Secret Santa letters and prompts

[zvi]

This is just a heads up: if your recipient did not post a Dear Sailor letter when 3 Ships assignments first went out, you should check the links to Dear Sailor letters again. A number of people posted their letters somewhat belatedly.

Please remember, the letters are optional, but you should do your best to avoid the things that squick your recipient.

Also, I've been rethinking the issue of prompts lately, and I would appreciate people completing this poll. (Remember, if you're following from Livejournal, you can vote in Dreamwidth polls as long as you've logged in with OpenID.)

Poll #1736 Prompts

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 11

View Respondents

The current prompt format gives enough info for me to write a story my recipient will like.

View Answers

Yes
7 (70.0%)

No
1 (10.0%)

Essay answer to be posted in comments
2 (20.0%)

The current prompt format is enough info for me to describe a story I would enjoy receiving.

View Answers

Yes
8 (80.0%)

No
1 (10.0%)

Essay answer to be posted in comments
1 (10.0%)

The fic exchange which has the best prompt/prompt directions is: (post URL where I can see sign up directions)

View Answers

Are we having fun yet?

View Answers

Yes
7 (63.6%)

No
1 (9.1%)

Now that there is a tickybox!
8 (72.7%)

Now that I've got my recipient's Dear Sailor letter
2 (18.2%)

Comments

[princessofgeeks]

Is there somewhere I can double check on which fandoms are represented? I have dim impression that the fandoms for which I can pinch hit didn't get requests? If so I can mentally cross this off my to do list except for, you know, reading and fangirling! I love this ficathon.

You are amazing. All the stuff you do for fandom!!! Wow.

[zvi]

Oh no, there were several requests that people made for the fandoms you offered.

When I do my lists of "look what people have offered/requested!" I focus on the smaller, unrepresented fandoms.

[princessofgeeks]

cool! i am still available and at your service. I won't be out of town in december.

[alixtii]

I was having fun until I finished my story a couple days ago. Now I'm not sure what to do with myself until the deadline. (Of course, there's still yuletide, prettylightsfic, Broken Toys, and possibly one other ficathon? Plus Secret Slasha once I get that assignment.)

[maekala]

As far as prompts are concerned, I think it's possible for some people to write stories based on what we have. For example, these basic things where I know there will be some sort of "Dear Santa" letter, I tend to give shorter prompts. In this case, I gave a phrase and, personally, I could still go with just a phrase to write with, given that it's a helpful phrase (of course, "helpful" is subject to individual limitations). I'll also be way more careful about my choice of phrase if I know that's all the author is receiving.

Basically, I like the way things are so long as people realize just how helpful Dear Sailor letters are.

[pensnest]

I can't honestly answer that I'm able to post a story my recipient will like until, well, I have, and she does. But the short, sweet prompt is a pretty good way to do things, and the prompts provided for me are pretty cool - I hope the prompts I've provided will give my author enough of an idea to get going, and if my author wants to read my Dear Sailor letter, she can. And there's always stalking...

[fangirlism]

If I was your recipient, I can honestly say that I would love your fic! :D