sheldrake

I didn't officially sign up for Yuletide this year, just like every other year since 2005 or something. But I did write two Yuletide treats, which was the most enjoyable thing ever! :) Part of the reason I don't do Yuletide any more is that Christmas/December/winter tends not to be the best for me, brain-wise, and I feel like not having the extra pressure. But this way I could be a part of it, write the stories I really wanted to write and feel confident I could give someone a gift they'd enjoy. It was lovely.

Anyway, I wrote:

Wassail
BBC Historical Farm TV RPF for marginaliana
The man from the Ministry is here, and he wants to speak to Alex.

I knew I'd probably end up writing a YT treat in this fandom, but I wasn't sure what. I read marginaliana's Yuletide letter, and then I thought of this idea on the train, and then I wrote it. Trains are good. :)

Defences
Thomas Dolby, Cloudburst at Shingle Street (Song), for kindkit
He hasn't been back to Shingle Street for twenty years.

I'd never heard this song before. I was browsing the requests, and the name Shingle Street jumped out at me, because it's a real place near where I live, and I know it quite well. It's an mysterious, odd place on the coast, associated with all sorts of wartime rumours, which in turn inspired the song. I read kindkit's letter, and it was such a fascinating, interesting request, I immediately felt I had to write it. It's basically an original story, although how successfully it works as one, it's hard for me to tell. I really enjoyed writing it, though.

I've read lots of great stories so far, and hope to read a lot more. Just a few that really stood out:

And All Things Nice by Fahye
Peter Pan.
Peter is a girl and Hook is a woman. This is all about the fear of growing up, and getting older. The writing is great. I think this story is rather brilliant.

I'll Love These Dark Dark Hills Forever by Deepdarkwaters
Billy Elliot
I haven't seen the canon for years, but oh, I enjoyed this so much! Fantastically assured writing, rich with detail and a great sense of time and place. I loved the weight and compassion given here to the lives and motivations of the people who surround Billy.

Mixed Blessings by astrokath
Watership Down
This is a story about the Black Rabbit of Inlé, which means it's about life and death and darkness. It's chilling, but I found it very moving, too.

Resurrection of the Doctors by neveralarch
The Five(ish) Doctors Reboot
If you enjoyed the canon, you'll enjoy this fun story. Tone-perfect.

Oh, and there are more, but I'm a bit tired of typing now.

Special mention for all the other Historical Farm fics, because they're all great. Genuinely, not a dud among 'em. Yuletide has been good to us this year, folks. Or at least, it's been really good to me.