Dear Author Thread

[Rachy]

In this thread you can write a note to your mysterious author and explain the items on your wishlist in more depth. When the allocations are sent out, you can then visit this thread and hopefully find some useful details that may help you decide which prompt to write for.

A Dear Author letter isn't compulsory for this exchange, but it doesn't hurt either.

[Rachy]

Dear Author,

First of all, thank you for taking the time to write and participate in the Exchange, I’m eagerly anticipating what you write

Please feel free to take these prompts as vague or specific or wherever your inspiration takes you.

Wish List:
1. Thayet and Jon, the early years (platonic or romantic or both)
Basically, a slice of life of J&T working as a team and getting things done in their politics/family/friends/cooking etc. Partnership.

2. Beka and Gershom family fluff post-Mastiff.
Something fluffy and familyish after Beka has achieved all her goals and grown etc.

3. A snapshot of Circle life, ten years after WOTE
How are they going, what’s everyone up to?

4. Kel and co when the war is over
A more reflective how are they going, what will they do next?

5. Alanna and Kel team up
More partnership style getting things done.

Will do: Tortall, Emelan, PD and Numair.

Won’t do: humour.

[devilinthedetails]

Dear Author,

Thank you so much for making my first Ficmas special by writing a story for me! I’m so excited to read whatever you write for me, and I’m sure that I will love your story. To help your creative juices flow, I’ve elaborated on what I find so appealing about the items on my wish list to hopefully give you some inspiration for any story you write to me. My letter is only meant to help inspire your creativity, not limit it, so please don’t feel confined to only writing about the examples in my letter. I will love it if you write about something I mention, but I will also love it if you use your imagination to invent your own scenario for an item on my wish list. Either would make me extremely happy.

Without any further ado, onto the first item in my wish list. For Roald/Shinko, it might be fun to explore some differences between the Yamani and Tortallan culture, the early awkward days in their relationship, how they come to fall in love, or about their lives after the war (their wedding, their parenting Lianokami, their taking on more ruling responsibilities, etc). They also seem like a couple that might moments of quiet, understated fluff together. With Roald, I’d love to read anything that explores his relationship with his parents or his siblings, what his time as a squire was like, or what his experiences during the Scanran war were like. With Shinko, I’d be excited to read about her time in the Yamani Islands (what was it like to be a child of parents in disfavor with the emperor, that sort of thing) or adjusting to life in Tortall.

Onto the second item on my list, I would find it fascinating to read about Kalasin adjusting to Carthak (the differences between Tortall and Carthak must sometimes feel huge), about them growing an attraction to each other, about them ruling and implementing reforms, or just about them raising their son. For a story focused on Kalasin, I would love to read about how Jon convinced her not to train as a page or about her time being educated in King’s Reach. For a story about Kaddar, his time as Ozorne’s heir or his struggles to establish his throne early on could be awesome story material.

Onto the third item on my list, I love the dynamic between Wyldon and Owen where on the surface they are total opposites but on the inside, they have some very real similarities. I’d find it cool to read about Wyldon asking Owen to be his squire and what their early times together were like and their adventures during the Scanran war could be a great source of inspiration. Or you could write a more family themed fic about Owen as Wyldon’s son-in-law, or about Wyldon dealing with Owen’s relationship with his youngest daughter. For a story focused on just Owen, I’d love to see his relationship with his sisters and father explored, how the death of his mother effected him, or just some fluff between him and Margarry. For a just Wyldon story, I’d love to read about him as a family man with his wife and daughters or just any story that shows him as the complex character he is.

Onto the fourth item on my list, I think Zahir is a complex character with so much potential to delve into. Him dealing with being a Bazhir in the north, him living among the Bazhir, his time as a squire to Jon, and even his decision to stop hazing as a page could all provide fertile ground for a story.

Onto the fifth item of my list, I find Alex of Tirragen such a mysterious character, and I feel like his downfall in the books can always be explored more. I’d love to read a story about why he has such a drive to be the best, his friendships with people like Gary, why he chose to betray Jon, and about his relationship with Roger showing how Roger exploits and manipulates him. Basically I’d love if you made Alex a little less of an enigma.

To conclude, I will love whatever you write for me, whether it is mentioned specifically here or not, and I hope this letter might have inspired your creative juices to flow. Thank you again for making my first Ficmas one to remember!

[Idleness]

Thank you very much for writing for me for this exchange.

I know sometimes it's hard to think of something to write so I hope this will help you, though I'm perfectly happy for you to run in any direction with these prompts!

Wish list

1. The SOTL generation gossiping about the younger generation.

Maybe this is Raoul and Gary betting on Kel's jousting matches, or Alanna and George talking about which ladies Neal is crushing on. Perhaps it's Jon and Gary talking about succession and speculating on which of the next generation will be Roald's most effective supporters. Maybe it's Jon and Wyldon talking about the pages and squires. Are the young ones present or not while they're being talked about? Play this prompt straight or play it for laughs, I'll be happy.

2. Dove's lovers.

I just have this idea that Dove will take unsuitable lovers. I can picture her having quite private but passionate affairs with artists and intellectuals. Whether she has a consort or not I don't really mind!

3. Alanna, Gary, Raoul, and George plot to overthrow King Roger.
Jon is dead, and Roger is King. I don't really mind how you time this. Did it happen when during the events of ITHOTG? During TWWRLAM? Did Alanna even challenge and kill Roger in this AU? What's Thom doing? Where are they running their rebellion from? And who will they put on the throne instead?

4. Idle hands do the devil's work... or the Own/Riders/pages/squires are left with not enough to do and not enough supervision.

This one is definitely for pranks and shenanigans. Does it all go wrong? Or terrifically right? Is someone the butt of a joke? Or is this a war of escalation?

5. One of the POTS supporting cast achieving a goal.

We see Kel steadily working towards goals, like mastering the lance. What about one of the other pages? What's their goal, what are their setbacks along the way, and what do they do when they achieve it? Is the goal something worthwhile, or something silly? Are they in competition with someone else to achieve it? This could be anything at all that strikes your fancy.

[Tamari]

Dear Author,

Thanks so much in advance! I'm looking forward to see what you do with any of my prompts. Please feel free to be creative! This is just me asking questions into the void to try to and prompt some ideas if you get stuck.

1. A couple reveals their secret relationship
I am such a sucker for this trope. It's almost embarrassing. I live for the drama, but you could also take this in a fluffy direction! Possible reasons the relationship could be secret: family feud/scandal, age difference (but everyone adult please!), class difference, career conflicts (the Own, chain of command, etc.)

2. Briar/Evvy (post teacher-student relationship)
I especially love seeing the sass in this relationship, but I also love the fierceness and earnestness of both Evvy and Briar in their own ways. Does Evvy know about Berenene? How does Briar react to Evvy's adventures after they separate (if you've read Melting Stones, or if you want to make up your own ideas!)?

3. Beka/Rosto, disregarding Mastiff canon - or imagining a different ending
This could be something that completely ignores Mastiff, or just a version where Beka doesn't end up with Farmer. I'd be interested to see how their relationship changes as Beka becomes a more Senior Dog, or post-Tunstall.

4. Kel/Lerant during Squire or Lady Knight era
I think Lerant is about 4 years older than her, so this wouldn't be too different from Kel/Neal in that sense. Maybe he's jealous of Cleon... maybe something happens during the Progress, or he comes to her after she wins the joust for his (Raoul's) honor. Could also take place at Haven. This could be drama, fluff, even humor...

5. Conte and Pirate Swoop children learning about Alanna and Jon's former romantic relationship
You could take this a lot of different ways! Maybe they find out young and are all, "ew, cooties" or "you kissed someone besides dad/mom??". Maybe they hear when they're older and think it's just a silly rumor. Do they discuss it among themselves? Do they overhear a conversation? Do Alanna and Jon confirm or deny?

[Rosie]

Dear Author,

Thank you for your time! I am super easy to please, so if you have an idea, feel free to run with it. If you're looking for some direction...

1. Gary/Cythera

I'm a sucker for SOTL-fic, but I love this couple anywhere, any time, any place. Gary might well be my favourite canon character, and I like the idea that Cythera balances out his sharpness with her sweetness.

2. Kora/Ersken

I find this couple really works for me, and I'd just like a piece based on their dynamic - can be during or post-series. Feel free to ignore Mastiff if you so choose! I really enjoy Breakfast Club fic if that helps any.

3. Anything to do with Maura

So, I love Maura. I have been waiting forever for her book, and it looks as though there's still many years to go! I like the idea that she's clever, independent, with her own fief, and what a fief it is! I'd particularly like it to be set in Dunlath, but you know, if your mind takes you a different way, that's cool too.

4. Sarai adjusting to Carthak

I also love Sarai! I think she got treated harshly in Trickster's Queen, so I'd love something that gives her a happily ever after in Carthak, somewhere where (hopefully!) she is finally welcome and wanted (and preferably useful!).

5. Something with the new Trebonds (Coram/Rispah and family)

Could feature any one or all of the bunch, just curious to see what kind of family they raise, wish we'd been able to see a little more of them.

[ladylingua]

Dear Author,
Thanks for taking on a fic!

1. I'm really interested in reading literally anything about Alan of Pirate's Swoop squiring for Raoul, but I have a couple thoughts if you need inspiration. Aly calls Raoul "Uncle Raoul" and generally gave the impression that Alanna's kids are close with their parents friends, so I wonder how that translates into a squire/knight master relationship. Is Alan kind of casual with Raoul? Is it weird for them to re-adjust their relationship to something more "professional"? Is Alan deferential to Raoul because he's Alan's "Uncle," or is Alan more likely to challenge Raoul because of that? How does the Own see Alan? Alanna seems to work with the Own a lot, so maybe they know Alan well too, or maybe they think he's there because of pure nepotism and give him a hard time? Also, I personally headcanon Alan as gay, and Raoul as gay, so if that idea intrigues you, I would love to read a fic where Raoul realizes he has wisdom to impart on Alan outside of the battlefield, kinda like he did with Kel w/r/t Cleon.

2. I would just love to read anything about Marek, ideally with George but without is fine too. It could be anytime, from when Marek & George first meet up to "present day" in Tortall. Questions in case you get stuck: How/ what age did they meet? How did Marek end up as George's second-in-command? What happened to Merek after SOTL?

3. I just want some good times with the SOTL crowd, shenanigans definitely welcome. Any combo of characters from that series is fine. Doesn't have to just be fluff if you've got darker ideas, it's just that I felt like a lot was hinted at in SOTL that never got fully written out (a lot of pranking, general mischief, and it seemed like they snuck out to party at the Dancing Dove a fair amount) so I would love a fic exploring what the SOTL gang is up to in some downtime.

4. Just a fic concept I haven't really seen anywhere, and I thought it might be fun to explore what those relationships are like. Aly & Nawat could be there or not, as could George. Or maybe Alanna and Thayet talking about being grandmothers now, regardless of whether the kids are there. Can be set before the big reveal in Spy's Guide or after, as I imagine that might change some of the dynamics.

5. I feel like there are a lot of Roger/Thom fics out there, but not a lot of just Thom fics. Would love to read something a bit lighter on the angst w/r/t Thom's bad romance, and maybe more focused on his relationships with the other characters. Thom & Alanna hanging out as siblings would be great, from any age. Or maybe Thom first getting used to the palace, either before Alanna leaves or after, with Thom meeting his sister's friends. Or Thom & George getting to know each other, as over the series they seem to develop a rapport. Or maybe Thom and an OC, a non-Roger relationship.

I'm really excited to see whatever you come up with, so definitely don't feel beholden to anything above!

[westernsunset]

Dear Author:

Ok so I sort of dropped off the face of the earth because of moving but I am here and I feel way less guilty to write a dear author letter now since I've actually posted (one of) my gift fic!

I've always been fascinated by the Shang warriors (I used to do karate) and I'd love to learn more about the training, the Ordeal, the history, where else they go.

GAY FIC! It's pride month, I'll take anything LGBTQ.

Also just, anything with Raoul. I love it all!