aoftheis | Reading

Challenge 284:
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

A midsummer festival filled with dancing and flowers? A midwinter feast decorated with colorful lights? A solemn time for contemplation as the new year begins? Whatever the holiday, it’s often traditionally spent with family.

But family can be a tricky topic, especially when it comes to traditions. Do your heroes have somewhere to go home for the holidays? Maybe there’s a childhood home they look forward to visiting – or maybe they spend their holidays with their closest friends, and the home they built for themselves.

Write a story about coming home for the holidays.

BONUS GOAL: “I’m glad you’re here.”

If your submission features this line, it will earn an extra point to be tallied in voting!

Challenge ends Monday, December 29 at 9:00PM EST. Please note that this will be a two-week challenge!

• Post submissions as new entries using the template in the profile
• Tag this week's entries as: [#] submission, 284 – home for the holidays
• If you have questions about this challenge, please ask them here

fanweeklymod posting in

fandomweekly

Here are this week's votes tallied, and below the cut are our winners for Challenge #283 – First Impressions!

( This week's finalists are... )

Total Challenge Words Written: 2679

Congratulations to both of you, and thank you to everyone who took the time to cast their votes!

autobotscoutriella will be making this week’s banners, so keep an eye out for those next week.

You may now post your Challenge 283 entries to any additional communities, blogs, archives or sites as you'd like! We also have a FandomWeekly AO3 Collection if you'd like to add your stories there!

yuletidemods posting in

yuletide_admin

The deadline has passed, and the main collection is temporarily closed. ETA - now open again!

Congratulations to everyone who has posted! Pat yourself on the back, take a breath, and then please check wordcount, formatting, html; check that you've uploaded the correct version, and that all your text is actually there. You can get to what you've submitted from your Statistics page, or from your Works in Collections. Your story should be marked as "complete" rather than one or more of multiple chapters yet to come.

To all who didn't make it this year: it happens, and we hope you enjoy the collection reveals.

To all who are still working on beta jobs, treats, or pinch hits: thank you and good luck!

Pinch hits coming!!
Post-deadline pinch hits will be available soon at

yuletide_pinch_hits. This next round will be due at 9 AM UTC, 22 December.

See what time that is in YOUR timezone
See countdown

Beta requests
We have outstanding beta requests on the Yuletide Discord (please see the #hippo-want-ads channel), and more betas are always welcome at the Dreamwidth beta post.

There is also an Away from Keyboard post up on the participant community, for you to (optionally) let your author know if it'll be a while before you can read your gift.

If there seems to be an issue with your posted work, we'll contact you via the email address associated with your AO3 account. Please check you can access that!

runpunkrun posting in

fancake

Hello everyone! You have two more days to slip your theme suggestions into the suggestion box for our rounds in 2026. I went ahead and added some more themes to the pool, taking popular suggestions from past years but also filling in a few more gaps in our coverage (vampires! aliens!), so take a look at the list and see if it doesn't shake something loose.

I'll close that post the morning of the 19th and put up the big theme poll on the 20th. If you're going to be out and about around that time, you can track the admin: poll: theme tag. Just click on the little bell icon or "track" link on any post with that tag, select "Someone posts an entry tagged admin: poll: theme," hit save, and you'll get an email when the big poll goes up. You'll also get an email every time I post a theme poll thereafter, which is monthly. If you don't want that, you can cancel the notification later; it's the same process, just uncheck the box and hit save.

sunnymodffa posting in

fail_fandomanon

Dick lightning sounds like a painful STI symptom.

I went "Oh it's that thing from Grease" without clocking onto why that was wrong for a full minute at least.

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Personal Issues, Off Topic Conversation, Religion, & Everything Else post (PP #31)
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ysabetwordsmith posting in

fandom_on_dw

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Current Mood: busy

ysabetwordsmith posting in

fandomcalendar

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Current Mood: busy

runpunkrun posting in

fancake

Fandom: Stranger Things
Pairings/Characters: Will Byers/Mike Wheeler
Rating: Explicit
Length: 26,183 words
Creator Link:

mistresscurvy
Theme: Amnesty, First Time, Canon LGBTQ+ Characters, Research, Futurefic, Friendship

Summary: "Did it ever occur to any of you that I might not want to have my only sexual experiences be with someone who isn't actually interested in me?" Will asked.

He was met by three identical looks of confusion. "I mean, it would still be sex," Dustin said finally.

Reccer's Notes: Set after a season four where, yes, a lot of people died. But the kids are seventeen now, and Mike and Will are both virgins, which Mike is very concerned about: Cue the 80s teen sex comedy. Unlike much of that genre, though, this isn't gross or embarrassing, and everybody's having a good time. I adored Will here, kind of baffled by what Mike's gotten them into, yet excited about it too, and it's wonderful to see him stand up for himself, confident enough to be honest about who he is and what he wants. Plus it includes the entire crew, even Argyle.

Fanwork Link: Like a Virgin

fanweeklymod posting in

fandomweekly

Apologies again for the delay on this! The laptop should be home tonight, so voting will close on time.

Here are the entries for this challenge:

( List of entries )

Please Note: Because we only have 3 entries this week, there is only a First Place and Runner Up to vote for!

In order to vote, please reply to this post using the form provided. All comments are screened, and entries are listed in the order they were submitted. For your vote to qualify, you must fill out your entire voting card (both spots) in order to be counted. Winner votes are worth 2 points, Runner Up votes are worth 1 point. Meeting the bonus goal on an entry gets an extra point for that submission.

When voting, please copy/paste the ENTRY NUMBER and the FIC TITLE from the list above into the spot you're voting for (this prevents accidentally mis-numbering a vote and casting it for the wrong entry). It should look like this:

First Place: 61. Fic Title Here
Runner Up: 88. Another Fic Title

Please note that you cannot vote for your own entry, and that votes cannot be made anonymously. You do not have to be a member of the community in order to vote, nor have submitted an entry for this week; everyone is welcome to participate in the voting. IP addresses are logged to prevent duplicate voting.

Voting closes Wednesday, December 17 at 9:00PM EST.

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autobotscoutriella posting in

fandomweekly

Apologies for the lack of a voting post last night, folks - RL happened and I've been inconveniently computerless for a couple days. Post will be up as soon as I can sort it out on a work computer!

/friendly neighborhood mod, on her personal

china_shop posting in

sid_guardian

All Guardian drama, no archive warnings apply. :-)

Title: The Mouse and the Dragon (1559 words) [General Audiences]
Characters: Guo Changcheng, Zhao Yunlan, Shen Wei
Additional Tags: Background pre-relationship Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Missing Scene, Episode 4, Guo Changcheng interrogates Shen Wei, zhao yunlan pov, Community: fan_flashworks, Prompt: Fish
Series: Part 1 of The rest of the SID team interrogate Shen Wei (episode 4)
Summary:

Zhao Yunlan watched Shen Wei closely. Could his unflappable demeanour survive Xiao-Guo’s naïve bluntness?

Title: Analysis and Verification (838 words) [General Audiences]
Characters: Lin Jing, Shen Wei, Wang Zheng
Additional Tags: Background pre-relationship Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan, Missing Scene, Episode 4, Lin Jing "interrogates" Shen Wei, Wang Zheng too
Series: Part 3 of The rest of the SID team interrogate Shen Wei (episode 4)
Summary:

Lin Jing stuffed his dark-energy detector into his pocket and arranged his sweatshirt to cover it as he headed next door. When he passed the boss in the hallway, they exchanged nods, and then Lin Jing was leaning into the interview room. “Professor Shen, I’ll see you out.”

Title: not close enough (300 words) [General Audiences]
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Flirting, Timeloop feels, Episode Related, Episode 6, Yearning, Triple Drabble
Summary:

Zhao Yunlan is across from him, slouching forward with sleeves pushed up, making inroads into Shen Wei’s space.

Title: Sartorial Evidence (550 words) [General Audiences]
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Characters: Shen Wei, Shen Wei's clothes
Additional Tags: Episode Related, Episode 4, Dixing Powers, Clothing, Shen Wei POV, UST, Zhao Yunlan touches Shen Wei A LOT, Community: fan_flashworks, Prompt: First Aid
Summary:

The morning after he’s found at a crime scene and taken to the SID to be interviewed, Shen Wei opens his armoire and—stops.

Title: Crudité (4183 words) [Mature]
Relationships: Shen Wei/Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Episode 22, Post-Blindness Arc, Missing Scene, Porn Without Plot, First Time, vegetable sex, Oral Fixation, Non-Penetrative Sex, Unorthodox Seduction Techniques
Summary:

As the clatter of food preparation starts up in the kitchen, Zhao Yunlan folds his arms behind his head. Just how unambiguous does he need to be to override Shen Wei’s reservations? What will it take to get them what he knows they both want? If he’s as weird and over-the-top as his apartment, will that turn Shen Wei on or turn him off?

Title: Hard at work [General Audiences]
Relationships: Da Qing & Zhao Yunlan
Additional Tags: Beginner Art, This is how Zhao Yunlan runs the SID, Ably assisted by his deputy, Episode 2, Fanart, Community: fan_flashworks, Prompt: Boss
Summary: Coloured pencil & ink sketch of Zhao Yunlan lying on the SID couch with cat Da Qing on the table next to him.

Title: The Gondolier of Dixing [General Audiences]
Characters: Chu Shuzhi
Notes: Beginner art (colour pencil, ink, a little digital messing about).
Summary: What if Dixing were flooded and became a city of canals?

renay posting in

ladybusiness

It's almost nomination time for the Hugo Awards! As someone invested in recommendations as a type of critique/conversation, I'm thriving.

Worldcon in 2026 will be in LA. If you'd like to nominate for the 2026 Hugo Award, you can do so by being a member of the Seattle Worldcon or purchasing at least a WSFS membership from LAcon V. There's a medium-length guide here on the whole process. Nomination is step one: Seattle and LA WSFS members build the short lists as a collective.

However! Even if you don't plan to become a member (the membership fee is $50 and times are hard), everyone can share the things they would nominate if they could via the Hugo Spreadsheet of Doom, or make their own lists and post them on socials with the #HugoAward tag. Lots of people (it's me; I'm people) have gaps on their nomination forms and are looking for cool stuff to check out. Consider making a rec list/thread!

A disclaimer: the following are my personal nominations that I'll submit next year, not official Hugo finalists. I know the nominations/finalist language can be confusing. ( Read more... )

ecto_one_spengler posting in

fandomweekly

Theme Prompt: #283 - First Impressions
Title: little bird, fly through my window
Fandom: Futurama (Specifically referencing the pilot and mostly "Lethal Inspection" [Season 7, EP6])
Rating/Warnings: Very cautious Teen rating/PG-13 due to Bender's canonical suicide attempt in the pilot being mentioned.
Word Count: 679 words
Author's Note: I promise I did not intend for this to be late as it was!! My internet acted up really badly partway through the editing process (aka it cut out at least three times!!). Please forgive me here, mods. Please enjoy my humble attempt at Futurama fic :)
Summary: Hermes' first moment working with a bending unit moves him to pursue a new employer. Three years later, a depressed bending unit named Bender has the strangest job interview he's ever had by choice, with an oddly familiar Bureaucrat as an interviewer.

--

( One day at a manufacturing plant.. )

Current Mood: scared
Current Location: My computer (ft my garbage wifi router!!!!)
Current Music: Futurama :)

yuletidemods posting in

yuletide_admin

The assignments that you received when signing up, and pinch hits #1-96, are due at 9pm UTC 17 December (see countdown). It's nearly here. For most people, it'll be Wednesday. Please check the links!

When you post your story, please make sure...

It is at least 1,000 of your own original words and marked as complete. You can update and edit your story after the deadline, but any version you upload must be a complete story that could be read in that state, with a beginning, middle, and end, and no placeholder text.

It is not posted as a draft. If your work is still in Draft status on AO3 at the deadline, it will not count as fulfilling the assignment, as no one but you can access it. To check if your work is a draft, go to your assignments. If you see a work title and the 'Fulfill' button, your work is a draft and you have not yet fulfilled the assignment. You can also check your drafts at the 'Drafts' sidebar link from your main AO3 page. Fully-posted works can be viewed from your Stats page and from Works in Collections. You can also reach out to mods to check!

It features *all* requested characters or follows exceptions specified in the additional tags ("My gift must feature..."). Please see this post for a reminder of how the additional tags work. Regarding Worldbuilding: if your recipient has not selected characters beyond that tag, whether to flesh out the world using original characters or canon characters is up to you. If they have vetoed specific characters, obey those DNWs.

It does not contain Do Not Wants. Please check that your story does not contain any of the Do Not Wants (DNWs) listed in your recipient's Optional Details. If you have any doubt about the meaning of your recipient’s DNWs, please contact the mods.

Its title and other metadata are not placeholders. Please don't call your work Placeholder Title or Yuletide 2025 Work - upload a title that reflects the unique work. You don't need to write a summary or append detailed tags, but please make sure that if you do include that information, the information is real.

Other important notes

Stay anonymous! Yuletide is a secret exchange. Don't give away publicly what you're writing or who you're writing it for. Don't add your work to an existing series on AO3, or a personal works collection. Don't identify yourself in your author's notes by, for example, linking to your tumblr or dreamwidth.

No AI! This is a creative writing challenge - do not use ChatGPT, Claude, or any other similar generative text tool to write any part of your story, summary, or notes.

Please don’t use author’s notes to apologise for your story, to go into detail about the difficulties you had writing it, or to promise a fix or a continuation.

Please check your story immediately after posting to ensure it is showing up okay.

sunnymodffa posting in

fail_fandomanon

"I'd never ask an actor to do something I couldn't do - not that I'm the best actor in the world - but if I can do it, then I know that anyone I hire can do these things."

RIP Rob and Michele Reiner.

All the fail_fandomanon Rules and Information (and Ban Requests): https://fail-fandomanon.dreamwidth.org/1076.html. The short version: no embeds, don't out people's real names, don't be that much of an asshole, body fluids are off topic, Mods reserve the right to freeze, screen, and delete the fuck out of stuff. FFA discussion covers a wide variety of topics and has a very flexible view of 'fandom' that includes politics, current events, and cooking techniques. FFA is a Choose NOT to Warn experience. Meme away.

Other posts on meme:

Personal Issues, Off Topic Conversation, Religion, & Everything Else post (PP #31)
Fic and WIP Post
Book Clubs, Watchalongs, & Readalongs
Prompt & fill fests: for FFA Post #1000, FFA's 10th anniversary, FFA Post #1500, & FFA Post #2000

Search

Unofficial FFA archive & search: Dememe.info Username/password pairs are nonnie/pony, nonny/seal, or ayrt/velociraptor. As of 2025, Dememe is geoblocked for the UK.
If you have a DW account, you can use DW's content search. Don't forget to tick the box to search in comments. You can also use FFA Rocks.

Related communities and additional resources

New unofficial FFA wiki (archive: ffawiki_backup)
New unofficial FFA Writers Tips & Recs wiki
Unofficial Fyeah FFA tumblr
Unofficial FFA recs list
Unofficial FFA Discord Chat
DW Blocker link & tips and now New! 2024 Updated DW Blocker Guide
How to link to another account on DW or other sites. If you don't want to create a clickable link, type a backslash (\) before the @.

Meme rules do not require spoiler cuts. But here are two ways to make them:

HTML-5 (recommended)
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These topics are banned:

'Which topics belong on main meme'
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Only one clearly named top-level thread for each of the following topics:

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sexual abuse and rape culture
UK Politics
Russia's invasion of Ukraine and related current events

Discussion of UK politics related sexual abuse and rape culture should go into one properly labeled subthread.

marycatelli posting in

book_love

The Emperor's Caretaker 01 by Haruki Yoshimura

The first in a series, mostly set-up apparently.

( Read more... )

full_metal_ox posting in

fancake

Fandom: Mo Dao Zu Shi
Pairings/Characters: Gen; Lan Xichen & Lan Wangji; Lan Xichen & Wei Wuxian; background Lan Wangji/Wei Wuxian; background past Lan Xichen/Jin Guangyao; Lan Xichen, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian, Jin Guangyao (in past anecdote)
Rating: General Audiences
Length: 2,495
Content Notes: No Archive Warnings Apply, eating one’s feelings, food as mnemonic trigger, innuendo, mourning, snarky food criticism
Creator Tags: Post-Canon, Food as a Metaphor for Love, Xichen Week 2020
Creator Links: (AO3)

dragonofeternal, (Dreamwidth)

dragonofeternal, (Tumblr)

dragonofeternal

Theme: Amnesty, Food & Cooking, Non-Sexual Intimacy, Family, Post-Canon, Trauma & Recovery

Summary: Food can do more than just feed- it nurtures the soul and the bonds between people.
In which Lan Xichen briefly leaves his seclusion to taste Wei Wuxian's cooking and awakens warm memories of meals long passed.

Author’s Notes: For SetsuntaMew.

<3 For my lovely wife, who inspired this when we talking Xichen feels over spicy Korean BBQ.

Reccer's Notes: When Lan Wangji checks up on Lan Xichen in his seclusion, Wei Wuxian comes along—bringing his idea of a care package. Despite Wangji’s apprehension, the Fires Of Yunmeng Cooking prove just the thing to help his despondent brother come to terms with his complicated feelings about fellow Yunmeng boy Jin Guangyao—prompting memories of their adventures (and meals) together.

(An added bit of poignancy is that Lan Xichen is being served this bittersweet nostalgia by a man who now bears Jin Guangyao a family resemblance.)

Fanwork Links:
The Spice of Life by

dragonofeternal
Collections: Lan Huan Protection Squad.

m_findlow posting in

fandomweekly

Theme Prompt: #283 - First impression
Title: The vetting process
Fandom: Torchwood
Rating/Warnings: PG.
Bonus: Yes
Word Count: 1,000 words
Summary: Jack’s attempts to recruit go a bit sideways.

( Read more... )

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December 2018

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Page generated Dec. 18th, 2025 04:04 pm

friends & comms

Reading

[#284 | Home for the Holidays] Challenge Post

[#283 | First Impressions] Results Post

2025 Deadline Has Passed - What Next

Only two days left to suggest themes!

FFA DW Post #2401 This hero's not metallic, ultra-phallic, & italic: why, it could be DICK LIGHTNING

Signup Post: Fannish 50 in 2026

Signup Post: Fannish 50 in 2026

Stranger Things: Like a Virgin, by mistresscurvy

[#283 | First Impressions] Voting Post

Multifandom Exchange: Traumatic Experiences

(no subject)

Some recent Guardian fanworks

Winds in the East...Mist Coming In... (Hugo Season Approaches)

[#283] little bird, fly through my window (Futurama)

(Less Than) 48 Hours to Deadline

When you post your story, please make sure...

[Multifandom] - Rare Femslash Exchange Sign-Ups are open!

FFA DW Post #2400- [A writer] can make things happen & turn out the way they never do in real life.

The Emperor's Caretaker 01

Mo Dao Zu Shi: The Spice of Life, by dragonofeternal

[#283] THE VETTING PROCESS (TORCHWOOD)

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December 2018

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