HD Holidays

[blamebrampton]

So the [Poll #1859555]

In other news, my cold is at the point where my head is filled with ALL the snot. Damn you, deviated septum of virus acquisition and snot holding!

Comments

[leemarchais.livejournal.com]

I got mine, too. I'm so excited! Ah!

[sinden.livejournal.com]

Steam. Steam it like a steaming thing. Alternatively, lots of chili. That'll clear it out.

Have never participated in HD Holidays but normally anything I've participated with a prompt is a guideline only.

[moonflower-rose.livejournal.com]

Ditto to all of the things, including the snot!

[phoenixacid.livejournal.com]

I think if the prompts inspire you, then it's great! If not, then you should just make sure that you don't touch any of the squicks mentioned.

Get better and snot-free soon, bebe!

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I sincerely hope that prompters consider them as guidelines - or I'm about to seriously annoy one of my prompters!

Though in practice, even if you keep exactly to the requirements of a 1000 word 'prompt' the chances that you'll come anywhere near what the prompter was actually expecting are very remote.

I've lost count of the times I've seen (and given) feedback along the lines of 'different from what I expected - but better'.

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that they are suggestions. Like, if you want a story concept, here are some I'd enjoy. I think it's actually in the rules that you don't have to write one of their prompts, you just need to pay respect to their likes and avoid their dislikes like the plague.

And personally, as a giftee, I'd much rather receive a story my writer felt personally passionate about than something they forced themselves to write because I left it as a prompt.

If, on the other hand, you're able to fit in some aspects of their prompt/s, then bonus.

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Squicks is the important thing. Squicks and genre

ie no miserable rapefic for people who want hea

[thisgirl-is.livejournal.com]

I think that if the mods didn't ask people to provide prompts, most people wouldn't even bother. I've always treated them (and encouraged Beltane participants to treat them) as suggestions or starting points to help get ideas flowing. Kind of a 'If you can't think of anything, or don't know where to start, the recipient thinks x would be a nifty premise' sort of thing, rather than 'This is the story I want you to tell me'.

Also, ew. I hope the cold clears up soon - that sounds like the anti-fun.

[sherryillk.livejournal.com]

Having never been on either side of this sort of exchange, I have no experience to draw upon to give my opinion. But if I ever were a prompter, as long as you write a great story inspired by the prompt, that's all I would ever want. If you stray, who cares if the story is good? Or at least better than what it would have been if you forced yourself to write something you didn't believe in?

That being said, I think squicks are very important since they're squicks for a reason. I'm the type to leave a story as soon as I spot a squick and if it's a gift, it's probably a good idea to stay away from stuff your reader wouldn't read...

[wooly-bear.livejournal.com]

I hate snotty days. *hands you tissues with lotion in them*

My guess would be that the squicks are the most important things of all. Avoid them like....like snot.

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

I usually try to build the fic around the request, avoid the squicks like burning, and then toss in the prompts like little bonuses whenever possible. Sometimes the prompts just don't fit with the bunny you get. In my last fic the person wanted "tattoos" but no matter what I tried it just wouldn't work.

"Hey, Harry I got this new tattoo."
"What? WHY?"
"I felt like it. Pass the marmalade."

Yeah, no.

(I find it horrifying when people ignore the squicks. It's like the time my sister bought me a pile of lovely birthday presents - all in PASTEL PINK because she thought I had too much black in my wardrobe. *still shuddering after all these years*)

[quatrefoil.livejournal.com]

I've had my septum surgically undeviated, which was unpleasant and it still holds snot perfectly well. I'd recommend putting up with yours.

[chantefable.livejournal.com]

Vanquish the snot with all the anti-snotty things!

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

lol, im in the same quandry... i think prompts r more about, hey work with thsese if u like, and do something else if u got something better

sqicks r definitely more important

im on ipad so primitive typing-sorry


i think requesters are writers too and understand that if u try to write too much in a box u get crap

[hollyxu.livejournal.com]

I remember actually needing clarification on a Yuletide request once, and what they write they want/squick at, is much more important than the prompting.

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

I know prompts are a guide, but unless they are completely unworkable, I do always include at least some of them. I think it helps the recipient feel that you've actually tailored a fic to their request, rather than written one that you want to write, whilst simply avoiding their squicks.

[anna-wing.livejournal.com]

The infallible Croatian cold-cure, given to me by a genuine Croat:

Take a bottle of slivovitz (my acquaintance used special slivovitz brewed only on this small island off the Dalmatian coast, that comes in clear, unlabelled bottles, but I feel that commercially-produced versions should be fine). Pour it into a saucepan with sugar to taste. Put the lid on the saucepan and boil the slivovitz. When it is boiling, lift the lid and inhale the resultant rocket fuel. Drink the slivovitz. This will clear your nasal passages (and possibly remove them altogether). You will also be very happy and sleep very well, unless you are allergic to alcohol, in which case you might die.