tielan: Maria & Steve walking in sync (MCU - Maria/Steve2)
Saturday, January 29th, 2022 08:17 pm
Yes, I'm doing this before Day 14, which is a scavenger hunt which I'll get around to later...maybe.

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Challenge 15

In your own space, create your own challenge. Leave a comment to this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


This year, I'm challenging myself to finish the 'Meeting Halfway' series. There are several other series/stories that I'd like to finish, but I'd really like to complete Meeting Halfway. It's been a full decade since I started the series and now it's time to finish off the last few and close that chapter of my fannish life.

I'd like to complete 'The Gathering Clouds', too, but that one has always gone at a glacial pace and I don't anticipate anything much will change on that front.

So, Meeting Halfway it is. Five more stories. And one will be out in February. So, four more stories.

*breathes*
tielan: Valkyrie blowing out on-fire drink (MCU - Valkyrie)
Monday, January 24th, 2022 08:14 am
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Challenge #12

In your own space, tell us who you would recast in a film, tv series or webseries, or maybe someone voicing a cartoon or videogame. Or who would you cast to play a character in a book, comic or maybe even your own fiction! Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


Or is there a book or comic which you'd love to see made into a film, series, or video game?

This one's easy.

Right now, while we're in the throes of epic medieaval fantasy TV shows, I'd like a DAUGHTER OF THE EMPIRE series, based on Raymond E Feist and Janny Wurtz's novels, following Mara of the Acoma's rise through the politics of the Tsurani - at least as far as the conflict with Jingu of the Minwanabi and her success.

I don't have casting for it, but a bunch of unknown actors would be fantastic for the main players, maybe a big name or two for a couple of the guest roles. John Cho as the Warlord Almecho, perhaps?

Yes, there would have to be a rejig in the balance of male/female characters, since, apart from Mara, there aren't really any other major female characters, nor roles to put them in. But added side plots could bring in new characters and add layers of mystery and spice to the known storyline, so it's not a "this happens, then this, then this, then this, exactly as it happened in the books."

In the midst of all this anti-Asian sentiment, it would be fantastic to add an element of fantasy that is primarily driven by non-white characters (at least until the second book). And it wouldn't have to just be racially East Asians, either; there's a lot of room across the breadth of the Empire for a variety of skin colours and cultural backgrounds (and perhaps could provide a commentary on colourism, too). Besides, I can just imagine Lady Isashani, legendary beauty of Tsurannuani and politically astute mother to the new Lord of Xacatecas, played by a forty-something black woman with a commanding presence.
tielan: (MCU - Maria/Steve)
Thursday, January 20th, 2022 09:57 am
Challenge #10

In your own space, rec a fanwork (fic, art, vid, playlist, anything!) you did not create. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



reccetty-rec )
tielan: (24 - Renee2)
Tuesday, January 18th, 2022 08:27 am
Challenge #9

In your own space, list your Fandom Wrap categories. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.



The 2021 Fannish Wrap-up! )
tielan: (AVG - agents)
Saturday, January 15th, 2022 09:54 pm
Snowflake Challenge promotional banner featuring a snow-covered green bench in a snowy park. Text: Snowflake Challenge January 1-31.

Challenge #8

In your own space, celebrate a personal win from the past year: it can be a list of fanworks you're especially proud of, a gift of your time to the community, a quality or skill you cultivated in yourself, something you generally feel went well. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


Day 8: Prolific )
tielan: aussie flag background with 'aussie aussie aussie' overlay (aussie aussie aussie)
Monday, January 10th, 2022 09:30 am
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Challenge #5: In your own space, talk about an idea you wish you had the time / talent / energy to do.

I want to start making political music videos.

A climate change/Aussie bushfires video to Midnight Oil's Beds Are Burning, targeting not only PM Scott Morrison and his Hawaiian trip at the height of the fires, but also things like the Australian newspaper and columnists' insistence that It's All The Fault Of Arsonists No Climate Change Here, and the botched-up 'rebuilding program' that has barely given any money to anyone. Two years later, a whole bunch of folks are still unable to rebuild.

A video about politicians who mouth platitudes to Roy Zimmerman's Thoughts And Prayers, which is about gun control, but boy it would do quite nicely for Australia's right-wing politicians. (But someone should really make one for gun control in the USA.)

I want to make one about the way the AU Feds have screwed up all the time that we bought them by isolating (nationally, state-wide, local area, and household) and social distancing and masking and vaccinating...only to watch our infection rates soar.

Oh and one about Scott Morrison specifically, to the tune of Razzle Dazzle from Chicago.

I don't know if it would reduce my feelings of helplessness in the political arena, but if I had a bit more time and a bit more ability to stomach watching politicans yabber on, I'd give it a try.
tielan: Maria & Steve walking in sync (MCU - Maria/Steve2)
Saturday, January 8th, 2022 09:44 am
Challenge #4

In your own space, make a list of things that you wish existed in fandom or elsewhere, and/or that you'd like someone to create or do for you.


Snowflake Challenge: Day 4 )
tielan: Yoda, deal with it (SW - Yoda deal)
Thursday, January 6th, 2022 08:44 pm
Challenge #3

In your own space, put some favorite characters into an AU, fuse some favorite canons together, talk about your favorite AU/fusion tropes, or tell us why AU/fusions aren’t your cup of tea.


Snowflake Challenge: Day #3 )
tielan: (Default)
Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 11:10 am
Another day, another snowflake.

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Challenge #11

In your own space, create a fanwork.


As it turns out, I just finished the next story in my Meeting Halfway series - 30 Days of OTP: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers. I started it back in 2012, and at the rate I'm going, I might just have the lot complete by 2022...
Lost and Found (2707 words) by tielan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers
Characters: Steve Rogers, Thor (cameo), Natasha Romanov (cameo), Okoye (Marvel), Maria Hill
Additional Tags: Canon Divergence - Avengers: Endgame (Movie), 30 days of OTP
Series: Part 25 of Meeting Halfway
Summary: As it starts to sink in that they've won the Battle of Wakanda, an odd thought pings against Steve's brain: Tony has a daughter.
tielan: (AVG - maria)
Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 09:04 am
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Challenge #10

In your own space, write a love letter to Fandom in general, to a particular fandom, to a trope, a relationship, a character, creator, episode, or it could be your fandom friends. Share your love and squee as loud as you want to. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.


Dear Maria,

You appeared in the opening scene of a movie whose precedents I hadn’t paid much attention to. Oh, I’d watched them, enjoyed them, but they were popcorn films, full of action and heroics of characters I liked watching but didn’t really hit it off with.

rewritten )
tielan: (AVG - maria)
Thursday, January 7th, 2021 09:43 pm
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  • finish a publishable manuscript, even if it's only the first draft

  • complete my finishalong goals

  • attempt a nuanced conversation across the political divide in Australia (I'm not sure that I'd manage one across the divide in America; none of the 'across the aisle' types that I'm still talking to are open to listening right now)

  • complete the [community profile] cookbook_challenge

I think that's enough, actually. I feel like I should have set up a 'gardening' related goal, but...don't have the energy right now.

As it is, there's quite a lot there and I need to work on saying 'no' more often - even to things that I want to do.

There was a really interesting blog entry titled something like "is it a resolution, or is it capitalism" but I'd have to go find it right now and aint nobody got energy for that. edit: FOUND IT!

There was another interesting post (or possibly an instagram story) about saying 'no' to the 1-to-4s in your life, even if they're things you want to do. Because they'll suck energy from the 7s, 8s, and 9s that you actually want to do. edit: I remember who it was - Diana Kander, Jason Kander's wife. She got a Captain Marvel costume and took photos of herself in it at 9 months pregnant. It is AMAZING.

Considering I just left a bunch of comments on FB...I might need a few reminders of that through year. Once a week might do it...

It's been a day. A DAY. Even outside of the US. I can imagine how much worse it would be for you guys inside, and I am so grateful that I am not.

Many hugs and blessings to you all, and may you have the best day available to you.
tielan: (Angel)
Wednesday, January 6th, 2021 07:50 am
So the interesting question is whether you presume that the people you're inviting would be interested in talking to you over a dinner that you hosted.

Do you have to invite extroverts who will naturally fill the room with conversation, etc? Or else the obliviously garrulous who will natter on, because the people whose opinion you're interested in won't actually talk to you?

Let's just say I've had enough people who I connected with on social media, but when it came to f2f interactions, meals were a bust. 60-90 minutes of awkwardly stilted conversation and either we never spoke again online or off, or we never met in person again and never referenced it.

Basically, dinner parties hinge on having "the race that knows Joseph" or else having people who can fake courtesy and interaction sufficiently smoothly that if the talk doesn't flow it at least doesn't lapse into awful silence.

I do wonder a little if the tendency to reach for the phone to check social media is one way of lubricating interactions that have far too much potential to break under silence. That's not an excuse, mind you, just a thought.

four groups, divided by interesting/entertaining vs fictional/real life )
tielan: brown chicken looking at camera, white chicken in profile (garden 01 - pumpkin vine)
Saturday, January 2nd, 2021 09:16 am
Feel free to prod me when I drop the ball!

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I'm Tielan/Sel, I've been in online fandom since 2000, and started on LJ in 2001, moving to DW from 2009-2012, before pretty much moving long-term to DW from then on.

a brief fannish history )
tielan: Maria & Steve walking in sync (MCU - Maria/Steve2)
Sunday, January 26th, 2020 07:13 am
Challenge 13

In your own space, create a fanwork.


This story was not created for this challenge, but I've had this fic sitting around on my HD for months and opened it up last night (before I saw the Challenge) to take a look. I was contemplating tidying and polishing it up for posting; it didn't need much.

This morning, I looked at the challenge notification email and figured it was a sign.

Forthwith:
Duncker's Candle (5865 words) by tielan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers, Maria Hill & Steve Rogers, Steve Rogers & Peggy Carter, Peggy Carter/Peggy Carter's Husband, Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers (unresolved)
Characters: Maria Hill, Steve Rogers
Additional Tags: Developing Friendships, Comfort Sex, Post-Avengers (2012), happy for now
Summary:
Dressed in worn jeans and a casual shirt, Maria Hill looks universes away from the competent aide who moved about the helicarrier control room in the sleek S.H.I.E.L.D uniform, a cool-eyed officer who kept her head in a crisis, and commanded troops with an authoritative snap to her voice. Her hand is tucked in the arm of one of the elderly residents of the hospice, and she's laughing as the old lecher pats her hand with a distinctly proprietary air.

The amusement drops from her face as she recognizes him. "Rogers."

.
This was actually written in the wake of my dissatisfaction with Endgame, and there was a whole other story alongside/behind it. I decided to dedicate my time and energy to other things instead.
tielan: (Default)
Sunday, January 19th, 2020 09:41 pm
Challenge #10

Talk About A Creator/Someone Who Inspired You.


I've been in fandoms for many years now and there's been a variety of people who inspired me one way or the other.

published writers and fanfic writers )

Fandom's really good for that.
tielan: (AVG - maria)
Thursday, January 16th, 2020 08:51 am
Challenge #8

Rec at least three fanworks that you didn’t create.

Enemies Foreign and Domestic (20039 words) by extasiswings
Chapters: 9/9
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe, The West Wing, Daredevil (TV)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Maria Hill/Steve Rogers, Peggy Carter/Steve Rogers, James "Bucky" Barnes/Natasha Romanov, Darcy Lewis/Matt Murdock
Characters: Steve Rogers, Natasha Romanov, Maria Hill, James "Bucky" Barnes, Darcy Lewis, Matt Murdock, Franklin "Foggy" Nelson, May Parker (Spider-Man), Kate Bishop, Sam Wilson
Additional Tags: West Wing AU, Alternate Universe - Politics, Developing Relationship, Slow Build, Male-Female Friendship, Bisexual Male Character, Steve Rogers-centric, Steve Rogers Needs a Hug
Series: Part 4 of In This White House
Summary:

Election Night, 2012

On the television, every channel is calling the election for Rogers/Wilson and the room around Steve erupts in cheers as people start clapping him on the shoulder and offering congratulations. Meanwhile, his eyes are glued to the screen flashing the electoral totals and his stomach drops like he's just started the descent of a steep roller coaster as he can't help thinking, what the hell did I just do?

So, this is kind of The West Wing mashed up with The American President with the MCU fused in. It's beautifully written - gives you the key character interactions without getting bogged in the details, which is absolutely an art - and very enjoyable in a "yes, I could see this happening in this world" way, which is the gold standard for an AU.


I Came to Win (13718 words) by Philyra
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Marvel Cinematic Universe
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Pepper Potts, Melinda May, Christine Everhart, Maya Hansen, Maria Hill, Natasha Romanov, Victoria Hand, Carol Danvers, Bobbi Morse, Jessica Drew, Tony Stark, Nick Fury, Darcy Lewis, Betty Ross
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Hockey, Women Being Awesome, Female Friendship, Podfic Available
Series: Part 1 of Get ready for it
Summary:

Pepper Potts inherits a failing hockey team at 25. She builds her staff and team her way, screw what anyone else thinks. She wants a Stanley Cup.

This is the opening salvo in an AU with MCU and DCU characters as hockey players and hockey support staff in an integrated NHL, and it's so much fun. The series starts with Pepper turning the New York Knights into a winning team, and how women are part of that solution, from herself and her team of admin, PR, and coaching staff on the support side of things, to Maria as the first female player drafted in the NHL and Natasha as a defector from Russia. The whole series is fun, and apparently there may be a story coming out for Sharon Carter (who's a goalie in this series).


She Will Place on Your Head a Graceful Garland; She Will Bestow on You a Beautiful Crown (3181 words) by raspberryhunter
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: תנ"ך | Tanakh, Christian Bible (Old Testament)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Bathsheba/David
Characters: Abigail (Hebrew Bible), Bathsheba (Hebrew Bible), Maacah bath Talmai, Michal (Hebrew Bible), David (Hebrew Bible), Ahinoam of Jezreel
Additional Tags: Missus Clause Challenge, Adultery, Rape/Non-con References, Death References, Don't Have to Know Canon, Minor Character Death, Baby Death
Summary:

King's wives; king's sons.

I'm almost certain I've recced this before, but I don't care. It's a story about politics and women's choices in a time when they didn't have any and the ones that they had were mostly due to luck. And I love Bathsheba's growth from naive innocent to recognising that she's a naive innocent and needs guidance if she and her son are going to survive the court, and Abigail's wisdom and maturity and composure (which, I bet, she learned married to her first husband, who was a fool).
tielan: Maria & Steve walking in sync (MCU - Maria/Steve2)
Monday, January 13th, 2020 04:51 pm

Challenge #7

Promote/Rec/Sing the Praises* of Yourself!


I'm good at writing stories for characters and pairings that people probably wouldn't otherwise thinking about and making them believable.

Examples include John/Teyla and Ronon/Elizabeth in SGA, and, of course, Maria/Steve in MCU.

Interestingly, although there are 790 works in the Steve/Maria tag on AO3, 170 of them were either written by me (146 of them), or directly influenced by me - that is, it was written for me as a gift, or someone referenced me in the notes section of the story.

That turns out to be ~21% which I think is pretty good in a collection of just under 800 stories.

My big work for SGA was probably To Serve A Queen - the Black Jewels AU fusion that I wrote, where Elizabeth Weir is the Queen of Atlantis Territory and the expedition members are her court. That fic made my name in SGA fandom, and kicked off the Ronon/Elizabeth pairing - in as much as it got off the ground...

As a matter of fact, in SGA fandom, I actually prefer The Astonishing Persistence Of Memory: Past Time, and A Gambit Of Queens and Bargains Untenable, all of which have a team action focus.

I'm good at fusions into the Black Jewels universes. If you're into BBC Merlin, try Prince Of Camelot: Choice And Destiny, if you're into Rogue One, try Oaths Broken And Remade, if you liked Jupiter Ascending, then Dark Queen Ascending will probably be your jam, and Assembly, Care, and Feeding of A Queen's Court is the story of how the Avengers Assemble in the MCU Black Jewels Universe.

Actually, I do a lot of AUs generally (122 stories out of 870) - everything from werewolves to daemons to Jaegers, and they're all fairly well-commented and well-kudos'd. I think it's because I manage to transplant the characters from one universe to another so they're still recognisable, and with the same key events that made them or changed them, but still it's a whole new world and backstory to explore.

For the most complete AU fusion that I've done yet, I'd try the Fire And Ice: MCU Jaeger AU, which is the story of Maria and Pepper's friendship in an MCU-Pacific Rim fusion, with a few extra stories for other characters in there, too.

However I think the story I'm most proud of in 2019 was the other side of infinity, which was my Infinity War fix-it:
On the other side of the moment, those turned to dust may no longer be 'alive', but they're damn well not helpless. This is the story of how they saved themselves.
It took me the better part of a year to write it, it's one of my longest fics, and I gave a whole lot of minor characters a whole lot of major things to do, reset the storyline, and reset the 2016 election. Because what's the point in rewriting history if you're not going to do it properly?

And, admittedly, I'm biased, but I liked it a lot more than Endgame!

In 2020, I hope that the story I'll be most proud of is the not-yet-complete Paved With Good Intentions which will be a post-Endgame fixit. I have a few of those lying around, but whether they'll get finished is something else.

And if you're here from the Snowflake Challenge, you're more than welcome to go through my body of works and see if anything takes your interest! I'm mostly gen and het, with a little slash and femslash here and there, and usually one or two pairings that I really love, and then a whole heap of others that I'll dabble in. I'm flexible. :)
tielan: (don't make me shoot you)
Sunday, January 12th, 2020 07:00 am
[community profile] snowflake_challenge 2020:

Challenge #6

In your own space, make a list of things that you wish existed in fandom, or that you'd like someone to make for you.


I've actually had a few people make things for me from this, so I'm putting this out there again.

It's fairly single-minded, but this is me, after all.

I want uh I want uh I want uh I want uh but what I really really really want is more of these things... )

That's 10. If I think of more, I'll come back and adjust this.