Worldbuilding Ex Letter 2022

[dye_ann]

Dear Worldbuilder (alright this is officially the coolest title),

In this letter you will find my list of General likes (specially trimmed for world-building purposes), my DNW (unde each fandom), and some prompts. Just so you know, I nominated most of the things I’m asking for, so feel free to ignore those prompts and go straight for what you had in mind when you offered the WB element in question : most of them are precise enough that they’ll act as prompts, and anything you want to do with them will make me happy. And if you feel like you need to bring this or that character in, be my guest.

Here’s my AO3 account, if you’d like to know me better: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Beatrice_Sank/works

World-building likes: alternative story-telling forms (letters, found manuscripts or records, outsider point of view, montage of various documents…), period-appropriate details, conflicting hypotheses and theories about how things work in universe, nerdiness, minority-related themes (feminist and queer takes and the likes), lush descriptions of things (also known as __!porn, e.g. architectural porn, landscape porn, whatever), literary allusions, elaboration on what the characters like to read/listen to/watch, backstory.

I’m always happy to read something that reflects the author’s field of expertise or culture, so don’t hesitate to do that if you want (some of the prompts specifically invite you to do so).

Other likes: mystery, bittersweet atmospheres, banter, sensory notations, plottiness, experimental writing, conflicting world-views and people having their reasons, competent characters (especially female characters), found families, magical realism.

Ships-wise (not sure it will be relevant for this exchange, but I leave it here from other letters just in case you’re in the mood for shippy world-building): romantic and sexual tension (resolved or unresolved), pinning, slow burn, friends/enemies to lovers, fake/pretend relationships, accidental proximity.

 

All the Wrong Questions

 

Myths and culture surrounding the Bombinating Beast

Pretty self-explanatory: I would love some lore about the traces the beast has left/will leave into the culture of this universe (feel free to extend the interpretation of this tag into the extended Snicketverse, it’s absolutely fine by me). For example:

- The Bombinating Beast in children culture: tales, sayings, songs and tongue-twisters

- Presence of the Beast in the literature and films of the universe (twisted version of Moby Dick, horror movies, comedic representations, etc).

- The Beast in sailors culture (sea shanties, superstitions, tales, etc.)

 

Stain'd-by-the-Sea and VFD

Anything about the history of relationships between townsfolk and VFD members over time.

- I’m curious to know who else in town might secretly be a member, and how they might have worked behind the scenes for the whole time Lemony was there. Was he secretly assessed, was his supervisor secretly supervised/assessed? I’m up for ridiculously complex hierarchical structures in true VFD style (or hierarchies that are pretending not to be there).

- Stain’d seems isolated from the world, so I’m also curious what people there might make of VFD and VFD values. How do they intersect or clash with the town’s issues (economical and otherwise)?

- And how do those relationships evolve? Was there a time when the town was more of a VFD base, and a time when things all went south and VFD wasn’t welcomed there anymore? What of the schism? Any character’s point of view on those issues would suit me, as well as conflicted points of views and, of course, fragmentary plots.

- Did members of VFD work in Stain’d at other points in time to solve some of its issues (or make them worse)? I’m thinking about the missing ocean, but it would be anything (Ink Inc, the failing justice system...)

 

Stain'd-by-the-Sea after canon

- Does it get better, or worse? What about the ecological issues Hangfire was concerned about? What about Cleo’s plans for Ink Inc? And what of Ellington’s role in the future of the town? I imagine her grief and anger will likely have consequences too.

- Does Stain’d develop other sources of income (I’m thinking perhaps something more “modern” that invisible ink, but whatever might work in canon)? Or does the town finally fades away completely? I’m very up for something like “How Stain’d-by-the-Sea disappeared”, and what remained in the end.

 

Stain'd-by-the-Sea local newspaper

I would love a story revolving around the publishing of an issue of Stain’d newspaper or just the actual issue itself.

- Something from the time Moxie’s mother was still around, and the town was flourishing? How was the local news, then? You can get wild with this one: what about the gossip column, recipes, crosswords or games, reports about what’s going on outside of Stain’d, and so on. I imagine it would be at least a little weird, or at least very much informed by a Stain’dian perspective.

- Same prompt, but with Moxie as the director of publication. Maybe she revives it after canon, and it’s grimmer in tone, or it shows she has changed after Lemony’s departure? I’d like to get a sense of Moxie’s evolution through her editing choices. And who is she working with on this?

 

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence, anything that you might want to rate E, in fact.

 

 

A Series of Unfortunate Events

 

Academic production of VFD members

- A peered-review VFD paper: I’m sure they would give a new meaning to “double-blind reviews”. And what if they only give feedback in code? Any oddities, absurd level of complexity, chaotic structure, power play

- Several volunteers working on a collective paper, but they have conflicted views about the subject at hands.

- Two people fighting via research articles, responding to each other, and it gets very personal pretty soon (I think Kit and Olaf would work well for that, Olaf and Lemony as well: if you want to go further with those relationships, bitter exes or otherwise, I’m open to anything).

- For suggestions of possible research topics that I would be into: literature, the library system, codes in literature and the fine arts, fire (I mean this cursed add is probably from a VFD member anyway), sociology of VFD (a Bourdieu-style inquiry would be nice), History of the Great Failures of VFD, history of codes, philosophical zoology (the Great Unknown), VFD folklore.

 

History of VFD

- Anything about The Distant Past! I’m sure the organization has existed for a long time, even informally. Any idea about its origins? I’m curious to know how the volunteers operated, say, in Victorian England, or in medieval times, or anything of the sort.

- Any origin tale of the Schism, or versions of what people think happened.

- The books (and the Unauthorized Autobiography) gives the impression that volunteers were often very young, and I would be curious to read something about that, the fact that they recruited children, and what role it played in the organization’s history.

- Traces of VFD in Official History that are only visible to the trained eye (eg: the Great Fire of London was about them from the start, something was up in the Library of Alexandria too, that sort of things).

 

In-universe interpretations of the sugar bowl

Emphasis on the plural here: it’s totally okay if you want to suggest that one option is the right one, but I’d like to read about debates and questions and doubts over that damned bowl too!

- I can just picture VFD members losing their time arguing about the true nature of the sugar bowl, perhaps in a quasi theological way, rather than trying to fix their problems or actually trying to retrieve the bowl.

- a VFD recipe about the sugar bowl, and it turns sour.

- An academic paper or a conference would be a good way to explore the subject too, especially if you want to write about the future of VFD and people trying to find out what the hell this whole sugar bowl thing was about.

- Speaking of the future, imagine the sugar bowl becomes, I don’t know, a myth, something grand and undecipherable for future VFD generations, a symbol used in poetry, much like the Arthurian Grail...

 

Movies shot by VFD

I’m very fond of the whole “coded movies” thing, and I’d like to hear more about that, especially if you’re willing to explore different genres and different interpretations of the phrase “coded movies”.

- The shooting of a VFD movie: is everyone aware the movie contains code? What goes wrong on set? Are there any truly artistic moments? Are they planned or accidental?

- Movie critics writing about a VFD movie: they could be from either side of the Schism, but also outsiders wondering what the hell they just saw.

- Highlights of Gustav Sebald’s career.

- Different forms of codes in VFD movies (for example, I’m interested in queer coded movies that also contain actual code).

 

DNW: Non-con, underage, graphic violence.

 

 

The French Dispatch

I love that movie, in all its authentic artificiality. Being French, I have to admit that this version of Europe (to speak broadly, even if Ennui looks mostly French) is actually not that absurd, under the layers of caricature. For example, the way it depicts May 68 sounds more truthful to me than a lot of more serious, historically accurate versions. I like how this fantasy version of France meets the very American tradition of New Yorker style journalism, and was very moved by the idea that those reporters are all, in a way, far from home and choosing to live in that new place with all the difficulties, wonders and nostalgia it entails. And I would love to see those delightful characters interact more than they do in the movie?

PS: I’m open to all sorts of ships between the nominated characters, work-place crushes, unrequited interest, past love story (I’m getting those vibes between Krementz and Howitzer, but I’ll accept any headcanon of yours).

 

Collaborative writing at The French Dispatch (The French Dispatch)

I love all the reporters, and I would like to know if they ever work together, because it was quite frustrating they were so separated in the movie. I’m sure they’re all loners in their own way, but they’re bound to have some sort of professional relationship (and Berensen and Sazerac seem to be good friends in the final scene, for example).

- Any article signed by two of the journalists (or by new journalists of your invention). Bonus points if they sometimes disagree on something and it’s visible in the article.

- Alternatively, the story of how two of them or more have to write a collective piece and that creates all sorts of problems/comedic mishaps.

- What would they write together? An homage to their deceased editor? A scenic tour of Ennui’s landmarks? A guide to Ennui’s cultural habits?

 

The French Dispatch's agony column (The French Dispatch)

I like to this there is one such column. And I like to think it’s quite bonkers.

- The mystery surrounding the identity of the agony aunt/uncle. Is it one of the reporter? All of them and they take turns? I’m sure Berensen and Krementz, for example, wouldn’t give the same sort of romantic advice… Or is Arthur Howitzer Jr. secretly the one who writes it?

- Very American advice for very European problems? Or the reverse?

- What if one of the journalists tried to write to the agony aunt/uncle under a fake name? What sort of problem do they have?

 

The French Dispatch's covering of Ennui's historical landmarks (The French Dispatch)

Like I said, I enjoy the way they covered a fantasy version of May 68 events very much, so I’m wondering about other major French or European events of the period (I’m quite open about the dates, feel free to extent the existence of the journal if you need to). You can also bizarre historical events, of course, and twist the actual events in a lighter (or apparently lighter)/quirky way.

- Krementz and Berensen (or other new journalists) covering women’s right movements in the 60-70s.

- Something about the Cold War in Europe, but French Dispatch style?

- Any original form of counter-culture developing in Ennui, and the way it’s captured by the reporters.

 

The French Dispatch's Letters to the Editor (The French Dispatch)

I’m sure they receive many letters, I’m sure some of them are weird.

- Some personal enemy of Howitzer writing every month to criticize the previous issue.

- An anthology of the reporters’ favourite letters to the editor (they can be favourite for a large number of reasons...)

- Fan mail/hate mail for some of the reporters.

 

The French Dispatch's movie reviews section

I’m sure Ennui has a solid movie industry (just like France), and I imagine some of those movies are bound to be caricatures/fantasy versions of Nouvelle Vague films.

- Give me some reviews of those movies, invent whatever you like, parody European movies, invent new movies, etc.

- Who on the editorial board is a snub, and who falls asleep every time and has to invent a review out of the first and last minutes of the movie? Do they fight over movies? Who’s the Pauline Kael and who’s the Roger Ebert of the board ?

DNW: non-con, underage.

Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell

 

Obscure (unknown or forgotten) female magicians

So we know a few things about British female magicians from canon (Catherine of Winchester, Maria Absalom, the Ladies of Grace Adieu), but I’m curious about the (probably numerous) women forgotten by history.

Here I would be interested on anything you might invent about female magicians at the time of canon anywhere in the world, so feel free to use your own culture or to write about whatever area of the world you know best. For example, I would be cool to look into traditionally female fields of expertise (like lace-making or cooking or midwifing and the likes) and see what magic might be hidden there. Or into important figures who have been erased for some reason. What is their legacy?

I really enjoy the idea that female magic would be less noticeable, hidden or ignored because of the historical and social context (we know that Norrell isn’t very enthusiastic about female magicians). Feel free to explore that or come up with your own explanations. Were there any secret societies of female magicians in the past? Perhaps some female magicians were ignored because they weren’t British (gasp)?

I’m up for anything political there, in the canon’s spirit.

 

In-universe books of magic from the Aureate period

We know that the Aureates wrote very little, allegedly. But maybe those texts were lost, or maybe they weren’t identified as texts because they adopted alternative forms of writing, and what about the ones that were actually preserved?

- So, do you want to try and write a book of magic? If so, I would be on board with whatever spell or page you might want to invent

- Lost or mythical books from this period, and what they may have contained (speculations welcome).

- Alternative methods of writing for uneducated Aureates magicians (were do they store their magic knowledge, and how).

- A conversation between characters (Strange and Norrell, or others) about those ancient and rare books.

- The story of a forgery: someone invents a lost book and tries to sell it as authentic (perhaps it’s another scandal from the Norrell period, perhaps not).

 

In-universe parodies and lampoons of Gilbert Norrell and Jonathan Strange

(Very optional ship: Jonathan Strange/Mr Norrell)

Okay so this is a weird one, but consider. Norrell and Strange are extremely famous in England, we know there are etching of them, probably portraits circulating too, so I’m thinking there must be caricatures and offensive lampoons circulating too.

- I’m sure English magic doesn’t only have friends: about about its enemies? What scathing critics do they address to Norrell and/or Strange, what is their game. Do they have different views about magic, or do they simply want to abolish it? I’d love to read a lampoon attacking Strange and Norrell’s positions on magic, bonus points if it’s partially bullshit and partially super on point ^^.

- The comedic potential of Strange and/or Norrell (or other characters: eg Childermass) seeing themselves caricatured in a text or in a play.

- Lampoons are often filled with lewd allusions and sexual accusations, so what if Norrell and/or Strange chanced upon something that accuses them of sleeping together? Hilarity and awkwardness could ensue. I’m up for any scenario: they aren’t sleeping together and the thought is appalling to them (but it might be funny to other people, I’m thinking Childermass, but really whoever you want); they aren’t sleeping together, but one of them is pining ; or maybe both of them; or maybe they are sleeping together, but it’s certainly not respectable to see it printed in cheap ink! If you want to add actual porn to this, be my guest.

- Honestly, anything you can come up with that will make me laugh.

 

Influence of magic on the British literary canon

So, JS&MN as well as some parts of Ladies of Grace Adieu (especially “Mr. Simonelli or the Fairy Widower ») famously read like Jane Austen, but with magic. I would really love to read something like an anthology of British literature after magic is revived in England. The excepts and authors could be invented (maybe new authors entered the canon, it’s alternative history after all). Or maybe the well-known texts got altered because magic was rediscovered. I mean, I’m curious about what Dickens, or Alice in Wonderland, or Jane Eyre, or modernist literature (oh my God, Woolf) might become in a context where magic is part of society.

Alternatively, does Norrell and Strange’s life and fate influence literary history? Do they become the model for something like a new type of Byronic hero? Do famous authors write about them (poems, plays, novels…)?

 

Magic and the fine arts

Basically the same as the influence of magic on the British literary canon, but applied to fine arts? Feel free to use real paintings and identify magic elements in it, show me how De Chirico’s work, or Raphael’s, or Da Vinci’s, or Dali’s, or whoever you want, has to do with the history of magic. Alternatively, do artists in-universe attempt to use magic to paint or sculpt or create new forms of visual arts? Descriptions of invented paintings or sculptures or other artifacts would be nice too. Or you could tell me about magical accidents affecting statues or paintings or the likes.

 

DNW: non-con, underage.

 

 

Piranesi

 

Academic production of the characters

- I’d like to read other takes on the nature of the House, by other characters than Arne-Sayles. Extracts from papers by both people from his side and people with different views would be very cool, with perhaps even weirder takes (I’m sure Sylvia would have her own way of describing things for example, no matter how influenced she is by Arne-Sayles).

- I’m also curious about Angharad Scott’s work: I’m sure all her work isn’t just biographies. Does she have an unpublished, sulfurous piece about magic or alternate sources of knowledge hidden somewhere in her attic? And what about her biography work?

- Same goes for all the nominated characters: give me Matthew’s account of marginal science, or perhaps his new projects once he’s well enough to go back to research (that is, if he goes back to it: if he doesn’t, maybe a farewell paper?)

- What about the Dead. Some of them must have been scholars. Did some of them write about the House? Do they still murmur theory to each other at night?

 

Sylvia D'Agostino's artistic works

- Anything elaborating on The Castle, Sylvia’s movie about the House, or other movies she might have shot. Or her poems, or anything she might have produced.

- I’m also interested in pieces alluding at the suffering she experienced at Arne-Sayles’s hands, so it can get dark too.

- What about her missing works, things she could have written after she disappeared, before she died?

 

The Dead

- Any take on who they are, especially the oldest skeleton. It doesn’t have to be set in stone, it can remains mysterious and hypothetical.

- Honestly I would love to read some grim guide of the various ways to die inside the House. A dark anthology of sorts.

 

DNW: Non-con, underage.