2012 LOTR Community Challenges Yule Fic Exchange!

[dreamflower]

2012 Yule Fic Exchange

IF you signed up for the 2012 LOTR GFIC Yule Fic Exchange at THIS announcement post the requests are behind the cut. ONLY those who signed up are eligible to choose a request, and ALL who signed up are obligated to write a story. Post a comment with the number of the request you wish to write. Post a comment as well for your second choice. State clearly which is your first or second choice. Comments will be screened.

First choices will be crossed out as the mods see the requests come in. If two people request the same one before the mods have a chance to cross it out, the second person will get their second request.

In the remote possibility that both your choices are already chosen, we will contact you to make a third choice. All comments are screened.

Once all stories are claimed, you will be e-mailed with the name of the person you are writing for. You may then check your recipient's own stories and so forth to get an idea of what she likes. Do not contact your recipient however, as authors will be revealed when the stories are revealed.

2012 Yule Exchange Requests

1. I would like to see a fic in which someone is seeking to console Gandalf/Olorin for the loss or death of one of those he has come to befriend, love, and mentor somewhere within Arda. It might be one of his Maiar brothers or sisters who went over to the Enemy or who chose a service he could not share, one of the Noldor who chose to leave Valinor to return to Middle Earth, one he fought alongside during the War of Wrath, one he sought to save on the great migration to Aman, or one of many Gandalf befriended over the fifteen hundred plus years he served as one of the Wizards. Maia, Man, Elf, Dwarf, or Hobbit, he must have
come to love many over his existence whose loss grieved him greatly. How does one console a Maia/Wizard?

2. I would like a wintertime celebration in First Age Middle-earth, featuring any Finwëans (except Turgon or any alleged daughters of Finwë; indulge me it's the holidays!).

3. I would like a fic about the very first Solstice. Characters, setting, etc are all totally optional, it doesn't even have to be Middle-earth since the sun also rises and sets over the West. So...totally open.

4. Maglor in modern times, winter on the shore. (The bleaker the better.)

5. I would love a story that combined my fav: Legolas, Thranduil, Gimli, Aragorn and Elrond, twins are possibility as well.
Full of drama, mostly Legolas's angst is welcome.

6. I would like a story with Gimli adjusting to life (for however long that lasts) in the West. I'm wondering particularly what "Mahal" would think of this 'son' being able to come where no other Dwarf has gone before.

7. I want a story featuring Imrahil at Dol Amroth, preferably Pre-Ring War; if young Boromir and Faramir are involved, that would be a bonus!

8. Something about Bree and Yule traditions, may be Men, may be Hobbits, serious, funny, whatever inspires you.

9. Anything with the House of Fëanor (especially the sons but could be anyone.) Genre and era is of your choice. I love stories that center on families and ones that include interactions between characters we usually don't see interacting in canon and fanfiction, but I will be thrilled with anything.

10. I would like a cosy Frodo hurt/comfort fic of some kind. Any setting, any timeframe, any caregiver, just so long as it's Frodo-centric hurt/comfort. :) Preferably a little angst involved (don't go too light on the hurt part, basically)!

11. Glorfindel, Imladris, midwinter, no angst. Bonus points if there's a peacock feather in the mix, extra bonus points for slash (not Elrond, please).

12. I'd like something to do with Boromir in Gondor. Angst or fluff or adventure preferred.

13. I would like a happy story about Aragorn pre, during or post Quest is fine.

14. I want happy Hobbits. It can focus on young hobbits or grown up ones, or both. Snow in the Shire. A winter night sky with stars so bright they look like you could touch them. The smell of Yule treats and evergreens. Warm, flavorful drinks. Cuddling under warm bedclothes while a low fire keeps the room from being too cold.

Love and kindness that isn't sappy.

15. I'd like a story about a young Pippin on the farm at Whitwell. Pippin is given a new puppy and has a lot to learn about caring for a dog. A family Yule full of fluff and humor with a moral at the end, with all the immediate Took's in the story.

16. Merry and Pippin and their first Yule in Minas Tirith after their "retirement" there; are they homesick? How do they celebrate and who is there for them?

17. I would like Radagast, a hobbit, and a Dwarf to meet up along a road somewhere, anytime before the events of The Hobbit. Barring pure fluff or slashy antics, I don't care what ensues from there.

Story Guidelines and Exchange Rules:

1. Everyone who posts a request is expected to also write a request.

2. Stories will be a minimum of 1,000 words and a maximum of 5,000, although we will not quibble if you go over just a little bit.

3. All stories should be rated between G and PG-13 and fit the community ratings guidelines. Please look at them here: Ratings Guidelines PLEASE NOTE: The guidelines include "R", but "R" is not allowed in this exchange.

4. Stories will be posted directly to the lotr_community, where they will remain hidden in the moderator's queue until the reveal date. The stories will be revealed on New Year's Eve (December 31, 2012). You may finish and post your story early, although we ask that you wait until after November 20, in order to make sure that all the November stories have cleared the moderator's queue.

5. Use this template as a header when posting your story:

Author name: Recipient's name: Title: Rating: Request: Author's notes: (optional) Beta: (optional) Summary: <lj-cut>

Make sure to put your story title AND your name in the subject line! Please tag your story "2012 yule fic exchange".

If your story is incorrectly formatted, we may ask you to re-post.

If you have any troubles posting please contact a mod for help.

6. If you are unable to write the story or to finish it for some reason, please notify the mods by December 17, so that we may assign a pinch hitter.

7. Stories will be revealed on December 31, 2012, New Year's Eve. All stories must be in the queue by that date. Stories may be posted to the community prior to that date; they will remain hidden until the reveal.

8. On January 2, you will be free to post your stories elsewhere. All of the exchange stories will also be archived at Many Paths to Tread.

9. This SHOULD go without saying: Remember to read your story and thank your author!

PLEASE NOTE!

Since the comments are being screened, please do not post questions here. We can't answer without unscreening. There is a separate post where you can ask any questions about this year's exchange.

As there is limited time this year, please claim your request ASAP!