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Dear Author,
If you've offered any of these fandoms, you're obviously a person of taste and discernment, and probably didn't deserve to get stuck with my requests. I really would prefer you to write the best story you can, and one you're happy with, rather than trying to do something that doesn't suit you to fit what I asked for - so please, please do bear in mind that optional details are optional. If you have the opposite problem, and wish I'd given you more or more explicit suggestions, I'm very sorry - I was trying not to be overly restrictive.
Pu Songling - Liaozhai Zhiyi
I'm interested to see whatever you choose to make of this. Retell one of Pu Songling's stories or tell one of your own. Play around with language and allusions or concentrate on plot or on character. You could do something with the ever present fox spirits - they're viewed in such a range of ways, from meriting death in The Merchant's Son and Fox Enchantment, through the ambivalance of Cut Sleeve to Lotus Fragrance's role as admirable heroine. Or you could do something with the relation of dreams to reality, or the extent to which stories are a type of dream. You could look at Shican and Huang's relationship - there's a lot of emotional ground at the end of that story the remains unexamined. Or what about Bird's treatment of her son, and indeed all the relationships in that family? Make your language as densely allusive or as simple as you please, your tone as light or as dramatic as you want. Gen, slash, het; light-hearted, bitingly satirical, restrained or sly or melancholy ... anything that strikes your fancy. (You can see my![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandom_of_one pitch here, which also has information on how to come by the text.)
Between my prompt and thefandom_of_one pitch, I'm really not sure there's more I can say on this one, other than a quick note on the translations: when I nominated this first in '08, I listed a selection of tales all chosen to be available in both Minford's translation for Penguin and the out of copyright, available free online translation by Giles, and where they had given the tales different names, I listed both. This year, during the tag wrangling for AO3, each tale has ended up just listed by one name, some from Giles, some from Minford - you can still see both names listed over at Fandom of One. Unfortunately, I've yet to get my hands on the new, complete translation by Sondergard (though I hope to do so shortly), so I can't say what he's chosen to use as titles. I don't mind at all whether you're writing based on one of the listed tales, or a different one, or one you've created yourself inspired by the book as a whole, but if you were puzzled why some of the listed tales aren't in your chosen translation under their Yuletide name, that's why.
Mythology - Near Eastern
I would, truly, be happy with anything. If you felt like using some of the forms of surviving Sumerian literature, I would really love it - something all dialogue, a debate, a lament, a šir-gida ... But if that sort of thing doesn't appeal, how about anything at all with the lord of Aratta (proud and doomed - what's not to like there?). Or something with Ngeštin-ana? Or just Inana and Dumuzid generally. Or perhaps Enlil and Ninlil - can you come up with psychologically convincing account of their relationship? Whether you want to go with a long, plot-driven story, or a character piece, or an atmospheric vignette (for which you can readily find material lending itself to everything from horror to humour, from eroticism to philosophical reflection), or whether I can persuade you to write me a lament or a šir-gida, I'm sure I shall be delighted.
As with Liaozhai Zhiyi above, my interest is in seeing what you choose to make of this. There's no need to limit yourself to Sumer if your interests lie elsewhere (nor do you need to stick to the listed characters if you don't feel like it) - the entirety of Ancient Near Eastern mythology is at your disposal. Do you want to write about 'Anat's joy in battle, or the difficult position of the young man who finds his loyalties divided between his father Tešub and his father-in-law Illuyanka? Did you sign up in the hope of writing something based on the Song of Kumarbi, say, or the Enûma Elišh? If so, go right ahead - I'm sure I shall enjoy it.
Meine Liebe
I'd be equally happy with a story focusing on just one or two characters or on the whole ensemble, with something character-centric or with an exploration of the politics and culture of Kuchen. Maybe a character-centric story about Isaac, or a look at the conflict between Japanese and Kuchen customs for Naoji. Or how will Camus cope with psychic weight of WWII? For that matter, where will Naoji's loyalties ultimately lie? You could look at how any of their friendships develops in the future (or, of course, how it falls apart). How do the passage of time and the compromises of adulthood and politics change them?
I admit I'd be particularly pleased with something set in their future, when they're all older and have had to begin dealing with the practical consequences of their ideals, but I wouldn't want you to feel bound by that if you'd really prefer to write something else. I'm fine with gen, slash or het, and I've no objection to explicit sex, but I really would prefer to focus on the political themes and on the characters, rather than just on shipping. (Which isn't to say don't write about a relationship, only that I'd prefer it if the story weren't solely 'How X & Y got together' or 'X & Y angst for a while then live happily ever after'. I, personally, tend to see Ludwig/Naoji with a potential side order of (possibly casual) Orpherus/Eduard, but I will be very happy to accept any pairing that appeals to you.)
Li Shang-Yin - Walls of Emerald
I love the imagery of this poem: densely, richly allusive, obscure and yet somehow coherent despite the uncertainty of the meaning; what I want is something inspired by that imagery, and by the mood the poem conjures up. If you want plot suggestions, you could take any of the stories to which there's a recognizable allusion, or any interpretation of the poem you prefer (I'm not particularly asking for Li Shang-yin RPF here, although of course if that's what you'd like to write, go ahead); you could set your story then, or now, or in the world of myth and folk tale (or in any other setting that particularly appeals to you); if you think you can do a thousand words held together only by image and allusion, with no plot, that too would be excellent: basically, anything at all structured around the imagery would be amazing.
I assume it's very unlikely we matched on this? If we did, I hope you're not now tearing you hair out and swearing never to do Yuletide again. Normally, I like to offer a selection of different types of prompts, because different writers like to start with different things: here I've got nothing to offer beyond what I've written already, and I truly hope that if you signed up for this, it was because you do find imagery inspiring. I don't mind when or where your story is set (Tsarist Russia, modern-day steampunk1, a crossover with one of my other fandoms, no definable setting, stick with T'ang Dynasty China, or ... look, how many ways can I say, do whatever you like?), and I promise I will be suitably impressed if you manage to make anything at all of this request. (For that matter, I asked specifically for Walls of Emerald, and I would especially love that, but I'm not trying to make your life difficult, and if you would really find it easier to write something based on his untitled poems instead, I'm extremely fond of those poems also and you may take this as explicit permission to do so.)
1 Examples chosen only to indicate the wide range of acceptable possibilities, not because they're particular interests of mine - the point I am trying to make is that what interests me is how powerful the poem's imagery remains over a thousand years after it was written, and even in translation, so if you're interested in exploring its original context, that's fine, and if you're interested in examining it in a new context, that also is good.
For the benefit of anyone who didn't match on this but thinks it sounds interesting: to get you started, A. C. Graham's translation from Poems of the Late T'ang may be found here. James J. Y. Liu's commentary from The Poetry of Li Shang-yin is here. Do remember there is very little in the way of agreed upon interpretation, and that what I am in any case interested in is what it means to you: there is no need for you to feel obliged to follow, or even consider, any particular interpretation.
In General
Things I like (provided only as indicative of my taste, not as particular requirements of your story): established relationships, smart and competent characters, witty banter, slash, political intrigue, moral ambiguity, apparently simple conversations with a great deal going on under the surface, angst if done with restraint, difficult decisions with no right answer (I think I mentioned moral ambiguity?), metaphor, clever use of literary allusions, relationships where each party thinks the other has all the power. Endings can be happy, sad, ambiguous, or anywhere in between. Let's see, what else? Fierce loyalty (the tear the world apart for you variety, not the sit here passively putting up with anything variety), complicated love/hate relationships with lots of backstory, unflappable characters, arrogance if the party concerned has the requisite ability to back it up, equal partnerships between people who see the world the same way...
[It does occur to me that this list, which is my general one for all other-people-writing-fanfic-for-me occasions, is of only limited applicability here. I mean, these are all things I particularly like and would enjoy reading, but this year two out of four of my requests are for things where I am most interested in seeing how someone else deals with the source material, and one is for something where I'm in love with the imagery, so a list tailored to the sort of fic I normally go for in media fandom is maybe not entirely to the point.]
Things I’d prefer you avoided: I’m not terribly keen on mpreg or stories told in the 2nd person, and I do have something of an embarrassment squick.
If you've offered any of these fandoms, you're obviously a person of taste and discernment, and probably didn't deserve to get stuck with my requests. I really would prefer you to write the best story you can, and one you're happy with, rather than trying to do something that doesn't suit you to fit what I asked for - so please, please do bear in mind that optional details are optional. If you have the opposite problem, and wish I'd given you more or more explicit suggestions, I'm very sorry - I was trying not to be overly restrictive.
Pu Songling - Liaozhai Zhiyi
I'm interested to see whatever you choose to make of this. Retell one of Pu Songling's stories or tell one of your own. Play around with language and allusions or concentrate on plot or on character. You could do something with the ever present fox spirits - they're viewed in such a range of ways, from meriting death in The Merchant's Son and Fox Enchantment, through the ambivalance of Cut Sleeve to Lotus Fragrance's role as admirable heroine. Or you could do something with the relation of dreams to reality, or the extent to which stories are a type of dream. You could look at Shican and Huang's relationship - there's a lot of emotional ground at the end of that story the remains unexamined. Or what about Bird's treatment of her son, and indeed all the relationships in that family? Make your language as densely allusive or as simple as you please, your tone as light or as dramatic as you want. Gen, slash, het; light-hearted, bitingly satirical, restrained or sly or melancholy ... anything that strikes your fancy. (You can see my
fandom_of_one pitch here, which also has information on how to come by the text.)Between my prompt and the
fandom_of_one pitch, I'm really not sure there's more I can say on this one, other than a quick note on the translations: when I nominated this first in '08, I listed a selection of tales all chosen to be available in both Minford's translation for Penguin and the out of copyright, available free online translation by Giles, and where they had given the tales different names, I listed both. This year, during the tag wrangling for AO3, each tale has ended up just listed by one name, some from Giles, some from Minford - you can still see both names listed over at Fandom of One. Unfortunately, I've yet to get my hands on the new, complete translation by Sondergard (though I hope to do so shortly), so I can't say what he's chosen to use as titles. I don't mind at all whether you're writing based on one of the listed tales, or a different one, or one you've created yourself inspired by the book as a whole, but if you were puzzled why some of the listed tales aren't in your chosen translation under their Yuletide name, that's why.Mythology - Near Eastern
I would, truly, be happy with anything. If you felt like using some of the forms of surviving Sumerian literature, I would really love it - something all dialogue, a debate, a lament, a šir-gida ... But if that sort of thing doesn't appeal, how about anything at all with the lord of Aratta (proud and doomed - what's not to like there?). Or something with Ngeštin-ana? Or just Inana and Dumuzid generally. Or perhaps Enlil and Ninlil - can you come up with psychologically convincing account of their relationship? Whether you want to go with a long, plot-driven story, or a character piece, or an atmospheric vignette (for which you can readily find material lending itself to everything from horror to humour, from eroticism to philosophical reflection), or whether I can persuade you to write me a lament or a šir-gida, I'm sure I shall be delighted.
As with Liaozhai Zhiyi above, my interest is in seeing what you choose to make of this. There's no need to limit yourself to Sumer if your interests lie elsewhere (nor do you need to stick to the listed characters if you don't feel like it) - the entirety of Ancient Near Eastern mythology is at your disposal. Do you want to write about 'Anat's joy in battle, or the difficult position of the young man who finds his loyalties divided between his father Tešub and his father-in-law Illuyanka? Did you sign up in the hope of writing something based on the Song of Kumarbi, say, or the Enûma Elišh? If so, go right ahead - I'm sure I shall enjoy it.
Meine Liebe
I'd be equally happy with a story focusing on just one or two characters or on the whole ensemble, with something character-centric or with an exploration of the politics and culture of Kuchen. Maybe a character-centric story about Isaac, or a look at the conflict between Japanese and Kuchen customs for Naoji. Or how will Camus cope with psychic weight of WWII? For that matter, where will Naoji's loyalties ultimately lie? You could look at how any of their friendships develops in the future (or, of course, how it falls apart). How do the passage of time and the compromises of adulthood and politics change them?
I admit I'd be particularly pleased with something set in their future, when they're all older and have had to begin dealing with the practical consequences of their ideals, but I wouldn't want you to feel bound by that if you'd really prefer to write something else. I'm fine with gen, slash or het, and I've no objection to explicit sex, but I really would prefer to focus on the political themes and on the characters, rather than just on shipping. (Which isn't to say don't write about a relationship, only that I'd prefer it if the story weren't solely 'How X & Y got together' or 'X & Y angst for a while then live happily ever after'. I, personally, tend to see Ludwig/Naoji with a potential side order of (possibly casual) Orpherus/Eduard, but I will be very happy to accept any pairing that appeals to you.)
Li Shang-Yin - Walls of Emerald
I love the imagery of this poem: densely, richly allusive, obscure and yet somehow coherent despite the uncertainty of the meaning; what I want is something inspired by that imagery, and by the mood the poem conjures up. If you want plot suggestions, you could take any of the stories to which there's a recognizable allusion, or any interpretation of the poem you prefer (I'm not particularly asking for Li Shang-yin RPF here, although of course if that's what you'd like to write, go ahead); you could set your story then, or now, or in the world of myth and folk tale (or in any other setting that particularly appeals to you); if you think you can do a thousand words held together only by image and allusion, with no plot, that too would be excellent: basically, anything at all structured around the imagery would be amazing.
I assume it's very unlikely we matched on this? If we did, I hope you're not now tearing you hair out and swearing never to do Yuletide again. Normally, I like to offer a selection of different types of prompts, because different writers like to start with different things: here I've got nothing to offer beyond what I've written already, and I truly hope that if you signed up for this, it was because you do find imagery inspiring. I don't mind when or where your story is set (Tsarist Russia, modern-day steampunk1, a crossover with one of my other fandoms, no definable setting, stick with T'ang Dynasty China, or ... look, how many ways can I say, do whatever you like?), and I promise I will be suitably impressed if you manage to make anything at all of this request. (For that matter, I asked specifically for Walls of Emerald, and I would especially love that, but I'm not trying to make your life difficult, and if you would really find it easier to write something based on his untitled poems instead, I'm extremely fond of those poems also and you may take this as explicit permission to do so.)
1 Examples chosen only to indicate the wide range of acceptable possibilities, not because they're particular interests of mine - the point I am trying to make is that what interests me is how powerful the poem's imagery remains over a thousand years after it was written, and even in translation, so if you're interested in exploring its original context, that's fine, and if you're interested in examining it in a new context, that also is good.
For the benefit of anyone who didn't match on this but thinks it sounds interesting: to get you started, A. C. Graham's translation from Poems of the Late T'ang may be found here. James J. Y. Liu's commentary from The Poetry of Li Shang-yin is here. Do remember there is very little in the way of agreed upon interpretation, and that what I am in any case interested in is what it means to you: there is no need for you to feel obliged to follow, or even consider, any particular interpretation.
In General
Things I like (provided only as indicative of my taste, not as particular requirements of your story): established relationships, smart and competent characters, witty banter, slash, political intrigue, moral ambiguity, apparently simple conversations with a great deal going on under the surface, angst if done with restraint, difficult decisions with no right answer (I think I mentioned moral ambiguity?), metaphor, clever use of literary allusions, relationships where each party thinks the other has all the power. Endings can be happy, sad, ambiguous, or anywhere in between. Let's see, what else? Fierce loyalty (the tear the world apart for you variety, not the sit here passively putting up with anything variety), complicated love/hate relationships with lots of backstory, unflappable characters, arrogance if the party concerned has the requisite ability to back it up, equal partnerships between people who see the world the same way...
[It does occur to me that this list, which is my general one for all other-people-writing-fanfic-for-me occasions, is of only limited applicability here. I mean, these are all things I particularly like and would enjoy reading, but this year two out of four of my requests are for things where I am most interested in seeing how someone else deals with the source material, and one is for something where I'm in love with the imagery, so a list tailored to the sort of fic I normally go for in media fandom is maybe not entirely to the point.]
Things I’d prefer you avoided: I’m not terribly keen on mpreg or stories told in the 2nd person, and I do have something of an embarrassment squick.
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