tag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364Mira Mira off the wall......who's the geekiest one of all?miramira2014-10-24T22:02:26Ztag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:13316Yuletide Letter 20142014-10-13T03:53:11Z2014-10-24T22:02:26Zpublic0Dear Yuletide Writer,<br /><br />Hi! I may have gotten a tiny bit carried away with the length on this, so let's jump straight in, shall we?<br /><br />In terms of my general preferences, I like prequels, sequels, and fleshing out anecdotes from canon into fully-fledged stories, or turning quick glimpses of places we don't get to visit into a backdrop for adventure, intrigue, or exploration. I appreciate humor of both the light and dark variety, particularly when it comes in the form of snarky dialogue. I enjoy heroes who are forced to make difficult decisions, villains who are utterly convinced their cause is just, and outsiders who aren't afraid to interject a little blue and orange morality. Above all, I like plot: it can be of the introspective rather than the action-packed variety, but something should change for the characters by the time the story ends.<br /><br />I'm also fond of crossovers and really interested in connections between a creator's different works, whether they're made explicit or just seem like they'd fit together. You'll find that several of these prompts contain ideas along those lines, but please don't feel obligated to force those elements into the story or make them a major part of the plot rather than quick allusions if they don't inspire you. I think (and hope) the fandoms I've picked offer enough to work with on their own.<br /><br />I will never, ever be disappointed with a gen story, but there are a smattering of shippy ideas in the suggestions below. Similarly, I won't mind if you decide not to include any sex scenes - but if you do, I'd like them to serve as a means of advancing the plot, or adding layers of characterization, or providing a bit of comic relief, rather than taking up the entire focus of the story. I prefer to keep canon relationships intact, and unless otherwise noted, am more interested in het or femslash than slash or threesomes/moresomes if you're looking to partner up unattached characters of unspecified sexuality or introduce OC love interests. My kinks don't extend much past bondage of the sort involving blindfolds and scarves as restraints (unless these are characters who have canonically been known to switch gender just for the fun of it, and even then I'd like them to retain humanoid form), and I ask that all relationships depicted involve enthusiastically consenting adults who are not related to each other.<br /><br />Apart from the above caveats, my biggest "do not want" in any kind of fic is graphic, drawn-out torture, or anything that results in characters being left as shells of their former selves. I'm fine with end of the world scenarios, or character death, or less-than-happy endings, but I'd like everyone to go down fighting or for the survivors to soldier on with some hope that things will be better eventually.<br /><br />I think that covers everything...except fandom details, of course, which are provided below. If you still have questions or need additional inspiration, feel free to take a look at the many, many other letters lying around this journal, some of which contain repeats for some of these fandoms. Good luck, and have fun!<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/13316.html#cutid1">Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/13316.html#cutid2">Foreigner Series - C.J. Cherryh</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___3" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/13316.html#cutid3">The Long Earth Series - Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___3" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___4" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/13316.html#cutid4">Narbonic</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___4" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=13316" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:11103Yuletide reveals2014-01-01T20:15:55Z2014-01-01T20:15:55Zrejuvenatedpublic0Um, so, first of all, hi. Depression + overwork = really bad combination. I've been around; just too exhausted and uninspired to say anything, let alone do any writing. But I did manage to pull myself together for Yuletide, so here's hoping 2014 will be better.<br /><br />Before I post my stuff, all due praise for my gift fic, <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/1094336">A Night Out</a> by <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/Syksy/pseuds/Syksy">Syksy</a>, which is the sweet and funny Cats of Grand Central story I have been craving lo these many Yuletides. No real familiarity with canon required (though you might need a <a href="http://www.the-big-meow.com/Ailurin-Glossary">glossary</a> for some of the terms), so if you've ever wanted a cat's take on Madam Butterfly or opera in general, check it out.<br /><br />My main assignment was <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/1095671">All the Mirrored Ways</a>, a Justice League/Justice League Unlimited story starring Shayera Hol for <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/etothey/works">yhlee/etothey</a> (who also wrote some awesome Cyteen stories that deserve a look). It relies very heavily on a lot of moments of canon divergence, so not the most newbie-friendly story, but I loved having an excuse to write in the fandom and the conceit seems to have gone over well.<br /><br />And then, because I was so freaking excited to be engaging in creative activity again, I started on the treats. (Recipients whose other stories I haven't commented on, please don't think I don't love you; I'm just not familiar with your fandoms).<br /><br /><a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/1099217">Won't Be Long Now</a> for <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/littledust/works">littledust</a>, which by happy coincidence functions both as a post-canon stand-alone and as a sequel for my other <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/38599">In the Heights</a> Yuletide fic. I loved the prompt (Vanessa helps Nina in her foray into politics), and I love these characters, and I really wish I'd had more time for this one. Maybe I'll finish the trilogy as a New Year's Resolution.<br /><br /><a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/1098766">What We May Be</a> for <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/ironed_orchid/works">ironed_orchid</a>, a.k.a. the other other other <em>other </em>Galaxy Quest fic. Not that I'm really complaining, since it's more about character dynamics than the fandom meta-commentary that makes the source material so great, and I think it got a boost from all the other recs. And writing dialogue for Alan Rickman characters is just fun.<br /><br /><a href="http://archiveofourown.org/works/1101410">This Be the Verse</a> for <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/hollimichele/works">hollimichele</a> (who wrote the Galaxy Quest fic that got recced all over the place - and deservedly so - along with a Young Wizards story I really enjoyed). Another one I wish I'd had more time to play with, since I loved the idea of Matilda meeting her brother again and then never actually got around to the meeting, but I figured I could at least give her the next best person to talk to. And of course, since it's the story I scrambled to finish up just as Madness was closing, it's now the most popular thing I've ever written in terms of kudos and comments. (Again, not that I'm complaining.)<br /><br />So, how has everyone been?<br type="_moz" /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=11103" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:10791Yuletide Letter 20132013-10-12T21:54:47Z2013-10-13T23:28:00Zpublic0Hello, Yuletide Author!<br /><br />Thank you for agreeing to write for me. I try to be a relatively easy recipient to write for: my likes include plot, humor, and exploring worldbuilding or characterization tidbits that the author threw in but didn't get to flesh out, but more than anything, I'm just looking for a good read. <br /><br />Unless stated otherwise in the prompt, my default preference for most fics is gen and my kinks are on the vanilla side, but I'm okay with whatever rating your muse calls for as long as it's not 100% pure unadulterated (or adulterous) smut. The one other thing I ask that you stay away from is graphic torture and unrelenting darkfic. I know a couple of these fandoms deal with difficult and unpleasant topics, and I'm not asking you to ignore that entirely, or placing death and grief off-limits. But I'm a firm believer that sometimes what's left to the imagination can be more compelling than vivid description, and I'd like at least bittersweet or hopeful endings.<br /><br />I've provided a little bit more detail about my requests and the fandoms they come from below, along with the prompts. Please feel free to check the Yuletide tag at the bottom of this post for my past sign-ups, or my <a href="http://archiveofourown.org/users/MiraMira/works">Ao3 account</a> to get a better sense of the type of writing I usually do and what I like. I can be difficult to track down, so if you're unsure of anything, please just trust your instincts - and above all, have fun. I look forward to reading what you come up with!<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid1">The Magicians (spoilers)</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><div> </div><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid2">Batman Beyond</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___3" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid3">Kraken</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___3" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___4" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid4">Cats of Grand Central</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___4" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___5" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid5">The Long Earth</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___5" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___6" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/10791.html#cutid6">Cyteen</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___6" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=10791" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:9741Yuletide Letter 20112011-11-21T04:23:42Z2011-11-21T04:24:15Zpublic0Hello Yuletide Writer!<br /><br />I'm so very happy you're willing to write a fic for me. You can check the Yuletide tag on this journal for my past letters and requests (some of which I've recycled this year), but here's a summary of my likes and dislikes: plot and humor are always welcome; stories without even a ray of hope to offer the protagonists are not my kink; and while I've gone over specific shipping preferences (if any) for each fandom, when it comes to romance and sex, it's generally better to err on the side of too little rather than too much.<br /><br />I'm not sure there's much left to say about my requests apart from some tiny clarifications, but I'm reposting them here along with a few notes about their respective fandoms and helpful links in case it'll provide further guidance or inspire you to check out something new.<br /><br />Thank you again, and I'm sure I'll love whatever you end up writing!<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/9741.html#cutid1">Fandom #1: Narbonic</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/9741.html#cutid2">Fandom #2: Cats of Grand Central - Diane Duane</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___3" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/9741.html#cutid3">Fandom #3: Mistborn - Brandon Sanderson</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___3" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___4" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/9741.html#cutid4">Fandom #4: Tangled (2010)</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___4" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=9741" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:6398Yuletide Letter 20102010-11-12T22:04:34Z2010-11-12T22:08:29Zpublic1Dear Yuletide Writer,<br /><br />Thanks for agreeing to write for my fandom(s)! I apologize for not picking anything that's readily accessible on the Internet, but if you're anything like me, hopefully the relevant reference material is sitting nearby on your bookshelf.<br /><br />Most of what I said <a href="http://miramira.dreamwidth.org/5178.html?#cutid1">last year</a> about my general preferences still goes: I like plot regardless of whether the fic is cracky or introspective, and my one real turnoff is being cruel to characters for cruelty's sake. I don't think this year's batch of requests lends itself quite as well to crossovers, though, so don't knock yourself out trying to make that work.<br /><br />If you haven't scrolled down through the paragraph on shipping yet, don't: I'm going to skip all that this year, because I <i>do</i> have a scenario that I wouldn't mind seeing stray into more mature territory. Even so, I'll gladly trade mind-blowing sex for awkwardness with lots of character development, and I like my pairings fully consensual, legal, and on the vanilla side. (Which, in addition to ruling out things like incest and chan, means no hot action for any feline wizards. Sorry, Urruah!)<br /><br />So! On to the prompts. I figure if you've gotten matched with me at all, we probably have similar taste in literature and you might want to check out some of these books if you're not familiar with them already, so I've put them each under separate cuts and warned for spoilers where appropriate. I've tried to be as vague as possible about the latter, but better safe than sorry.<br /><br />Good luck, and have fun! I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with!<br /><br />- Mira<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/6398.html#cutid1">Connie Willis - Oxford Time Travel series</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/6398.html#cutid2">Diane Duane - Cats of Grand Central Station series</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___3" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/6398.html#cutid3">Brandon Sanderson - Mistborn series (mild spoilers)</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___3" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___4" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/6398.html#cutid4">Lev Grossman - The Magicians (spoilers)</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___4" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=6398" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> commentstag:dreamwidth.org,2009-05-01:172364:5178Dear Yuletide Writer...2009-11-11T08:18:25Z2009-12-09T19:04:32Zexcitedpublic0Thanks for taking this on! I'm afraid I don't have any previous Yuletide requests you can refer to, but feel free to poke around this journal for some examples of my own fic. I realize it's all in fandoms (oh, all right, <i>a</i> fandom) you can't use, though, so here's a general summary of my likes and dislikes:<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___1" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/5178.html#cutid1">Preferences</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___1" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br />Easy enough, right? If not, no worries; like I said, good writing's the important thing, and I'm sure you've got that covered. Now, let's move on to why you're really here:<br /><br /><span class="cut-wrapper"><span style="display: none;" id="span-cuttag___2" class="cuttag"></span><b class="cut-open">( </b><b class="cut-text"><a href="https://miramira.dreamwidth.org/5178.html#cutid2">Fandom-Specific Requests and Handy Resource Links</a></b><b class="cut-close"> )</b></span><div style="display: none;" id="div-cuttag___2" aria-live="assertive"></div><br /><br />I think that's everything you need to know. At least, I hope it is, because I'm afraid I'm a very difficult recipient to stalk: I try to keep my (friends-only) personal journal somewhat separate from this one, and I don't have too much time online anyway. (For any friends wondering how I expect to manage this <i>and</i> pass classes...I need to do <i>something</i> to try and maintain sanity.)<br /><br />Happy writing! I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with, and don't worry: I'm sure I'll love it!<br /><br /><img src="https://www.dreamwidth.org/tools/commentcount?user=miramira&ditemid=5178" width="30" height="12" alt="comment count unavailable" style="vertical-align: middle;"/> comments