Dear Yuletide writer...
Oct. 20th, 2023 11:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
goseawardHi Yuletide writer! Happy to see you!
(A lot of this letter is cribbed from years past...guess my tastes aren't changing that fast these days!)
As we all know, optional details are optional, so all of these are just some musings on things I might enjoy or reasons I requested the canon. Almost all of my canon requests this year are books with queer protagonists, and I've mostly requested real relationships from the books, but I'd be happy with gen/friendship/preslash stories as well. I also like the supporting characters in all of these works, so feel free to include as large a cast as you like. I'm happy with any rating; if explicit, fine with anything from the fluffiest vanilla fluff to serious kink.
I enjoy lots of genres. Most of my reading these days is historical romance, fantasy/SF, and mystery, but there's always stuff outside those genres I enjoy as well. It's very easy to make me happy, is what I'm getting at here. :)
In general, I tend to like fics with a lot of one-on-one time between the main pairing. Last time I did the fanfic trope sorter, my top 5 were "seemingly unrequited pining", "enemies to friends to lovers", "snowed-in cabin", "A/B/O", and "daemons" (with friends to lovers at #6). I don't use the AO3 bookmarking function, but I post recs on DW under the recs tag if you'd like to see the kinds of fics I've liked in the past.
DNWs: Major character death, child death, amnesia/memory issues, blood/bodily wastes in sex scenes, non-negotiated infidelity, humiliation, polyamory in the main pairing unless requested (background pairings/moresomes are fine), and kidfic or pregnancy fic (incidental children are fine, just not fic that focuses on parenting or child care).
Smut/kink loves, in no particular order: D/s, bondage, anal sex, lots of kissing, size kink (one partner much bigger than the other), size kink (big dick), stretching/large object penetration, double penetration, fisting, sounding, edging, consensual exhibitionism (other person(s) WANT to watch), stuff with mirrors, morning sex, people being overwhelmed by sex, laughter during sex, people being so desperate for sex they (for example) use bad lube or don't make it all the way to the bed. People being practical; people happily accommodating unexpected needs or requests from their partners. Sex tutoring (let me teach you exactly how to touch me). First times, including virgins, but also established relationships where they know how to do that thing their partner loves already. I have also totally been incepted into new kinks by fic, so this list has room for expansion :)
Smut/kink DNWs: breathplay, tickling, permanent injury, body modification as part of or for the purpose of sex, bound people left alone, watersports or other bodily wastes.
Below, the canons I requested and some ideas for each one. I included a little intro in case we matched on one fandom but the others look interesting to you.
Canon: The Sleeping Soldier - Aster Glenn Gray
Characters: Russell Krause, Caleb O'Connor
This is a standalone queer romance novel set in the mid-1960s, with one character who was cursed to a hundred years' sleep just after the Civil War--and wakes up and goes to college. I think the book does a great job at conveying attitudes that were actually different between the two eras about things like acceptable behavior and relationships between people.
In a general sense, I would love something that happens after the end of the book--I understand why it ends where it does, but I wanted more! Also, I keep thinking especially about an insight from the afterword: just because behavior like sleeping in the same bed was seen as normal in previous time periods, that doesn't mean it was always seen as straight. I'm not exactly sure how you'd address that in a fic, but I do keep thinking about it!
I only asked for Russell and Caleb in my request, but please feel free to include Michael, including as an occasional partner of Caleb's if you want to go a poly kind of route--I'd like Russell and Caleb to be the main pairing but exclusivity there is less important to me than it is with most pairings, and Michael is an important person in their lives.
Canon: England Series - K. J. Charles
Characters: Archie Curtis, Daniel da Silva
Two linked novels about the worst Edwardian house parties you can think of. If you haven't read these and you're thinking of picking them up, I will put a warning here that, compared to most KJ Charles novels, these have a lot of homophobia and xenophobia, and a lot of the slurs (as well as some of the violence) are actually on the page in Think of England. But I just love the two MCs of Think of England so much: Daniel da Silva, the snarky aesthete who's also smarter than everybody in the room, and Archie Curtis, who just wants to do the decent thing. I'm also interested in stories of queer discovery and Archie has a pretty nice one--and I like that it contrasts with Daniel's security in his identity, too.
I've been rereading some of Cat Sebastian's romances set in the 40s and 50s, and it struck me that Daniel and Archie's dynamic would work well in that kind of historical milieu--or, in fact, a bunch of others. Even to modern day, at least in some locations. So...my first request would be some kind of AU in a different time period, but dealing with some of the same issues they deal with in canon. I'd also be interested in some kind of situation that Archie and Daniel get into after they start working together. Or a time when either Archie or Daniel is challenged by something that happens between them, and how that leads to character growth or a change in their relationship.
Canon: The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison
Characters: Thara Celehar, Iäna Pel-Thenhior
Probably doesn't need a lot of introduction these days, but the Goblin Emperor series is a well-regarded set of secondary world fantasy novels. The society depicted is pretty different from current or historical societies on Earth, and I enjoy how immersive the everyday detail of the worldbuilding is. I liked the first book, but I adore the spinoffs (so far, The Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones--I hope we get more). They focus on Thara Celehar, a minor character from The Goblin Emperor, and his work as a witness for the dead--a cleric focused on death and its attendant rituals--as he deals with grief in his past and learns to trust in the friendships he has now. I like the small-scale mysteries, the detail of the everyday life of people outside the palace, the inventiveness of the death customs of the different religions in the city of Amalo where Thara lives. And I also really like the sweet and pretty obvious crushes that Thara and his friend Iäna have on each other.
Basically: Thara needs a hug. SOMEBODY GIVE THARA A HUG. I mean, that's really all I want out of this canon: for Thara to be able to accept that kind of care for someone, and for him to have someone to give it to him.
Canon: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Characters: Arek Harth rem ir Estraven, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
A classic of the science fiction literature genre, and also startingly close to slash fic in a lot of ways. :) One thing I've always appreciated about the book is that there are several levels of story to be appreciated; the first time I read it was Genly's story, then Gethen's, and then finally--and, for me, ever since--the focus is on Estraven's story.
I'm always surprised at the lack of stories about Estraven's great lost love, given that it's such a compelling backstory. This is a more cakes kind of situation for me, don't care if there's already a story with similar beats, I'm just starving for more about these two--any way you'd like to provide it. I wouldn't mind a compare/contrast with Estraven and Genly in a different time period, either, but I'd be fine with a story just about Arek and Therem in the past.
I have no preferences regarding pronoun use in the world of Gethen, go with what makes you comfortable.
Canon: Lilywhite Boys - K. J. Charles
Characters: Alec Pyne, Jerry Crozier
Another KJ Charles romance novel. This has a really high chance of being my favorite of hers at any given moment. Basically, Alec, a nobleman's son, hires Jerry and Jerry's partner--who are jewel thieves--to rob his rotten father. Except then he and Jerry embark on an ill-advised but super hot D/s relationship at the same time. It's got action sequences, blazing hot sex, and two of my favorite characters in all of KJC's oeuvre--the kind of book I gulped up all in one sitting when it came out.
Some things I'd be interested in seeing in this canon: a kink scene that stretches Alec or Jerry, but which they find they enjoy; more of Jerry's POV; something romantic set post-canon.
(A lot of this letter is cribbed from years past...guess my tastes aren't changing that fast these days!)
As we all know, optional details are optional, so all of these are just some musings on things I might enjoy or reasons I requested the canon. Almost all of my canon requests this year are books with queer protagonists, and I've mostly requested real relationships from the books, but I'd be happy with gen/friendship/preslash stories as well. I also like the supporting characters in all of these works, so feel free to include as large a cast as you like. I'm happy with any rating; if explicit, fine with anything from the fluffiest vanilla fluff to serious kink.
I enjoy lots of genres. Most of my reading these days is historical romance, fantasy/SF, and mystery, but there's always stuff outside those genres I enjoy as well. It's very easy to make me happy, is what I'm getting at here. :)
In general, I tend to like fics with a lot of one-on-one time between the main pairing. Last time I did the fanfic trope sorter, my top 5 were "seemingly unrequited pining", "enemies to friends to lovers", "snowed-in cabin", "A/B/O", and "daemons" (with friends to lovers at #6). I don't use the AO3 bookmarking function, but I post recs on DW under the recs tag if you'd like to see the kinds of fics I've liked in the past.
DNWs: Major character death, child death, amnesia/memory issues, blood/bodily wastes in sex scenes, non-negotiated infidelity, humiliation, polyamory in the main pairing unless requested (background pairings/moresomes are fine), and kidfic or pregnancy fic (incidental children are fine, just not fic that focuses on parenting or child care).
Smut/kink loves, in no particular order: D/s, bondage, anal sex, lots of kissing, size kink (one partner much bigger than the other), size kink (big dick), stretching/large object penetration, double penetration, fisting, sounding, edging, consensual exhibitionism (other person(s) WANT to watch), stuff with mirrors, morning sex, people being overwhelmed by sex, laughter during sex, people being so desperate for sex they (for example) use bad lube or don't make it all the way to the bed. People being practical; people happily accommodating unexpected needs or requests from their partners. Sex tutoring (let me teach you exactly how to touch me). First times, including virgins, but also established relationships where they know how to do that thing their partner loves already. I have also totally been incepted into new kinks by fic, so this list has room for expansion :)
Smut/kink DNWs: breathplay, tickling, permanent injury, body modification as part of or for the purpose of sex, bound people left alone, watersports or other bodily wastes.
Below, the canons I requested and some ideas for each one. I included a little intro in case we matched on one fandom but the others look interesting to you.
Canon: The Sleeping Soldier - Aster Glenn Gray
Characters: Russell Krause, Caleb O'Connor
This is a standalone queer romance novel set in the mid-1960s, with one character who was cursed to a hundred years' sleep just after the Civil War--and wakes up and goes to college. I think the book does a great job at conveying attitudes that were actually different between the two eras about things like acceptable behavior and relationships between people.
In a general sense, I would love something that happens after the end of the book--I understand why it ends where it does, but I wanted more! Also, I keep thinking especially about an insight from the afterword: just because behavior like sleeping in the same bed was seen as normal in previous time periods, that doesn't mean it was always seen as straight. I'm not exactly sure how you'd address that in a fic, but I do keep thinking about it!
I only asked for Russell and Caleb in my request, but please feel free to include Michael, including as an occasional partner of Caleb's if you want to go a poly kind of route--I'd like Russell and Caleb to be the main pairing but exclusivity there is less important to me than it is with most pairings, and Michael is an important person in their lives.
Canon: England Series - K. J. Charles
Characters: Archie Curtis, Daniel da Silva
Two linked novels about the worst Edwardian house parties you can think of. If you haven't read these and you're thinking of picking them up, I will put a warning here that, compared to most KJ Charles novels, these have a lot of homophobia and xenophobia, and a lot of the slurs (as well as some of the violence) are actually on the page in Think of England. But I just love the two MCs of Think of England so much: Daniel da Silva, the snarky aesthete who's also smarter than everybody in the room, and Archie Curtis, who just wants to do the decent thing. I'm also interested in stories of queer discovery and Archie has a pretty nice one--and I like that it contrasts with Daniel's security in his identity, too.
I've been rereading some of Cat Sebastian's romances set in the 40s and 50s, and it struck me that Daniel and Archie's dynamic would work well in that kind of historical milieu--or, in fact, a bunch of others. Even to modern day, at least in some locations. So...my first request would be some kind of AU in a different time period, but dealing with some of the same issues they deal with in canon. I'd also be interested in some kind of situation that Archie and Daniel get into after they start working together. Or a time when either Archie or Daniel is challenged by something that happens between them, and how that leads to character growth or a change in their relationship.
Canon: The Goblin Emperor Series - Katherine Addison
Characters: Thara Celehar, Iäna Pel-Thenhior
Probably doesn't need a lot of introduction these days, but the Goblin Emperor series is a well-regarded set of secondary world fantasy novels. The society depicted is pretty different from current or historical societies on Earth, and I enjoy how immersive the everyday detail of the worldbuilding is. I liked the first book, but I adore the spinoffs (so far, The Witness for the Dead and The Grief of Stones--I hope we get more). They focus on Thara Celehar, a minor character from The Goblin Emperor, and his work as a witness for the dead--a cleric focused on death and its attendant rituals--as he deals with grief in his past and learns to trust in the friendships he has now. I like the small-scale mysteries, the detail of the everyday life of people outside the palace, the inventiveness of the death customs of the different religions in the city of Amalo where Thara lives. And I also really like the sweet and pretty obvious crushes that Thara and his friend Iäna have on each other.
Basically: Thara needs a hug. SOMEBODY GIVE THARA A HUG. I mean, that's really all I want out of this canon: for Thara to be able to accept that kind of care for someone, and for him to have someone to give it to him.
Canon: The Left Hand of Darkness - Ursula K. Le Guin
Characters: Arek Harth rem ir Estraven, Therem Harth rem ir Estraven
A classic of the science fiction literature genre, and also startingly close to slash fic in a lot of ways. :) One thing I've always appreciated about the book is that there are several levels of story to be appreciated; the first time I read it was Genly's story, then Gethen's, and then finally--and, for me, ever since--the focus is on Estraven's story.
I'm always surprised at the lack of stories about Estraven's great lost love, given that it's such a compelling backstory. This is a more cakes kind of situation for me, don't care if there's already a story with similar beats, I'm just starving for more about these two--any way you'd like to provide it. I wouldn't mind a compare/contrast with Estraven and Genly in a different time period, either, but I'd be fine with a story just about Arek and Therem in the past.
I have no preferences regarding pronoun use in the world of Gethen, go with what makes you comfortable.
Canon: Lilywhite Boys - K. J. Charles
Characters: Alec Pyne, Jerry Crozier
Another KJ Charles romance novel. This has a really high chance of being my favorite of hers at any given moment. Basically, Alec, a nobleman's son, hires Jerry and Jerry's partner--who are jewel thieves--to rob his rotten father. Except then he and Jerry embark on an ill-advised but super hot D/s relationship at the same time. It's got action sequences, blazing hot sex, and two of my favorite characters in all of KJC's oeuvre--the kind of book I gulped up all in one sitting when it came out.
Some things I'd be interested in seeing in this canon: a kink scene that stretches Alec or Jerry, but which they find they enjoy; more of Jerry's POV; something romantic set post-canon.