Magpie Monday!

[dialecticdreamer]

Welcome to the April Magpie Monday for 2020!

This month, we’re one third of the way through the year, and in the middle of some very serious, unusual events. So, I’m going to do something a little unusual: I’m not naming a theme for this month. The topic is wide open! The whole point is to create stories that make people feel better after reading, without mudslinging or slogging through huge upsets. Small things are okay, especially when happy endings are the goal. It’s great to earn the happy ending, sure, but we’re not recreating the labors of Hercules, here!

If there’s an idea a reader would like, jump in and suggest it (via private message if that is more comfortable), and be as specific as needed to convey exactly what is wanted. “How about showing Heron finding out what his previous year’s roommates are doing?” is fine. So is “I want to see someone get the full brunt of logical consequences for bullying, and have random witnesses support the victim, including preventing the situation from escalating. Pick a universe (since it’s unlikely to be ours)!”

Even something as simple as “I want snuggles and cuddles between two people who are close, but I don’t care about the other details” is a perfectly wonderful prompt.

I do ask that readers not suggest stories in the Redshift universe, as that is brand new and for every hour of writing, there’s at least half an hour of world-building decisions that have to be made.

Because many people find the current world health crisis disturbing, any sickfic or story focused on care and cuddling for a person with a physical illness will not be specific, unless the details are used to imply a mild, familiar “bug” like a garden variety cold. Those are still unpleasant, and since the point is to get a little vicarious comfort, that should be appropriate without stressing readers when summaries or sponsored stories are posted. Those will have a PSA for “sickfic,” however, just to be extra cautious.

To jump in feet first, the event is open to prompts as soon as this is posted, and the window for making suggestions runs until I drop into bed just before Tuesday turns into Wednesday. On Tuesday, I’ll post one of the prompt fills as a freebie for everyone to enjoy, and Wednesday will bring the next story in the Redshift series.

The goal is to write a five hundred word (minimum) story for each person who offers a prompt. If there is absolutely one story that is ideal, the easy way to guarantee that it’s the chosen prompt is simply to only offer one suggestion. If there are a dozen ideas bouncing around and any of them would be interesting, by all means, list them all. (That gives me the HARD job of choosing only one!)

Five hundred words is only about two pages in a standard paperback book. If I’m reading fiction, that’s less than thirty seconds. Which… I’m hoping to write an amuse bouche for the mind, not the equivalent of a single popcorn kernel! So, let’s make it easier to add words: boost the signal!

Copy the paragraph in the text box below, and paste it on various sites as appropriate. Then include links when offering prompts, and I’ll add a hundred words per signal boost (one for Dreamwidth, one for LJ, and so on); copy-paste is perfectly fine for this. Yes, yes, I am aware that I seem incapable of writing less than a thousand word short stories, but I do not want to disappoint readers over basic mechanical issues.
Today is Magpie Monday! Pop over to visit <user name=dialecticdreamer>, offer a prompt for a gentle fiction story, and enjoy a private reading copy in return! For more fun, sponsor a story or boost the signal! Full details are posted on <user name=dialecticdreamer>’s journal. Welcome to the adventure!

Once the first prompt arrives, I start writing. When that private reading copy is sent to the reader, I’ll reply to the comment with a thumbnail summary and a word count rounded down to the nearest hundred words. Once the last prompt fill is sent in a private reading copy, I’ll create a report including total word count for the event, links to any posted stories, and a suggested donation to post each prompt fill.

Donations are a difficult topic right now, and I understand that. However, my goal for this year is still to be able to generate enough tips to pay my rent each month. That means reaching toward a goal of $150 for this event, and if so, I’ll post a bonus: an 8k story in the Strange Family series, doubling the total word count for everyone to enjoy. If readers can use the Paypal memo line, telling me which story, whether the sponsor wants credit or to leave that to our mutual friend A. Nonymous, and DW nickname will be tremendously appreciated. If Paypal doesn’t include memo options, a private message will be perfectly fine.

Posting stories will happen as soon as donations arrive, and everything will be checked for typos or HTML errors, but if any slip through, please let me know.

The Magpie Monday prompt call is now CLOSED to new prompts! Thanks for playing along!

Comments

[siliconshaman]

One request: FLUFF! Pure, cotton-candy feel-good FlooF! Shiv and Luci go on a brother/sister date night... I.e Luci drags Shiv out to a restaurant, [which could lead into the onigri incident as they try to make some at home.]

Sent via PM

[dialecticdreamer]

Afternoon of Surprises

Shiv and Luci go out to lunch to celebrate a small achievement, and when they get back, decide to make snacks and watch a new show together. Things don’t go quite the way they’re planned. (1500 words)

Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, set in Shiv’s story arc.

Re: Sent via PM

[siliconshaman]

Oh, that's just PERFECT!

[librarygeek]

How about Heron as a teenager learning to bake soda bread and cakes instead of yeast items with his complications?

My teenager has started baking cakes from scratch, instead of boxed mix like me. I do make biscuits and scones from scratch though! Somehow, I was afraid of cakes from scratch.

Well ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Cakes and breads are more finicky than many other recipes. However, if you're careful about measuring, the basic ones aren't really all that hard. I've made cakes from scratch and from mix. Honestly, there's not much difference in flavor/texture. Scratch has less junk in it, and you can make more flavors, but it's considerably more work.

Re: Well ...

[dialecticdreamer]

Scratch isn't that much more work than box mix. Even with a box, you still need to measure oil, beat eggs, and so on. Really, it only combines the dry ingredients- plus a boatload of anti-caking agents and crap you don't need if the flour was in the flour bin a minute ago, and the baking powder was in the tin half a minute ago, LOL.

If you're used to box mixes, try putting the dry ingredients for three or four cakes together at once, using zip bags and putting a date on them. Then when you're ready to use, dump, whisk to mix, and proceed as for box mixes. With little kids in the house, it did cut down on the flying flour cloud.

Re: Well ...

[librarygeek]

SlytherClaw Teen started with some buttermilk cakes and they're very tasty so far. I let them use the Red Velvet bakery emulsion I got towards their favorite type of cake, and it's gorgeous!

Sent via PM

[dialecticdreamer]

Time Together
Heron comes home after a bad day at school to find that Molly is still in class and the twins are taking a nap. He and Graham decide to make some soda bread. (1700 words)
{} Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, Finn family series.

Re: Sent via PM

[librarygeek]

PERFECT. :-) Tuppence per word rate now, yes?

Sending in my usual good wishes multiplier! <3

Prompts

[ysabetwordsmith]

I want to see Orson get fired for hassling Victor. Full logical consequences are desired! Bonus if it happens in public, rather than private, to make the policy crystal clear to everyone.

Forgot to add: I have boosted the signal on DW, LJ, and FB.

Re: Prompts

[dialecticdreamer]

Logical Consequences
Minutes after the events of “Truth and Trust,” the logical consequences unfold. Dominic is surprisingly adept with words, and the pair have a private moment when they begin the walk home. Complex fluff. (2500 words)
Part of the Polychrome Heroics universe, and the Strange Family story arc.

[jtthomas]

Might be my first time prompting? Not that I can remember at this point. (Spoons prevent much commenting/prompting activity, but one or two to spare today.)

Boosts (two):
https://twitter.com/AriTrahan/status/1249758327677915137
https://ari-the-dodecahedron.dreamwidth.org/22798.html

Prompt: small fluffy animals, perhaps of the chick or bunny variety, possibly featuring young!Molly/Heron or young!Graham/Tolli pairs? Basically the lesson of "being taught to be very gentle with younglings", but even fluffier because there's literal fluff.

Sent via PM

[dialecticdreamer]

Lifting The Gloom
Dairinne, barely settled in a foreign country with twin four-year-olds, takes them on their first fun outing, a trip to the petting zoo. Despite a language barrier and heavy grief, things do turn out well (1400 words)
Part of the Finn family series within the Polychrome Heroics universe.

Note: a small green snake is present in the story, but is mellow and harmless.

Does this count?

[fuzzyred]

Can I prompt this one, that you left on "Not A Sudden Problem"?

"I'd LOVE to write Bennett doing a care scene for Cas and Hali, especially a new ritual for both of them to confirm everyone is okay without being specific or traumatizing for either of them."

If it doesn't fit now, let me know and I'll give you another prompt.

*ETA I boosted on DW

Re: Does this count?

[dialecticdreamer]

That's wonderful-- it saved me the work of trying to hunt down the comment thread on someone else's blog. Not easy.

There's no theme this month; I wanted readers to have as much choice as possible.

Re: Does this count?

[ysabetwordsmith]

That would be so awesome. :D I didn't have anything planned for aftercare, so the field's wide open.

Re: Does this count?

[dialecticdreamer]

Reassuring Rituals
Bennett arrives after the events of “Not A Sudden Problem” by ysabetwordsmith. He takes care of Cas in several ways, but the heavier part of their conversation waits until after dinner, and putting Hali to bed. (2500 words)
{} Part of the Mercedes and Broken Angels story arcs with in the Polychrome Heroics universe.
{} From a suggestion by fuzzyred, with my thanks.
{} Sponsor for $50.

[readera]

I would love to see more of GemmaMom with the vamp sisters. She would probably be able to set up something to help her learn about and adapt to the present. 💗💗

sent via PM

[dialecticdreamer]

Girls’ Night In
Genna invites Ashley and Asha to visit, but they take over Saul’s house with plans for a “girls’ night in.” (1400 words)
{} Part of the Strange Family series in the Polychrome Heroics universe.

I swear, all my ideas flee every time it's time to type them out.

[shadowdreamer]

It occurs to me, though, we haven't seen a lot of Shiv and Molly hanging out- or Shiv and Aida, either, for that matter. I could see some interesting option's there- my stir-craziness would love to see Shiv doing something outdoors with either of them, preferably something active- maybe a trip to meet the whales with Aida? I feel like Shiv and Steel could have some fascinating conversations.

Boosted over on my dreamwidth! (Post is also sharing journal space with something unrelated, though, because as I finished typing I noticed the date.)

Re: I swear, all my ideas flee every time it's time to type them out.

[ysabetwordsmith]

I have later plans for Shiv meeting the whales, but very little of that is set up yet. Boss White wants to retire, and will wind up moving to the Maldives, but that takes time.

Shiv enjoys the outdoors, though, and likes both Molly and Aida, so that's promising.

Re: I swear, all my ideas flee every time it's time to type them out.

[dialecticdreamer]

Seeking Companionship
After a bad day in Mercedes, Molly bails halfway through it to spend time with Shiv. They end up sitting outdoors, sharing the food and the quiet. (1300 words)
{} Part of the Finn Family and Shiv threads of Polychrome Heroics.
{} From a prompt by shadowdreamer.
{} Sponsor for $26.

[alexseanchai]

someone's frustrated with [insert creative pursuit here] and, thanks to encouragement and possibly a bit of advice from someone else, it turns out great in the end

someone surprising someone else with making their favorite dinner, or handling a chore the someone else needed done and didn't want to do, or etc, for no particular reason

both your example prompts that don't name Heron sound great too (and that one might also if I remembered who Heron is)

Heron

[dialecticdreamer]

He's the Finn's oldest son, barely a year younger than Molly, and just finished a degree in physiotherapy. He's also daddy to Dairinne, and firmly bonded with Mallory, though I think they need a thesaurus to properly describe their relationship. His soup abilities include healing with a couple of small extras.

Sent via PM

[dialecticdreamer]

Helping Hands
Saul sets out to tackle a much hated chore, the first thing in the morning, only to find that he’s been too slow. Genna sits him down and feeds him breakfast while they discuss the jobs that they would rather never do. (1600 words of mostly fluff.)
{} Part of the Strange Family series within the Polychrome Heroics universe.
{} From a prompt idea by alexseanchai.
{} Sponsor for $32.