'Tis the Season! If you'd like to voice an opinion and help to shape this year's "crop", anything on this list is fair game (with the exception of the Big Bang plots, because they're already assigned).

Note: The birthday projects on the above linked list (which are already heavily belated, in many cases) get automatic slots, since those really *do* need to get finished and off-the-list.

As they get underway, first in outline format and later in full-drafts, the various Valentines will be accessible via direct links from the list. However, these entries will be locked so that only the betas have access. If you're interested in signing on to help beta/edit this brood, please drop me a line, either here or via email.

( The Proposed 14 Valentines List - Under Continual Revision Until February 1, 2009 )

#7 of 14 Valentines
Topic of the Day: Women in Athletics. Today's topic is one that is near and dear to my heart. I was a Title IX child, first female in the history of my school to compete on the Varsity Wrestling Team. I was proud beyond measure when a woman won a gold medal in wrestling at the 2008 Olympics. However, I have also had first-hand experience with the fact that Title IX is not perfect, and women are still consistently shorted when it comes to options and resources - especially in academic-athletic settings. The legislation itself can be problematic, because the recourse if a school refuses to provide an equivalent program for women is a lawsuit for said opportunity, and as often as not the end result is the removal of a men's team because there aren't the resources to fund two teams. It's a mess, and while it's getting better, there's still a long ways to go. The only way we're going to get there is if we keep our eyes open, and make sure our voices remain loud and strong.

Title: The International Society of Serving Men
Author: mardahin
Fandom(s): Avengers (New, Classic, Other) (Marvel), Batman (DC), Torchwood, Tomb Raider, and Due South
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This is crack, written at the behest of buzzylittleb for a belated birthday present. No idea if it's what she wanted, but here it is.

Summary: ( In his own defense, Tony had never really thought about Jarvis' social life... )

#5 of 14 Valentines
Topic of the Day: Domestic Violence.

Title: The Difference Between "Can't" and "Won't"
Author: mardahin
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Rating: PG
Author's Note: This is a teaser for oparu's B-day fic. I'm not quite sure where the inspiration came from, but I'm sure the blame for it can be laid entirely at her feet. As with several other works, originally the story itself was to have been a Valentine, but life got in the way. Thus, you're getting an 800 word teaser. Enjoy!

Summary: ( It was too late to ask permission, and she'd only have to beg forgiveness if it worked. )

#2 of 14 Valentines.
Topic of the Day: Transgender Issues

Title: For the Best
Author: mardahin
Beta: Thanks to The Warrior for a drive-by.
Fandom: Supernatural. Set pre-Pilot.
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Teaser for saklani2' long-overdue birthday fic. 500 words. As always, con-crit welcome.

Summary: ( Dean had known going in that it wasn't going to be easy, that it was going to hurt. Doing the right thing always did. )

#1 of 14 Valentines.
Topic of the Day: Body Image

Title: Justifiable Anxiety
Author: mardahin
Beta: Thanks to kijikun for a drive-by.
Fandom: The Avengers (Marvel, not British). The new ones, even.
Rating: PG
Author's Notes: Teaser for crimsonquills' long-overdue birthday fic. 870 words. As always, con-crit welcome.

Summary: ( For seven years, Pepper Potts has had the singular (and somewhat dubious) honor of heading 'The List'...Tony had been of the opinion that nothing short of (another) apocalypse was going to displace her. He'd been wrong. So very, very wrong. )

Have updated the Working List of Valentines.

Input welcome.

Work to begin in earnest sometime next week.

If you want onto the beta-filter for 14V 2009, please leave a comment. I'll be pulling that filter together sometime before I leave next Sunday.

Marginally Related: I'm also going to be writing for 3 Big Bang challenges this year - TARDIS, SPN/J2, and True Blood. Because I'm lazy, there will be a single Big Bang Beta filter. Let me know if you want onto that one, as well. I'll have plot outlines up on the BBB filter for all 3 by the end of the year.