back to life

Hello, Yuletide Writer!

First off, thanks so much for writing a story in one of these fandoms. I love them all, and will just be so glad to have any story for any of the requests.

Some of this letter has been duplicated from previous years, so if you've been here before, that is why things seem familiar. :)

In general, some things I love: great dialogue/witty banter, humor, stories that are bittersweet but still have happy, or at least hopeful endings. I love when stories make me laugh AND cry. I love canon explorations and world-building - what was going on here during this moment, and what was happening elsewhere - and backstory on people and things we only know a little about.

I love character studies, and relationship (not just romance - friendship, family, etc) stories - I always want to know more about these characters I love, why they did this or that, how they react in new situations, that kind of things. Caveat: I don't really love vignettes or navel-gazing pieces, where one character mulls for the entire story on his/her life decisions. I want interaction with other characters and dialogue.

I am very happy with genfic, but I'm fine with romance (slash and het) and porn too. I am also good with characters having babies - especially in futurefic, or where it's canon.

I love crossovers, if they fit with the fandom, time-framewise, tone-wise - I've got some suggestions below. But no pressure if crossovers aren't your thing!

If character pieces aren't your thing, I am extremely happy with adventures of all sorts, or plotty gen stories. Like I said, I love all these characters and want to see them in action. :D

Things I would not like in a fic: extremely grimdark stories. Unhappy endings. I like some hurt/comfort, but not character torture. I would not like genderswap/always-a-different-gender in any of these fandoms. Please no rape/non-con/dubcon, mpreg, misogyny, extreme graphic violence, or character-bashing.

As I said above, I'm good with romance, from fluffy moments, to NC-17 scenes (although I don't want a PWP only; I prefer plot with my porn).

( Specific fandom details... )

I hope that helped! And honestly, no pressure to fulfill any of the specific details! Anything you want to write in any of these fandoms will be great! I'm just happy to be getting a story from you.

Thanks again and have fun!

Big love,
Snax

Hello, everyone! Let's talk Yuletide!

First I got the MOST AWESOME GIFT EVER:

On the Plains of the Crimson King (22575 words) by magistera
Chapters: 8/8
Fandom: The Stand - Stephen King
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Fran Goldsmith, Stu Redman, Lucy Swann, Leo Rockway, Jess Rider
Additional Tags: The Stand
Summary:

Eight years after Randall Flagg was defeated, life goes on in the much-reduced circumstances of post-Trips America. But when Fran and Stu's son begins to have disturbing (and all-too-familiar) dreams, it's a sign of change to come.

Listen, if you love The Stand, hurry up and read this. It is perfect, and is exactly what I wanted for this fandom, and I am totally in love with it.


Second, I wrote this story:

Turn and Face the Strange (1838 words) by Snacky
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Newsflesh Trilogy - Mira Grant
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Author Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Georgia Mason/Shaun Mason
Characters: Georgia Mason, Shaun Mason
Additional Tags: Yuletide, Christmas, Post-Canon, Series Spoilers
Summary:

The clone was a 97% match to the old Georgia Mason. Shaun and George notice the 3%.

Newsflesh! Oh my god, I was so glad I got this assignment, since I really wanted to write in this fandom. I had fun with this story, and I think it was well-received! My recipient left me a really awesome comment, and I got some other nice comments and recs. Big thanks to musesfool and bedlamsbard for their awesome and helpful beta. I always think how lucky I am to have friends who can beta for me, and they both really came through this time.

*************

So I am off from work until Monday, which is lucky for me since we're having a big snowstorm here. But I am safe and warm and snowfree, thanks to my upstairs neighbor who has shoveled our driveway and cars three times already today.

God, I am going to have to buy him a bottle of some really good drink, aren't I?

I hope everyone is having a happy new year so far!

I wrote two stories for Yuletide, one for icepixie and one for ineffabilitea, who both provided me with awesome prompts.

New York Is a State of Mind, but Cicely Is a Way of Life (6005 words) by Snacky
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Northern Exposure
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Joel Fleischman/Maggie O'Connell
Characters: Joel Fleischman, Maggie O'Connell, Ruth-Anne Miller, Ed Chigliak, Chris Stevens, Marilyn Whirlwind
Summary:

In which Joel and and various Cicelians meet in a dream, a moose gives advice, Maggie's in denial, Ed visits the Big Apple with a purpose, and Joel makes his long-awaited return to the great state of Alaska.

From Angels Unaware (3961 words) by Snacky
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Virgins - Caryl Rivers
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Peggy Morrison/Sean McCaffrey
Characters: Peggy Morrison, Sean McCaffrey, Constance Wepplener Masters
Summary:

Peggy, Sean and Con meet up for a weekend at Virginia Beach, three years after graduation. But things are not the same.

When I was signing up for Yuletide, I was browsing the Dear Yuletide Writer letters, and I saw both of these requests, and immediately got inspired for both. I added both fandoms to my offer list, hoping I'd get matched with one. I figured it would be for Virgins, since there was only one request and one offer (mine).

Instead I got matched with icepixie and I was SO EXCITED to write the NX fic. NX was one of those shows I watched from the very first episode (it started airing in the summer of 1990, and I remember watching it when there was nothing else on, in my tiny apartment with no cable *g*) to the very last, and I loved every single minute of it. This was pre-internet for me, so all the fanfic I scribbled in notebooks has been (luckily) lost to the sands of time, but the minute I saw this request, I knew the story I wanted to write.

I wanted to bring Joel back to Alaska and revisit Cicely, check in with all the characters, and see what had changed and what remained the same. I wanted to write it like an episode of the show, with a main story and subplot, and I wanted all the character involved. Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to write something that long (I am a slow writer, heh), so the B plot got scrapped, and the focus remained on Joel coming back to Cicely.

I was kind of nervous about how it worked, after cutting a big chunk of it, but I think it ended up okay! I got some really nice comments, and my recipient loved it, so in the end it was a success. One thing I added was a soundtrack, since music was such a big part of the show. I knew I was doing that from the beginning, and I really had fun with fitting it to the story.

So while I was in the middle of writing that, I saw ineffabilitea's requests come up on the pinch-hit list. I had been planning to write her a treat for Virgins, but when I saw the pinch-hit I jumped on it. Of course, then I panicked because I hadn't finished my first story yet and omg why did I pick up a pinch-hit, was I crazy? But I so wanted to write a fic for this tiny fandom of my heart. I had loved that book so much when I was young, and to find someone else who loved it too? I just wanted to share that.

So that fic came pretty easy, once I knew where it was going. I wanted to write something that fit with the tone of the book, that would sound like one last story for those crazy kids, and I think it worked. Sneaking in Sister Justinian was my favorite part, and that was based on something that actually happened to me, meeting an old (very old) teacher at the beach. :D

I have to thank lilydale for her Hem expertise, benedict for hosting the soundtrack, rthstewart for providing the Virginia Beach locale, and musesfool for her excellent beta work on both stories. I really suck at commas, and she whips me into shape. :D

Merry-day-after-Christmas! I had a very busy Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, what with working and family celebrations and visiting friends and skipping midnight mass for more celebrating and opening gifts and staying up way past my bedtime and eating delicious food.

OMG so much delicious food. I was packing my lunch for work this morning and I was like, "ugh, I don't even want to think about eating ever again." So I took a Lean Cuisine, which is like, problem solved.

I got many lovely presents, including some Lush products I had been coveting, a new nightgown, and a new blanket under which to snuggle when I am watching TV. Thus, I was rather indignant that I was working today, and not taking a long bath, followed by a pajama day while I watched a LOTR marathon.

To add insult to injury, work was completely dead today. I think my phone rang three times, and twice it was staff members asking if we were going to be closed during the storm tomorrow. Listen, we closed during the hurricane because it was a state of emergency. We don't close for a 4 inches of snow. (But if we did, I'd stay home under my blanket! :D)

*************

So! Yuletide! I got the best present! It was for a tiny book fandom that I have requested every year I've done Yuletide, and this year, I finally got the story I've always wanted:

Delivery for a Dancer (6576 words) by Anonymous
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Melendy Quartet - Elizabeth Enright
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Randy Melendy, Rush Melendy, Mona Melendy, Oliver Melendy, Mark Herron
Summary:

Randy Melendy has always danced, and plans to be a dancer when she grows up. Or maybe an artist. Or both. But when she discovers a real-live ballet dancer is living in the area, she's willing to do just about anything for a chance to meet her.

It is just so wonderful and amazing and exactly what I wanted! I've read it three times already and every time I just get happier!

And this year I wrote two stories. One was my assignment, and one was a pinch-hit. When I was doing my sign-up, I was browsing the DYW letters, and I saw both of these fandoms requested, and I was inspired, so I offered them, in the hopes of getting either of the prompts.

So I was assigned one, and then I caught the other off the pinch-hitter list. So I got to write BOTH of the stories I wanted! \o/

And if you can guess which my fics are mine, I will write you a ficlet.

CLUES:
1. One is over 3000 words; one is over 5000.
2. They are both in fandoms I have never written before.
3. One is a teeny-tiny fandom; the other is more well-known.

You can guess in the comments; if you guess correctly, I will write you ficlets when the reveals go live. Certain people are disqualified from guessing, you know who you are. :D

Now I need to go back to reading more stories. EEEE YULETIDE!

Hello, Yuletide Writer!

First off, thanks so much for writing a story in one of these fandoms. I love them all, and will just be so glad to have any story for any of the requests.

( The Basics! )

( Fandom 1: The Melendy Quartet by Elizabeth Enright )

( Fandom 2: The Keeping Days by Norma Johnston )

( Fandom 3: Malone/Belford Series by Lenora Mattingly Weber )

( Fandom 4: The Montmaray Journals by Michelle Cooper )

I hope that helped and honestly, no pressure to fulfill anything specific! Anything you want to write in any of these fandoms will be great! I'm just happy to be getting a story from you.

Thanks again and have fun!

Big love,
Snax

Title: Eternity in a Kiss
Author: snacky
Fandom: Mary Poppins
Rating: G
Warnings/Spoilers: Features a few "blink and you'll miss it" crossovers.
Summary: Bert tells of his life with Mary Poppins.
Notes: Written as a New Year's Resolution fic for Yuletide 2011. I started this story a long time ago, and seeing the prompt was the inspiration I needed to get it done. Thanks to crantz and musesfool for looking it over.

( Bert was 17 when he first fell in love with Mary Poppins... )

Yuletide reveals are live, so now I know who wrote my gift:

Relevé (6395 words) by calliette
Fandom: Ballet Shoes - Noel Streatfeild
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Petrova Fossil/Original Male Character, Posy Fossil/Original Female Character, Pauline Fossil/Original Male Character
Characters: Petrova Fossil, Pauline Fossil, Posy Fossil, Sylvia Brown
Summary:

The Fossil Sisters are all grown up and navigating their way through relationships and careers. With the name Fossil no longer just their own, it's time to revisit their vow.

It was just what I asked for! Future!fic and how their lives turn out after the book ends. Thank you again!


And I wrote this one:

Beth Finds the Palace Beautiful (2945 words) by Snacky
Fandom: Little Women - Louisa May Alcott
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Elizabeth March, Josephine March, Margaret March, Amy March, Marmee March, Theodore Laurence
Summary:

"I never thought I would make it into space."

for sanj. I had so much fun with this story!

The original prompt I received with the assignment said, "I would love an AU that changes either the events of the story or the setting." And I immediately thought to myself, "Oh, well, it has to be Little Women in SPAAAAAACE!" and then when I saw sanj's Yuletide letter and she mentioned a space setting, I knew I had to do it.

The hardest part was the temptation to rewrite the entire story and set it in space. I mean, my original opening scene for the fic was the opening chapter of LW, where Jo says "Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents!" but all of it with space references - Jo wanting to be a fighter pilot, Amy wanting new space boots, etc.

The one idea I latched onto right away was Beth being a computer program, and that was the story I kept coming back to. After I finally decided there was no way I could rewrite the entire novel (:D), I had narrowed it down to two ideas - Beth in the computer, and Jo wanting to be a fighter pilot. But that wasn't working either - the two plots weren't meshing together. So finally I realized the story was really about Beth, not Jo (I KNOW, IMAGINE!) and I cut the Jo stuff and just focused on the Beth part.

The inspiration for it was the chapter in LW where Beth tells Jo that she knows she's dying, and that she always knew she wasn't like her sisters and when they were all making plans for the future, she could never see herself growing up and leaving home, and never really wanted to. So that was my starting point - that Beth could never imagine herself in space, and the story became how she got there.

It was a lot of fun to translate LW into the future and into space. I tried to stay faithful to the original story, and to Beth's character and voice. And I really didn't want it to be a parody, which might have been easier! Beth's not the the strongest character in the original, but I felt like I had a good grasp on her and how she'd react in these new situations. I totally have to thank musesfool and rthstewart for their beta help with it - they both reminded me of bits from the original story that had to be put in (limes!).

It's pretty much everything people say they hate in fanfic: first person POV, all narration, no action, heh. But I was very happy with it in the end, and sanj liked it, and I got some very lovely comments, so all is good!

I also wrote:

Eternity in a Kiss (1178 words) by Snacky
Fandom: Mary Poppins (1964), Mary Poppins - P. L. Travers
Rating: General Audiences
Warning: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Bert (Mary Poppins)/Mary Poppins
Characters: Bert (Mary Poppins), Mary Poppins
Summary:

Bert's life with Mary Poppins.

for panavatar, which I had originally intended to post as a Treat, but then I missed the deadline by oversleeping, so I posted it today in the New Year's Resolution collection.

I started this story a while back and never finished it, and then I saw her prompt and was like, "HEY THAT IS WHAT MY STORY IS ABOUT!" so that was the kick in the pants I needed to finish it. :D It's Bert's story of his life with Mary Poppins. Who knew I had all this backstory for Bert! It came as a surprise to me! Also, Mary Poppins is everyone's nanny, so this story has some crossover allusions.

ETA: And duh, of course I have to thank musesfool and benedict/crantz for looking it over and the beta help!

ANYWAY, it's not exactly a reveal since I just posted it today, but for the sake of completeness, there you have it.

You guys, I am making great progress on my Yuletide story! Not so much on my Big Bang story. But I am not here to talk about my failure. Instead, I will talk about the Three Sentence Ficathon:



It's so much fun! You all totally need to go over there and leave some prompts and fill some too! Then link it everywhere so more people can come and play!

I've had a bunch of prompts filled:

Narnia, Caspian, follow the story to the end

Narnia, Pevensies and Tirian, "i don't think this is where we're supposed to be"

Northern Exposure, Joel/Maggie, goodbye doesn't mean forever

Narnia, Peter/Caspian, both can be king

Narnia, Susan/Peter, a day like no other

Madeleine L'Engle's Chronos/Kairos books, Charles Wallace, no one knows but me

Thor, Darcy Lewis/Clint Barton, shooting things is fun

And I've filled some myself:

( Battlestar Galactica (2003), the Galactica, the old girl's still got some kick in her )

( Demon's Lexicon, Alan/Sin, how to lie in the face of death )

( Young Avengers/Journey into Mystery, Billy and Teddy babysit Serrure while the Avengers are away. Shenanigans ensue. )

( Thor/Captain America (2011), Darcy Lewis/Steven Rogers, did you just taser me? it's a hobby )

( NFFR Superhero League, any, meals in the club house are kind of hit and miss )

( Chronicles of Narnia/The Silmarillion, Susan/Maglor, those left behind )

( The Authority, Jenny Qantum & Jenny Sparks, somebody has to save the world )

( My Heartbeat by Garret Freymann-Weyr, Link/James, it takes a few years but they get their act together )

( The Chronicles of Narnia, Susan & Lucy Pevensie, jewelry )

( Narnia, Susan, languages )

( Battlestar Galactica (2003), Helo, pictures on the wall )

( Narnia, Pevensies, post!Narnia, it's a cold and it's a broken )

( Narnia, anyone but the Pevensies, the children of Narnia )

( Narnia, any of the Pevensies, you never forget your first )

( Chronicles of Narnia, Susan & Edmund, if I only could make a deal with god, and get him to swap our places )

( Narnia/Battlestar Galactica (2003), Starbuck/Peter, said the joker to the thief )

( Chronicles of Narnia/The Silmarillion, Susan/Maglor, unbreakable oaths and bonds )

Now I have to get back to Yuletide. No rest for the wicked! :D

I dreamed last night that I was reading LJ and that there was Yuletide wank.

People were upset because they felt that Yuletide was discriminating against them, by making them turn in their fic by a deadline, and they were protesting it. There were lots and lots of linked posts and arguing and just wank all around.

Then I read the words:

"Yuletide discriminates against chronically chrono-challenged people!"

I dunno, it's kind of sad that I am 1) dreaming about reading Livejournal, and 2) dreaming about Yuletide wank. On the other hand, any dream I have that includes the words "chronically chrono-challenged" was a good one. :D

Title: A Game of You (Turtle/Theo)
Author: snacky
Fandom: The Westing Game
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: No warnings/assume spoilers for the book.
Summary: Years after the Westing Game, Turtle and Theo play a new game.
Notes: Written for gyzym for Yuletide 2010. The Westing Game was originally published in 1978. I fudged the timeline a little for the purposes of this fic, so the events of the book took place in 1980. Title from Neil Gaiman's Sandman. Thanks to rthstewart and crantz/benedict for the beta, and musesfool for the title. Graphics courtesy of crantz/benedict.

( She had briefly considered talking to her mother, but the mere thought of asking Grace Windsor Wexler for advice on dating and love caused Turtle to start twitching... )