Crouching Coalie Hidden Wanker

[heavensqueen]

Yeah, I know, I have one job here, and I fail at it

Assignments out by Sunday Oct 15
Default deadline Monday Dec 11
Assignment deadline Monday Dec 18

Letter Posts:
https://yuletide.livejournal.com/1304730.html

https://yuletide.dreamwidth.org/94925.html

Letters app:
https://tagset2017.firebaseapp.com/

Latest Flat View:
https://yuletide-coal.dreamwidth.org/8618.html?view=flat&page=1000

 

Comments

Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Questions for the coalies.

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

do we really need a consolidated thread like this? wouldn't it be easier to read one thread per question?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

has anyone ever filled every single one of the requests for their assignment? asking out of curiosity

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

My recip wants a modern AU for a canon that's already set in the 20th century and doesn't extensively involve current events of the period, so I can't just update the politics or whatever. What do people like about modern AUs of near-modern canons? Updated pop culture? Smartphones? I'd really appreciate some advice; I want to write the AU of my recip's dreams, but I don't really know where to start.

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

I wish I could see if any of the Star Trek Discovery signups lists Stamets. None of the letters posted in the firebase app lists him.

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Is there an easy way on AO3 to see fics that you've gifted? I know there is a sidebar link for gifts you've gotten, but is there something for fics you've given?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

If you recip says that they are open to AUs for one of their requests, should you still ask before writing a crossover or fusion with another one of their requests?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

I know it's controversial, so would you write a treat in second person if the canon is also in second?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

I matched on a fandom I also requested. My recip didn't leave any prompts, just general likes. Is it okay to write them a fic based on one of the prompts in my own letter? It fits in their likes and it's not a particularly specific or out there prompt (think sth like "epistolary fic").

I mean, at worst my assigned writer will write the same prompt for me and it'll be awkward but not the end of the world, right? ...right?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

So this is an older fandom, and there was a fic from way back with a great premise that I've always wanted to do my own take on. Story isn't online anymore, and I'd be changing quite a bit, but the premise itself is still pretty unique... idk if the og author is still around or not but at any rate I can't find an email or a current account to ask permission. I'm on the fence whether this is a jerk move or not?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Would you consider epistolary elements in a mostly non-epistolary to be opt-in or opt-out?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

are there any popular/big name authors/writers who usually get tons of kudos who've signed up? not trying to say writer quality is determined by the number of kudos/hits, just trying to see if I know any of the writers that have signed up. (also, lowkey think it'll be cool to treat some of them if they've written a fic I love since it'll be a nice way to say thank you for the hours of enjoyment they've given me)

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

What is coal's opinion on changing the names of characters for AUs? I know that generally this is a terrible idea, but if you're writing a historical AU and trying to be as accurate as possible, does it stretch the suspension of disbelief to have Barbies and Aidens running around, say, 18th century France?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Coalies, I haven't written letter, everything I wanted to say is in my sign up, including the porn prompts. Would it be weird to go to the yuleporn plot and simply state "I like major trope in fandom x,y and z, please check me out in the sign up summary once it's revealed".

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

My recip wants OT3 (or pairings in any combination of the three) for an ensemble canon and has prompted for nothing else. They did not have their letter up or I would have dropped a character to avoid this.

I can write a convincing story for one of the possible pairings, but the third character I anti-ship. Coal, what are some ideas for including all characters - who I love individually - without sounding like the kind of asshole who is judgey about their ship?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

should i spend $20 to get a book that is out of print and not in my library to do yuletide research?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

If you've come across a letter and it has a bunch of prompts but doesn't say what characters they actually signed up for, would you wait until requests are public to write for it or just take your best shot now?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

I'm looking for a beta for a treat, but the fic is pretty dark. It's written from the perspective of a zombie whose body is decaying while they're (un)alive. The fic doesn't revel in the grossness of what's going on, but it is pretty detailed, and there's definite body horror/eye horror.

I know this is likely to freak most people out, but it's also rare enough that I don't know of anybody who's DNW'd it specifically. Nobody on the beta spreadsheet has either opted out of or into body horror or zombie stuff.

I don't want to go around traumatizing potential betas, but I also don't know of anybody who is cool with this level of darkfic. Is there anything like crueltide for betas?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Should I start writing yet or not? My recip has a gift waiting for them in Fandom Growth Exchange ... with exact same fandom and characters we matched on. I've looked at the tags in FGE and they aren't detailed enough to tell me if the fic might be different from the idea I'm brewing. Do I risk writing something really similar? FGE reveals are, like, 3 weeks away. :/

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

What do I tell myself to get over the fear that I'm going to write a treat for someone and then they a treat for the same prompt but the other person's treat is better than mine (or the opposite)?! Not that I mind that my potential treat-receiver is getting better fic, just that I'll feel mortified at being held in comparison...

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Do you usually tell your beta who your recip is? Is it recommended, advised against or up to the writer?

Also, why does the FAQ suggest leaving out the beta's name in the A/N before reveals? How would thanking my beta compromise my anonymity? (I've never even written this fandom before.)

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

What does anti mean? /o\

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

If someone defaults on their assignment, but that person has a treat up, does that mean the treat becomes the assignment and it doesn't go out to PH?

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

Can someone please explain to me how hippos works on the discord? Do I become a hippo (do the whole at dyno hippo or whatever), then ask in the general thread?? Or how do I ask someone who is already a hippo? How do I know if someone is a hippo? How do I know the hippo isn't my recip? FUCK WHY IS THIS SO CONFUSING

Sorry. I'm not even old, I'm just confused by the process. I've read the FAQ a few times now and I'm still as confused as I was when I started. Throw coal at me if you want, I totally deserve it. :(

Re: Ask Coal

[(Anonymous)]

How effusive can one be in the author notes ? Is it normal to spaz at the recipient because you two share a fandom /ship?

Is it okay to leave a treat unbetaed? It's short enough I don't want to bother any betas, and betaing takes a while. Would you be offended receiving unbetaed treats??

And uh saw "shitty fic just to up fic count" basically and uh is this a thing ?? I don't want people to think I'm treating them for brownie points or something D: