Dear author,

First off: Hello and thank you for writing for me! This year has been pretty much terrible for everyone, so let's all gather 'round and tell some stories to cheer each other up!

I hope you'll forgive me that huge chunks of my letter (*coughs*including this apology*coughs*) are copied from previous years--my preferences and requests are pretty stable.

Most of my requests are very broad and/or brainstorm-y. Part of that is because I really don't have particularly concrete expectations or must-haves, and the thing I like most about a gift is the surprise. In addition, I want the best you can offer (I'm picky like that ;)), and I want to give you free rein for that. So, seriously: everything I suggested is just that--a suggestion. When I say "any characters" or "any genre", I mean that! Even if I'm talking about specific characters or scenarios in the prompt--that was just what my mind could come up with at the time. Doesn't mean that I won't enjoy another story more, just because I didn't come up with that idea.

In conclusion: Do whatever you feel works best for you and feel free to ignore pretty much everything I'm saying here or in my prompts if that helps you to write a good story.

However, if you'd like some more info about my preferences, here it is.


I generally like:

- Worldbuilding and The Department of Backstory. The main reason I got into fandom was that I wondered about all the details that are never explained in canon. Where do the characters come from? What made them the way they are? Which part of their world have we never seen and how does it function? I also like future fic, for similar reasons.

- Gen fic and character studies. I like romance--in all gender combinations--but I'm picky about my ships. I have listed ship options and preferences for each fandom below. I think the general rule is: if I mention a pairing in my prompt, writing about that pairing is good but not at all required. I love gen fic for the reasons above--it's an opportunity to explore the motives, experiences and personality of a character beyond what's provided in canon.

- Minor characters. I'm a sucker for minor characters, because there's so much room for speculation and experimentation there.

- Character interaction and exploration of relationships. I'm generally fond of fics that explore the relationship dynamics between characters--whether that's romance, friendship, or antagonism. Good, in-character dialogue is awesome. Snarky, witty dialogue and banter is beyond awesome.


About AUs: I like AUs, but I don't have a preference for them. And I'd like the spirit of the original 'verse to be recognizable in an AU.

About crossovers and fusions: I love crossovers and fusions! If you have a sudden inspiration for a crossover or fusion between any of my fandom requests, I salute you and I want that fic now!

About the general tone: I'm easy here. I'll read dark, angsty stuff as well as teeth-rotting fluff. I've gotten character death fic, established relationship fluff, wacky crossovers, a horror story, surrealism, and introspective character studies for past Yuletides, and loved all of them to bits. That said, this year I think I'm not up to anything that touches too much on any of the real-life issues (from lockdowns to political clusterfucks of various kinds) we're all facing right now. If you want to go with fluff, I have a huge kink for established relationships (romantic or platonic).

DNW: I have no hard DNWs, squicks, or triggers. I can be convinced to read anything as long as there's an element in there that interests me (see above). That said, I don't want graphic gore/violence/abuse for the sake of it. No character bashing.




Something about each of my fandoms:

Calvin and Hobbes
- My request: I adore the strip, and I'll take any kind of fic for it! All and any characters are fine! Run wild! If the story doesn't go anywhere, put it in the Transmogrifier and see it turn into something completely different (and possibly covered in radioactive slime). If you want to go in a romantic direction, the following pairings are fine with me: Calvin's parents, Calvin/Susie, anyone else/anyone else.

- Some more info: Calvin and Hobbes is a staple Yuletide request for me. With comic strip fandoms I'm always interested to see how the source material translates to another medium. Seeing a typical Calvin and Hobbes comic strip in prose is often not that interesting (but hey, feel free to prove me wrong!), but I've read some great crossover and fusion fics, explorations of minor characters or POV changes, and Calvin-as-a-teen/grownup in this fandom. So yeah, any of those would be great, especially fusions/crossovers or fic about any of the minor characters. I'd happily read about a day in the life of Miss Wormwood without any appearance by Calvin or Hobbes. Particular minor character favorites would be Susie, Rosalyn, and Calvin's parents. But as I said: All and any characters are welcome!

If you decide to go with Calvin's parents, this note from a past Dear Author letter of mine is still relevant, I think: Calvin's dad always seemed to have much more personality (defined as a recognizable voice and also interests and a life independent from Calvin) than Calvin's mom. I love him, he is great. But I always have mixed feelings about Calvin's mom. I'm not quite sure whether to read her lack of personality (outside of her roles of wife and mother) as a failure of the comic or a very astute observation on the typical room for self-expression that our society grants to mothers in contrast to fathers. Because the comic is from Calvin's perspective and because I love it, I tend to give Bill Watterson the benefit of the doubt. But fanfiction means that she can finally be a character in her own right!

Tricksters series - Tamora Pierce
- My request: Character: Winnamine Balitang. I just want some Winnamine backstory!

- Some more info: I think my requests over the years fall into two categories: Fandoms I requested because I just love them, and fandoms I requested because I had a specific prompt in mind and it's been bugging me. Even though I requested a character, this request is actually in the first camp. I grew up with Alanna, I regularly reread all the Tortall books, and I really would appreciate any and all fic for this series. So if you checked "any characters" and now you don't feel like writing about Winnamine, that is absolutely fine with me too! I would also really enjoy fic that's just about any of the characters or worldbuilding. Do what you want, and I'll cheer for you!

If you do go with Winnamine: I requested her because she's awesome and we don't know much about her. She comes from an incredibly privileged background, but she doesn't hold many of the prejudice and racist attitudes that other Copper Isle nobles have. She made very interesting choices in befriending Sarugani and marrying Mequen. It can't have been easy for her, and I'd like to know more about her.


Die unendliche Geschichte | The Neverending Story - Michael Ende
- My request: This is somewhat complicated. I think Michael Ende is a brilliant writer. I loved his books as a child. I can't stand reading them to my own daughters because, as an adult, I find the misogyny striking. I think I feel retroactively betrayed by this especially because the literary quality is so high. These are deeply thoughtful, well-written books, and they just disregard female characters and female agency. So, I'd like some kind of twist on that, to cleanse my palate, if you will -- whether it's focusing on any of the female characters that have been relegated to clichéd bit roles, genderbending the whole thing, or whatever else you can come up with.

- Some more info: I have delivered an embarrassing number of unwanted monologues on the treatment of women and girls in Michael Ende's novels over the last couple of years. I clearly have Feelings. Let's be clear: Michael Ende is not the only 20th century children's book author who did a somewhat terrible job on gender (and race) representation. The reason he bugs me especially is because, as a too-introverted, too-bookish, too-thoughtful kid, there was so much to love about this book, and these days, it feels very much like it was never meant to be loved by me. So this is really a request for catharsis, or reclaiming of that love.

The Kiss - Inna Ruda (Painting)
- My request: I mean, this is just too precious for words, but I still want a thousand (or more) about this.

- Some more info: Just look at it! If you do not feel deeply moved by this one-of-a-kind exemplar of art and (cat) psychology, then I don't know what to tell you. Just gaze at that grumpy cat's face until inspiration strikes.


I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with this assignment, and that you have a great Yuletide!