Housekeeping and resolutions

[pensnest]

It seems to be a Thing to offer ficlets, so I'll take a deep breath and say, yes, if you guess which DWNOGA story (actually, there are two) I wrote, I will write you a little something of your choice. Have at it. I won't comment on any guesses until after the reveal.

I'm a bit boggled after reading all the DWNOGA stories, so I'm not going to do a rec list for that. But I've also been looking at Yuletide (yay! for no job, and a family who'll fend for themselves!), and am mightily impressed with the sheer quality of the stories. Fantastic stuff. A few that I've enjoyed particularly are:


The Long Con a Vorkosigan universe story featuring a clueless Ivan and a clueful Byerly, and much to smile about.

Cooking Lasts from 'Into the Woods', one of my Favourite Ever Musicals, a lovely and truthful insight into one of the characters.

The hours between dawn and nothing A post-MASH story which left me with tears in my eyes.

Not Miraculous Happenings Remember how much tension there is in 'Apollo 13', even though we know the ending? This includes the might-have-beens, and has the same effect.

All that is overdue Extrapolated from 'Arcadia', the Stoppard play, it captures the feeling that I have during the last scene of the play. sniff

The Fifth Task Aphrodite/Psyche, gorgeously lush and sexy.

Best Laid Plans A 'Coupling' fic that really captures the feel of the (UK) series, immaculate Jeff voice, in fact, all the voices are spot on, and it's a delight.

The Conscience of the Queen feels as though it might be a missing story from one of the Dorothy L Sayers short story collections. From Lady Peter's point of view, and features some past favourites from the character list.

In This Galaxy, Nothing Can Be Said To Be Certain Fabulous, fabulous HHGTTG story with rambling insanity and twisty, turny plot and absurdity and Arthur's worm finally turning, if you see what I mean, and read it. Go on.

The Halls of the Goblin King post-The Princess and the Goblin, a favourite childhood friend of mine, and this feels exactly as the other side of the story ought to feel.


Phew.

And I haven't even got half-way yet. What an incredible holiday exchange!

Back to Me. I have made some New Year resolutions, one of which is to take Being Diabetic seriously (along with the metformin, which starts tomorrow). The rest are basically to do with writing, so see this post for details. And feel free to harass me if I don't keep them!

And a note to the various writers on my friends list: there may be among you some who aren't aware of the fic_requests community, wherein we can post requests for short stories we'd like to have, and can pick up anyone's request/prompt and write something. I have been inspired to many little creations via fic_requests. It may not suit all of you, but if you haven't joined, take a look. There have been some wonderful things created in there, and I hope to see plenty more in 2007.

Finally, I made a slightly feeble attempt to let people know when their greetings cards arrived - my apologies, I haven't made a very good job of it. But if you've sent me one, it should be here:



Thank you, one and all! *hugs*

Comments

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Whoa! You hit Yuletide as well as SeSa! You rock!

Okay, I'm going to guess, A Mile in Someoneelse's Shoes and Hark.

The first because it has the humour you write so well. As for the second. It's a guess really.

[pensnest]

I didn't write for Yuletide, but there is *so much there*, and I can never resist temptation... really amazing quality.

Thanks for the guesses. :-)

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Mine didn't arrive? I thought I had sent you one... oh, well. Hopefully it will arrive, sometime in 2007.

[pensnest]

I have been thinking the postman is holding out on me - your card is obviously a hostage. :-( The postmen do get a bit overwhelmed, though, so there is yet hope.

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

Happy New Year!

Also, yay for Yuletide recs! They're all stories I haven't read yet so I'm definitely bookmarking. I'd read the Coupling fic right NOW but sadly I have to get ready for a new year's party. I love Yuletide, so many gems in so many neglected fandoms!

You've got some lovely cards there! The sad thing is the first thing I paid attention to was the knit blanket underneath. My priorities are truly skewed. ;)

[pensnest]

No, indeed - knitting lasts longer than Christmas cards. I'm a keen devotee of the Kaffe Fassett school of knitting, which boils down to, Why use ten colours when you can use thirty-seven? Lots of very simple shapes with many, many colours. I think that shawl was knitted in order to use up some of the vast store of reds and browns I had left after knitting a stepped shawl for my best friend.

Besides, shawls are great - ultimate simplicity!

[cardalia.livejournal.com]

Why use ten colours when you can use thirty-seven?

Hee! I adore colourful knits, I just don't have the patience to weave in the ends or the eye to combine colours. So I tend to go the other way with different textures - lots of cables, lace and other fun stuff. But your shawl is gorgeous!

By the way, I saw you mentioning a Pirates of Penzance story to turloughishere. Did you mean The Worthy Seaman or The Lowly Slave of Duty? It IS true genius! :D

[pensnest]

I'm the other way - I like the shapes to be simple, and anything beyond knit, purl, rib, and the occasional increase/decrease, is beyond me, but lots of colours make it fun.

Yes, that's the story - isn't it *wonderful*!

I'm directing Pinafore this year, good thing it's not Pirates.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

yay for pimping fic_requests! and that's a fine display of cards, on a very snuggly looking background.

[pensnest]

I'm very fond of fic_requests and wish it to flourish. :-)

I didn't get round to using the cards for decoration at all this year (they're in a box file), unlike my sister, who had them clipped to ribbons and strung around the living room. But it's nice to have them, nonetheless.

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to try and guess since I haven't read all stories and so far no one of the ones I have read have leapt out at me as a typical Pen story. (Which of course may be just me being unobservant!)

*groan* You too are mentioning Yuletide! I don't have time to delve into it but I want to *pout*

I see you got one of those fun dangling cards from Ephemera too. Lancecat was much enamoured of mine :-)

Happy New Year!!

[pensnest]

The thing about these Christmas exchanges, is that the fic will still be around in a month's time. And most of them are probably written by people we don't know, anyway - so no influence on feedback, one way or another. I found some stories in there about things I'd forgotten I loved, so it is well worth looking through.

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

I found some stories in there about things I'd forgotten I loved

I'm seriously contemplating clicking on the link for that Dorothy Sayers' story as a break from all the SeSa-ing.

PS I was suddenly struck by the fancy that maybe Welcome to the Neighborhood is one of yours because it's such a delightful story and it made me giggle a lot.

[pensnest]

I must add in a scant handful more recs, because there was a Pirates of Penzance story that is *pure genius*.

Thanks for the guess :-)

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

I have now read the Sayers' fic and I have no words for how happy it made me!! Absolutely perfect Harriet and such a wonderful atmosphere. And Miss Meteyard and Mr Ingleby, squeeeee!! Thank you so much for reccing such a splendid story!

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

I'm guessing Buoyancy. Just cos. Though I did also think you could maybe have written Chance. Hmmm.

Happy New Year!

[pensnest]

I hadn't realised, but of course I'm going to be so flattered by all these guesses. Heh!

Thanks for playing. :-)