orcofnewyork

Dear Yuletide Writer 2023

2023-10-21T20:33:09Z

Dearest, darlingest Yuletide Write of 2023,

I will cherish whatever you write because it is a gift from a kindred spirit. I love the Yuletide exchange and I hope you do, too!

Besides this letter you can always check out my past Dear Yuletide Author and Dear Author letters for other exchanges if you still want some ideas. You can also check out my AO3 profile to see my works and bookmarks to get an idea of my tastes.

( General Likes and DNWs )
Fandom Specific Prompts for The Venture Brothers, Dead End: Paranormal Park, Barbie (2023), Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena, and Oniisama e... | Dear Brother

( Read more... )

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Dear Yuletide Author 2022

2022-10-22T05:05:26Z

Placeholder!

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Dear Yuletide Writer 2021

2021-10-23T02:18:00Z

Dearest, darlingest Yuletide Write of 2021,

I am thrilled to take part in Yuletide again after missing last year due to the pandemic. I will cherish whatever you write because it is a gift from a kindred spirit.

Besides this letter you can always check out my past Dear Yuletide Author and Dear Author letters for other exchanges if you still want some ideas. You can also check out my AO3 profile to see my works and bookmarks to get an idea of my tastes.

( General Likes and DNWs )Fandom Specific Prompts for Witch Hat Atelier | Tongari Boushi no Atelier (manga), Luca (2021), Jane of Lantern Hill - L. M. Montgomery, Squid Game (TV), Disenchantment (TV), and What We Do in the Shadows (TV).

( Read more... )

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Heat Fic Summer 2021 Letter

2021-05-03T02:55:24Z

Placeholder!

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Fandom 5K 2021 Letter

2021-04-11T03:09:13Z

( Requests for Good Omens, Shoujo Kakumei Utena | Revolutionary Girl Utena, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Original Works )

( General Likes & DNWs )

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Genealogy & Such

2019-11-15T03:46:40Z

I finally found a picture of my great grandad George online at the National Archives and I'm so happy I cried. I had only ever seen one or two poor quality photos, but now I can finally see his face and I feel so seen - the family resemblance is really strong! I really hope that with more hard work and research I can connect with more of my ancestors.

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Retrograde Blues & Periwinkles

2019-11-13T03:58:11Z

In No Particular Order:

- Emergency dental work is going to cost more than a month's salary, possibly up to three month's salary depending on what needs to be done
- Voted as is my civic duty
- Donation to the VFW on Remembrance Day
- Dreamt I ran into my fourth grade crush on holiday
- Keeping up with The Good Place
- Signed up for Yuletide
- Working on continuing WIPs instead of focusing on a new work during Nanowrimo
- Dysphoria intensified pretty badly, but I'm in a pretty negative self-image headspace recently so that's not surprising
- Enjoying new stationery products, my mildliners are happy-making

What's new with y'all?

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Dear Yuletide Author 2019

2019-11-04T05:18:34Z

Dear Author,

First of all thank you for your time and effort! Yuletide is one of my favorite fandom traditions and I'm so happy to participate again this year. Please think of this letter as an optional guide if you so wish to use it, it's not meant to stress you out.

Besides this letter you can always check out my past Dear Yuletide Author and Dear Author letters for other exchanges if you still want some ideas. You can also check out my AO3 profile to see my works and bookmarks to get an idea of my tastes.

( General Likes and DNWs )Fandom Specific Prompts for What We Do in the Shadows (TV), In Other Lands - Sarah Rees Brennan, Sarazanmai (TV), The Adventure Zone: Amnesty, Oz - L. Frank Baum, and Dracula - Bram Stoker.

( Read more... )

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Canon Ball Dear Author Letter

2019-08-18T02:44:41Z

Dear Canon Ball Exchange Author,

Thank you in advance, I know I will adore whatever you write so relax and have fun! This letter is for your reference in case you wanted more specific prompts or wanted to know about general likes/dislikes. Optional details are optional, go where the story takes you!

Note for all prompts: Homophobia Free Society/Same-Sex Marriages Accepted universes are loved and accepted for all prompts & ships. You don’t have to go this route if you don’t want to, but don’t feel obligated to use genre typical/historical attitudes towards queer relationships if you don’t want to.

( General Likes, DNWs, & Prompts )

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July After Thoughts

2019-08-02T03:27:34Z

Let's just say I'm done with that month. It wasn't the absolute worst, but there were some serious lows and nasty hiccups that made it hard to keep on an even keel. Also my sciatica has flared up like whoa (all suggestions for relief are welcome).

What Was Good:

* My dear friend since high school came up for a visit & we had an awesome brunch with another friend
* Stranger Things 3 had some fun highlights even if I wasn't really sold on the season overall
* Catching up on The Adventure Zone mini-arc episodes and Amnesty
* The Adventure Zone second graphic novel came out & it's even better than the first
* Harlots is back on Hulu! <3
* I wrote more than I thought I would
* I got better at rug hooking and completed two small projects

What Could Use Improvement:

* I wanted to write more
* I wanted to integrate exercise into my daily life
* I got stalled a lot trying to clean and organize
* I got into some lazy habits at work that I need to reverse

What I'm Looking Forward To in August:

* Starting a Game Night with my friends
* NY Renaissance Faire
* Derry Girls Season 2
* Daiso Opening in New Jersey
* Possibly attending FlameCon

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orcofnewyork @ 2019-07-27T23:17:00

2019-07-28T03:17:55Z

Bad brain chemical stew tonight. Anyone got any nice recs for anything?

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Dear Rare Male Slash Exchange Author Letter 2019

2019-05-27T00:07:15Z

Dear Rare Male Slash Exchange Author,

Thank you in advance, I know I will adore whatever you write so relax and have fun! This letter is for your reference in case you wanted more specific prompts or wanted to know about general likes/dislikes. Optional details are optional, go where the story takes you!

Note for all prompts: Homophobia Free Society AUs/Same-Sex Marriage Accepted AUs are loved and accepted for all fandoms & otps. You don’t have to go this route if you don’t want to, but don’t feel obligated to use canon/historical attitudes towards queer relationships if you don’t want to.

( General Likes, DNWs, and Prompts for Pride and Prejudice, ASOIAF, xxxHOLIC, Revolutionary Girl Utena, Legend of Korra, and Original Work ) In short, enjoy yourself! None of this was written to stress you out. If you have a story idea that inspires you, go for it! I have very eclectic reading tastes and enjoy many different styles and genres so do what inspires you!

~ Jougetsu

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Fandom 5K Dear Author Letter

2019-04-07T03:11:45Z

Dear Fandom5K Author,

First of all thank you for being so patient about my letter being delayed! And thank you in advance for writing for me, I know I will adore whatever you write so relax and have fun! This letter is for your reference in case you wanted more specific prompts or wanted to know about general likes/dislikes. Optional details are optional, go where the story takes you! If you still want more direction feel free to read my Dear Author letters from past exchanges or check out my AO3 page.

( General Likes, DNWs, and Fandom Specific Prompts for A Song of Ice and Fire, A Game of Thrones, ACD Sherlock Holmes, Harlots TV, Dragon Age, and Original Works )Can't wait to read your amazing story! <3

~ Jougetsu

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The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961)

2019-02-25T04:51:17Z

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961)

“These years are still the years of my prime. It is important to recognise the years of one's prime, always remember that.”

Overall: 9.5/10

Summary: A narcissist schoolteacher claims to devote herself to her students when in reality she’s grooming and manipulating them to fit her own personal narratives. Or if Mary Poppins Had a Cluster B Personality Disorder.

Non-Spoiler Review: A charming teacher molds a group of students to think outside the box and butts head with the school administration is a popular narrative. In fact it’s been done to death, in large part because many early writers of the twentieth century were school teachers. But Sparks writes the more sinister version, which is almost as cliche, yet imbues it with subtle wit and wry observations that you forget any of this is well trod cliche. Miss Jean Brodie teaches at an all girls school in 1930s Edinburgh where she takes great care in selecting her favorite students and trying to mold them into pale imitations of herself because Miss Brodie is a sort of demented sun pulling everyone into orbit. There’s some nonlinear aspect to the narration as the story will give a few lines here and there explaining a character’s eventual fate or their adult perspective. Some readers seem to hate this, but I actually quite liked it. It would have been worse to clog up the third act with “where are they nows” and the glimpses into the future are always to underscore a point being made in the past.

Characters: Jean Brodie is the character you love to hate. She’s the self-centered charmer that you can understand why people like her and are repelled by her. Her taste is the best, in her own opinion, and everyone else is wrong or mistaken. Miss Brodie has a moral code that makes perfect sense to her, but is wildly hypocritical to anyone not living in her world of justifications. She’s funny and foolish and completely self-unaware, you’d love her if it weren’t for the fact that she actively damages children. The story even points out that if she had more self-discipline she could have been a halfway decent person.

The “Brodie set” as her pet students are called get less in-depth characterization, but there is a lot crammed in between the lines. Considering the novel’s short length I think we learned enough about the girls to see the trajectory of their lives with Brodie’s influence pretty clearly. Sandy, the most perceptive of the bunch, becomes the main point-of-view character and thus gets the most depth next to Miss Brodie. I was surprised how many reviewers hated Sandy because I thought she was a great foil to Miss Brodie. Sandy could have easily become a Miss Brodie figure herself, but she sees how awful her former teacher is and chooses to go down a different path.

Queer Quotient: Somehow 1/10 and 10/10 as many same-sex school stories are. One gets the idea that Sandy and at least one of the other girls is queer even if it doesn’t get said in the story. It strikes a chord of being a queer narrative, likely from all the intense homosocial bonding and intense love and hatred for a same-sex role model.

Good For: Those who like unsentimental school stories, those who enjoy villains who think they are heroes.
Not Good For: Those who don’t like novels where what is not said is as important as what is said. Those bored by school stories.

Availability: In print, in e-book and available in most libraries.
Adaptations: 1966 state play, 1969 film with Maggie Smith, and 1978 TV mini-series

Other Notes: SPOILER FOR POTENTIAL TRIGGERS At one point late in the novel Brodie tries to groom one of the girls (now 17/18) into becoming the lover of a married man, it doesn’t work. Instead one of the other girls who sees through the scheme decides to sleep with the man as a private ‘take that’ to Brodie, but at no point was she coerced into it. Sex in the book is non-explicit.

Miss Brodie resents the Girl Guides for influencing more girls than she can. The pettiness is off the charts.

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Thursday Mini Review

2019-02-22T04:30:03Z

Latest Reads

America's Women: 400 Years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates, and Heroines by Gail Collins was one of the better books to cover this daunting corner of American History. Collins' book is arranged chronologically and makes good use of primary sources to let the voices of past American women speak for themselves. Each chapter is comprised of short sections making it perfect for reading during short breaks or to introduce into a curriculum. Collins doesn't whitewash the evils of racism, sexism, or domestic abuse. There were only two sticking points for me. One was that while African American women and European women's lives were discussed there was virtually no discussion of Native American women and in later eras almost no mention of Asian immigrant experiences. Queer women are mentioned, but their queerness is not discussed outside the Boston Marriage phenomenon - not to mention a few instances of trans men being described as women. That said it's still an excellent resource and a great jumping off point to more sources and avenues of research.

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead is the 2016 darling that I missed while in Japan, but making up for now. It's easy to see why it was a hit, it's an African American slavery narrative blended with magical realism and alternate history. That's not a common combo and Whitehead pulls it off well. There's no mention of the year, the sitting president, or the Civil War. It's set sometime in the nineteenth century with the Underground Railroad operating secret train lines, the Carolinas have enacted very different laws to deal with their growing black populations, and it's eerily perfect in its blend of actual history mixed with the what-ifs. The first act is heavy on the cruelties of slave life, so pace yourself if it's a hard read, but it's worth it to contrast what Cora has to gain from freedom. The ending is not tidy, the story is more journey than destination, but it's a worthwhile read and one that gripped me with its idiosyncrasies and worldbuilding. (Aside, do not read the GoodReads reviews like I did because if you have a soul the sheer volume of racism and classism in the reviews may in fact induce a rage stroke or at least a rage headache).

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orcofnewyork @ 2019-02-10T21:30:00

2019-02-11T02:32:39Z

I was all excited to write about some new books I read, but my mental health took a nosedive this weekend really badly. So I'm just adrift in the bad neurotransmitters.

Please share whatever's good in your life or making you smile.

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Happy Lunar New Year!

2019-02-07T04:05:09Z

A bit late, but happy Sino Lunar New Year to everyone who celebrates it! It's the Year of the Pig/Boar which is my birth sign so naturally I'm delighted to finally see some cute pig/boar themed stationery and what-have-you.

I finally got in some leisure reading in between all my coursework reading. I read "American's Women" by Gail Collins and "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" by Muriel Sparks, which I want to write up proper reviews for both. Muriel Sparks. I also caught up on the last batch of Kimmy Schmidt episodes and binged watched Seasons 1-4 of Schitt's Creek. Early in January I watched the final season of A Series of Unfortunate Events and much like the previous seasons it was such a mixed bag of great, good, mediocre, and subpar (though overall I liked more things than I disliked).

Have you read, watched, or played anything interesting recently? Any interesting plans on the horizon?

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A Cozy Birthday

2019-01-31T04:43:18Z

For all the frigid weather, my birthday was pleasantly low-key. The only way it could have been perfect if I could have had my out-of-town/overseas friends here, too! I brought a cake to the office, a chocolate confection covered entirely in Chanel pink cream cheese frosting rosettes and edible matching sugar pearls. My boss lovingly dubbed it "a menace that must be stopped" and its deliciousness was enjoyed by all. I listened to The Adventure Zone during my morning and evening commute.

My family gifted me with a watch, a 5 year diary with Jane Austen quotes, a mini travel wallet, and a card game about maiko. Which was all much more than I was expecting and certainly more than I deserve. I got to talk to my brother, we'll probably have lunch in the city next month as a belated celebration.

Everyone was extremely kind and I'm so happy to be surrounded by such wonderful people! I miss far away friends and I hope I can visit them before my next birthday.

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Classes, Work, & Snow

2019-01-30T03:46:06Z

Classes

Paralegal classes have started again and I'm both delighted to be learning and worried about juggling the intensity of the classwork with my new paralegal job. Some of the coursework I'm doing involves probate, real estate law, and contract law. It's all fascinating stuff and I'm already able to apply what I'm learning in class to my job.

Job

There are some who enjoy the novelty of new jobs. I utterly loathe that novelty. I enjoy being competent and productive, which you cannot be until a certain amount of experience is accumulated. I fret that I'm a burden on my co-workers and such. However, I had a breakthrough in a case I was working on Monday so I'm feeling marginally more useful.

Snow

I'm loving the snow and brisk air. But for everyone who'll be experiencing the polar winds, do keep yourself safe and do what you can to help others within reason.

Miscellaneous

I've been doing well with my flexible New Year's resolutions. Eating healthier, reading more, et cetera. I know with myself that I can't roll out a bunch of new life changes and stick with them so I roll them out in phases. February I'm going to start with the new exercise regimen and daily writing goals.

How are you all? Is it winter or summer in your neck of the woods? Has the new year gone about as you expected or better? Any grand plans coming up?

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The Friday Five (1/18/19)

2019-01-19T04:38:08Z

From thefridayfive :

1. Do you remember when you were first addressed as sir or ma'am?

As "sir" I was 16 and so happy I thought I would bust.

As "ma'am" I was probably in my 20s and twitched so uncomfortably I thought the dysphoria would eat me alive.

2. Do you remember when you first realized the difference between being childish and childlike?

Probably age 4 or 5, I was extremely self-conscious about being viewed as childish as I felt it meant the adults would never take anything I said seriously.

3. Do you remember the first time you realized you were more adult than child?

I defer to the late C.S. Lewis, "You see, I don't think age matters so much as people think. Parts of me are still 12 and I think other parts were already 50 when I was 12…” ― Letters to Children

4. Do you remember your first taste of major independence?

It'd probably be a split between getting my driver's license and getting my first apartment.

5. Do you remember what you bought with your first paycheck?

Not at all, but I'm sure I enjoyed some treat.

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Snowflake Challenge 2019 Day 9

2019-01-16T03:36:36Z

Day 9

Commit an Act of Kindness.

I won't go into things I've done IRL because that seems borderline tacky. Online I've just been doing my best to fulfill wish list requests from Snowflake Challenge Day 6.

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Snowflake Challenge 2019 Day 8

2019-01-11T03:42:18Z

In your own space, post self-recs for at least three fanworks that you created.

I won't rec any of my WIPs as I don't know when they will be finished and that ain't right, so I simultaneously humbly and not-quite-as-humbly present some fics that may be of interest.

Do you like original stories with queer Victorian men pining?

Lightning and Clockwork - Anthony Spencer had given up on romance until fate throws a mysterious stranger his way. Features a charming stranger and various enigmatic occurrences!

Do you like queer stories based on turn-of-the-century books?

Fandom: Oz books by L. Frank Baum
The Road Built in Hope - A canon compliant fic set between books 3 and 4 of the Oz books. Dorothy Gale stays with friends in San Francisco just before the events of The Road to Oz. Features suffragists in a Boston marriage and a whirlwind tour of old timey San Francisco!

Fandom: David Blaize books by E. F. Benson
By Any Other Name - A canon compliant story featuring George Crabtree, a canonically Jewish coded queer character coming to terms with his identity in early 20th century England. Featuring schoolboy crushes and intergenerational queer

Do you like queer couples in fantasy settings?

Fandom: Dragon Age
Fire on His Breath - An alternate universe take on a first meeting between Dorian and the Iron Bull, with a hint of Dorian-can-shapeshift-into-a-dragon!

Fandom: A Song of Ice and Fire - George R. R. Martin
Drown All Good Sense - The HDM-style daemon AU in which Stannis Baratheon falls hard for Davos Seaworth after the siege of Storm's End, with a little help from their meddling daemons!

Be As Melting Snow - Set in a Canon AU where homosexuality (and same-sex consortships/marriages) are accepted, Lyanna lives, the North was always independent, and the Baratheons are taking a stab at making Happily-Ever-After work for them. Stannis Baratheon does not think much of Robert's offering him in matrimony to Prince Eddard Stark of Winterfell. He may yet change his mind.

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Snowflake Challenge 2019 Day 7

2019-01-09T04:17:55Z

Stretch yourself a little and try something new. Go play in a new fandom or with a new pairing. Try working in a new medium. Or check out some fanworks that are new to you

Thanks to the Snowflake Challenge I've been reading books by authors that are new to me from other folks' recs, I've also recently started listening to podcasts (I'm a dinosaur that never has done so before), and I've downloaded patterns for historical doll clothes - but for eras I've never sewn for so that will be a challenge with the different techniques required! I definitely want to learn new skills and try new things this year!

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Snowflake Challenge 2019 Day 6

2019-01-09T03:14:04Z

Day 6

In your own space, create a list of at least three fannish things you'd love to receive, something you've wanted but were afraid to ask for - a fannish wish-list of sorts.

1.) Fanart for any of my fics (Jougetsu) or fanart for your fave fic by another author, trust me it would make their year.

2.) Comments on any of my fics OR just commenting on fics by other authors - everyone deserves to feel appreciated in fandom! (Livetweet style reviews for long fics are also welcome! ;) )

3.) Fanfic for me? <3 You can use my Dear Author Letters as a guide or just write something in a fandom or for a ship we share!

* Bonus * Recs for books, podcasts, games (video, board, or card), et cetera!

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Chocolate Box 2019 Exchange Letter

2019-01-08T04:28:35Z

Dear Chocolatier,

Thank you for taking on my assignment, I look forward to reading what you write! This letter is for your reference in case you wanted more specific prompts or wanted to know about general likes and DNWs. Optional details are as always optional, please go where the inspiration takes you.

Most of my optional details are lifted from previous exchange letters which had a larger minimum word count so feel free to disregard plot heavy prompts. I love characters interacting so even a spot of dialog or a quiet scene would be dearly loved for this exchange. I also love seasonal (any season is fine) and cultural details as well as daily rituals. Chocolate Box exchange is meant to be low stress so do what makes you happy writing with these character combinations.

Happy writing!
~ Jougetsu

( General Likes/DNWs and fandom prompts in Pride and Prejudice, A Song of Ice and Fire, The Venture Brothers, Anne with an E, and xxxHOLIC )

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