thisengland | (no subject)

I am perhaps not the only one who, spurred by the histories ficathon, is looking forward to this year's Yuletide Treasure.

This post is intended to point histories fans in its direction, because the more of us there are the more likely it is there will be histories!fic, and that is a good thing.

But it's also intended to suggest we get some kind of consensus about how our fandoms are categorised. Last year there was only 'the Henry plays', which seems to me to be a bit unsatisfactory. But how should it be done?

- One big 'Shakespeare - Histories' category?
- 'first tetralogy' and 'second tetralogy'? But what about people who get them mixed up - it's a bit confusing that the second one comes first in historical terms, and what about people who don't know what a tetralogy is but are fans of R3 or H5 or whatever?
- 'Richard II', 'the Henry IV plays', 'Henry V', 'the Henry VI plays', 'Richard III'?
- individual plays?

It seems to me that when it gets to the fandom requesting part of the schedule, in September, it would be better if we could all agree and ask for the same things so as not to confuse the organisers.*

* Although more histories-esque if we could have a giant schism over it, split into Team Whiterose and Team Redrose, and then maybe get assassinated by a bunch of Henry VIII and King John fans incensed at not getting included at all.

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The way it seems to have been done traditionally, as you note, is that everything is lumped together as "The Henry Plays," which is rather unfair to the Ricardians among us! Although on the other hand the only histories fics that ever get written for Yuletide are Henry V/Scroope for some reason.

I think that we are probably stuck with "The Henry Plays" as a category because it already exists, although if I were in charge of these things, I would count the individual plays individually but consider the multipart plays one play for categorization purposes. I suppose that the Richard plays would probably each get their own category if anyone wrote anything about them for Yuletide; other Shakespeare plays get listed individually...

I don't think we are stuck with it. As I recall, each category has to be requested anew each year otherwise they don't include it. So if people requested the fandoms in my third option and didn't request 'the Henry plays' then that would happen, particularly if we sent an email (or emails) to the organisers explaining why.

You're probably right, though I mostly meant that there are some fics in the archive under the rubric "the Henry plays" (although they are both about Henry V). I am not sure how that would affect future Yuletides though, so.

I agree with

angevin2 on at least starting off with individual plays (except for those in parts), since it's probable that a lot of people would get confused by tetralogies. Although I love the idea of red and white roses and Henry VIII fans getting annoyed by a lack of inclusion, prompting them to start sacking monasteries accompanied by King John...but I get ahead of myself.

And ever since I discovered Yuletide a few months ago, I'm dying to join in. Is the sign-up process incredibly complicated?

I don't think so, I think it's easy and fun. But I'm the sort of person who enjoys filling in questionnaires, so it might just be me...

Not complicated at all. Normally there's a period where people nominate fandoms. Those fandoms get stuck on the official list and then, when you sign up for real, you select 3-4 that you want to receive and as many as possible that you'd be willing to write for. (You only end up writing 1 and receiving 1.)

Announcements are on the lj community. Actual signups and nominations are on the website. You can still see the unfilled requests from last year up on the website.

Me, I'm asking for Coriolanus fic. Blast it.

But I like the third option you've suggested--currently, Yuletide appears to be going by play, but I'd feel silly asking for 'a 2 Henry VI fic, plzkthx.'

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Well. Then I'm asking for a 1 Henry IV fic, plzkthx, first because it follows the pattern, second because Hotspur fills me with joy. ^_~

(ME TOO. Repeat next year, yes?)

(I hope she says yes. This was amazing.)

Additionally, I'm thinking of doing a Greeks'n'Romans ficathon, possibly for March--would you be up for something like that?

Excellent! So we've got at least three participants lined up now, which I should think is quite enough for at least a very small ficathon.

(A bit! I'm Gil. You write lovely things.)

I have so many Yuletide things to think about. If you've never been a Yuletide author before, you just have to write a New Year Resolutions fic in order to get on the list, yes?

(Not creepy! I've been poking about yours, as well. >_>;; And, yes, I appear to have a monopoly on Very Small Fandoms. Still need to get around to writing Kalevala fic.)

I hope I'll be able to say the same! It will be the tail end of my first semester as a doctoral candidate, so I kind of think my season will need saving.

Exactly! No fandom cliches yet. Which is, as far as I am concerned, just how it should be.

Good. ^_^

Well. My lady wants me to write her Ivan/Alyosha, and the Brothers K fandom seems like it's all about the Dmitri/Alyosha, so it's not like small fandoms are exempt from the taboo-busting. But I agree about the kids on the music. XD

I was really confused when, after years in Star Trek where it was anathema, RPS hit the big time after the LotR films came out...

I have never seen Eccleston/Tennant!

Although I have seen Tennant/John Barrowman, but it was crackfic where fangirls paid them to. I'm not sure crackfic counts. ;)

I am pretty sure that you would count as a previous participant for pinch-hitting. Although it is not clear from the current FAQ that that rule is still in effect.

Maybe I should write a NYR fic anyway, just to be on the safe side. There is an unfilled request for Richard II/Henry IV (or maybe it is Richard II&Henry IV, I'm not sure). Surely I could manage that.

Greeks'n'Romans ficathon

You mean Shakespeare Greeks'n'Romans, or Greeks'n'Romans in general? I'm keen the idea either way!

Shakespeare's--I'm not sure I could handle the sheer output of a ficathon for any Greeks and Romans. ^_~ ~~And, rather transparently, I want more Coriolanus fic.~~

I am very much on board with this Team Write More Coriolanus Fic....

Oh, good, maybe I didn't order too many jerseys after all!

(I hope she says yes. This was amazing.)

Oh hell yes. Because I had a complete blast. Plus it made me get off my ass and finish something!

Joy!