Dear Yuletide writer
Oct. 24th, 2012 08:50 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
wildestrangerHello!
I am delighted that we are sharing these fandoms, and looking forward to reading what you make of them. I am fairly easy when it comes to plot - I like romance, banter, world-building, and adventure, but also character studies and vignettes, so whatever you decide to do I will be happy with. Porn or no porn is fine! Gen or romance is fine!
The only way in which I am slightly demanding is with historical accuracy. I dislike anachronisms, and things like improbable patterns of speech and knowledge about the world are very jarring. I don't expect you to be an expert in late medieval or Renaissance history, of course, and as long as there is an awareness that these people are different from 21st century people, I'll be happy. As historically accurate as the novels or the plays themselves would be absolutely fine! I do have a list of places where Dorothy Dunnett gets it wrong, but that is my weirdness, and I would not want my weirdness to make yuletide difficult for you.
Now, to fandoms.
I have asked for two of Dorothy Dunnett's series, and am giddy with excitement about how wonderful they are. If you're doing either of those books, then I assume you feel the same - these are pretty amazing books.
I am fascinated with the characterisation of both Francis and Niccolo (and comparisons between them), both in terms of how we as readers are told about them and how our knowledge differs from that of the other characters. The books leave many things open, so anything you might want to add in terms of missing scenes or such would be very welcome. I am also very interested in their interaction with people, and how they charm others, with what intent (you could argue that Francis is deliberately obnoxious in order not to charm people too much!), and what they actually think about the effect they have on others. One of the things I like about both series of books is how they engage with that overwhelming charm, and then consider to what extent it is possible to have a relationship of equality with either of them. I am equally interested in Philippa and Gelis, and how they deal with all of this. For the Lymond series, I am also intrigued by Marthe, Jerott, and Will Scott, because of their reactions to Francis and how they try to maintain independence from him. Also because Will and Jerott are hilarious with their 'I totally don't love him that way, not at all', while Marthe laughs.
Basically, I love everything about these books and anything you might choose to do with either of them, I will be delighted with.
The Hollow Crown interests me in a slightly different way; in terms of power play, when it comes to Richard and Bolingbroke, and intimacy, when it comes to Ned and Hal. The dynamics between these people, and their choices of private and public performances, public roles and private satisfaction, are fascinating. The performance of kingship and how that interacts with performances of masculinity, and how these are managed by Richard and Hal, are all rich sources of narrative interest.
I hope you'll have a good time writing any of these and I look forward to seeing what you'll do!
I am delighted that we are sharing these fandoms, and looking forward to reading what you make of them. I am fairly easy when it comes to plot - I like romance, banter, world-building, and adventure, but also character studies and vignettes, so whatever you decide to do I will be happy with. Porn or no porn is fine! Gen or romance is fine!
The only way in which I am slightly demanding is with historical accuracy. I dislike anachronisms, and things like improbable patterns of speech and knowledge about the world are very jarring. I don't expect you to be an expert in late medieval or Renaissance history, of course, and as long as there is an awareness that these people are different from 21st century people, I'll be happy. As historically accurate as the novels or the plays themselves would be absolutely fine! I do have a list of places where Dorothy Dunnett gets it wrong, but that is my weirdness, and I would not want my weirdness to make yuletide difficult for you.
Now, to fandoms.
I have asked for two of Dorothy Dunnett's series, and am giddy with excitement about how wonderful they are. If you're doing either of those books, then I assume you feel the same - these are pretty amazing books.
I am fascinated with the characterisation of both Francis and Niccolo (and comparisons between them), both in terms of how we as readers are told about them and how our knowledge differs from that of the other characters. The books leave many things open, so anything you might want to add in terms of missing scenes or such would be very welcome. I am also very interested in their interaction with people, and how they charm others, with what intent (you could argue that Francis is deliberately obnoxious in order not to charm people too much!), and what they actually think about the effect they have on others. One of the things I like about both series of books is how they engage with that overwhelming charm, and then consider to what extent it is possible to have a relationship of equality with either of them. I am equally interested in Philippa and Gelis, and how they deal with all of this. For the Lymond series, I am also intrigued by Marthe, Jerott, and Will Scott, because of their reactions to Francis and how they try to maintain independence from him. Also because Will and Jerott are hilarious with their 'I totally don't love him that way, not at all', while Marthe laughs.
Basically, I love everything about these books and anything you might choose to do with either of them, I will be delighted with.
The Hollow Crown interests me in a slightly different way; in terms of power play, when it comes to Richard and Bolingbroke, and intimacy, when it comes to Ned and Hal. The dynamics between these people, and their choices of private and public performances, public roles and private satisfaction, are fascinating. The performance of kingship and how that interacts with performances of masculinity, and how these are managed by Richard and Hal, are all rich sources of narrative interest.
I hope you'll have a good time writing any of these and I look forward to seeing what you'll do!
