Let me thank you right up front for whatever you are going to write, be it fic or meta. Although you've seen the tags on my sign-up, I know that most people like more than that to go on. I hope this letter will prove helpful. All these fandoms are dear to my heart: I've listed them alphabetically.


DNW: explicit sex, on-screen death of canonical protagonists.


Likes & Dislikes:

I prefer gen. However, I'm not asking you to ignore canon relationships (i.e. in the background) if you want to work them in. (Not sure that's relevant here, though.) For original characters, any romance should be subordinate to plot. No more than PG13, please.

I'm okay with violence if necessary to the story; but not gore for the sake of gore.

I enjoy stories with a sense of humour: being able to recognize the ridiculous when it pops up; also wit and wordplay. (Having said that, I totally leave it up to you whether what you write is serious or comic. I like both.)


Fandoms:

Choir School series - William Mayne
Characters: Charles Unwin Sutton, Dr Sunderland (Choir School), Mr Ardent (Choir School), Trevithic (Choir School)

I'd like you to write about some incident at the school, similar to the sort of thing that Mayne used to flesh out his books. Preferably seen from the point of view of one of the boys (since that's how he wrote), but not leaving out the adults, who are so much part of the series. Which boys to include is up to you: Trevithic is the only one nominated; but feel free to use any of the others Mayne mentioned, or an O.C.

DNW any rating higher than PG13.

Although each of the four choir school books has a plot, it's the incidents that really make up the story. Through them we get to know the characters; and, when I say "characters", I refer less to the protagonists (though Mayne does distinguish them) than I do to the many and varied people in the supporting cast, references to any of whom would be welcome, though I think I nominated the most obvious ones. Don't feel you need to work all of them into one short story. Still, the more the merrier.

Suggestions.... Well, the setting is a school (with the inevitable lessons in various academic subjects); but, more specifically, it is a choir school. Music lessons and practice, as well as cathedral services, are a major part of the boys' lives. As well, it's a boarding school: you might perhaps write of personal rivalries, interactions between boys and staff outside school hours, hobbies, or holidays.

As these are boys whose voices have not yet broken, the oldest Choristers cannot be more than 13 or 14 (and the youngest Probationer is only about 7 or 8); so please keep to a PG rating.


The Dalemark Quartet - Diana Wynne Jones:Characters: Tanaqui (Dalemark Quartet), Duck (Dalemark Quartet)

I'd love a story about one of Duck's alter egos, or Tanaqui's future as Cennoreth. (You don't need to put both in the story if you don't want to.)

DNW any rating higher than PG13.

There seem to be quite a few untold tales about the characters from The Spell-coats. I'd love a story about one of Duck's alter egos, or Tanaqui's future as Cennoreth.

Alternatively, there's so much we don't know about the Undying in the Dalemark Quartet. Where do they come from? How is Undyingness inherited? What are the differences, if any, between the status of the One, the other Undying who are actually worshipped (such as Libby Beer), and those who present more as folk heroes (such as Duck, in his various guises)? How do the "lesser" Undying relate to the older/stronger/? ones?

If you prefer to write about the Riverlands era: perhaps something about Tanaqui and Duck's family before the invasion, or the other villagers' perspective on their family.


Paddington Bear - Michael Bond
Characters: Paddington Bear

I'd like "another" Paddington story please, similar in subject and style to canon.

Aside from P. Bear himself, I'm not requesting any specific characters: not all would fit in the same story necessarily, anyway; so I'd prefer to leave that part of it open. However, I would like to see other familiar faces in the story, whether nominated or not.

DNW any rating higher than PG.

I met Paddington as an adult; but immediately realized that, if I'd known the books as a child, I would have been delighted. He's a real charmer—though the havoc he leaves in his wake would be the despair of anyone in real life. Still, young bears from Darkest Peru are hardly the stuff of real life; so one can simply strip away the decades and enjoy his antics for the entertainment.


The Witch's Brat - Rosemary Sutcliff
Characters: Lovel (The Witch's Brat)

I'd like a story set during the period when Lovel was still at the monastery, before he followed Rahere to London. I'm fond of gardens; so I'd appreciate it if you could work that in.

Aside from Lovel himself, I'm not requesting any specific characters: not all would fit in the same story necessarily, anyway; so I'd prefer to leave that part of it open. However, I would like to see other familiar faces in the story, whether nominated or not.

DNW any rating higher than PG.