Dear author: Fandom Growth Exchange 2019

Dear mystery author,

First and foremost, thank you! Please know I will be thrilled to receive your story. I'm excited to see what direction you've taken on whichever prompt and fandom strike your fancy. I included a few ideas in each of my requests, but please don't feel bound to them if inspiration takes you elsewhere. I’ll be thrilled to get a story in one of my little-known but well-loved corners of fandom!

Things I like:

• Witty banter
  
• Competent, complex, multi-dimensional characters
  
• Friendship, found family, friends-to-lovers, slow burn
  
• Plot, adventures, space duels, intrigue, mysteries and spy stories
  
• Thoughtful, complex, introspective, issues that aren’t black-and-white
  
• Humor, whether subtle or snarky or slapstick
  
• Gentle, compassionate storytelling
  
• Nature, especially lakes, woods, mountain, prairies, and the night sky
  
• Witty banter. Seriously, I love it so much.
  
• I prefer het and usually ship canon pairings; gen is also great.
  
• Drama, humor, adventure, intrigue, espionage, suspense, mystery, thriller... so many genres! I also like explorations of grief and healing, though in general I can only take so much angst. I do prefer happy endings to tragedy, but I also have a soft spot for ambiguity and bittersweet.
  
• A strong sense of place. The differences between places, the little things that set someplace apart or bind people together even across languages and cultures... Whether you want to delve into worldbuilding or just give me a glimpse, I'll love it.
  
• Sirens. See also: my username. (The Lorelei, Greek bird-women, mermaid-like, feral or sensual — any mythology or interpretation you like!)
  
• Language, linguistics, things lost in translation, the power of words
  
• I do enjoy AUs that hold true to both the spirit and setting of the original — canon compliant or divergent “what ifs” are wonderful, and I hold a special place in my heart for Everyone Lives, Nobody Dies AUs. But I’m not a fan of mundane coffeeshop-style AUs.
  
• Spy stories

Things I don't like:

• Noncon, dubcon, incest, underage, abuse, gore, torture
  
• PWP, explicit sex, explicit violence, frequent use of R-rated language
  
• Slash isn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid. I prefer het or gen.
  
• Character bashing; completely helpless, clueless, cruel or dark characterization of canon “good guys”. (More nuanced critique is all well and good!)
  
• Real-world, present-day politics. (Politics of other times, places and worlds — great! But please no in-your-face corollaries with current events. I’ve had enough of the news right now.)
  
• Darkfic, unmitigated tragedy or excessive angst. If your story is sad, I'd request at least a ray of sunshine amid the clouds!
  
  Fandom-specific notes
  
  
  
  • Firekeeper Saga: I’m open to Firekeeper/Blind Seer or Firekeeper/Meddler, even Firekeeper/Derian, but I’d be just as happy if all the relationships were platonic. Whatever you choose, please no bestiality. I’d be equally happy with a story set among the Wise animals or in Hawk Haven.
    
    More to come!!