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Yuletide Letter 2019
Nov. 3rd, 2019 05:30 pmDear Yuletide Author,
How nice it is to welcome you here, to my bloggish-thing, which only ever seems to host Yuletide letters nowadays - one of which, you are reading! I hope you are happy with the task before you. I don't know if this is your first Yuletide or if you've been participating for years, I don't know if you're a confident writer or if you're someone who finds exchanges like this a challenge. If you are the least bit trepidatious though, please be assured that I am really easy to make happy. I'm sure whatever you write is going to be great and I am so excited to read it. If one of your problems is that you don't know what exactly to write, I hope some of the following fandom-specific babble will give you some ideas.
On the other hand, if you are super relaxed and ready to get going - hurray! Don't even bother to read the rest of the letter if you don't want to - the prompts are there just in case you're stuck, I'm really more interested in the story you want to write.
However you're feeling, I hope this turns out to be a ton of fun for you.
Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse
Characters: Reginald Jeeves, Bertie Wooster, Madeline Bassett, Honoria Glossop
I said in my sign up that I would love something canon-esque and that is true, but I don't necessarily mean that it has to be a perfect pastiche of Wodehouse's writing. A lot of writers in the fandom do that, which is great, but I know that not everyone is comfortable mimicking another's writing style. I meant more that I'd like something with the brightness and lightness of the originals, however you interpret that. I don't mind at all if you want to go for something a little melancholy (I've read such things in the past and loved them) but I'd prefer if you didn't go too dark with this one. Bertie is a precious baa lamb and needs to be protected!
If you're wanting to write Bertie and Jeeves, I am fine with it being platonic or romantic. As long as Jeeves is there, dragging Bertie out of the soup, trying to protect him from fashion disasters, and generally looking after him, I'm happy. Likewise, I think a story about a friendship developing between Madeline and Honoria would be ace, as would a story about the two of them falling in love. I've loved Madeline/Honoria stories in the past - I know butch/femme is such a stereotype but I have a soft spot for it, and I think Madeline's soupiness and Honoria's brashness would complement each other.
How nice it is to welcome you here, to my bloggish-thing, which only ever seems to host Yuletide letters nowadays - one of which, you are reading! I hope you are happy with the task before you. I don't know if this is your first Yuletide or if you've been participating for years, I don't know if you're a confident writer or if you're someone who finds exchanges like this a challenge. If you are the least bit trepidatious though, please be assured that I am really easy to make happy. I'm sure whatever you write is going to be great and I am so excited to read it. If one of your problems is that you don't know what exactly to write, I hope some of the following fandom-specific babble will give you some ideas.
On the other hand, if you are super relaxed and ready to get going - hurray! Don't even bother to read the rest of the letter if you don't want to - the prompts are there just in case you're stuck, I'm really more interested in the story you want to write.
However you're feeling, I hope this turns out to be a ton of fun for you.
Jeeves - P. G. Wodehouse
Characters: Reginald Jeeves, Bertie Wooster, Madeline Bassett, Honoria Glossop
I said in my sign up that I would love something canon-esque and that is true, but I don't necessarily mean that it has to be a perfect pastiche of Wodehouse's writing. A lot of writers in the fandom do that, which is great, but I know that not everyone is comfortable mimicking another's writing style. I meant more that I'd like something with the brightness and lightness of the originals, however you interpret that. I don't mind at all if you want to go for something a little melancholy (I've read such things in the past and loved them) but I'd prefer if you didn't go too dark with this one. Bertie is a precious baa lamb and needs to be protected!
If you're wanting to write Bertie and Jeeves, I am fine with it being platonic or romantic. As long as Jeeves is there, dragging Bertie out of the soup, trying to protect him from fashion disasters, and generally looking after him, I'm happy. Likewise, I think a story about a friendship developing between Madeline and Honoria would be ace, as would a story about the two of them falling in love. I've loved Madeline/Honoria stories in the past - I know butch/femme is such a stereotype but I have a soft spot for it, and I think Madeline's soupiness and Honoria's brashness would complement each other.
The story doesn't have to be focused on relationships though, I love plot-driven stories too. A modern AU could be fun but if you’re keeping to the original setting, I have a real soft spot for period detail of all kinds. Oh, and any other characters from the Jeeves canon (or elsewhere in the Wodehouse 'verse) are welcome.
Thank you again, dear Yuletider. Have fun!
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Tibby
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, costume porn, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, recipe fic, magic AU, detective AU, soulmate AU, crossover (any of Wodehouse's other works or something from a similar period setting would be ideal.)
The Red House Mystery - A. A. Milne
Characters: Antony Gillingham, Bill Beverly
I was so happy to see this as a fandom in Yuletide! I will never cease to be bitter over the fact that Milne gave us these two charming characters, all ready to solve a series of mysteries if he wanted them to, and then only wrote one book. Thank goodness for fan-fiction, eh?
Of course, I'm not expecting anyone to sit down and come up with a fiendish mystery for these two to solve, that would be a whole lot of pressure. I'm mostly interested in Tony and Bill doing things, anything, together. I'm happy with friendship or romance between them. I love the combination of Tony the sharp, clever eccentric and Bill the bluff, reliable every-man (who nevertheless has something special about him, that perhaps only Tony is perceptive enough to recognise). I suppose Holmes and Watson are the obvious comparison but they also remind me of my other favourites, Mike and Psmith.
I'd love backstory elaborating on how they first met. Missing scenes from the book. Future adventures. We only got one book so there's plenty to explore!
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, magic AU, soulmate AU, daemon AU.
Prompts:
Dracula (Movies - Hammer)
Characters: Van Helsing
Oh, Hammer films - I know they're B Movies but I've always thought they look beautiful and there's something about the best of them that is so, so good. If you know a way of incorporating all that chintzy Victoriana and bright red blood into writing, could you give me a bit of that, please? :p To be serious, though, all I need is Van Helsing and a bit of a gothic vibe.
I love Peter Cushing so much, and the way he plays Van Helsing just captures what I love about him. In the midst of all the creepiness and beneath a dark and serious exterior, there's always something gentle and gentlemanly about Van Helsing. I especially love him in The Brides of Dracula, in all his interactions with Marianne Danielle. (I do 'ship them together, if you would like to go down the romantic route and document their further adventures. Like I said in my sign up, I'd also be happy if you paired him with an original character. Or even Dracula, if that takes your interest.)
Any level of horror is fine, although I'd prefer it not to be too graphic.
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, magic AU, soulmate AU, daemon AU.
Prompts:
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Characters: Robert Frobisher, Rufus Sixsmith
These two characters are very dear to me. I'm very predictable, even to myself. Seeing them in the trailer is what persuaded me to read the book and then see the film. And, although I ended up loving many of the characters, these two are still my favourites. They break my heart on every re-watch.
You can visit either end of the emotional spectrum, though, with dear Frobisher and Sixsmith. Because I have a morbid obsession with the First World War, some kind of exploration of the effect of the war on Frobisher's family would be really interesting. Or something focused on the fact that Sixsmith had Frobisher’s letters with him when he died. If you want to go a little lighter, it would be nice to have a letter from the halcyon days detailing one of Frobisher’s misadventures. In fact, it would be just wonderful to finally have a responding letter from Sixsmith!
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, canon divergence AU, magic AU, soulmate AU (although in this case, it's hardly even an AU, is it?), daemon AU.
Prompts:
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
Characters: Catherine Morland, Henry Tilney, Eleanor Tilney, Isabella Thorpe
Northanger Abbey was the first Austen novel I ever read and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I love Catherine's run away imagination and the way it allows Austen to poke fun at gothic cliches. More than that, I love Catherine for her sweetness and goodness of spirit, despite her naive mistakes.
How much has she reformed by the end of the book? I'd love to get an idea of Catherine and Henry's married life, including whether Catherine gets herself into more trouble. Is there a new gothic novel that she can't resist reading, that puts new ideas into her head? Maybe she is truly reformed, though, and you'd just like to write something slice-of-life about her new day to day. That would be wonderful. I love slice-of-life, especially when combined with some character exploration.
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, costume porn, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, recipe fic, magic AU, detective AU, soulmate AU, crossover.
Prompts:
Prompts:
- Bertie comes home unexpectedly early from the Drones Club and gets to see Jeeves outside of his professional mode. (This would probably just mean that Jeeves is in pyjamas and reading a book, right? But the subtle difference might have an effect on how they see each other. Is Bertie surprised? Does Jeeves, usually an exemplary professional, feel caught out?)
- Twelfth Night - Bertie decides to make Jeeves the master for the day, much to Jeeves’ discomfort. Does Bertie eventually get tired, when he realises how much Jeeves does around the house? Does he assume Jeeves’ job is easy because he just isn’t doing it right? How long can Jeeves stand watching Bertie try to make a simple cup of tea? Or does Bertie surprise them both with an aptitude for housework?
- Costume party - So much potential for mistaken identity! Also, costumes. Which means undressing from costumes…
- Madeline writes Honoria a love poem - or vice versa.
- An AU where Honoria is Madeline's lady's maid and acts like her Jeeves - extracting her from unsuitable engagements, keeping her from carrying out harebrained, romantic schemes, proofreading her poetry, etc.
- One of the characters is roped into writing relationship advice for Milady's Boudoir.
The Red House Mystery - A. A. Milne
Characters: Antony Gillingham, Bill Beverly
I was so happy to see this as a fandom in Yuletide! I will never cease to be bitter over the fact that Milne gave us these two charming characters, all ready to solve a series of mysteries if he wanted them to, and then only wrote one book. Thank goodness for fan-fiction, eh?
Of course, I'm not expecting anyone to sit down and come up with a fiendish mystery for these two to solve, that would be a whole lot of pressure. I'm mostly interested in Tony and Bill doing things, anything, together. I'm happy with friendship or romance between them. I love the combination of Tony the sharp, clever eccentric and Bill the bluff, reliable every-man (who nevertheless has something special about him, that perhaps only Tony is perceptive enough to recognise). I suppose Holmes and Watson are the obvious comparison but they also remind me of my other favourites, Mike and Psmith.
I'd love backstory elaborating on how they first met. Missing scenes from the book. Future adventures. We only got one book so there's plenty to explore!
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, magic AU, soulmate AU, daemon AU.
Prompts:
- Bill and Tony spend Christmas together at a mutual acquaintance's country house. Neither were expecting to see the other and they're happy to be reunited. A lot of time is spent analysing the other guests (and their possible motives for murder/jewel theft/festive pranks?)
- AU with alternative first meetings - maybe a Sliding Doors sort of scenario?
- Wodehouse crossover - Tony is a member of the Drones Club and brings in Bill as a new member.
Dracula (Movies - Hammer)
Characters: Van Helsing
Oh, Hammer films - I know they're B Movies but I've always thought they look beautiful and there's something about the best of them that is so, so good. If you know a way of incorporating all that chintzy Victoriana and bright red blood into writing, could you give me a bit of that, please? :p To be serious, though, all I need is Van Helsing and a bit of a gothic vibe.
I love Peter Cushing so much, and the way he plays Van Helsing just captures what I love about him. In the midst of all the creepiness and beneath a dark and serious exterior, there's always something gentle and gentlemanly about Van Helsing. I especially love him in The Brides of Dracula, in all his interactions with Marianne Danielle. (I do 'ship them together, if you would like to go down the romantic route and document their further adventures. Like I said in my sign up, I'd also be happy if you paired him with an original character. Or even Dracula, if that takes your interest.)
Any level of horror is fine, although I'd prefer it not to be too graphic.
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, magic AU, soulmate AU, daemon AU.
Prompts:
- Crossovers: Carmilla? What We Do in the Shadows? Or (see below) Northanger Abbey?
- Origin story! Maybe covering how Van Helsing started out in his particular profession, or his first encounter with a vampire.
- What if Van Helsing were to be turned into a vampire? Would it change him completely? Could he fight against his darker nature?
- Van Helsing tries to retire but the forces of darkness keep finding him...
Cloud Atlas (2012)
Characters: Robert Frobisher, Rufus Sixsmith
These two characters are very dear to me. I'm very predictable, even to myself. Seeing them in the trailer is what persuaded me to read the book and then see the film. And, although I ended up loving many of the characters, these two are still my favourites. They break my heart on every re-watch.
You can visit either end of the emotional spectrum, though, with dear Frobisher and Sixsmith. Because I have a morbid obsession with the First World War, some kind of exploration of the effect of the war on Frobisher's family would be really interesting. Or something focused on the fact that Sixsmith had Frobisher’s letters with him when he died. If you want to go a little lighter, it would be nice to have a letter from the halcyon days detailing one of Frobisher’s misadventures. In fact, it would be just wonderful to finally have a responding letter from Sixsmith!
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, canon divergence AU, magic AU, soulmate AU (although in this case, it's hardly even an AU, is it?), daemon AU.
Prompts:
- AU: Frobisher lives! How would Sixsmith's life be different? Would they settle down or fall apart?
- Sixsmith contrives to visit Frobisher at his family home. What does he think of the Frobisher family? How does Frobisher himself fit in? I expect some sneaking into each other's bedrooms is involved - do they get caught?
- What is Sixsmith's life like between Frobisher's death and his own?
Northanger Abbey - Jane Austen
Characters: Catherine Morland, Henry Tilney, Eleanor Tilney, Isabella Thorpe
Northanger Abbey was the first Austen novel I ever read and it will always hold a special place in my heart. I love Catherine's run away imagination and the way it allows Austen to poke fun at gothic cliches. More than that, I love Catherine for her sweetness and goodness of spirit, despite her naive mistakes.
How much has she reformed by the end of the book? I'd love to get an idea of Catherine and Henry's married life, including whether Catherine gets herself into more trouble. Is there a new gothic novel that she can't resist reading, that puts new ideas into her head? Maybe she is truly reformed, though, and you'd just like to write something slice-of-life about her new day to day. That would be wonderful. I love slice-of-life, especially when combined with some character exploration.
Tropey Goodness: Domesticity, costume porn, pining, mutual pining, hurt/comfort, schmoop, fluff, retirement, epistolary, recipe fic, magic AU, detective AU, soulmate AU, crossover.
Prompts:
- Crossover ideas: Any other Austen novel; Dracula (Movies - Hammer), wherein Catherine becomes an apprentice vampire hunter?
- Hurt/comfort, Catherine is responsible for nursing Henry (or Eleanor or Isabella) through an illness. Alternatively, the two Tilneys look after Catherine. Possibly Catherine begins to worry that someone is poisoning her?
- 1980s AU: In which Catherine's obsessions are, perhaps, paperback horror novels and The Exorcist on VHS.
Thank you again, dear Yuletider. Have fun!
