Default deadline passed (and deadline change reminder)
10 December 2025 15:10The default deadline has passed! Defaults after this date will require a New Year’s Resolution fic before you can sign up again. See more info about defaulting at our FAQ.
Original assignments and pinch hits #1-96 are due in a little over 6 days, at:
9pm UTC, 17 December
See when that is in YOUR timezone
See countdown
This is an international exchange, and deadlines are given in UTC/GMT. This deadline is also at a DIFFERENT TIME OF DAY to deadlines we've used in recent years. Please click the links and check when the deadline is for you. We appreciate it!
Good luck to all writing, and especial thanks to everyone tackling pinch hits! Check out
yuletide_pinch_hits for requests currently in need of writers.
Schedule, Rules, & Collection | Contact Mods | Participant DW | Participant LJ | Pinch Hits on DW | Discord | Tag set | Tag set app
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Original assignments and pinch hits #1-96 are due in a little over 6 days, at:
See when that is in YOUR timezone
See countdown
This is an international exchange, and deadlines are given in UTC/GMT. This deadline is also at a DIFFERENT TIME OF DAY to deadlines we've used in recent years. Please click the links and check when the deadline is for you. We appreciate it!
Good luck to all writing, and especial thanks to everyone tackling pinch hits! Check out
Please either comment logged-in or sign a name. Unsigned anonymous comments will be left screened.
News
10 December 2025 13:46Some news:
* The Murderbot and fantasy novel Humble Bundle has returned for two days. The charity donation is still World Central Kitchen:
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/martha-wells-murderbot-and-more-tor-books-encore
* I'll be co-guest of honor with John Picacio at AggieCon 55 on January 30-February 1 2026 in College Station, TX.
https://www.aggiecon.net/
* Also you can preorder Platform Decay, the next book in The Murderbot Diaries, at whichever retailer you prefer, and it will be out on May 5, 2026. Published by Tor Books, cover art by Jaime Jones, edited by Lee Harris.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/platform-decay-martha-wells/8cf1662cf8bf8d15?ean=9781250827005&next=t
* The Murderbot and fantasy novel Humble Bundle has returned for two days. The charity donation is still World Central Kitchen:
https://www.humblebundle.com/books/martha-wells-murderbot-and-more-tor-books-encore
* I'll be co-guest of honor with John Picacio at AggieCon 55 on January 30-February 1 2026 in College Station, TX.
https://www.aggiecon.net/
* Also you can preorder Platform Decay, the next book in The Murderbot Diaries, at whichever retailer you prefer, and it will be out on May 5, 2026. Published by Tor Books, cover art by Jaime Jones, edited by Lee Harris.
https://bookshop.org/p/books/platform-decay-martha-wells/8cf1662cf8bf8d15?ean=9781250827005&next=t
New Pinch Hits
10 December 2025 07:58Three Pinch Hits Available (two new, one existing)
The deadline remains the same, works due: Saturday, December 13, 2025 11:59PM EST (08:59PM PST). If you'd like to negotiate a new deadline, suggest one in your claim.
To claim, comment below (comments screened) with the PH# you wish to claim, your ao3 username, and an email the mods can reach you at.
Unclaimed
( PH 2 - Star Trek: Lower Decks (Cartoon) )
( PH 4 - Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Enterprise, Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (TV) )
( PH 5 - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, The Lives of Dax - Marco Palmieri (editor), Star Trek Crossover Fandom )
5x05 and 5x06
4 December 2025 10:16Turns out I didn‘t have much to say about episode 5 so I continued straight onwards to 6.
5x05 Mirrors( Read more... )
5x06 Whistlespeak( Read more... )
5x05 Mirrors( Read more... )
5x06 Whistlespeak( Read more... )
Oncoming default deadline
3 December 2025 15:01Default deadline
The deadline for a simple default on Yuletide is 9pm UTC on 10 December - just under one week from now. Please check the link - this isn't the same time of day as recent years.The default deadline is the cut-off point for defaulting on your Yuletide assignment without a penalty. This applies if it's your first Yuletide, or if you posted successfully last time you signed up or took a pinch hit. Default before this time, and you're free to sign up again in future. If you're not sure whether the default deadline applies to you, please talk to mods (yuletideadmin@gmail.com).
Sample reasons to default:
- You want to
- You can't reconcile the canon, your writing strengths, and your recipient's DNWs
- Life got in the way
- A new installment of canon ruined your ideas
- You use generative AI such as ChatGPT, and you just saw the rule that that's not allowed in this event
- You can't see how to get the characters to do what you want them to do
- You want to
People default every year for a variety of reasons. We don't need to know why, and we wish you well. When we open sign-ups, we recommend that you don't sign up unless you're confident you can write a story by the deadline. But after you've signed up, things may happen, and it's okay to withdraw, if that's what makes sense for you. See full information about defaulting at the FAQ.
To default, go to your assignment at the collection, and press the default button.
Assignment deadline
All original assignments, and all pinch hits sent out prior to the default deadline, are due at 9pm UTC 17 December (which is a DIFFERENT time of day to last year). CountdownPinch Hits
We have an outstanding pinch hit atBetas & Beta Help Needed
We warmly welcome beta reader volunteers at the beta post and on Discord. See the FAQ for more information about finding betas if you need one!Note: on the Yuletide Discord, requests for betas, or for brainstorming help that might give away what you're writing, are handled by DM-ing someone who currently holds a Hippo role. Please read the server FAQ before seeking a beta. Give your Hippo the relevant details and make sure you can receive messages back.
Treats and Posting
Click here for instructions on posting your assignment or treats. If you've finished your assignment and are considering treats, check out the app, and don't forget the promo post where people have advertised their canons. You may find something amazing there! Check out the prompts from pinch hitters too.Keep Yuletide Madness in mind. The Madness collection is for stories under 1,000 words and stories which do not exactly fit the fandoms and characters requested. These works must still be gifts for other participants.
AFK post
We will also put up an Away from Keyboard post shortly on theHappy December!
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Fancake Theme for December: Amnesty
3 December 2025 09:34
This theme runs for the entire month. If you have any questions, just ask!