yuletide_coal | The Dirty Energy Source

The Dirty Energy Source

Do you want to make a spreadsheet about spreadsheets?
Do you still need to figure out what two other fandoms you should request beside the only one you really want fic for?
Or are you trolling ALL the letter posts for placeholders, just so you can write those people some nice, dry coal?

We want to know all about it.

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The City of Dreaming Books by Walter Moers!

It's about a society in which books are valued above pretty much everything else. A dinosaur called Optimus Yarnspinner who inherits a perfect story from a deceased relative goes to Bookholm, the capital city of writers, printers, bookbinders, antiquarians and other bibliophiles, to find the author. The city sits on top of the mysterious catacombs that are filled with potentially dangerous creatures and valuable books - books with perfect plots, books that kill, books that drive people insane. This is why Bookhunters, mercenaries who explore the catacombs to return the books to the surface, are legendary figures. And somewhere in the center of the labyrinth lies the castle of the Shadow King...

The book is very descriptive, detailed, and sometimes meanders a bit. It's definitely fantasy, and the style could be mistaken for children's lit, but it's got some gruesome descriptions. The canon lends itself to world-building, either of the city, the catacombs, or the fantastical people that inhabit the world. There are two characters nominated this year: the protagonist, Yarnspinner, and a famous Bookhunter, Colophonius Regenschein.

I just offer and request because I'm too lazy to camp out on the thing and try to remember to change my offers. I sign up early and forget about it until I get my assignment.

I also end up on the pinch hit list almost every year so ymmv.

Kind of amusingly, through the Yuletide article on Fanlore via the link to that in the official collection's FAQ.

Who's already anticipating who they'll be getting matched with? I guessed who mine was 3x in a row already.

I have an eye on one letter this year, but I'm intimidated because they're a much, much, much better writer than I am and they're asking for things I'm not sure I know how to write as their main request, while their secondary request is one of those vague prompts I'd also have trouble dealing with.

status: currently debating not offering in case I do a shit job

+1 I'm offering this and I'm so excited to see what they want!

Mythbusters RPF and more Tennis RPF at the moment.

A lot that have awesome kinky porn prompts in their letters, because I'm really in it for the porn there, not the world-building or a character study for minor character X.

One that wants a crossover between two fandoms where I'm only comfortable offering the one they want the crossover with, not the requested one, due to too many nominated characters.

One that has a prompt for an unusual writing style, but only requests one character and I don't want to get matched on any of the other characters.

Maybe they're a spoilerphobe and have no idea it's coming, in which case you'll find out what kind of shipper they are: chill or batshit.

But ignore-it fic seems like the safest option if they hate unhappy relationships or relationship drama.

It's a great letter, I inly know one canon but I'm hoping to get assigned to her. If not I may try to write a treat this year.

There's one tiny fandom that I thought no one would request, and not only has one person requested it but they have my dream prompt for it. I'll be writing them a treat if they don't end up assigned to me.

I haven't really seen any other matches yet, but there's another fandom I'm hoping I can write for. Keeping my fingers crossed.

I...like dorky characters. A whole lot.

oh no, is that a carmilla icon?

No trans women AND no mothers??

Damn. What a myopic fucking view of women she has.

Closest this tracking coalie can find is the thread on worldbuilding-friendly fandoms: http://yuletide-coal.dreamwidth.org/1002.html?thread=1543402#cmt1543402

Doesn't look like we've had a thread yet about letters that ask for it specifically.

NA

Makes sense to me. If you want a canon love interest for Felix, you're stuck with Colin or Tony. Some people didn't like Tony's portrayal, and others want to avoid getting issuefic without saying so outright.

Not that I would want to write a fic about pregnancy or kids, but it irks me when these are banned. The fact that you choose to have children doesn't mean you have surrendered your feminist card.

Mine too!

Thirding this! My favourite Montgomery book, and one of my comfort rereads.

+1!

I love 'any' requests, and usually for teensy yuletide fandoms it is a pretty safe offer for me. Of I know it, I can probably manage something for just about anyone. I do trawl the letters post though, just to try and avoid unexpected surprises, and adjust offers accordingly while I can. Of course those kinds of surprises can happen with any...non 'Any'... offer as well ;p

True Detective - I love it but I know that what I want out of fic, and want to write for it, is often not in line with the rest of fandom. If I see something that grabs me, I'll write the heck out of it though!

I've had this happen in a fandom that I've treated repeatedly. All else being equal, the person I haven't written for before gets the treat. Seems only fair to spread the fic around, and chances are that everyone who's into that fandom will read it anyhow.

Hey, this is what I did, too!

I don't remember the exact wording right now, but it was something like "DNW: misusing the words less and fewer". It was just so odd that it was kinda funny.

I liked your enthusiasm either way, bb.

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Page 113 of 178

The Dirty Energy Source

Re: One book

Re: Pros & Cons of Requesting & Offering in Same Fandom

Re: How did you find _coal?

anticipating recips

Re: Any fandoms in the summary you wish you could see the letters for?

Re: Any fandoms in the summary you wish you could see the letters for?

Re: Fandoms you'll treat but not offer?

Re: Bad Letters

Re: Letters that use any correctly

Re: anticipating recips

Re: What has writing your letter taught you?

Re: Arguing for OR matching

Re: Arguing for OR matching

Re: Letters Requesting Specific Things - worldbuilding

Re: Letters making you re-think your offers

Re: Bad Letters

Re: Arguing for OR matching

Re: Letters that use any correctly

Re: One book

Re: Any

Re: Fandoms you'll treat but not offer?

Re: Similar treat prompts--who gets the goodie?

Re: How did you find _coal?

Re: Lines from letters that made you laugh

Re: Any fandoms in the summary you wish you could see the letters for?