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Night on Fic Mountain: Dear Author Letter
Hello there, mystery creator!
First, thank you for writing for me. I'm delighted that you too love one of these series that is near and dear to my heart.
That said, I'm including a "dear author" letter because I think it's important and helpful to give an idea of things I like to see in stories and things I really dislike and would like to see avoided, but beyond the things I've said in my sign-up itself, I don't have a lot of prompt scenarios this year. The fandoms I chose are mostly ones I've loved for a really, really long time, and what I'm hoping for is character study or otherwise really character-driven fic.
In general I adore stories with thoughtful characterization, good pacing, and strong worldbuilding. I love examinations of friendship and the ways people depend on each other. I like seeing tropes inverted or played with in unexpected ways. With these fandoms, a really good take on a character's voice, or vibrant details and an intriguing portrayal of the canon world, will really endear me to your story.
When it comes to things I'd like to avoid, I'm not big on angst. I can happily read things about characters making tough choices or being in untenable situations, but I just really dislike tragedy for tragedy's sake, or anything really over-the-top horrible. I'd appreciate if you also avoid any content to do with rape, abuse, terminal or mental illnesses, or homophobia as a plot device. I'd also prefer not to receive anything with pregnancy or child-rearing, or foot fetishes.
Besides these really basic details, allow me to talk a little about my fandoms
Young Wizards
This book series is one of my absolute favorites from my childhood and as I said in my sign-up, Dairine is one of my favorite characters. I have no suggestions for plot or scenarios beyond "Dairine character study" and "Dairine being awesome in some context" but I would like to say that I really enjoy the worldbuilding of these books as it contributes to the magic system/what it means to be a wizard.
Regarding the canon, I first read the books as a young teenager, which means I've read books 1-5. I've recently begun a reread, so I would appreciate no spoilers for farther than the fifth book, as I do intend to read the later volumes in the near future. If you'd like to set your fic at a point past book five, please still feel free! I only request that you not include specific details about events in later books which would spoil plot points.
If you have any ideas that would play with the powers that be and entropy and the general concept of a great deal of energy going into creating a new wizard, which they are hoped to pay back defending life, that kind of fic would be dear to my heart. I also love sibling relationships, which is why I mentioned that anything also including Nita would be lovely. Beyond these small suggestions, please follow your heart!
The Immortals
This is another book series near and dear to my heart since childhood. It's the first of Tamora Pierce's series that I read and Daine remains one of my favorite characters of all time. Most of all, I want a story about Daine that showcases both her talents and weaknesses, and I would be very pleased with character study fic. I love Tortall, and would also love if you'd like to delve into the world and talk about the immortals after the immortals war.
More than that though, I like the romance between Daine and Numair. I know there are people who don't like it being a romance, but I'm hoping that someone who signed up to write both characters also appreciates that dimension of their relationship. Theirs is the one that began my love for May-December romances and age gap relationships, not to mention my love for mentoring relationships (both those with sexual overtones and those entirely platonic). I would love to see fic that touches on both of those aspects.
Most of all, I would love to see the fic that touches on what's HARD because of the age difference? I want to see a story set a short ways after The Realms of the Gods and I want to see Daine and Numair sorting things out and putting their new life together. If not that, I really appreciate the way Numair is protective of Daine without actually trying to keep her from protecting herself, and any scenario that showcases his protectiveness or his perspective on Daine would be amazing. Please give me Numair's point of view! But honestly, anything that gives me more of these two will delight me.
HunterxHunter
I've loved this series for going on a decade now. I've read (most of) the manga, watched the 1999 anime, and got back into it with the 2011 anime, which I have watched to completion. I haven't read the manga past the chimera ants arc, but I am not worried about spoilers. Include any details you feel will make for a good fic.
For this exchange, I only asked for Gon as a character. He is hands-down my favorite character from the series and despite my weakness for shounen protagonists, is also my all-time favorite shounan protag. I want character study, I want personality, I want to see Gon put in his natural habitat making the kinds of perfect gut decisions he always makes in canon, but I also want to see him struggle and overcome that.
I don't really want ship fic, but since it's hard to write in a vacuum, I'd like if either Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, or Hisoka (I know, I know, he's not nominated -- but if you're feeling it) also feature in the story. Play to your strengths. I'd prefer not to receive fic that talks about how Gon takes Killua for granted toward the end of the chimera ants arc, or which involves events with Killua and Alluka. My ideal fic is one that showcases Gon's strengths as much as his weaknesses, and I feel that focusing on either of these canon events won't give me that in the way I'm hoping for.
I don't have a lot of specific scenario suggestions but -- something with Kurapika and revenge, on the advice Gon received not to become like him, something with Leorio and the way Gon relates to him, does it bring out strength? weakness? think about the fourth task of the Hunter exam and how Gon claimed he does better, doing things for friends. Something with Hisoka and how he both makes Gon more reckless but also makes him stronger? Heck, give me something entirely new with Gon and any of the Spiders and I will absolutely adore it, PLEASE give me Spiders if you feel up to it, I love them.
Overall, I just want fic that celebrates Gon as a character, for all his flaws. I'd love something action-y but I equally love quiet moments. As long as you love Gon in your writing it's likely I will love it too.
Oofuri
Oofuri is a newer love of mine, and I've only seen the anime. I would prefer not to receive fic containing spoilers for the manga, and would actually rather have nebulous future fic or vague mid-canon point fic that fic concretely tied to a specific place in canon. I would also love AUs more than anything.
One of the things I love about Oofuri is that to me, Abe and Mihashi's entire trajectory in the anime is a perfect analogue for two people in a relationship learning how to trust each other after bad experiences -- Mihashi with his previous team and the number that did on his self-esteem, and Abe with his previous (abusive ex) pitcher and the handful of hangups that experience gave him. What I want to see most of all is fic that touches on how good they are for each other, and how a lot of what works with them is intuition rather than conscious understanding -- though I'd love to see each of them gaining a better awareness of how the other one ticks.
For this fandom, I do have a small list of scenarios I'd love to see:
-Any unfamiliar non-baseball situation where Mihashi gets worked up/nervous and Abe works to calm him down.
-Good dom Abe -- with or without actual sex, but a romantic iteration of Abe calling the shots for Mihashi's comfort, so that Mihashi can rely on him and relax.
-Domestic, caretaking scenarios in general.
-Any AU where Abe is in a protector role relative to Mihashi. One thing I've continually thought about is the sci-fi AU with Mihashi actively troubleshooting in a VR environment while programmer Abe directs him. Abe and Mihashi in space. Abe and Mihashi learning magic together. I just really love AUs, I will love it if you give me a cute abemiha AU!
The thing I'd like to see most IS any kind of fantastical AU, because I'd really love to see Abe and Mihashi's dynamic from the series translated into another context. Know that it's my first pick and I will love you forever, but if you're not feeling up to that, my main priority is just to see the overwhelmingly good dynamic they have showcased.
Anyway, in closing, the fandoms I've picked this year are mostly ones I've loved for many years and all ones I love for the CHARACTERS most of all, especially the ones I selected. I've tried to give a lot of insight into what I love about these series and what I'd love to see in fic, but the #1 rule to making me happy is just -- love the character, portray them as well as you can, for their strengths and their weaknesses.
And thank you, for writing for me!
(Also if you're really enthusiastic to write porn I might write a quick and dirty second post about my Porn Opinions in another day or two)
First, thank you for writing for me. I'm delighted that you too love one of these series that is near and dear to my heart.
That said, I'm including a "dear author" letter because I think it's important and helpful to give an idea of things I like to see in stories and things I really dislike and would like to see avoided, but beyond the things I've said in my sign-up itself, I don't have a lot of prompt scenarios this year. The fandoms I chose are mostly ones I've loved for a really, really long time, and what I'm hoping for is character study or otherwise really character-driven fic.
In general I adore stories with thoughtful characterization, good pacing, and strong worldbuilding. I love examinations of friendship and the ways people depend on each other. I like seeing tropes inverted or played with in unexpected ways. With these fandoms, a really good take on a character's voice, or vibrant details and an intriguing portrayal of the canon world, will really endear me to your story.
When it comes to things I'd like to avoid, I'm not big on angst. I can happily read things about characters making tough choices or being in untenable situations, but I just really dislike tragedy for tragedy's sake, or anything really over-the-top horrible. I'd appreciate if you also avoid any content to do with rape, abuse, terminal or mental illnesses, or homophobia as a plot device. I'd also prefer not to receive anything with pregnancy or child-rearing, or foot fetishes.
Besides these really basic details, allow me to talk a little about my fandoms
Young Wizards
This book series is one of my absolute favorites from my childhood and as I said in my sign-up, Dairine is one of my favorite characters. I have no suggestions for plot or scenarios beyond "Dairine character study" and "Dairine being awesome in some context" but I would like to say that I really enjoy the worldbuilding of these books as it contributes to the magic system/what it means to be a wizard.
Regarding the canon, I first read the books as a young teenager, which means I've read books 1-5. I've recently begun a reread, so I would appreciate no spoilers for farther than the fifth book, as I do intend to read the later volumes in the near future. If you'd like to set your fic at a point past book five, please still feel free! I only request that you not include specific details about events in later books which would spoil plot points.
If you have any ideas that would play with the powers that be and entropy and the general concept of a great deal of energy going into creating a new wizard, which they are hoped to pay back defending life, that kind of fic would be dear to my heart. I also love sibling relationships, which is why I mentioned that anything also including Nita would be lovely. Beyond these small suggestions, please follow your heart!
The Immortals
This is another book series near and dear to my heart since childhood. It's the first of Tamora Pierce's series that I read and Daine remains one of my favorite characters of all time. Most of all, I want a story about Daine that showcases both her talents and weaknesses, and I would be very pleased with character study fic. I love Tortall, and would also love if you'd like to delve into the world and talk about the immortals after the immortals war.
More than that though, I like the romance between Daine and Numair. I know there are people who don't like it being a romance, but I'm hoping that someone who signed up to write both characters also appreciates that dimension of their relationship. Theirs is the one that began my love for May-December romances and age gap relationships, not to mention my love for mentoring relationships (both those with sexual overtones and those entirely platonic). I would love to see fic that touches on both of those aspects.
Most of all, I would love to see the fic that touches on what's HARD because of the age difference? I want to see a story set a short ways after The Realms of the Gods and I want to see Daine and Numair sorting things out and putting their new life together. If not that, I really appreciate the way Numair is protective of Daine without actually trying to keep her from protecting herself, and any scenario that showcases his protectiveness or his perspective on Daine would be amazing. Please give me Numair's point of view! But honestly, anything that gives me more of these two will delight me.
HunterxHunter
I've loved this series for going on a decade now. I've read (most of) the manga, watched the 1999 anime, and got back into it with the 2011 anime, which I have watched to completion. I haven't read the manga past the chimera ants arc, but I am not worried about spoilers. Include any details you feel will make for a good fic.
For this exchange, I only asked for Gon as a character. He is hands-down my favorite character from the series and despite my weakness for shounen protagonists, is also my all-time favorite shounan protag. I want character study, I want personality, I want to see Gon put in his natural habitat making the kinds of perfect gut decisions he always makes in canon, but I also want to see him struggle and overcome that.
I don't really want ship fic, but since it's hard to write in a vacuum, I'd like if either Killua, Kurapika, Leorio, or Hisoka (I know, I know, he's not nominated -- but if you're feeling it) also feature in the story. Play to your strengths. I'd prefer not to receive fic that talks about how Gon takes Killua for granted toward the end of the chimera ants arc, or which involves events with Killua and Alluka. My ideal fic is one that showcases Gon's strengths as much as his weaknesses, and I feel that focusing on either of these canon events won't give me that in the way I'm hoping for.
I don't have a lot of specific scenario suggestions but -- something with Kurapika and revenge, on the advice Gon received not to become like him, something with Leorio and the way Gon relates to him, does it bring out strength? weakness? think about the fourth task of the Hunter exam and how Gon claimed he does better, doing things for friends. Something with Hisoka and how he both makes Gon more reckless but also makes him stronger? Heck, give me something entirely new with Gon and any of the Spiders and I will absolutely adore it, PLEASE give me Spiders if you feel up to it, I love them.
Overall, I just want fic that celebrates Gon as a character, for all his flaws. I'd love something action-y but I equally love quiet moments. As long as you love Gon in your writing it's likely I will love it too.
Oofuri
Oofuri is a newer love of mine, and I've only seen the anime. I would prefer not to receive fic containing spoilers for the manga, and would actually rather have nebulous future fic or vague mid-canon point fic that fic concretely tied to a specific place in canon. I would also love AUs more than anything.
One of the things I love about Oofuri is that to me, Abe and Mihashi's entire trajectory in the anime is a perfect analogue for two people in a relationship learning how to trust each other after bad experiences -- Mihashi with his previous team and the number that did on his self-esteem, and Abe with his previous (abusive ex) pitcher and the handful of hangups that experience gave him. What I want to see most of all is fic that touches on how good they are for each other, and how a lot of what works with them is intuition rather than conscious understanding -- though I'd love to see each of them gaining a better awareness of how the other one ticks.
For this fandom, I do have a small list of scenarios I'd love to see:
-Any unfamiliar non-baseball situation where Mihashi gets worked up/nervous and Abe works to calm him down.
-Good dom Abe -- with or without actual sex, but a romantic iteration of Abe calling the shots for Mihashi's comfort, so that Mihashi can rely on him and relax.
-Domestic, caretaking scenarios in general.
-Any AU where Abe is in a protector role relative to Mihashi. One thing I've continually thought about is the sci-fi AU with Mihashi actively troubleshooting in a VR environment while programmer Abe directs him. Abe and Mihashi in space. Abe and Mihashi learning magic together. I just really love AUs, I will love it if you give me a cute abemiha AU!
The thing I'd like to see most IS any kind of fantastical AU, because I'd really love to see Abe and Mihashi's dynamic from the series translated into another context. Know that it's my first pick and I will love you forever, but if you're not feeling up to that, my main priority is just to see the overwhelmingly good dynamic they have showcased.
Anyway, in closing, the fandoms I've picked this year are mostly ones I've loved for many years and all ones I love for the CHARACTERS most of all, especially the ones I selected. I've tried to give a lot of insight into what I love about these series and what I'd love to see in fic, but the #1 rule to making me happy is just -- love the character, portray them as well as you can, for their strengths and their weaknesses.
And thank you, for writing for me!
(Also if you're really enthusiastic to write porn I might write a quick and dirty second post about my Porn Opinions in another day or two)