'Tis the Season to be Late?

[gilpin25]

We got the first of the Round Robin letters in a Christmas card this morning, and I'm waiting for my mild-mannered husband to turn into someone highly dangerous, who must be approached with caution. And only if you're bringing in the dinner.

These are the letters you get from people you don't see from one year to another, but who send you a printed sheet of their accomplishments activities during the year. Usually with an incredibly flattering and air-brushed photo that the Royal Family would envy. Snarkiness aside, most of these are interesting, but there's a few that set your teeth on edge. These particular people are friends of my parents, I haven't seen them since our Wedding so we're talking years here, but they still think we'd like to know that daughter Tabitha will be reading Politics at Cambridge, son Gerald is spending three years in Hong Kong earning fabulous sums of money thanks to a promotion, and now that all the kids have flown the wealthy nest, the parents have invested in a sixty foot ocean liner to give them an interesting new hobby.

Okay, I'm exaggerating, but only just in some cases. I'm bracing myself for the one from our friends in New Zealand, who emigrated a couple of years ago, and seem to own more of the country now than Peter Jackson. It takes quite a lot to get my husband annoyed (just me, normally), but these letters drive him nuts. Last year he wanted me to compose one to send back which claimed that he'd climbed Everest on an afternoon off, and I'd won six Booker prizes in a row... ;

Which sort of brings me onto my Advent Fic. I'm just about on schedule for finishing 24.12.06, have written about 3500 words, have no idea what the genre is as I've included at least four and, in a shocking new move for me, I've given Harry a line to say. But I'm thinking of chopping it. And I've looked at some of those excellent angsty and short ones already posted and think perhaps I should be chopping a lot more. Anyone else writing long fics or is it the season to be brief so you can wisely wrap presents?

Comments

[bringandfly.livejournal.com]

And I've looked at some of those excellent angsty and short ones already posted and think perhaps I should be chopping a lot more. Anyone else writing long fics or is it the season to be brief so you can wisely wrap presents?

Erm, I'm a wee bit long-winded and had exactly the same thought; that I should be chopping. I'm at 2000 words so far and unfinished as I'm having trouble writing the necessary bit from Tonks's point of view.

I have no idea of genre either; I can't do romatic comedy to save my life, and I couldn't face angst so I'm pretty sure it's neither of those.

in a shocking new move for me, I've given Harry a line to say. *grin* Harry and Ginny make an appearance in mine. It was the only way I could think of to bring in my wizarding-ised Christmas song and keep it clean! lol

Your 'round robin' letters make me glad we hardly get any cards at all. I think there are more school friends and work colleagues than friends and family. *hugs*

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I think everyone should be long-winded. Mine's going to end up an epic as I've only done one section and there's another three to go.

I haven't got my Christmas Carol in yet so you're way ahead of me. Nor the prompts for that matter. Still, I like to think it's going well, LOL.

Do you think we can invent a new genre? A mixture one for those who aren't sure.

I don't know who invented Round Robin letters, but I think it was someone out to impress... ;)

[jdbracknell.livejournal.com]

Oh my God, I love Round Robin letters. If you haven't already read them, there's a journalist who compiles books of the things every year, and they're hilarious. Last year's was called The Hamster Who Loved Puccini (or something similar), and I cried with laughter reading it, because every year I always look forward to getting one from the family of a boy I went to school with 20 years ago. They go on and on and on about every single thing that has happened to them in the previous 12 months - and there's about nine of them, so it's a major work - in excrutiating detail (and they do charity work, which they always like to slip in somewhere: 'March was spent in Malawi providing free clean drinking water for the poor. Lovely country, friendly folk, missed EastEnders. Got dystentry - three months in hospital, but a very worthy cause').

On the fic front, I appear to be writing two. Couldn't decide whether to go angsty or fluffy, and ergo have done the sensible thing and gone for both.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I wish I'd put that book on my pressie list, though we could frame some of the ones we've had. Don't think I can top your Samaritan Family, though. There was the classic where our New Zealand pals politely asked if we'd had the planned water feature put in our garden yet (Husband spent a weekend digging a hole for a barrel, which then leaked), and followed it up with: "The river running through our new property is a great tourist attraction..."

My best mate was able to do a fantastic one a couple of years back: "A Quiet Year for me - had affair, got pregnant, left husband, new 'boyfriend' twenty-seven years older, had baby girl, all a bit shocked, everyone happy.'

Two fics, eh? I look forward to both angst and fluff with the tinsel. I think people are going to be very glad I'm only attempting one... ;)

[jdbracknell.livejournal.com]

LOL.

There was the classic where our New Zealand pals politely asked if we'd had the planned water feature put in our garden yet (Husband spent a weekend digging a hole for a barrel, which then leaked), and followed it up with: "The river running through our new property is a great tourist attraction..."

If you've still got that one, you should really send it to the guy who compiles books of them - I think he's a journalist for The Telegraph (obviously me remembering his name would help narrow it down....) - he has a whole section on one upman-ship, whether intentional or otherwise. Although my favourite section every year (morbid as it is) is the one about how people deal with death: "January, Derek died. Very sad news. February, bought new shoes. Pinched a bit, sadly." or "So sorry to hear about your husband's passing, but He moves in myseterious ways, and I trust you've found comfort in friends and family. How are those new roses working out for you?"

My best mate was thinking of sending one to his family this year: "Busy times. Found out via administrative cock up that I'm adopted, hate you all."

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

Sadly, I haven't got the letter any more; if only I'd known about this book, I could have stopped the Husband shredding it into a thousand pieces or whatever happened to it. But there's always this year to hope for...

The death ones are a bit hysterical, aren't they? I'm trying to remember one I saw once, but it wasn't in the best possible taste so it's probably as well I don't. Something about someone's ashes being scattered, and the next line will probably come to me at three in the morning, in which case I'll give you a call. ;)

My best mate was thinking of sending one to his family this year: "Busy times. Found out via administrative cock up that I'm adopted, hate you all."

Now that's what I call a classic Round Robin. Top that!

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Mine's hit 10,500 just before the final round of tweaks, if that makes you feel any better at all...And it doesn't even have any scene breaks. And multiple genres are okay; mine is a romantic comedy mystery. Sort of. Just whatever tags help people find the fics. ;)

I want to do two more and I'm really trying for brevity even though the anal part of me thinks they ought to be the same length.

I didn't realize that kind of letter was called a Round Robin letter, but I hate them too. The only good ones I ever received were the annual ones from the family I used to babysit for, who wound up being flower girls in my wedding. Every year their mother would keep a list of all the funny questions the girls asked or funny observations they made, and it was the most hysterical newsletter ever.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I'm going to do about ten tags then, I think. Just so as I cover all eventualities. And I'm glad to hear of your long-windedness because this is running away with me a bit.

Someone who wanted to impress started these Round Robin letters. I've thought of a plot for a Christmas fic one now with one in, but it's too late!

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

Someone who wanted to impress started these Round Robin letters. I've thought of a plot for a Christmas fic one now with one in, but it's too late!

Imagine what the Black family ones would say. "Bellatrix successfully cast the Crucio curse this year, and we're all very proud of the favour she curries with the Dark Lord."

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

"Draco has been the subject of a number of slash fan fics, mostly being paired with Harry Potter. We're not amused."

[jdbracknell.livejournal.com]

LOL.

"Sirius continues to disappoint, failing to live up to his breeding and potential.... Still, poison ivy in the garden's shooting up nicely."

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

I was just trying to work out something along the lines of, "And according to that miserable house-elf, Kreacher, Sirius scandalises Walburga's portrait by setting up housekeeping half-blood werewolf and occasionally the mutant spawn of Andromeda Tonks."

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

"Some monstrosity known as metamorfic_moon was created to focus on that Sex-God Werewolf and that Mutant Tart Metamorphmagus. It is an affront to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, and must be obliterated with house elf slash.

Lucius is finding prison life quite invigorating."

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

"Lucius is finding prison life quite invigorating. He writes that he would like to hire a Dementor to be his personal fashion advisor. Apparently they have recommended something black and floaty for him."

[jdbracknell.livejournal.com]

LOL.

"One suspects, of course, that they say the same thing to everyone."

[mrstater.livejournal.com]

"If only they would advise the costumers for the Harry Potter and the Glorious Victory of the Death Eaters film due out next summer."

[godricgal.livejournal.com]

Not so fond of the idea of Round Robins myself. I'd much rather these people just kept in contact the rest of the year. Last year we got one that went into so much detail, we even got the colour of the daughter and son-in-law's newish-ly painted dining room. I generally find them amusing and aggravating in equal measure.

I've finished the introduction to my fic, in rough, it's come in at 2600, I anticipate that it will be 3500 by the time it's tweaked, and then I have to write the main scene, and the last scene, so I wouldn't worry about length...Apart from finding the time to write, that is.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

They're just wonderful things, aren't they? Last year Keith got one from someone he used to work with saying she and her three kids were all well, and listing all that they'd been up to. Which was fine, except he didn't even know she had a boyfriend!

Okay, I won't worry about length any more. Just quality and lack of Christmas carols. ;)

[an-fhanai.livejournal.com]

Thankfully we only get those letters from people we talk to on a fairly regular basis - anything else usually goes through the filtering process of our parents, since we've yet to get on any "important" friends' mailing lists. I don't mind a bit - getting stuff like that only serves to remind me that I've failed spectacularly every year of my marriage to get any cards out at all.

I know what story I'm going to write, and I'm making notes on it now, but I haven't actually started it yet, so it very well could end up being far more monstrous than it should be.

It's nice to have a mix of story lengths, you know. The question is whether or not a longer fic will drive you nuts and take away too much time from your own Christmas preparations. Don't worry about it being long. Long = more R/T. How can that be a bad thing? ;)

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I know what story I'm going to write, and I'm making notes on it now, but I haven't actually started it yet, so it very well could end up being far more monstrous than it should be.

You're making me feel a lot better, you know. And you sound calm. I'm sat here opened mouthed at people doing two or three stories... ;)

It's nice to have a mix of story lengths, you know. The question is whether or not a longer fic will drive you nuts and take away too much time from your own Christmas preparations. Don't worry about it being long. Long = more R/T. How can that be a bad thing? ;)

Please will you just remember you said all that when you read it? LOL.

[bratty-jedi.livejournal.com]

My mom always sends out those kind of letters but it is largely to family. We have a very large extended family that is still pretty close but it is hard to keep up with everyone. The letters fill everyone in on what the third cousins twice removed and the like are doing. The only annoying thing about those is that My grandaunt will send a letter talking about what all her grandkids are doing, then her kids will send letter telling about what all their kids are doing, and if those kids are grown, they send letters telling about what they and their families are doing. Hearing the same news in three or four letters is annoying.

Ray Stevens has a Christmas song called Xerox Xmas Letter where he makes fun of someone's letter and writes his own redneck version. I love it. Then again, I have a warped sense of humor and love everything by Ray Stevens, so what do I know.

[bratty-jedi.livejournal.com]

I have my Christmas carols playing on random and that song came one just as I hit send. I find that amusing. Actually, for the first time in several days, I'm in a really good mood (nothing's gone wrong yet today!) so I'm finding everything amusing.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

The family ones sound fun - do you find that one person tells a grossly exaggerated version of events than others? Or one goes into huge detail and another does it briefly? After I've said all this about these letters, I expect the ones I get are going to be very boring this year.

You do sound cheery. Ray's working his magic! It's obviously going to be a happy Advent Fic. ;)

[bratty-jedi.livejournal.com]

You can totally tell the melodramatic ones from the more restrained and the like by the family letters. It's kind of fun trying to decide why people choose to include some stories and not mention others at all. Sometimes sibling rivalry among 60-80 year olds comes through which is hilarious.

I always react very emotionally to things but then get over it very quickly and bounce back to my more usual cheerful eternal optimist. So life sucked when everything was going wrong for a few days. Now I've had a couple days with little bits of good news and I'm practically bouncing off the walls. I'm a bit silly.

Typing that, I just realized that makes me sound more like Tonks than I've ever considered. I identify more with Remus. Hmmmm....

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

I'm currently writing Sirius bouncing off walls! Sounds as if you get over things a lot quicker than he does though, which is a good way to be. I suppose I'm quite laid-back (when I'm not getting Round Robin letters) - takes a lot to get me really down or really up. But once I'm there... ;)

[wildmagelet.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, the annual family newsletters. My family doesn't do one, but we're on the receiving end of many. I'm sorry that your most annoying one comes from New Zealand. =) If it makes you feel any better, I personally own nothing in New Zealand except too many books and lip glosses. I agree with your husband. Send a letter announcing your Pulitzer, lottery win and impending coronation as Queen.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

The good thing about my New Zealand friends is the oneupmanship is unintentional (I'm almost sure;)). They're really nice, inherited a lot of money, and they've spent it so good luck to them! But there's a couple of others with, I'm sure, more dubious motives, LOL.

I think you've hit on a good idea there: Round Robin letters detailing what books and lip glosses you've bought this year, and which are the best. I'd love that.

Impending coronation, eh? Yeah, why not, how are they going to know I'm not telling the truth? ;)

[kileaiya.livejournal.com]

I’ve never received any letters of the Round Robin sort, they all go to my great grandmother who then fills us in on the happenings of people I don’t even know. Hee. I sort of wish I had now, they seem like they might be amusing.

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

Some are hysterical, some are nice, some are boring and some ... make you clench your teeth! I'm sure you'll get some one day and then you can enjoy them. ;)

[molly-coddles.livejournal.com]

I should post my Christmas postcard for you. I manage to mention all the pets and the children in 22 lines set to "Twas the Night Before Christmas." I'm getting the hang of this brevity thing.
My fic is 2500 words. The version I'm going to post, anyway. There is a second version with an entirely different ending that involves Gil and Santa...

[gilpin25.livejournal.com]

Now that sounds a brilliant Round Robin letter. We do get some very nice ones, including my friend at the other end of the country, who always lets her children write a line about their year. George, aged 7, wrote: "Mummy took me to feed the ducks. I didn't like it." Now that's what I call a year in a nutshell, LOL.

Gil and Santa? I'm not doing my side-saddle bit again, am I? ;)

[molly-coddles.livejournal.com]

I like that kid! lol
I should do that next year, except my 8-yr-old would use his lines to say he captured Raquaza in Pokemon on his gameboy and no one will know what the heck he's talking about anyway. Of course, he'll be 9 by then... ;)

Nope, no side-saddle this time. It does include the North Pole, though...