Holly Poly 2023 Dear Author Letter

[bardicraven]

'allo, O Wondrous Holly Poly Author of Awesomeness!!!!

Thank you so much for writing for me!!!! I love story, and having stories written for me, so no worries, I will enjoy whatever you create for me.

That said, below find some things that may help you find it easier to write and create for me. I am aware that Optional Details Are Optional. I also strongly desire that you create  and write the story that pleases you the most, so outside of DNWs (which you are encouraged to ask questions about if you are confused or curious in any way), write the story that excites and pleases you the most.

I will be guaranteed to love it, because authorial excitement is pleasantly contagious.

So here goes! Following is a list of DNWs, followed by what I call DWWs (Definitely Would Wants) followed by some suggestions for prompts.

Some general Goodness:
🌟 I have signed up for / am opting in for extra treats!

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No Thank Yous or DNWs (Do Not Want)

🌟 No bashing of any character or species - especially the ones that look less like humans
🌟 Uncalled-out speciesism/racism, sexism, etc..
🌟 Uncalled-out discrimination or other hate on the basis of magickal or psychic ability.
🌟 Unresolved infidelity or disloyalty (as in, recovering/coming back together from past event/breaking up = acceptable, in the middle of a sneaking around = no)
🌟 Major disloyalty that is not sinceriously thought to be in service of the person who is being betrayed (as in, betrayer being forced into it = acceptable, just betraying because = no, grey areas in-between = please ask)
🌟 Vow-breaking, especially on the part of religious
🌟 Animal abuse or death/Monster abuse or death
🌟 Domestic violence - physical, verbal, emotional, economic
🌟 Unhealthy ongoing relationships
🌟 Calling animals ‘it’. Calling nonhumans 'it' unless they do so themselves by choice as a specific designation.
🌟 Uncalled-out major disrespect of animals or non-humans
🌟 Crack not treated seriously.
🌟 A/B/O | PWP | dubcon/noncon
🌟 Hurt without Comfort
🌟 Angst without a Happy Ending
🌟 Hopeless or Unhappy Endings (for this moment, prefer no bittersweet, tho’ that’s negotiable)
🌟 Uncalled-out Bullying | Embarrassment | Humiliation
🌟 Horror | Gore
🌟 Uncalled-out Othering
🌟 Forcing yourself to write a story that is not you/that you’re not thrilled about writing.

 

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Loves or DWWs (Definitely Would Want)

🌟 Competency
🌟 Found Families
🌟 Healthy Polyamory
🌟 Healthy Relationships of all kinds
🌟 Loyalty/Fidelity
🌟 Character-driven stories
🌟 Slice of life
🌟 Fluff!!!! All the Fluff!!!!
🌟 Animal characters and non-humans being referred to as ‘they’ or gendered or their chosen pronouns, as appropriate
🌟 Animal characters and non-human characters being respected as their own amazing selves
🌟 Standing Up/Speaking Out – for self, for others
🌟 Successfull calling-out of things like speciesism, racism, other isms.
🌟 Slash that emphasizes emotions over sex.
🌟 Hurt WITH Comfort – heavy on the comfort is even better!
🌟 Angst WITH a happy ending!
🌟 Happy Endings period!!!!
🌟 Worldbuilding
🌟 Cross-species interactions working well and working out well
🌟 Coffeeshop or Restaurant AUs
🌟 Other retail AUs (bookshop, etc.)
🌟 Epistolary/Letter-fic (whether as sections of a prose story or the whole thing, either way)
🌟 Writing me the story that calls to you!

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Again, the story I will enjoy the most is the one that Calls to you the most. So, mind the basic DNWs and have at it!

Chirp, chirp!
BardicRaven

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Prrrompts!!!!
Optional, as all details are. Here are some thoughts to potentially help get the Mewsely Thoughts flowing. With extreme apologies for the lateness of the hour.

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Fandom: Arthurian Mythology  
        ◦ Fanfiction
        ◦ Podfic

        ◦ Guinevere/Lancelot du Lac/Arthur Pendragon (Arthurian Mythology)

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I’ve always loved the thought that if they could just go poly, the whole Arthurian Tragedy would not have to be. Feel free to ignore the historical realities of the times, tho’ definitely Bonus Sparkle Story Points if you can find an acceptable way around the church-enforced monogamy and homophobia of the times.

Definitely give them all the fluffs possible – and a happy ending somehow. A throne is not as important as their happiness, tho’ for their sakes, I could hope that they can and may have both.

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Fandom: Talents Series - Anne McCaffrey  
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

    • Angharad "The Rowan" Gwyn/Afra Lyon/Jeff Raven
    • Angharad "The Rowan" Gwyn/Afra Lyon/Original Character(s)
    • Afra Lyon/Damia Raven-Lyon/Original Character(s)

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This series has always been comfort-fic to me. Even tho’ I now go back and see the flaws of colonialism and human-centrism within its pages, I still love the characters and the idea that, in this world, psychic-functioning is know and respected, with its practitioners able to have good careers providing a valued and valuable service.

Not so much in the way of formal prompts for this one, more in the setting and overall atmosphere. Give me a tale of comfort, where the world works (at least for now). It can be hurt/comfort. It can be out and out fluff. Whatever you choose, please let it be happy at the end. Bonus Story Sparkle Points if you include new extraterrestrial races that are benevolent, so that the galaxy isn’t just populated by humans and evil aliens.

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 Fandom: The Windrose Chronicles - Barbara Hambly  
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

    • Minhyrdin the Fair/Original Character(s)/Antryg Windrose
    • Original Character(s)/Joanna Sheraton/Antryg Windrose
    • Stonne Caris/Pella/Antryg Windrose
    • Stonne Caris/Pella/Joanna Sheraton/Antryg Windrose

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Again, this is a series that is comfort-fic for me. Again, please let them be happy in the end. They’ve all been through so much – especially Antryg – let them have some peace and enjoyment in each other. They’ve earned it.

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Fandom: Kim Possible (Cartoon)  
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

    • Ann Possible/Dr. Drakken/James Possible (KP cartoon)

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This simply amuses me. I’ve loved Kim Possible for the people in it. I can just picture Kim looking at her parents and saying ‘WHAT? What do you think you’re DOING?!?!?!?! He’s a VILLAIN!!!!’ The angst on the part of their daughter! The potentials for mayhem and ethical dilemmas! The potential for silly drama, which may or may not involve the world ending!

Take this and have fun with it! You know you want to. :D

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Fandom: The Scarlet Pimpernel (1982)
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

    • Marguerite Blakeney/Percy Blakeney/Paul Chauvelin (1982 Movie)
   
Oh, how I adore this movie!!!! The casting, the acting – sheer purrfection, as far as I am concerned.

I would love to see how two such powerful men learn to share the woman they both love. Can they manage it? Does Margueite take matters into her own hands? Do they all (eventually) learn to love and play nice with each other?

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Fandom: Star Trek: Classic Timeline  
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

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    • Elim Garak/Pythas Lok/Kelas Parmak (Classic Trek)

Elim Gara/Pythas Lok/Kelas Parmak – I would love to see what this Obsidian Order trio would make of themselves. Would they dare even try from within the Order? Do they dare to resign from it? Are they living in an AU where they never were of the Order?

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    • Hemmer/Christopher Pike (SNW)/Nyota Uhura (SNW)

I love Hemmer with a hard-core adore and keep hoping that they will find some way to bring him back. (I’ve only watched Season 1 so far, so no spoilers please.) His friendship with Uhura is all of the good things. What if he took it further? How does Pike fit in? How does this set of relationships blend with his cultural heritage? Is he even more of an outsider for doing so? Has he done something unforgivable in terms of his people? Or would they welcome him back and his two human lovers too? How do the three of them make their way through three different cultures? Slice of life would be wondrous here.

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    • Julian Bashir/Leeta/Rom (Classic Trek)

I discovered this fandom when writing for Trick or Treat 2023 and I have fallen in love. I can see the three of them together – all a bit outsiders, all very good at what they do, all a mix of knowledgeable and not about other mortal beings. How do they come together? When do they come together? After canon, or before? How does Rom’s becoming the Grand Nagus affect the three of them? What is it like for the three of them, coming from such different backgrounds, working in such different fields? How does it affect their relationship?

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    • Kira Nerys/Odo/Quark (Classic Trek)

I love this for removing the conflict in my mind – Odira v. Quodo. Now there is no more conflict, as we can have both!

So give me a tale of both! With the three of them together, they have an interesting triangle of backgrounds nad experiences, that’s for sure! How do they cope with having such different worldviews and moralities?

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    • Julian Bashir/Damar/Elim Garak (Classic Trek)

How do they overcome Damar’s killing of Ziyal? (Or is this an AU where he doesn’t? I’d be extremely good with that.) Does the story take place on Cardassia, post-Fires? Or does it take place on DS9? If so, how? How do they deal with Damar’s being seen as a hero? (Does he survive the rebellion?)

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    • Julian Bashir/Data/Elim Garak (Classic Trek)

This is one where I can see Garak’s comment about Bashir being like a computer coming back to haunt him. When would the thre eof them have met? How are they able to be together? Is it a long-distance relationship, or have the three of them somehow become in the same place? Is it post-canon? Or before? Have the three of them come to Cardassia to help the planet rebuild?

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    • Julian Bashir/Dukat/Elim Garak (Classic Trek)

I happen to like Dukat – in spite of himself. Not so much for what he is, but for the flashes we get to see where he could be something so much better – if only he were given a chance that he could see and be willing to pounce upon.

So how did the three of them get together? How are they able to overcome their pasts to be desirous of being in a relationship together? Or are they living in an AU where it is more possible?

Fandom DNW: No hating on Dukat. You don’t have to portray him as a saint – that would be weird and likely unpleasant also, but please don’t make him an undulterated, flat villain either. If you can’t, then I would respectfully request that you not write this relationship for me.

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   • Julian Bashir/Elim Garak/Keiko O'Brien/Miles O'Brien (Classic Trek)

I can totally see this square! It feels really balanced too, which is a nice bonus. The O’Briens and Garashir, and then Julian/Miles and Garak/Keiko, as well as all four of them in their own ways and depths. (For example, I’m not seeing Garak/Miles as being a terribly common pairing within the foursome, tho’ maybe! That’s up to you, dear Holly Poly author.)

For prrrompts, how about the subpairings and their favorite conversations? Or doing their favorite activities, like gardening and holosuite-adventures and darts? Do Garak and Miles decide to test each other at darts, to prove who is the better of them with a weapon, because Keiko would murder them both if they tried using anything else?

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Fandom: Original Work  
    • Fanfiction
    • Podfic

    • Vocalist of a rock band/Rest Of The Band (OW)
    • Sailor Presumed Lost at Sea/Their Spouse/The Mermaid Who Rescued The Sailor (OW)
    • Personified Galaxy/Lost Starship Doctor/Ghost of Rocket Test Pilot (OW)
    • Person Officiating a Ceremonial or Ritual Marriage/People They're Marrying (OW)
    • Matchmaker/Woman Being Matchmade/Man Being Matchmade (OW)
    • God of Time/God of Jewellery/Goddess of Telepathy (OW)
    • Emperor/His Elite Male Bodyguards (OW)
    • Empire/Her Emperor/Her Capital City (OW)
    • Empress/Her Handmaidens (OW)
    • Emperor/Empress/Emperor's Fun-Loving Male Cousin (OW)
    • Barista/Their Daemon/Their Favourite Customer (OW)
    • Death/Her Mortal Husband/The Gentle Human Adventurer They Seduce (OW)

For any of these, a slice of life would be loverly, as well as tales of how they met and how they make it work.

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