexander’s campaigns continue. Bagoas after Alexander’s death: how does he rebuild his life?
Fandom: Stalky & Co - Rudyard Kipling
Characters: Any
Optional Details: I definitely prefer Gen for this fandom. What I really want is another ‘chapter’ with Study 5 up to its usual Machiavellian antics, getting the best of the masters, but the Head (at least) being the downy bird that he is, and possibly the Padre, seeing through it. Though if you want to reverse things a bit and have King get the upper hand for once, I can live with that. Whatever it is, I would prefer you remain true to canon. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them.
Possible Ideas: Stalky pushing the boundaries in some way and getting getting back at King. Alternatively: Stalky becomes King’s greatest supporter (much to that master’s chagrin). Or throw a new element into the equation: there is a new boy at school who is terribly ‘pi’ and non-comformist to boot. How does Study 5 deal with him? In ‘Stalky’ it is De Vitre in a jam and Stalky who rescues. The next week it is De Vitre who gets Stalky out of a jam, much to his chagrin and the amusement of Beetle and M’Turk. Or: Prout decides to break up Study 5 by shuffling the trio round into other studies with other boys - mayhem ensues until the Study is reunited. Stalky on campaign in India (a crossover with Kim would be much appreciated).
Everything you may want to know (or not!) about source material, finding a beta familiar with canon, and my own stories
Sandbaggers is a TV series from the late 1970s starring Roy Marsden and Ray Lonnen as British spies during the cold war. It has been dubbed the best spy series ever! All three seasons are available on DVD. Many episodes can also be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sandbaggers. There is a relatively inactive live journal fan community for Sandbaggers at: http://sandbaggers.livejournal.com/.
If you need a beta who is familiar with canon, I recommend you ask there. A lot of information about the series can also be found at “The Ops Room” a fan website located here: http://www.opsroom.org/.
Information about existing Renault-universe fan-fiction is available on the wiki about Renault fan activities at: http://fanlore.org/wiki/Mary_Renault. Renault’s novels are easily borrowed from most public libraries, and quite a lot of them can be bought in electronic format as well as paperback from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=renault%20mary&sprefix=renault%2C+mary%2Caps%2C164. If you need help finding a beta for Renault fan-fic I suggest you ask at the Dreamwidth RenaultX community at: http://renaultx.dreamwidth.org/
Kipling’s novels can be readily found in any public library and Stalky is also available electronically free of charge at: http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/StalkyandCo/. There is a Kipling fan-community but, although it has a website (at: http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/index.htm) as far as I am aware they don’t really ‘do’ fan-fiction, so I have nowhere in particular to point you for a beta. My sister Greer has beta’d many of my stories and can be found at: http://greerwatson.livejournal.com/. Whether she’d be willing to beta your story, given how busy she is, I have no idea. But she does know Kipling’s works very well, and is very thorough.
If you aren’t sure what kind of thing I might like to receive, then I suggest you have a look at stories I have written. There are examples within each fandom I have requested on A03 at: http://archiveofourown.org/users/fawatson/works
What I like:
• I like stories that are character-driven and also those that are plot-driven (though I prefer the former), but as long as something is well-written I usually like anything (so I suggest you just opt for what you like to write).
• I have no preference about the story being serious or humorous; I think that sort of decision is best left to the author. Witty repartee in dialogue does appeal regardless of whether the theme of the story is serious or funny.
• I generally prefer stories that are true to canon, but occasionally do enjoy a well-written AU.
• Although I rarely write sexually explicit stories, I have no objection to reading them (unless it is for a fandom where I have explicitly asked for Gen). However, I prefer any sex to develop logically from the plot or exploring some aspect of character development; and as a general rule I agree with Renault that it is better to leave the details to the reader’s imagination
This entry was originally posted at http://fawatson.dreamwidth.org/35139.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
Thank you for writing my request. I really hope you have fun with it, enjoying the prompts you received. I provided optional details, because I understand they can be helpful. If you prefer to write something different, I am sure I will enjoy that too. I hope this letter is helpful; I am sorry it is so long.
Requests
Fandom: The Sandbaggers - TV series
Characters: Any
Optional Details: Gen definitely preferred - a nice twisty plot that shows Machiavellian machinations with a surprise ending please. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. I am sure I will like any idea you come up with as I adore this fandom and cannot get enough of it.
Possible ideas: Jeff Ross comes into his own and for once runs rings round Neil. Perhaps Wellingham teams up with Willie to manipulate Neil. Why not tell us a story of Neil as a baby Sandbagger? How about the first op Neil ran as D.Ops (and his unease at sitting in the chair sending out his agents instead of being out there himself)? How did Neil and Willie become such good friends? Was that because of an op where they had to depend on each other in a ‘life-and-limb’ situation? Marianne becomes a Sandbagger and proves herself exceptionally good (turns out she’s even more twisty than Neil). What would happen if, in Whitehall machinations, for once John Tower Gibbs and Neil were on the same side against Sir Geoffrey Wellingham? The Russian who paired up with Willie Caine in Cyprus resurfaces on another op, this time with Mike Wallace. How about backstory? One of the episodes mentions Bob Cheever as someone who helped Neil years ago in Hong Kong; why not tell us about that op? I love this fandom and anything you write will be a ‘plus’.
Fandom: The Last of the Wine - Mary Renault
Characters: Any
Optional Details: As always, I really would like something that explores Phaedo; but having said that, if he is not the character that grabs your attention, that is OK as I would be extremely pleased with anything based on this novel; it remains my favourite of the Renault historicals. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. Although I generally prefer Gen this is one of the fandoms in which I have actually written a couple of sex scenes - semi-explicit (but not very). Please see my own fan-fic on AO3 if you want to see the kind of sensual-sex-to-fade-out thing that matches my taste.
Possible ideas: Anything which sheds a bit more light on Phaedo’s character. For example: how did he manage during the siege of Athens? Alternatively: explore the relationship Phaedo has with Sokrates. Or: what is Phaedo’s relationship with one or more of the following: Lysis, Kritias, Plato or Xenophon? Or (post-book) how did Phaedo react to Sokrates’ death? Ideas for non-Phaedo stories: Lysis and Thalia - what was their relationship like? Tell us something from Arete’s point of view. What does she think of Alexias’ decision to divert money he earns during the siege toward helping Lysis instead of buying food for his sister Charis, and mother (and unborn brother)? Or how about Arete quietly learning philosophy from Alexias, with him all unknowing, but her conclusions, coloured by the position of women in Athenian society, are distinctly different from the ones Alexias draws. Myron watches Alexias as he grows up, seeing the parallels and opposites between his son and himself in their choices and experiences. Show the progression of Lysis’ relationship with Alexias as seen through the eyes of their fathers. How about a glimpse of the future? Perhaps Alexias’ son Myron shows a talent for pankration, and watching his son practice reminds Alexias of seeing Autolykos compete. What was it like to be Sokrates’ son or wife and see him spend so much of his time and attention on people who were not his family?
Fandom: The Alexander Trilogy - Mary Renault
Characters: Any
Optional Details: I am very fond of stories which include minor characters interacting with one or more of the major characters in ways which reveal more of the subtleties of either relationships or ethical dilemmas. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them. Although I generally prefer Gen this is one of the fandoms in which I have actually written a couple of sex scenes - semi-explicit (but not very). Please see my own fan-fic on AO3 if you want to see the kind of sensual-sex-to-fade-out thing that matches my taste.
Possible Ideas: Show us more of Alexander’s campaigns before he and Bagoas meet. If you want to show them from someone else’s perspective (e.g. Perdikkas, Ptolemy, the common foot soldier, Antipater, etc) all the better. Alexander, Hephaistion and Roxane: the eternal triangle. Alexander and Sisygambis: show us their relationship developing. Eurydike channelling the shade of Alexander. Kleopatra as she grows up. Life in the Persian harem: the women’s power bases and how they change as Darius loses control and Alexander’s campaigns continue. Bagoas after Alexander’s death: how does he rebuild his life?
Fandom: Stalky & Co - Rudyard Kipling
Characters: Any
Optional Details: I definitely prefer Gen for this fandom. What I really want is another ‘chapter’ with Study 5 up to its usual Machiavellian antics, getting the best of the masters, but the Head (at least) being the downy bird that he is, and possibly the Padre, seeing through it. Though if you want to reverse things a bit and have King get the upper hand for once, I can live with that. Whatever it is, I would prefer you remain true to canon. My plot bunnies include characters not nominated but please don’t feel you have to include any of the non-nominated characters. I offer these in case they help, so if they don’t please ignore them.
Possible Ideas: Stalky pushing the boundaries in some way and getting getting back at King. Alternatively: Stalky becomes King’s greatest supporter (much to that master’s chagrin). Or throw a new element into the equation: there is a new boy at school who is terribly ‘pi’ and non-comformist to boot. How does Study 5 deal with him? In ‘Stalky’ it is De Vitre in a jam and Stalky who rescues. The next week it is De Vitre who gets Stalky out of a jam, much to his chagrin and the amusement of Beetle and M’Turk. Or: Prout decides to break up Study 5 by shuffling the trio round into other studies with other boys - mayhem ensues until the Study is reunited. Stalky on campaign in India (a crossover with Kim would be much appreciated).
Everything you may want to know (or not!) about source material, finding a beta familiar with canon, and my own stories
Sandbaggers is a TV series from the late 1970s starring Roy Marsden and Ray Lonnen as British spies during the cold war. It has been dubbed the best spy series ever! All three seasons are available on DVD. Many episodes can also be found on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sandbaggers. There is a relatively inactive live journal fan community for Sandbaggers at: http://sandbaggers.livejournal.com/.
If you need a beta who is familiar with canon, I recommend you ask there. A lot of information about the series can also be found at “The Ops Room” a fan website located here: http://www.opsroom.org/.
Information about existing Renault-universe fan-fiction is available on the wiki about Renault fan activities at: http://fanlore.org/wiki/Mary_Renault. Renault’s novels are easily borrowed from most public libraries, and quite a lot of them can be bought in electronic format as well as paperback from Amazon at: http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_0_13?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=renault%20mary&sprefix=renault%2C+mary%2Caps%2C164. If you need help finding a beta for Renault fan-fic I suggest you ask at the Dreamwidth RenaultX community at: http://renaultx.dreamwidth.org/
Kipling’s novels can be readily found in any public library and Stalky is also available electronically free of charge at: http://www.telelib.com/authors/K/KiplingRudyard/prose/StalkyandCo/. There is a Kipling fan-community but, although it has a website (at: http://www.kiplingsociety.co.uk/index.htm) as far as I am aware they don’t really ‘do’ fan-fiction, so I have nowhere in particular to point you for a beta. My sister Greer has beta’d many of my stories and can be found at: http://greerwatson.livejournal.com/. Whether she’d be willing to beta your story, given how busy she is, I have no idea. But she does know Kipling’s works very well, and is very thorough.
If you aren’t sure what kind of thing I might like to receive, then I suggest you have a look at stories I have written. There are examples within each fandom I have requested on A03 at: http://archiveofourown.org/users/fawatson/works
What I like:
• I like stories that are character-driven and also those that are plot-driven (though I prefer the former), but as long as something is well-written I usually like anything (so I suggest you just opt for what you like to write).
• I have no preference about the story being serious or humorous; I think that sort of decision is best left to the author. Witty repartee in dialogue does appeal regardless of whether the theme of the story is serious or funny.
• I generally prefer stories that are true to canon, but occasionally do enjoy a well-written AU.
• Although I rarely write sexually explicit stories, I have no objection to reading them (unless it is for a fandom where I have explicitly asked for Gen). However, I prefer any sex to develop logically from the plot or exploring some aspect of character development; and as a general rule I agree with Renault that it is better to leave the details to the reader’s imagination
This entry was originally posted at http://fawatson.dreamwidth.org/35139.html. Please comment there using OpenID.