Dear author,

Here we go! So sorry for the delay in posting this letter; I know it sucks to get a blank assignment!

I also 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 to give you free rein so you can write something you enjoy and are good at. 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

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

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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

Dear author,

First off: Hello and thank you for writing for me! Yuletide has become one of my favorite things about the holidays and I'm excited for this round!

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.

I have tried to give you multiple options and prompts for each fandom, and 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

Dear author,

First off: Hello and thank you for writing for me! I couldn't do Yuletide last year and i missed it! I'm so glad and excited to be back, Yuletide has become one of my favorite things about the holidays.

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.

I have tried to give you multiple options and prompts for each fandom, and 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

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

Dear author,

First off: Hello and thank you for writing for me! Yuletide is a treasured holiday tradition, and I'm always happy to share my love for these fandoms with someone else!

Secondly: I screwed up with my sign-up and discovered only after the deadline that my final edit, which included the optional details for Demon's Lexicon, didn't go through. If you were matched on Demon's Lexicon, don't worry! I love the series, I'll be thrilled to receive fic for it, and my optional details (which are of course optional) are here in this letter. I'm sorry I messed up!

Finally, I hope you'll forgive me that huge chunks of my letter are copied from previous years--my preferences and requests are pretty stable.

I have tried to give you multiple options and prompts for each fandom, and 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. You'll notice I selected "any characters" for all my requests. I meant 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.

Dear author,

First off: Hello and thank you for writing for me! I love Yuletide, it's a treasured holiday tradition, and I'm excited!

Secondly, I hope you'll forgive me if huge chunks of my letter are copied from previous years--my preferences and requests are pretty stable.

I have, for the most part, tried to give you multiple options and prompts for each fandom, and many requests are very broad and/or brainstorm-y. Part of that is because I really don't have particularly concrete expectations or must-have's, 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. In those cases where I said any characters in the request, I meant 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.

Dear author,

First things first: Thank you for doing this! I absolutely adore Yuletide; it is one of my favorite things about the holiday season, and just writing this letter makes me go all warm and fuzzy.

Secondly, I hope you'll forgive me if huge chunks of my letter 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-have's, 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. In those cases where I said any characters in the request, I meant 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 have 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.

Dear author,

First things first: Thank you for doing this! I absolutely adore Yuletide; it is one of my favorite things about the holiday season, and just writing this letter makes me go all warm and fuzzy.

Secondly, I hope you'll forgive me if huge chunks of my letter are copied from previous years -- my preferences and requests are pretty stable.

All 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-have's, 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. In those cases where I said any characters in the request, I meant 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 have 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.

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.

This was my third Yuletide, and the best ever.

I got three amazing gifts for my prompts: Two full-length fics for The Sound of Music and a Yuletide Madness Calvin & Hobbes X Doctor Who crossover. I have no idea who wrote any of these and I'm a little overwhelmed by the fact that I got two treats and I just want to hug and cuddle all my stories forever. I've also gotten a lot of positive feedback for my own (still secret) story (on which christycorr and firstlightofeos did a fantastic last-minute beta job), which keeps making me very happy. I love fandom.

The recs:

Title: Pasturale
Fandom: Sound of Music (1965)
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Baroness Elsa Schraeder
Genre: Character study, includes Elsa/Georg von Trapp and Elsa/OMC
Summary: The Baroness is usually seen as a villain in the Sound of Music. Maybe it's time to think again.

A detailed, thoughtful story about Elsa's life, from her first marriage to the time that she lets Georg go to be happy with another woman. This has a very introspective and perceptive Elsa, who is kinder and more thoughtful than you would perhaps expect from the movie. It also does an exceptional job of reconciling the movie's historical inaccuracies with actual events. All in all, the world depicted here is perfectly reconcilable with movie canon, but the characters have a little more shades and the world they're in has a little less technicolor than the movie's. I also love the writing style; it is very much in sync with the topic of the fic.

Title: Fourteen and Impossible
Fandom: Sound of Music (1965)
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Baroness Elsa Schraeder, Friedrich von Trapp
Genre: Gen
Summary: "The boy is looking imploringly at her again. Elsa sighs, and holds up a hand to summon the waiter."

It's a missing scene with Friedrich von Trapp (that's the oldest of the boys) and the Baroness witnessing the Anschluss together during Maria's and the Captain's holiday! The kind of story that you wouldn't expect, but that works on every level. Elsa is pitch perfect as the movie's supercilious, shrewd socialite, and her commentary on the von Trapps is brilliant and cutting. And still, she and Friedrich manage to find and comfort each other in a bad time. The ending is a great example of show, not tell, and it makes me choke up a little every time I read it.

Title: Holiday
Fandoms: Calvin & Hobbes, Doctor Who
Rating: General Audiences
Characters: Calvin, Hobbes, Melody Pond
Genre: Gen
Summary: It was just a silly old box.

A chance meeting between Calvin and Melody. It's brilliant characterisation and tongue-in-cheek jokes and canon references for both fandoms in 214 words. I absolutely adore Calvin & Hobbes crossovers, and this one demonstrates why.

All of these don't have nearly as many hits as they deserve, so check them out and leave spread the love!

I will make another rec post for Yuletide fics at a later date (I hope).

Dear author,

First things first: Thank you for doing this! Yuletide has become one of my favorite things about the holiday season (and there are a lot of contenders). I'm excited!

Most of my requests are pretty broad and/or brainstorm-y. Part of that is because I really don't have particularly concrete expectations or must-have's, 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. In those cases where I said any characters in the request, I meant that! Even if I'm talking about specific characters in the prompt--that was just what my mind could come up with for a prompt. Doesn't mean that I won't enjoy another story more, just because I didn't have 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.

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

( about my general prefences )

( about my fandoms )

I hope this helps. Most of all, I hope you have fun with my fandoms and prompts! Don't be terrified, I'm so happy you signed up for this, and I love you for it! And anybody who likes either of these fandoms has my implicit trust.