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Dear First Time Writer,
You don’t have to stick 100% to things in my likes list. I’m going to try and be as open as possible to leave your creativity room to go crazy. Definitely not my intention to shackle you, but hopefully something sparks for you.
I’ll admit, I’m not into full-on explicit sex. I don’t need – or in most cases, want – to know the play-by-play. What I want is emotional exploration and connection, bonding and growth. If you want to put an E rated scene in there, go for it, but please make the majority of the fic about the characters and their emotional/psychological interactions.
Likes – Strong alpha men that are wrapped around the fingers of the women they love. Protective men and women with sass. Dark, edgy characters who use that to protect the innocent and light. And I’m into women who are kickass – especially if it’s NOT in the physical sense. Give me the geniuses, the wise women, the counselors, or the homemakers who know it is the heart of the house that pulls the strings.
I have a MAJOR competence kink.
You don’t have to include this, but if it is up your alley, I really like multiple levels of relationships. While I don’t like breakup/cheating fics, I enjoy seeing various levels of relationships. So . . . characters A & B are in a strong romantic relationship, but when character B has a particularly tough day, they go cuddle with character C or characters A, B, & C are a closed triad, but character A has a strong platonic relationship with character D. Outsiders are sure they’re dating or having sex, but they’re not – and the other characters don’t have any jealousy. (And yes, they may even share a bed, but it’s purely for sleep, cuddling, comfort – not sex.) I enjoy romance, but I also truly enjoy explorations of all levels of love – romantic, platonic, familial, etc.
General Likes:
Deep characterization
Happy endings – or hopeful at the very least
Ratings: G, T, or M
Fluff
Domestic/slice of life
Found family
Hurt/comfort
Pregnancy/kids – except MPREG
Character bonding
World building
If you go the A/B/O route on any of the potential fandoms, I really prefer a study on the dynamics to the whole rutting/heat thing.
General Dislikes -
1st or 2nd person POV
Anti-religion/Religion bashing
Major character death – unless part of reincarnation or afterlife AU
Unhappy endings
Breakup/cheating/infidelity fics
MPreg
RPF – Using the FBI, NYPD, etc. is fine, but please don’t use CNN, MSNBC, Fox, etc. and definitely no real people.
Current politics or political issues
Now, let’s get fandom specific:
MCU –
Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (virgin Natasha) – Let’s be real, there’s no way Natasha is physically a virgin after everything the Red Room would have her do during all of those years. However, having sex and making love are two very different things. She may not consider it rape, but Clint sure as hell would. I’d love to see something exploring that.
James “Bucky” Barnes/Natasha Romanov (virgin Natasha) – Again, see note on Natasha’s virginity above. I’m good with these two finding each other either while under the thumb of the Red Room or after they escape. (How you get Bucky free is up to you, or you can hand wave the whole idea and just have him be free. Abracadabra.)
Clint Barton/Kate Bishop - this is not usually one of my ships, but I think it would be an interesting exploration, particularly if there's some need to protect her or their mission. Also, I can see it in other cases of necessity or comfort.
Likes – 2012 era universe (no Civil War, Infinity War, Endgame), Bucky and Soldier being almost separate individuals, Bucky is bi and Soldier is ace/aro (that’s got to be a weird balance to keep), Kate as innocent/inexperienced
DNW – disaster Clint, emotionless/aromantic Natasha, dumb kid Kate
ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION & LORE –
Hades/Persephone (virgin Persephone) – Persephone – her story is tough for me, but I enjoy a couple of versions I’ve read where she chose to join Hades, and chose to eat the seeds. As the Queen of the Dead, she holds a particularly powerful role, and I always liked the idea of Hades being an indulgent dominant. Not necessarily sexually, but who draws the lines/borders, but within those he spoils her.
Likes – Persephone as an innocent sweetheart with a touch of sass, Hades as a grump with a heart of gold
DNW – Persephone as a brat, Hades as a jackass/villain
HARRY POTTER –
Neville Longbottom/Ginny Weasley (both virgins) – These two intrigue me because they are two of the characters who changed so much in the course of the story, especially with them being in Hogwarts at its darkest moments. There almost had to be some time where they spent it alone because they needed comfort or to break down but wanted to keep up a good front with the other students looking to them for leadership.
Sirius Black/James Potter/Lily Evans (virgin Sirius) – On this ship, I have a couple of headcanons. James is ace, and he’s forced himself to have sex because he thought it was expected. When Lily finds out, she’s unhappy and lectures him on not taking better care of himself. Yes, she likes sex, but she’s in this relationship because she loves him – not because she needs to have sex with him. Sirius is demi – and he’s been pining because the only ones he feels that kind of attraction to are either taken or unattainable. (James & Lily are married, Remus is straight, etc.) It’s a journey.
Likes – Lily leaning more towards the Gray, Remus being a good friend
DNW – Sirius being buffoonish, Ginny being waspish, Neville being dumb, Peter Pettigrew as anything other than background
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE –
Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy (both virgins) – These two are so beautiful and awesome in their own way. Two very competent people . . . and contrary to some, I enjoy the time period and all of its social customs/expectations. Austen does such a wonderful job of portraying it with her words – and all of her true heroes and heroines are those who follow it. These two are two of the best. I’d love to see something exploring their expectations – and how those are either surprised or surpassed.
Likes – Darcy as head of the house and Elizabeth as the heart. Both of them as intelligent, witty people.
DNW – Any bashing about the societal rules of the time period.
TORTALL –
Numair Salmalín/Veralidaine Sarrasri (Tortall) (virgin Daine) – Their story is my favorite in all of the Tortall series. (Followed up by Keladry’s story, but I digress.) I love the blend and blurring of the lines between the mortal and immortal worlds. The idea of them working as ambassadors between Tortall and the immortals would be interesting.
Likes – Numair’s gentleness and humor, Daine’s pragmatism, friendships outside of the romance still being important
DNW – Anything sexual playing with her in animal form
I hope this helps spark something, and I hope you enjoy writing!
Thanks!
Caiti
You don’t have to stick 100% to things in my likes list. I’m going to try and be as open as possible to leave your creativity room to go crazy. Definitely not my intention to shackle you, but hopefully something sparks for you.
I’ll admit, I’m not into full-on explicit sex. I don’t need – or in most cases, want – to know the play-by-play. What I want is emotional exploration and connection, bonding and growth. If you want to put an E rated scene in there, go for it, but please make the majority of the fic about the characters and their emotional/psychological interactions.
Likes – Strong alpha men that are wrapped around the fingers of the women they love. Protective men and women with sass. Dark, edgy characters who use that to protect the innocent and light. And I’m into women who are kickass – especially if it’s NOT in the physical sense. Give me the geniuses, the wise women, the counselors, or the homemakers who know it is the heart of the house that pulls the strings.
I have a MAJOR competence kink.
You don’t have to include this, but if it is up your alley, I really like multiple levels of relationships. While I don’t like breakup/cheating fics, I enjoy seeing various levels of relationships. So . . . characters A & B are in a strong romantic relationship, but when character B has a particularly tough day, they go cuddle with character C or characters A, B, & C are a closed triad, but character A has a strong platonic relationship with character D. Outsiders are sure they’re dating or having sex, but they’re not – and the other characters don’t have any jealousy. (And yes, they may even share a bed, but it’s purely for sleep, cuddling, comfort – not sex.) I enjoy romance, but I also truly enjoy explorations of all levels of love – romantic, platonic, familial, etc.
General Likes:
Deep characterization
Happy endings – or hopeful at the very least
Ratings: G, T, or M
Fluff
Domestic/slice of life
Found family
Hurt/comfort
Pregnancy/kids – except MPREG
Character bonding
World building
If you go the A/B/O route on any of the potential fandoms, I really prefer a study on the dynamics to the whole rutting/heat thing.
General Dislikes -
1st or 2nd person POV
Anti-religion/Religion bashing
Major character death – unless part of reincarnation or afterlife AU
Unhappy endings
Breakup/cheating/infidelity fics
MPreg
RPF – Using the FBI, NYPD, etc. is fine, but please don’t use CNN, MSNBC, Fox, etc. and definitely no real people.
Current politics or political issues
Now, let’s get fandom specific:
MCU –
Clint Barton/Natasha Romanov (virgin Natasha) – Let’s be real, there’s no way Natasha is physically a virgin after everything the Red Room would have her do during all of those years. However, having sex and making love are two very different things. She may not consider it rape, but Clint sure as hell would. I’d love to see something exploring that.
James “Bucky” Barnes/Natasha Romanov (virgin Natasha) – Again, see note on Natasha’s virginity above. I’m good with these two finding each other either while under the thumb of the Red Room or after they escape. (How you get Bucky free is up to you, or you can hand wave the whole idea and just have him be free. Abracadabra.)
Clint Barton/Kate Bishop - this is not usually one of my ships, but I think it would be an interesting exploration, particularly if there's some need to protect her or their mission. Also, I can see it in other cases of necessity or comfort.
Likes – 2012 era universe (no Civil War, Infinity War, Endgame), Bucky and Soldier being almost separate individuals, Bucky is bi and Soldier is ace/aro (that’s got to be a weird balance to keep), Kate as innocent/inexperienced
DNW – disaster Clint, emotionless/aromantic Natasha, dumb kid Kate
ANCIENT GREEK RELIGION & LORE –
Hades/Persephone (virgin Persephone) – Persephone – her story is tough for me, but I enjoy a couple of versions I’ve read where she chose to join Hades, and chose to eat the seeds. As the Queen of the Dead, she holds a particularly powerful role, and I always liked the idea of Hades being an indulgent dominant. Not necessarily sexually, but who draws the lines/borders, but within those he spoils her.
Likes – Persephone as an innocent sweetheart with a touch of sass, Hades as a grump with a heart of gold
DNW – Persephone as a brat, Hades as a jackass/villain
HARRY POTTER –
Neville Longbottom/Ginny Weasley (both virgins) – These two intrigue me because they are two of the characters who changed so much in the course of the story, especially with them being in Hogwarts at its darkest moments. There almost had to be some time where they spent it alone because they needed comfort or to break down but wanted to keep up a good front with the other students looking to them for leadership.
Sirius Black/James Potter/Lily Evans (virgin Sirius) – On this ship, I have a couple of headcanons. James is ace, and he’s forced himself to have sex because he thought it was expected. When Lily finds out, she’s unhappy and lectures him on not taking better care of himself. Yes, she likes sex, but she’s in this relationship because she loves him – not because she needs to have sex with him. Sirius is demi – and he’s been pining because the only ones he feels that kind of attraction to are either taken or unattainable. (James & Lily are married, Remus is straight, etc.) It’s a journey.
Likes – Lily leaning more towards the Gray, Remus being a good friend
DNW – Sirius being buffoonish, Ginny being waspish, Neville being dumb, Peter Pettigrew as anything other than background
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE –
Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy (both virgins) – These two are so beautiful and awesome in their own way. Two very competent people . . . and contrary to some, I enjoy the time period and all of its social customs/expectations. Austen does such a wonderful job of portraying it with her words – and all of her true heroes and heroines are those who follow it. These two are two of the best. I’d love to see something exploring their expectations – and how those are either surprised or surpassed.
Likes – Darcy as head of the house and Elizabeth as the heart. Both of them as intelligent, witty people.
DNW – Any bashing about the societal rules of the time period.
TORTALL –
Numair Salmalín/Veralidaine Sarrasri (Tortall) (virgin Daine) – Their story is my favorite in all of the Tortall series. (Followed up by Keladry’s story, but I digress.) I love the blend and blurring of the lines between the mortal and immortal worlds. The idea of them working as ambassadors between Tortall and the immortals would be interesting.
Likes – Numair’s gentleness and humor, Daine’s pragmatism, friendships outside of the romance still being important
DNW – Anything sexual playing with her in animal form
I hope this helps spark something, and I hope you enjoy writing!
Thanks!
Caiti
