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logonautDear JSAMN fic exchange author,
I'm so excited to see what you will write! Gifts are very welcome too.
What I like:
I like stories with a substantial plot or in-depth characterization. I especially like stories with a strong, distinct protagonist's inner voice, and lots of interiority. For me, some of the most fascinating aspects of the Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell world is how magic works. I'm interested in stories where magic plays a significant part. I love to see its inner workings. I am also intrigued by the process of distilling spells from ancient knowledge, the relics of which remain in folk tales, old books, songs, children's rhymes and such - just like Norrell and Strange did.
I also like pseudo-documentary genre: articles from imaginary newspapers and magazines, scholarly papers, letters, course syllabuses, recipe prose, and everything in that spirit, as long as it tells a story.
I like angst and humor equally well - or even both in one.
I also love AU!
DNWs
No PWP, please. I'm overall iffy when it comes to smut. M rating is OK, E is on a case-by-case basis. So it comes as no surprise that I prefer not to see some of the more extreme thematic elements that can be found in fanfiction overall. I don't really want to list them here, so please be guided by your common sense: what grosses out an average person is likely to gross me out too. Instead, I prefer a story to knock me out with clever ideas, inventive magic, character depth, complex, ambiguous, fraught interactions, unexpected plot twists, and such.
Regarding the four requests I have made, here are some optional prompt ideas. But if you come up with your own, that's just as good!
1. Gilbert Norrell. He is the character I'm most obsessed with (I know, I know. Guilty as charged), so I would be happy with a story where Norrell is the main character or plays a substantial role. The only thing I ask is not to portray him one-dimensionally, and not make him fodder for cheap laughs. That said, humor is very welcome! Critical portrayal is fine too, since, as we know, he deserves it. It's just that, if you choose this request, I would like to see a deeper exploration of the character.
Optionally, you can ship him with pretty much anyone. There have been wonderful and truly remarkable stories written in this fandom shipping him with Strange and Childermass, so I would like to see a less common ship (perhaps even one that hasn't been written before). For example, Norrell / Segundus has a lot of potential, because, while they are diametrical opposites on the kindness axis, they might be alike in being timid and inclined towards book learning. That said, shipping him with the usual suspects is also fine, I can't get enough of those.
But a gen story about Norrell without any ship would be great too.
2. Francis Sutton-Grove
I'm very interested in what was in Francis Sutton-Grove's famous book "De Generibus Artium Magicarum Anglorum", since it "was an attempt to define white and black magic, and the boundary between the two". How did Sutton-Grove find that boundary? The book was famously considered very boring, since it was kind of like an Excel spreadsheet for classifying magic spells, and its reputation as being highly esteemed by Norrell only reinforced this view. But I'm sure I would have found it fascinating.
So I would like to see a story of Sutton-Grove's thought process when he wrote the book. While attempting to classify and categorize spells, did he discover anything unexpected?
Sutton-Grove's lifetime overlapped with that of a little known theoretical magician Thaddeus Hickman. Theoretical though he was, he apparently knew a lot about practical magic, and was somewhat of an authority for Norrell. Is it possible that Hickman and Sutton-Grove collaborated? Did Hickman's knowledge of magic influence Sutton-Grove? I also absolutely would not object to them being shipped with each other.
3. Strange / Segundus
This rarepair ship has so much potential to be highly charged and complicated. In a way, Segundus was Strange's student (by correspondence, at least), but there are indications that he was not able to master some spells that Strange thought should be easy. So there is potential for Segundus to hero-worship Strange and feel inferior in comparison. But also, at the beginning of the book Segundus was able to invade Strange's dream, so perhaps he had some undiscovered ability for certain kinds of magic at which he was even better than Strange. Teacher / student relationship can mingle in all sorts of ways, both toxic and uplifting, with a sexual or intimate relationship.
My only request is that this involve a good deal of magic, and not just be about sex.
4. Worldbuilding
My worldbuilding wishes are mostly to explore the inner workings of magic in the JSAMN world or interactions between characters whose goals and worldviews are at odds with each other. Here are some examples.
4.1. Little Free Magic Library of York
A little free library, but for books of magic. The residents of York freely take and leave magic books in it. How does Norrell react when he finds out? If he sends Childermass to shut it down, is he successful? What if fairies or even John Uskglass himself interfere in keeping the good people of York supplied with books of magic? What part does the Learned Society of York Magicians play in this?
4.2. Jonathan Strange's female students
Canonically Jonathan Strange only had male students, but what if he took women students as well? What if Miss Gray, who was swindled by Drawlight who took her money for correspondence magic lessons from Strange, actually got her wish, and he accepted her as an in-person student? If there were several women students, did they compete for Strange's attention romantically as well (since he was presumed a widower at the time)? What disadvantages did they experience as students of magic in a highly sexist society - both from Strange's male students, Strange himself, and the society at large? How did they cope with all that and did they find silver lining in it?
4.3. Strange, Norrell, and the ladies of Grace Adieu
A twist of fate (or a simple vacation) brings Strange and Norrell to Grace Adieu, where their paths cross with the three ladies of Grace Adieu. That's pretty much the premise of the story "The Ladies of Grace Adieu", except without Norrell. What if he was there too, and the magic he and Strange performed collided in interesting ways with the magic the three ladies performed? Imagine the personal and professional clashes coming from their different ideologies and approaches to magic, with a good deal of sexism thrown into the mix! But in the process they might end up collaborating on some things (especially if the circumstances force them) and discover something deeper about other characters.
4.4. A pancake shop "De Crepe Labyrinth"
This is probably best-suited as AU. Many years after the events of JSAMN, there is a pancake shop called "De Crepe Labyrinth", as a pun on Walter De Chepe and his famous labyrinth. I don't really have more than just the name, so feel free to explore this idea however you like! My only preference is that magic and labyrinths are involved in a non-trivial way.
These suggestions may seem incredibly detailed, but please be assured that they are only to serve as ideas if you have hard time coming up with your own. I'm sure you, Dear Writer, can come up with ideas I can't even dream of, and I will be very excited to read them!
The credit for the De Crepe Labyrinth idea goes to the good people of the JSAMN 20th Anniversary Readalong Discord. If you are not there, you are welcome to join! The readalong is long over, but the server is still active, albeit low-traffic. Among other things, we plan fandom events on it. Here is the invite.
I'm so excited to see what you will write! Gifts are very welcome too.
What I like:
I like stories with a substantial plot or in-depth characterization. I especially like stories with a strong, distinct protagonist's inner voice, and lots of interiority. For me, some of the most fascinating aspects of the Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell world is how magic works. I'm interested in stories where magic plays a significant part. I love to see its inner workings. I am also intrigued by the process of distilling spells from ancient knowledge, the relics of which remain in folk tales, old books, songs, children's rhymes and such - just like Norrell and Strange did.
I also like pseudo-documentary genre: articles from imaginary newspapers and magazines, scholarly papers, letters, course syllabuses, recipe prose, and everything in that spirit, as long as it tells a story.
I like angst and humor equally well - or even both in one.
I also love AU!
DNWs
No PWP, please. I'm overall iffy when it comes to smut. M rating is OK, E is on a case-by-case basis. So it comes as no surprise that I prefer not to see some of the more extreme thematic elements that can be found in fanfiction overall. I don't really want to list them here, so please be guided by your common sense: what grosses out an average person is likely to gross me out too. Instead, I prefer a story to knock me out with clever ideas, inventive magic, character depth, complex, ambiguous, fraught interactions, unexpected plot twists, and such.
Regarding the four requests I have made, here are some optional prompt ideas. But if you come up with your own, that's just as good!
1. Gilbert Norrell. He is the character I'm most obsessed with (I know, I know. Guilty as charged), so I would be happy with a story where Norrell is the main character or plays a substantial role. The only thing I ask is not to portray him one-dimensionally, and not make him fodder for cheap laughs. That said, humor is very welcome! Critical portrayal is fine too, since, as we know, he deserves it. It's just that, if you choose this request, I would like to see a deeper exploration of the character.
Optionally, you can ship him with pretty much anyone. There have been wonderful and truly remarkable stories written in this fandom shipping him with Strange and Childermass, so I would like to see a less common ship (perhaps even one that hasn't been written before). For example, Norrell / Segundus has a lot of potential, because, while they are diametrical opposites on the kindness axis, they might be alike in being timid and inclined towards book learning. That said, shipping him with the usual suspects is also fine, I can't get enough of those.
But a gen story about Norrell without any ship would be great too.
2. Francis Sutton-Grove
I'm very interested in what was in Francis Sutton-Grove's famous book "De Generibus Artium Magicarum Anglorum", since it "was an attempt to define white and black magic, and the boundary between the two". How did Sutton-Grove find that boundary? The book was famously considered very boring, since it was kind of like an Excel spreadsheet for classifying magic spells, and its reputation as being highly esteemed by Norrell only reinforced this view. But I'm sure I would have found it fascinating.
So I would like to see a story of Sutton-Grove's thought process when he wrote the book. While attempting to classify and categorize spells, did he discover anything unexpected?
Sutton-Grove's lifetime overlapped with that of a little known theoretical magician Thaddeus Hickman. Theoretical though he was, he apparently knew a lot about practical magic, and was somewhat of an authority for Norrell. Is it possible that Hickman and Sutton-Grove collaborated? Did Hickman's knowledge of magic influence Sutton-Grove? I also absolutely would not object to them being shipped with each other.
3. Strange / Segundus
This rarepair ship has so much potential to be highly charged and complicated. In a way, Segundus was Strange's student (by correspondence, at least), but there are indications that he was not able to master some spells that Strange thought should be easy. So there is potential for Segundus to hero-worship Strange and feel inferior in comparison. But also, at the beginning of the book Segundus was able to invade Strange's dream, so perhaps he had some undiscovered ability for certain kinds of magic at which he was even better than Strange. Teacher / student relationship can mingle in all sorts of ways, both toxic and uplifting, with a sexual or intimate relationship.
My only request is that this involve a good deal of magic, and not just be about sex.
4. Worldbuilding
My worldbuilding wishes are mostly to explore the inner workings of magic in the JSAMN world or interactions between characters whose goals and worldviews are at odds with each other. Here are some examples.
4.1. Little Free Magic Library of York
A little free library, but for books of magic. The residents of York freely take and leave magic books in it. How does Norrell react when he finds out? If he sends Childermass to shut it down, is he successful? What if fairies or even John Uskglass himself interfere in keeping the good people of York supplied with books of magic? What part does the Learned Society of York Magicians play in this?
4.2. Jonathan Strange's female students
Canonically Jonathan Strange only had male students, but what if he took women students as well? What if Miss Gray, who was swindled by Drawlight who took her money for correspondence magic lessons from Strange, actually got her wish, and he accepted her as an in-person student? If there were several women students, did they compete for Strange's attention romantically as well (since he was presumed a widower at the time)? What disadvantages did they experience as students of magic in a highly sexist society - both from Strange's male students, Strange himself, and the society at large? How did they cope with all that and did they find silver lining in it?
4.3. Strange, Norrell, and the ladies of Grace Adieu
A twist of fate (or a simple vacation) brings Strange and Norrell to Grace Adieu, where their paths cross with the three ladies of Grace Adieu. That's pretty much the premise of the story "The Ladies of Grace Adieu", except without Norrell. What if he was there too, and the magic he and Strange performed collided in interesting ways with the magic the three ladies performed? Imagine the personal and professional clashes coming from their different ideologies and approaches to magic, with a good deal of sexism thrown into the mix! But in the process they might end up collaborating on some things (especially if the circumstances force them) and discover something deeper about other characters.
4.4. A pancake shop "De Crepe Labyrinth"
This is probably best-suited as AU. Many years after the events of JSAMN, there is a pancake shop called "De Crepe Labyrinth", as a pun on Walter De Chepe and his famous labyrinth. I don't really have more than just the name, so feel free to explore this idea however you like! My only preference is that magic and labyrinths are involved in a non-trivial way.
These suggestions may seem incredibly detailed, but please be assured that they are only to serve as ideas if you have hard time coming up with your own. I'm sure you, Dear Writer, can come up with ideas I can't even dream of, and I will be very excited to read them!
The credit for the De Crepe Labyrinth idea goes to the good people of the JSAMN 20th Anniversary Readalong Discord. If you are not there, you are welcome to join! The readalong is long over, but the server is still active, albeit low-traffic. Among other things, we plan fandom events on it. Here is the invite.
