soon

[kat_lair]

***

So, the year on this hemisphere is starting to tip toward autumn. It won't really feel like autumn for me for a few more weeks yet. There is still The Holiday with pushkin666 and dreamersdare (we're writing it like that now which makes it seem like a movie, a slightly ominious one) which I kind of still count as part of summer fun. And then I'm away at a conference which I'm also taking as a mini vacation of sorts.

But then... the students return, teaching commences, and it'll be Officially Autumn.

And, in case you didn't know, I love autumn. A lot. It always feels really energising to me, I love the changing colours, the nippy air, the autumn clothes (cute hoodies and cardigans and tights etc). And of course... Halloween. I love my spooky season so much!

Last year I did a Spooktober writing challenge (not an official one, just one I set for myself) of a ficlet per day, all for different seasonal prompts, all different fandoms. Granted, I didn't quite finish it until, uh, December, but it was still a lot of fun and good for my word count and creativity. And I got several ficlets/fics out of it that I'm actually really pleased about. So...

Should I do it again? And should, because of insanity, do it so I can't repeat any of the fandoms I did last time? Now, THAT might stretch me. I have created fanworks for over 70 different fandoms but a) not all of that has been for fics and b) that rule would take out all of my most active ones... So these are the ones I did last time that would be out this time:

• Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV),
• Buzzfeed Unsolved (Web Series),
• Fall Out Boy,
• Grimm (TV),
• Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (2013), Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling,
• Hawaii Five-0 (2010),
• Hustlers (2019),
• Lewis (TV),
• Life on Mars (UK),
• Marvel Cinematic Universe,
• My Chemical Romance,
• NCIS,
• Panic! at the Disco,
• Primeval,
• Robin Hood (BBC 2006),
• Scrubs (TV),
• Sherlock (TV),
• Star Trek: Alternate Original Series (Movies),
• Stargate Atlantis,
• Stray Kids (Band),
• Strictly Come Dancing RPF,
• Supernatural (TV 2005),
• The Hobbit - All Media Types,
• The Lost Boys (Movies),
• The Witcher (TV),
• The X-Files,
• TOMORROW X TOGETHER | TXT (Korea Band), Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan,
• 镇魂 | Guardian (TV 2018),
• 방탄소년단 | Bangtan Boys | BTS

So now I'm thinking about what I could include in the 31 new ones...

Ones I have written in before and could therefore definitely produce a ficlet in:

• The Professionals
• Doctor Who
• Merlin
• Cobra Starship
• Person of Interest
• Being Human
• Firefly
• Good Omens
• Tochwood
• Mission: Impossible movies
• Americal Idol
• LOTR
• 이상한 변호사 우영우 | Extraordinary Attorney Woo
• due South
• Encanto
• Venom
• 阴阳师 | Yīn Yáng Shī | The Yin-yang Master (Movies - Guo Jingming)
• Call the Midwife
• This Beautiful Fantastic

That's 18... There are a couple of others but my initial gut reaction re them is 'uhhh maybe'...

Potential 'not written in them before but feel like I could' possibly with some revision of canon, fandoms include

• Ateez
• Seventeen
• Enhypen
• Enola Holmes
• Star Trek, various versions
• Expanse (I've been meaning to do a proper rewatch and finish of this anyways)
• Pratchet's Wyrd Sisters
• 9-1-1
• + misc movies, TV and books from the last 12 months

Conclusion: It would be doable but also insane and I may not finish that until Dec again. I'll probably do it anyway. RIP my brain.

***

Comments

[turps]

Autumn is such a wonderful season. I've enjoyed summer, and will still keep enjoying it if the sun comes back, but yeah, autumn is my favourite too.

I think that sounds like an excellent writing challenge, and I'm sure no one will care how long you take to finish. I mean, more words from you are always good.

[kat_lair]

Autumn tends to give me energy and always feels like a new start. And I like the cosiness of it.

Hee, thank you 💜 I do feel like it's a bit of madness but...

[wenchpixie]

It feels like a wonderful writing challenge for you, and if it feels like it will be fun, you should definitely give it a whirl this year <3


It's felt more like autumn than summer here for most of the summer tbh - worldcon weekend was unusually warm and we've not had any lengthy dry spells (let alone sunny ones), but I'd be VERY happy with a long, bright, dry and cool autumn. I have significantly more suitable clothes for that weather.

Everything's starting again right now (our kids are all back at School) and it feels like we're getting back to the productive, cosy part of the year,

[kat_lair]

I'm kind of hyping myself up to it and also thinking I might try and get a few tickets ready this month...

There's been some hot spells down south but plenty of unsettled weather too.

Schools start next week here. Scotland seems closer to Nordic countries in timings, in Finland summer hols start in June and finish second week of August.

Autumn always gives me a sense of new starts and like everything is possible. November is pretty depressing tho.

[pushkin666]

Lol. Yep you really are an autumn girl. Me too - it's definitely my favourite season, and lol we both posted about Halloween today. Like I said in Whatsapp I think you're mad planning on doing Spooktober 2024 the way you want to, but you always do like to push yourself don't you? I may join in with Spooktober 2024, but it will depend just on how much stuff I've managed to finish over The Holiday. If I do it however, it will not be the same as yourself - I'll be more than likely to reuse some of my pretty boys from last year - after all pretty boys should never be scared just once!!

[kat_lair]

Apparently I like to make things unnecessarily difficult for myself. Maybe the following year I'll do everything in just a single fandom 😂😂

Banner would be most awesome of course. And yes, scared pretty boys are even prettier, I grant you that.

[pushkin666]

Lol. Yes, darling you really really do. I shall look at images for a banner.

[corvidology]

Always in support of the insane decision but, bottom line, I think you should do whatever will be the most fun for you!

[kat_lair]

It'll be both fun and a bit stressful but all insane 🤣 Think I'll do it anyways...

[adafrog]

You can do it!

[kat_lair]

Thank you for the cheering!

[lunabee34]

Autumn really energizes me, too.

I think you should do your challenge but not give yourself any limitations on the fandom, just be inspired as you may be.

[kat_lair]

Something about the season makes it seem like everything is possible.

Good advice. I think I'll have the 'all different fandoms' as an aspiration rather than strict rule...

[apiphile]

I think there was actually a movie or two called The Holiday. Wasn't there one with--I am blanking on their names. 90s and 00s actresses. FFFFF. Cameron Diaz?

I definitely think you should do the fic thing!

[kat_lair]

Yessss it's a twee Christmas movie where Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz do a house swap holiday and find romance. I actually like it a lot, tend to watch it when it inevitably shows on TV around the hols.

Fic thing! I did enjoy it last year.

[apiphile]

THat's the bitch! I remember seeing trailers for it back in 199mumble.

[dreamersdare]

Isn't The Holiday a rom-com, possibly Christmas themed? I seem to feel like it had maybe Kate Winslet in it?

Also, you can sale that insane ship of secondary fandoms all the way through October by yourself. Have fun with that!

[kat_lair]

Yes, you are correct. Kate Winslett, Cameron Diaz, Jack Black, Jude Law - one of the more likeable Christmas romcoms.

Hahahaha I will sail it on a lonely sea of insanity :D