#not discouraging trans people to write about being trans i love to see it and i love to write abt trans characters as well | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fixfoxnox · 5 months

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Okay, Luke's somewhat serious post time.

Okay, so recently I've been getting some comments on my Ao3 that have bothered me and I feel like we should talk about comment etiquette again along with some lines of comfort for me.

So first of all, this:

This is not how you ask for more of a fic that you like. I'm already beating myself up over how long its been since I've been able to update things, and having people comment stuff like this on my fics only makes me feel worse.

I am a real person. I have a job and I've been working hard on finishing some commissions that people have PAID me to write. Forgive me if I'm not making the things that I write for free for people in my free time my first priority right now.

I AM absolutely still working on these fics. I've been working on Pyre and some requests in my ask box, but since they aren't my main priority right now its going really slow. I could very easily abandon these fics, but I don't because I love them and I love you guys and writing for you guys. All that I ask in return is that you respect the time and effort that goes into writing these fics.

My 8k-10k fic chapters take like 8 hours to write AT THE LEAST. Like I can't just churn this out like crazy as much as I would like to.

I am fine with people asking if I'm still working on a fic, but not comments like this basically demanding an update.

The next thing:

These were all comments replying to one another on my fic. There are three people in this thread in total and of them, only one of them actually made a comment about my fic.

Two people commented on my fic to essentially have a completely unrelated conversation with someone in my comment section. This is extremely frustrating.

Listen to me, imagine being me and seeing a notification that I got a comment. I get super excited, only to click on it and see that it has nothing to do with the fic that I've written? Its disappointing and so unbelievably discouraging to me.

I don't mind if people don't comment, but I do mind when people do this. Authors comment sections aren't a place to just have a casual chat!!! Keep it about the fic please!

Last thing and for the love of God listen to me:

This is nothing against people with DID. My issue with this falls into 2 categories:

"My one issue is that I'm trans in this, personally would have swapped me and Johnny"

If you are a person with DID and fictives and you read fics with your fictives, you have to understand that I AM NOT WRITING ABOUT YOU.

I do not need your opinion on if I wrote "you" correctly because I am not writing you!! I'm writing the fictional character who I have my own thoughts and beliefs about. If it bothers you, click off. I do not want or need to hear how I got something wrong because its not fucking wrong when it comes to me. Again, extremely discouraging to read.

The second thing and this may sound mean but for the love of God I do not care or need to know if you are a system/have DID. Unless my fic features DID (none of mine do at all) then its just completely unnecessary to mention.

I especially don't need to know which of your alters is talking. Unless I know you, there is genuinely no point to it. It just takes up space and makes things about you rather than about the fic you're commenting on.

Also, in this case? As someone who has been cursed by online role-playing in comment sections, even though this isn't it just feels like role-playing and it makes me extremely uncomfortable.

Please just leave your comment and move on. Unless it has something to do with the fic, I don't need to know this stuff about you. I've had people tell me more personal things in the comment sections that I was fine with and even touched me, but its always about how they relate to the fic, not just random information they throw in.

Again, its just a comfort thing for me.

Okay, serious Luke post is over now.

#thoughts with luke #gary roach sanderson #simon ghost riley #call of duty #john soap mactavish #ao3 #commenting #comment ettiquette #boundaries

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collegetennisoriginstory · 7 months

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I wanted to throw in my opinion on the Trans MC if you want it! Option 3 would be a lot of extra writing and coding, so I get that it wouldn't be a decision made lightly and it would be added pressure to get it right and it's a sensitive topic for sure. I will say that if you chose to go this route tho, it would make a huge difference and mean a lot to us. I'm a trans athlete, and the lack of representation can be really discouraging. It's time like these where we are receiving so much hate, especially when it comes to sports, that allies could really step up and make a difference. Reading can really open people's minds! It may be difficult and uncomfortable, and take extra work, but that's our everyday tbh. We out here living on hard mode 😂 that's just my thoughts on the matter but I will respect you and read your story either way. Much love 🏳️‍⚧️♥️

Hey! Thank you so much for sending this! This gets long, forgive my wordiness.

First off, I really feel your statement to the bone, the part about how allies could step up and make a difference, and how positive rep in media, games etc. is insanely important.

So many stories, TV shows, movies have shaped my experience of being queer and POC, and while some of them have been nice just so I could see someone like myself being represented, the ones that really made an impact are of course the ones where these identities were explored in a sensitive, thoughtful way. (When I watched Saving Face for the first time at 17, about a queer Chinese American doctor, I bawled my eyes out and dont think I've been the same since).

I would absolutely love if CT:OS/my IFs could do this for trans athletes too.

I've seen/heard so many worrying statements about trans athletes (both in real life and in the media)—and it makes me so sad.

Some that really get me really riled up are: The idea that a trans athlete's accomplishments mean nothing because they "have an unfair advantage" (or putting it down to "just hormones" or whatever instead of recognizing the hardwork, skill, and dedication behind EVERY successul athlete, trans or not). Or the idea that trans athletes shouldn't get to choose to be trans if they want to be athletes. Or the idea of policing trans athletes' bodies or forcing them to undergo surgery in order for them to be "valid"...

Well, FUCK THAT. FUCK those people.

If my IF can help celebrate trans athletes, and combat/shut down the really harmful (and ignorant) rhetoric out there? I'd love to do that.

But since I am not trans myself, it feels doubly, triply important that I wade really carefully here. I'd really need to spend time making sure I like and can stand behind what I'm putting out. I don't think it'd be responsible representation, otherwise!

I'm not really a perfectionist about my writing and that's how I make progress on my IFs while working a full time job. I'm more the... "slap shit tgt, get it out there, get feedback and edit if I feel like it" kind of writer. And I don't think I'd be able to finish CT:OS / Merry Crisis any other way. But when it comes to race, gender, and sexual identity? I really. Really. Wanna get things right.

(I rewrote that Rayyan convo about being a POC athlete with Deepal so many times haha and it was already marginally less scary, since I am a POC athlete.)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, I agree it's so goddamn important to have trans stories, and rep, especially in sports, where views are often so toxic and polarized.

But I don't think I know yet whether I see my IF being more a simple "yay, trans rep" kind of space or an actual deeper exploration of what it means to be a trans athlete. I was quite prepared to add the option to be trans (+ any accompanying scenes etc.) when I have the complete CT:OS 1st draft, but I was also toying with the idea of just putting something imperfect into the game earlier.

Faced with indecision, I've opted for: procrastination. I am still waffling, but it was helpful to hear what you guys think. Thank you so much for your message.

Lots of love, keep being awesome ❤️

#ct:os #college tennis: origin story #if #interactive fiction #asks

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sweatermuppet · 9 months

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sorry if you've been asked this before but have you gone to college or are you interested? a lot of my fav writers went to pretty prestigious places and have masters or phds etc and i was the type of person who never thought i'd be able to go to school for writing (or anything really) but i'm gonna try this upcoming school year. would love any insight you have if any <3

my feelings on further education for writing are complicated, but to put it out there at the top: i did not go to college & do not consider it necessary to be published

i did not apply to college in high school, which was highly controversial according to teachers, who insisted i need to at least look. i had some poor grades (almost failed creative writing, almost failed sophomore english) & did not attend many after school programs. i skipped class, had a suspension on record for fighting, & i was deeply deeply clinically depressed. i was in therapy, on medication, & could not see that another few years of school would suit me, especially because i was trying to come out as trans in a small school & that exhausted & despaired me. i did not have savings, scholarship offers, & my parents had told me since childhood that any secondary education would be my responsibility

i would like to go to college now i think, or at least attend more workshops & small classes for poetry & fiction, but i still feel it is very unlikely. education costs are too high for me to consider it an agreeable sacrifice for those experiences & connections. if i had the chance to go somewhere for writing, it would have to be within a financial margin that seemingly does not exist for current college costs & i refuse to take out loans, especially when i would rather work a day job & further my transition

i think it is very possible to educate yourself. there are lots of online resources available that can provide you with lessons, prompts, readings, & "homework". one key element, that ive discussed with other published friends, is that doing it alone... means you are that: alone. there is a lot of value in being taught by someone or someones who can answer your questions & give you a uniquely human perspective. i have taught myself a lot privately, but it does come with a sometimes crushing distance that can feel downright alienating, if not discouraging. there is a thrill in discussing poetry in a group that cannot be replicated in solitude

on the other hand, i think experiences cannot be taught in a classroom. to write, you must live first. you have to have material & it is difficult to craft material when you are entirely occupied with study. heartbreak, loss, love, wonder, can all happen during college, & even college is its own experience, but i do think there is a lot of overlooked value in people who just do... people things without wondering if it'll make a good poem

when i went to a writing retreat last year, i was the only man to attend (or ever apply!) & the only person in the group to not have gone to, or actively be in, college. i was torn between thinking i was an outsider, because everyone around me was "better educated" & feeling like id accomplished something all on my own

so... at the end of the day, i think it is entirely personal whether someone goes to college for writing. i know people who have gone & loved it & others who did not find it useful. i think these depend upon yourself, the school, your style, what you're hoping to achieve, etc. i think most of all it's deeply important to learn with other people when you can, to talk to people about poetry, to go to readings & subscribe to journals & visit libraries & take notes. how that is done is up to you

#devotedbunny #sorry that this is six million pages long. i just have a lot of thoughts about it

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freyito · 6 months

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putting this out there as well, please never be afraid to request ftm. i am a trans man and i will admit i love writing amab because gender envy! but also lowkey, even if i have to get forced to write it, writing for ftm readers makes me. accept myself more??? if that makes sense??? like i hate my body and bro i wanna be born a cis man so bad but also... simply writing "hey reader is dysphoric. boys love them regardless" helps a lot. obvi i have a lot of fic/headkanons/drabbles/anything in my queue that im gonna write for. but it's also comforting knowing people aren't afraid to request it either. so please please please never be afraid to request that, im actually having so much fun with the prompts. lowkey each one i write feels so affirming and also gives me better gender envy if that makes sense final word 2 those who follow my blog that are ftm (or masculine presenting, leaning, whatever!), i really mean it when i say i believe there is no definition of masculinity. please know it is okay to feel dysphoric, and it is okay to present however you'd like regardless. fuck man, sometimes i miss dressin up in skirts & dresses. i am pretty AND handsome and no one should feel like they have to be put in one or the other. everyone feels differently. being comfortable in your body takes so much time. i'm pre-t, and probably will be for a couple years. i feel feminine as fuck, my voice feels so high pitched, my body feels so feminine (unfortunately blessed with a nice rack), my hair is considered long and a feminine length, yet. my friends have told me constantly for about 2 years that i am their BOY i am the GAY GUY of the group. and that maybe some slipped up in the beginning (like 2 months into me actually talking to them) but they will always see me as a guy regardless. and it rubbed off on me! maybe it's my flat affect, but i feel like my voice sounds much more androgynous, i dress masculine, i feel seen as masculine. of course, i have times where i feel the complete opposite and i don't feel like myself at all. but they are there for me. don't feel discouraged because you're pre-anything. or if you struggle with dysphoria more. you are a man, and as long as atleast you know who you are, then it shouldn't matter. you know, it's funny! my mother came from chicago, she was the black sheep of the family. and my dad came from the ass crack of oklahoma. guess who's going to be the best man for my dad's wedding? me! and guess who doesn't have a mom anymore lol. not trauma dumping, but a little experience i wanted to share. i was so taken aback when my dad just accepted me as is. and i want everyone to know that there are people out there like that, family, friends, strangers, partners, etc.

#kacpyposting

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sapphire-heart-tippy · 6 months

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Just want to clear things up before anything happens (about the tags on the last reblog I did)

No, I don't like gender bends. My main reason is that gender is not strictly binary. I am very aware that other trans people love them. I do not.

That being said, I do not hate you and will not get mad at you for drawing or posting it. A few of my friends draw and post them.

I don't like it, I don't look at it. I have all of the words blacklisted, so I don't see it and it won't bother me and I don't bother them.

I am NOT telling people what they can and can't draw. That is not what I'm saying. Draw whatever you please, by all means. I draw stuff that people don't like too. Don't let me discourage you.

You can draw and write whatever you'd like. I have tags blacklisted for a reason.

I am giving my own personal reasons on why I dislike them.

TL;DR:

Don't like g/b. Don't hate you if you like them. I have as many tags as I can blacklisted

#tippy rambles #might delete later

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princesspoll · 1 year

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FAQ

How does this work?:

A bracket of up to sixty-four characters (that's our goal!) will be selected to compete. Each poll will run three days, giving you enough time to promote your faves, but not so long that this takes forever. The final result will decide tumblr's favorite fictional princess!

Why princesses?:

Because even though I'm staunchly anti-monarchy in reality, I do love a good princess character. Also because a lot of my personal favorite characters fall under this category.

Who can be nominated?:

Any fictional character that is or was a princess, or their society's equivalent of... for the most part, or who ends or starts the story as a princess*.

*I thought a lot about this, and I'm going to ask you all to use your discretion. Do you associate this character with being a princess? In my personal view, if we took the characters of Elsa and Anna from Frozen, I would nominate Anna and not Elsa, because although they both start the movies as princesses, and Anna does also end up a queen, she spends 90% of the films as a princess, whereas Elsa spends 90% of them as a queen.

But I'm not going to turn down your nominations because of my personal opinion. If they were or are a princess (and we actually see them as such in canon), they're eligible.

(My reason for using this as an example is because I thought most people would be familiar with it. Nominated media can be aimed at any target audience. I encourage stories of all kinds geared toward all age groups, nationalities, etc.)

Can I nominate real princesses?:

As much as I'd love to see you all write meta on like, Princess Diana's revenge dress, no. Let's leave real people out of this.

What about fictional versions of real princesses?:

HEAVILY fictionalized versions would be accepted (i.e. Anastasia from Fox or from Fate/Grand Order). Again please use your discretion. I'll let you know with plenty of time remaining if I'm unsure if they should be eligible, and you can convince me that I'm wrong.

This male character is called a princess. Can we nominate him?:

No, not in this particular bracket. Women (cis and trans) and femme presenting non-binary characters only, please. Male characters are heavily favored in fandom as is. You can find endless brackets to nominate your faves in already.

Also, I'm gay.

How many characters can I nominate?:

Up to ten. Characters will be decided by who is nominated the most. Don't let this discourage you from nominating obscure faves! You never know who else is out there (plus you can always ask your friends to help. I won't know. xp).

What's the schedule?:

Nominations run a week; 3/26-4/3. Polls will start 4/7. I'll put a detailed schedule in the bracket master post.

Can I promote this on twitter?:

YES, or any other social media site. The more traffic, the merrier.

Can I promo my fave nominees, post meta, etc?:

Yes of course.

Your graphics seem kind of girly:

It's hard to find princess-y clip art and stuff that doesn't look girly. Princesses of all types are encouraged and loved though; femme, butch, gnc, and everything in between.

What's the tag for this event?:

#princess poll

I have other questions:

Ask Box

#princess poll

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on-a-lucky-tide · 2 years

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Hey there! So I stumbled across your post for Jaskier being the son of Mac Lir, and while I'm absolutely thrilled that you're enjoying your research, I'd like to very gently correct you in saying that what you're looking at is Irish mythology and not Gaelic! I've absolutely no idea where you're from (and could be making a complete fool out of myself), but I think other countries see Gaelic as an umbrella term for Irish/Scottish/Welsh culture. Which always feels weird since we never use it ourselves over here at all and view each as very separate and different from each other, though there are some similarities.

I also love that your having a great time fusing mythology with the Witcher since there's actually a lot of Irish/Irish language (Gaeilge) influence in the show/game itself! Off the top of my head, there's Dol Blathanna (Blathanna literally = flowers in Irish), Ard Skellig (Literally great/big rock/island), Clan Tuirseach (clann = family, tuirseach = tired), céad míle fáilte (a saying we have here and still use = a hundred thousand welcomes), I think a few of the sword names and much more! Though their pronunciation is very off with a lot of it. Because of that, including Irish mythology (or Scottish/Welsh since they also have some influences in the language of the game/show) makes so much sense and is such a joy to read whenever I see it!

So basically, keep researching, keep writing, and if you can, try not to lump us all in together! And please know none of this is supposed to be discouraging at all. Twas a very cool read!

Thanks for this, Non. I'm British with my Irish roots in Cork. That part of my family do use the word Gaelic as shorthand when talking about the countries oppressed by the English, perhaps because of its common usage as such. It's never intended as a homogenous term to erase the uniqueness of cultures, but rather to denote unity and a feeling of common ground rooted in stories and a history shared.

Is it outdated? Yeah, probably. But I'm not going to tell them how to talk about their past and their culture and their feelings about it. The same way I wouldn't tell a trans person from the 70s or 80s not to use transexual.

They also include Cornwall under the umbrella of Celtic for obvious reasons, but they're all rabid historians and they never bother explaining that to anyone.

MML is Irish (and as noted in a previous post the connection was made by Lady Gregory, an Irish poet in the early twentieth century), but the Bodach, which I was researching, also appears heavily in Scottish folklore (as noted, appears in Walter Scott's novel, Waverley; he's a Scottish novelist). I'm sure if I had a rummage around in the Welsh branch of it, I would find the Bodach again.

I also wrote Will o' the Wisp, which was a homage to one of the stories told to me by my nan many moons ago. The author's note contains references to sources and some information on the specifically Irish influences (although my Scottish friends assure me they have a tale almost identical).

Edit: I text my aunt to ask her for more information. It's 7.20am so I got some choice words, but amongst the cussing me out she talked about people of the Gaels (expected) and an alphabet called Ogham (which I'm gonna look at). Another branch of research.

#asks #as nice as this is #I was almost 100% certain I would get a well actually post #the moment I posted geraskier #*sigh*#I should stick to rarepairs and never write that pairing lmao #at least it wasn't an anonymous message from You Know Who asdfgh

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explosionshark · 2 years

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Hi! It's me, writing advice seeking anon, again. First off all, I just wanted to say thank you so much for taking the time to give me such awesome and kind and helpful advice!! I'm an awkward and super shy noodle and reaching out to people is hard, but I definitely need to start commenting more on fics I love. You writers have certainly earned it, I just need to get brave enough to do it! I definitely owe you comments on your fic, and you'll be getting those very soon! And not just because you said to, but because I have been meaning to but just kept putting it off cause talking to people is kinda scary haha. Thank you for your lovely work!! I also really like the idea that finished is better than perfect will ever be. I'm definitely a perfectionist and keep holding onto all these half-finished fics I have and never sharing because I can't get them exactly how I want, so I definitely needed that advice. If you don't mind, I had one more question for you. Do you think there's a place for trans non-binary Buffy fics in this fandom? I won't fill your inbox with my Buffy Summers + gender identity head canons (unless you want that? cause then I'm super excited to share!) so to keep it simple, whether it fits in canon or is a complete AU, do you think you and other people would read nb Buffy + their gf Faith fics? At least half of my writing contains trans Buffy, and I'm not sure how that will be received, and it makes it a little scarier to share. Being non-binary myself, these stories are deeply connected to and parts of me, they pull from parts of my own experiences, and they're ways for me to write about the characters I love (and the parts of myself I see in the characters I love) which is extra special to me as someone who can't come out irl currently. On the flip side of that coin, it makes rejection even scarier, which makes posting harder, and makes me wanna keep all my stories locked up tight, just in case they aren't received well. Still, I think I'd enjoy sharing my writing if there are other people out there besides myself who are interested and who also would enjoy reading about two of our favorite characters being in love and exploring gender identity, and so I appreciate your honest thoughts and feedback!

Hey! Sorry for the late response, I had a rough week and didn't have time to get to this.

Going to put this under a cut because my answer got long but tl;dr - Yes, write and post the fic if you want to share it! I think it's worthwhile. But be careful about attaching too much of your own confidence and self worth to how a bunch of strangers in fandom receive anything you create.

More details under here:

I absolutely, 100% believe there's a space for trans/nb fics in this fandom, with any character. The cool thing about writing is you don't need anyone's permission - you can just do what you want. You can do whatever! It's the best!

And it's perfectly normal to put some of yourself into the writing - it makes sense that you're more invested and the work feels more personal when you're drawing from your own life and experiences. I think that's pretty par for the course for most writers. What I do want to discourage is feeling rejected personally for the way your fic may or may not be received.

I think you might have some ideas about what "success" looks like in the fic community and it would probably be good to reframe that. Any time you get to engage with another fan about your work in a way that's positive for you both, should be the baseline for your success. If that's a few kudos, or some good comments, or number of hits, or people sending you nice asks about it, or private messages - all of that should be success. Having your work available on a platform for anyone to read and feeling good about the work you put into it - that should be success.

Popularity should not be regarded as success because there's a bunch of different factors at play in how popular a fic or a writer becomes in a given space. Quality of writing is only one: the content of the story having a broad appeal or a niche one, the number of active fans at the time, and a bunch of other things also play a role.

Part of the reason I recommend getting into the habit of being an active reviewer and engaging with fans under a consistent name is that if you're looking to build an audience you have to become a known quantity. I'm not a hugely popular writer, in terms of sheer numbers, but I've been at it with this handle for a while and I'm active in the fandom. I've had people read my work because they like me in other fandoms, because I left them thoughtful feedback, because we struck up a friendship unrelated to what I'm writing and they got curious.

Don't take lack of a big audience to mean your work isn't good. Some of my favorite things I've ever written have barely any reviews - because I was writing in a dead fandom, or for a ship no one cares about, or regarding a subject no one else was really interested in. That's fine. That doesn't mean the work was bad. If you go into this specifically looking for outside validation or to become a BNF out the gate, you're gonna make yourself crazy.

That said, I understand how writing about trans interpretations of a character makes you nervous. I've only been active in this fandom for about a year - I've meet cool trans and non-binary people through it and I haven't seen much harassment on any grounds (but I'm also very much experiencing the fandom in a bubble). I've seen other nb character fics in the fandom, so you're definitely not alone. Your fic is absolutely worth writing and it's worth sharing - but please don't assess the validity or the importance or the worth of what you're doing base on how much interest a bunch of cis people have in the concept.

If you're worried about harassment or negative reception, ao3 has a few tools to help. You can turn off anonymous comments, forcing commenters to be logged in. Any logged in users can be blocked. You can also use comment moderation, which means you have to approve every comment before they show up on the website.

I am a cis lesbian and none of my fics are particularly challenging to popular fanon that's existed for decades. They've been well received because the subject matter appeals to a broad audience. I'm also not especially close to the stories, in the way you're describing - I have fun writing them, I want the work to be good so I can be understood as a capable writer, but I wouldn't say I'm engaging with anything in myself that's especially personal or intimate that I'm afraid of rejection for.

All of the advice I can give is going to be impacted by and limited by these aspects of myself.

But with that as a disclaimer, I hope I haven't discouraged you. I want you to get out there and post your fic and have a good experience in this fandom! I think there are people who would really value what you want to do. I can't guarantee you anything, but I think if it's something you clearly want to do, that you're passionate about, that's all the reason you need to go for it.

Best of luck! Take care!

#replies #writing advice anon

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tren-fraszka · 7 months

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Yuletide 2023

Dear creator,

Thank you for taking your time to check my requests. I know my requests can sound a bit tricky, but please don’t be discouraged. I wish you will have good time writing first and foremost!

My AO3 is Tren, if you wish to check it out. I’m open to treats.

Likes: comedy, angst, casefics, canon compliants, canon divergences, AUs, time loops, bodyswaps, roleswaps, “being hoisted by your own petard” plotlines, snark, pettiness, rivals, enemies to friends to lovers, pining, bed sharing, violence, friendships, and character bonding,

DNW: explicit sex (makeouts and fade to black is okay), A/B/O, mpreg, rape depicted as positive (so no “it’s okay, because the other person enjoyed it/it was what they truly wanted”), trans headcanons, soulmate AUs, stories ending with surrender to fate/destiny, fourth wall breaking in canons where that doesn’t occur, character has cancer or other real-life terminal disease AU, word “queerplatonic”.

Also, I included what ships I’m okay with in each fandom. Please do not include any ships that aren’t canon and I have not allowed in those sections (if you feel really strongly about a ship I haven’t mentioned, you can always ask through mods just in case).

On a separate, but similar note, I’m okay with OCs as long as they don’t overshadow the characters I requested.

Additionally, while I almost never request fanart as possible medium, because I prefer my main gift to be fic, I would be very okay with receiving fanart treats. Also, feel free to peruse my old letters if you get your hands on them. I never stop being interested in fandoms, and if I requested something once I will still want it in the future.

REQUESTS

REIGN OF SEVEN SPELLBLADES

I’m up to date with anime and read the first 3 volumes of manga.

Oliver Horn

Pete Reston

I'd equally love a genfic or shipfic with those two.

I just love how tropey “my roommate has magically changed gender and now I’m helping him keep it a secret” is. The moment I saw it I was sold. Especially, given that Oliver has plenty secrets of his own.

Also, the setting being just edgy Hogwart with swords is so good. I love how dangerous Kimberly is, and how well it captures the charm of magic with the madness of people who end up pursuing it too far and the system that encourages them to do just that.

I’d love an exploraion on how much changes about their cohabitation. Pete mentions wanting to set a curtain, but is it the only change that happens? If there are other changes, what prompts them? Are some changes only applicable to when he’s a woman and get removed if he turns back to his original gender (since it’s mentioned that reversi can change between genders)? Are there situations where Oliver has to help Pete protect his secret? How does he go about it?

For something more shippy, Oliver is teaching Pete swordfighting which is such a good opportunity for extra bodily contact with helping him adjust his stance and such. I’d love to see Pete getting distracted, while Oliver is just doing his best to be hundred percent professional teacher and try to ignore his feelings. Extra points for accidental sword-related double entendres.

I think an exploration of what happened after the anime's final arc wraps up would be very interesting, given just how intense that hug was when Oliver got reunited with Pete.

AUs and ships

I’d prefer no setting changes, I just really, really love the idea of Kimberly as this edgy take on Hogwart. Though as always I’d be open to canon divergences. Maybe Pete catches a hint of Oliver’s secret and tries to carefully figure out what’s going on. How would he react if he learned of his revenge? Would he try to stop Oliver? Alternatively, you could go into more angsty route where Pete's rescue in the final arc doesn't go as well as it did. I would honestly be fine even with tragic ending for this canon, given in how much danger everyone constantly is (including death of requested characters)

I’m fine with mentions of Oliver’s fascination with Nanao (and Pete potentially feeling jealous of Oliver giving her attention), but I don’t want an outright love triangle, or shipping Oliver and Pete with someone else

AKANE-BANASHI

I’m up to date with manga, feel free to include new development

Akane Ousaki

Hikaru Kouragi

Finally, classic shounen rivals - female version. I’m so glad we are finally here.

I'd love to see more of their competition. Maybe another clash at an event. Or maybe they both end up performing at the same event and use it as opportunity to set up a little competition. It'd also be cool to see them interact in a more casual setting. Maybe they accidentally run into each other while shopping and decide to stick together. Or they bond over seeing a particularly bad movie.

I'd love to see them becoming closer with every rakugo event that they meet at. Going together to rakugo events to watch other performers or maybe visiting places connected to the stories they’re working for inspiration. Would they try to help each other if either of them ran into trouble?

However, I'd also be very much into rivalry slowly turning into romance! How would a confession look like? Would it be something open, or would one of them slip it between the lines. Would there be pushback about them dating given how traditional rakugo it? I won’t be surprised if there had already been some gay relationships the rakugo community that were an open secret, but what if Akane and Hikaru decide to come in the open about their relationship

AUs and ships

I think a setting change could be pretty fun as long as the element of rivalry stays intact. Different time periods, fantasy AUs, or such could be really interesting for them. Maybe they’re singers now, or bards. I would also be very up for a fastforward to when they’re adults and their rakugo career is in full bloom. How had relationship between them changed? Or has it stayed pretty much the same?

Please don’t ship Akane and Hikaru with anybody else.

ENDING MAKER (WEBCOMIC)

Please no light novel spoilers. I’m keeping up to date with new chapters so feel free to include new developments.

Yuder Bayel | Outboxer009 & Cordelia Chace | Sandstorm

Two no-life gamers get transported into the world of the MMO they play and suddenly have to stop actual world-ending plot. While being engaged. If anyone can do it it’s them. And maybe they’ll even admit they are in love while they’re at it.

I think it would be interesting to explore their relationship before the story started. We got a small glimpse into their rivalry, but it would be fun to see more of their MMO misadventures, especially to contrast it with how they’re currently having to co-operate. Aside from the server rankings, did they engage in other competitions? PvP? Guild versus guild events? Were they racing to see who can get the newest armour or weapon from raids?

For something happening after they became their avatars, it would be intersting to see them doing engagement activities when they don’t have a direct incentive in the form of some quest they’re trying to complete. Maybe they have to attend some sort of festival together as a part of their noble duties. How do they feel about all those little buildups to the fact that someday they may have to get married? I feel like they may initially come at it from the perspective of engagement being a part of the game, but then slowly start to feel the weight of their responsibilites since their engagement has real impact on their new families.

I’m also basic and always there for those two no-lifes abusing game lore and mechanics. Feel free to go wild with some orginal adventure or side-quest

Yuder Bayel | Outboxer009

I would really love a look into Yuder’s struggles with his illness. It’s one thing to struggle a bit with the gameplay and another to actually have to live through an affliction that leaves you very weakened. He acts pretty nonchalant about it when interacting with Cordelia, but is he really that unaffected? He mentions spending the first two days of his new life as Yuder bedridden and that must be one terrible first impression of the new world.

I’d also enjoy seeing more off his interactions with Maia and his family. How exactly does he feel about suddenly having a new family? Is he managing to balance everything or is he putting up a front? How well is he adjusting to actually using a sword?

Cordelia Chace | Sandstorm

I love that out of the two protagonists she’s the brawns of the team despite being the mage, more prone to choosing direct violence. It’s also obvious that she still carries hangups about being forever second in the rankings. Is her new situation helping her slowly overcome those issues or are they getting worse? How does she feel about actually being able to use magic?

What was her initial reaction to becoming Cordelia? Was she happy to become a character she loves or despaired thinking of all the tragedies that awaited her in the near future? What did she think of her engagement before she discovered that Yuder was Outboxer009?

AUs and ships

I prefer no setting changes for this story, but would be up for some canon divergences both befor and after the start of the story. Maybe Outboxer009 and Sandstorm accidentally met in real life (but didn’t realize that). Maybe the events they encounter after being transported the to the game worlds aren’t actually identical with the game and they run into complications due to that. Also please consider - status effect shenanigans.

I ship Cordelia/Yuder and Maia/Dalia

MACHIKADO MAZOKU (ANIME)

I watched both anime seasons, but haven’t read the manga yet. Please don’t spoil developments that weren’t yet in anime.

All three characters don’t have to be included, but I want the story to focus on at least two of them. I like the relationships both as platonic and romantic and would be equally happy for genfic or shipfic

Chiyoda Momo & Yoshida “Shamiko” Yuuko

Do I even need to explain? Those two are just perfect together - a depressed magical girl finding love and acceptance with very clumsy demon who makes the dark side look way more tempting than it ever should have been.

I’m definitely here for both Shamiko trying to pull Momo out of depression through her “evil” schemes and for some more serious plot. Whether it be cute moments of bonding or Shamiko proving her worth when her friends or family are in danger, I’m here for it.

I would be up to more outings of those two. Maybe they go to aquarium or movies? Or maybe Momo requires more mental support and has Shamiko dive into her dreams (this time consensually) to help her deal with some sort of bad memory or recurring nightmare. What if some rouge demon or magical girl came into town and started causing trouble? How would our duo resolve it? Are there more secrets left behind by Momo’s sister than need to be solved?

Chiyoda Momo & Lico

I love that despite all the animositiy Lico has towards magical girls she's still clearly willing to help Momo, even if she does prank her in the process. I'd love to see the process of Lico slowly warming up to her. Obviously, she only helps her at first, because of Shamiko, but I feel like she does start to appreciate Momo on her own, even if it mostly manifest through pranks and attempts at making Momo eat weird things.

I'd love any scenario where Shamiko is busy/sick/indisposed and Momo and Lico have to join forces to deal with whatever weird thing is happening in town, because they feel indebted to Shamiko. I'd love all the banter they'd get up to. Or maybe they just try to throw a surprise party for Shamiko, but keep trying to one up each other which results in a whole lot of shenanigans.

Yoshida “Shamiko” Yuuko & Lico

I would love some work shenanigans and maybe a more extended look on Shamiko's newfound career. How much Lico helps her and how much does she leave Shamiko to struggle on her own? How do they handle more problematic guests? Are there regulars that Shamiko had to interact more regularly with? Are there times when Lico's culinary experiments cause some unintended side effects for clients?

Yoshida “Shamiko” Yuuko & Chiyoda Momo & Lico

I really loved the addition of Lico to the cast. She’s such an chaos element, because at one moment she’s extremly useful and the second she’ll be trying to spike your food with suspicious herbs. Just 100% trickster fox and I love her for that.

I found her relationship with both Shamiko and Momo extremely compelling. She’s a bit of a cunning senpai for Shamiko, obviously happy to teach her, but definitely not above a harmless prank here and there. On the other hand, there’s Momo, who visibly reminds Lico of her bad experiencess in the past, but at the same time she’s very willing to help Momo, but not without being very snarky about it and pranking her like there’s no tomorrow. I feel like that complex relationship between the characters is so good.

I would be curious to explore Lico’s point of view when it comes to Momo’s descent to the dark side. Is that the reason why she warmed up to Momo despite her bad experiences? Does she have some specific hangups that she needs to work through before she can truly accept her? Does Lico want to influence Shamiko’s development as a demon in some way, or is she satisfied helping her along on the path Shamiko choose herself? Does she try to teach Shamiko some of her magic? What if Lico engaged in some pranking that got out of hand and now is desperately trying to hide the truth from Shamiko and Momo by creating a fake villain?

AUs and ships

I don’t want any setting changes, but would very much enjoy other AU shenanigans. What if Sakura was still around and trying to play a matchmaker? What if something goes wrong when Shamiko dives into Momo’s dream and they end up bodyswapping? What if Momo also started working in the cafe? Time loop could be very fun for this fandom.

TOTAL FANTASY KNOCKOUT

I’m fine with story based on either anime or manga, I’m caught up with both.

Jinguuji Tsukasa

Tachibana Hinata

Childhood friends who are practically inseparable and strongly dependent on each other? That’s already perfect, but now throw into it a crazy goddess who isekais both of them, turns one of them into a girl, throws an unspecified curse, and forces those two to confront the fact that their feelings for each other might go beyond friendship? That’s beyond perfect. That’s galaxy brain and I want more of that mishmash of tropes.

I’m all about everyday interactions and weird rpg shenanigans they get into, so you can never go wrong with leaning into it. But for something else: What if at some point one of them got returned back to their original world? How would the other cope? Would they be able to establish communication between the two worlds? How would they go about reuniting?

I would love to see them taking their relationship a step further. I crave all the awkwardness that’s going to come with those two idiots trying to figure out how to admit their feelings to each other. And the inevitable defeat of any villains who get in the way of them having a moment. Will Jinguuji and Tachibana try to go on a date with a disasterous results? Will Jinguuji desperately try to find a dating manual in another world? And will they be able to enjoy a romantic moment without “CHARMED” status ruining it?

I also love the new development in manga with Love Goddess reappearing and messing things up even more. I’d absolutely love if you delved into those new changes!

Feel free to include any other characters, they are a colorful bunch. Though if you want a suggestion, I’m very partial to Schwartz and Shen

AUs and ships

I don’t want setting changes, though I would enjoy seeing a different spin on how those two dorks get isekaied and under what circumstances they end up inflicting the wrath of Goddess of Love. Or I would love an AU where the goddess doesn’t succeed in her first killing attempt, so she keeps trying to isekai Tachibana and Jinguuji keeps foiling her plans every time (or maybe he fails at some point?). What if the curse placed by the goddess manifests in some other ridiculous ways? What if Shwartz wormed his way into the protagonists’ party and third-wheeled like only he can?

Feel free to include any one-sided crushes from canon.

SOUSOU NO FRIEREN

I read new manga chapters as they get translated so feel free to incorporate anything from the manga that’s available in English.

Frieren

I love how this manga is a slow-paced fantasy dealing with loss and inevitable passage of time. And I love Frieren for being one of the best depictions of an elf whose long life actually affects their outlook on life and actions.

I love the intersection of Frieren’s present with her charges and the past with hero party. What other shenanigans did the hero party get into on their journey? What kind of weird magic Frieren pursued? Maybe some more insight into how they fought with demons, since Frieren seemed to have picked up a number of enemies during that time. Or Frieren's attempt at being mentor to Fern and Stark.

For some more specific prompts: maybe Frieren accidentally stumbles ona cursed item that erases her memories (or just her memories of Himmel). How would it affect her? What would the party do to help her? Or maybe a demon kidnaps someone from Frieren’s party. What if Frieren and Himmel ended up stranded in enemy terriory during their travels, having to survive. Maybe they have to pretend to be demons?

I also greatly enjoy the current manga arc and would love anything set during it. Is Frieren going to try to quell some of her regrets furing this adventure?

If you are also a fellow enjoyer of Fern/Stark, I think a story where Fern watches their budding romance and reflects on her own relationship with Himmel would be interesting. Especially if it makes her realize she had missed some very obvious flirting attempts.

AUs and ships

I’m fine with AUs as long as Frieren’s long lifespan is preserved. Her perspective is very much shaped by how long she has lived, so I wouldn’t want that aspect to change. One exception would be, a roleswap where Himmel is an elf, while Frieren is a human, and exploration of how both of them would be affected by having a different lifespan. An AU with mythological creatures or similar could also be interesting.

I would very much love Himmel/Frieren, though I also enjoy how the manga softly builds on their connection. I also enjoy the budding romance between Fern and Stark.

#exchange letters

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thedragonofbadasstemple · 1 year

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I might try to make it a goal this year to write a fanfic for my HypMic OTP.

I have this story idea about Dice being a boxer and Kuko as a jujitsuka who meet and fall in love. I’m taking boxing lessons right now for health reasons and its pretty fun. I feel like Dice would like it as well. The idea being Dice enjoys boxing and got scouted while street fighting. He enjoys the prize money and the feeling of gambling with his life each time he fights. Meanwhile Kuko is a black belt jujitsuka who enjoys fighting as self-expression, he steps into a match knowing he and the other fighter are putting their hard work and skills to test. Dice and Kuko are similar but also different in ways, which I think would make it a fun dynamic for a romance.

I’m only nervous about it since I HC Kuko as trans and have dealt with transphobia in regards to it before. I’m honestly really hesitant to interact with and put content out there for the HypMic fandom outside of my personal discord server because of it. I really would like to try and write little one shots and NSFW content but like... its just weirdly unpleasant. I saw a reddit post once complaining about PiV in transporn and it was super discouraging as someone who doesn’t have bottom dysphoria. I hate the thought of working hard on something I really care about and having people call me a fake and a fetishizer. I’ve already dealt with that before in the HypMic fandom and I don’t wanna deal with that again.

IDK I’m just really on the fence. I love hypmic and I love DiceKu and I would like to see more content of them, and maybe inspire more people to consider the ship. I miss writing and posting fanfic, but between my bad experience with this fandom and just not having the time and energy anymore, I’m just not sure its worth it.

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lost-souls-system · 1 year

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It's time I make a post about this ongoing argument.

WE DON'T CARE IF WE DISAPPOINT YOU!

Your environment, [I'm talking about those homophobic, transphobic, racist, sexist, misogynistic people, and terfs], may have told you that being gay is a sin, a crime. But you don't have to swoop your noses into a queer trans person's business and say, "It's a shame that our generation is like this, turn to God and you can be saved! There is still a chance to turn back to God!" Like, PLEASE, you have to stop that. It discourages trans people who might be going through dysphoria. You are making them think it is not valid.

According to this link,

"The suicide rate among transgender individuals in India is about 31%, and 50% of them have attempted suicide at least once before their 20th birthday and 40–50 persons commit suicide every year in Karnataka state alone."

THIS. THIS IS WHY YOU SHOULDN'T DO THAT.

You are increasing the suicidal rates, and that percentage is just in one country. Imagine how much your words affect the people around the world! You might not know it, but you are making trans people consider and attempt to kill themselves. You might be a Christian, or a Catholic, trying to spread the Gospel around the world. Yes, I know, it is good that you are doing that for your religion. But please, don't do it when other people are already happy that they finally know who they are. Just seeing the posts and comments on other platforms about how they are uncomfortable and feel dysphoric because of the comments, it breaks my heart. Seeing people who are happy with their identity suddenly being bashed by the hateful and transphobic comments makes me angry and sad. It hurts me because I go through the same thing. I don't want them to experience that.

I want them to feel the love that I didn't experience. To feel the comfort of being who they are. But people who are bashing them with all these comments and posts saying that they should feel guilt and not happiness because it is the devil's temptation, it makes me see red. I am a young genderfluid person, and seeing these people do that to other young trans people, [including the non-binaries, genderfluids, gender queer, and all of the identity labels that fall under the trans umbrella], I feel anger, sadness, all of my emotions just gathering up and making me explode into this rant that I am writing.

I hate it. I hate people who think they are doing this for this generation to change. I hate it when they don't respect boundaries and cross them over. I hate it when people think they are doing what is right but they just increased the suicidal rates. I FUCKING HATE TRANSPHOBES, HOMOPHOBES, TERFS, AND THE FUCKING ANTI-QUEER PEOPLE. LEAVE US ALONE FOR GOD'S SAKE.

If you made it until the end, thank you for listening.

Can I ask you a favor? Please protect the trans people in your country environment, city, or town. Watch them, take care of them, and protect them from this godforsaken cruel world.

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accio-dambrick · 2 years

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JKR is a terrible person and I just feel sad when I see all her tweets.

I've seen a few people say Harry Potter fans are 'ungrateful' to her because she created the books and we're just here hating her. I'd like ask, why is it that we must blindly support someone who hurts , who refuses to acknowledge the identity of people who have been shunned their entire life? Now I'm not trans, but I cannot imagine how painful it must have been for trans people who grew up reading Harry Potter, who found a home in Harry Potter, just to see the author completely disregard their identity. We don't have an obligation to support her just because she write her books. Personally, I think she's a great author. She made good books. Her characters are good people who would absolutely detest her for what she's doing. Ironic seeing that she's the one who wrote them.

But that doesn't mean I'm going to excuse her blatant transphobia. I'm not in debt to her, and I have the right call her out for being a bitch.

Her book characters taught us to accept and love everyone for who they are, but there she is, using her large platform, to not just disregard, but support other people, other organisations that hurt the trans community. It's not just a simple opinion. It's not just saying she prefers pineapple on pizza or cereal before milk. This is an opinion that harms the trans community and harms the people who respected her. A lot of people might just agree with her because they blindly respect her or because they don't know much about trans people. And that's harmful. And she could have so easily used her platform to help trans people. But ofc not.

I've seen people say she's a good person because of all her donations to orphanages. I'm not going to try denying that she hasn't done good things. She used to be billionaire but donated to orphanages and became a millionaire. That was a good deed. But you can't use that to justify her hurtful comments to the trans community now. It's not an excuse. Your current actions can't be excused or ignored or supported just because you did something good before.

I'm sure she believes that she's standing up for woman and that she's totally right which is why she's still being persistent and a complete bitch. I don't speak for all women, but I don't feel reassured or comforted by seeing her bully the trans community. I don't feel like my rights are secured because of her 'activism'.

I don't want her dead, and I honestly think the death threats are helping her making excuses of how bullied woman are for speaking up. I hope she steps on legos though. I hope her pillow is warm on both sides. But most importantly, I hope she can see how many people she's hurting by going on. How much she's destroying. I hope she realises the difference between gender and sex and I hope she can stop. Or even better, change her perspective.

For now, I'm just going to not watch or buy anything related to her, including the Fantastic Beasts Movie which I wasn't gonna watch in the first place because of Johnny Depp being fired. I'm not saying everyone has to do the same, but I mean there are pirated versions of movies in 4k quality so if you really want to watch it, you could maybe watch it from those websites instead? The money from the movies go into her pockets which is why so many people have discouraged others from watching the movie.

And I still love Harry Potter, because luckily I could separate the characters from the author, again let me reiterate, those characters would be disgusted with jkr. But while I like the books, I'm never getting new books, or new merch or anything that benefits jkr. My love is limited to reading the books and analysing or fangirling the characters or plot.

JKR used to be someone I respected but I've lost all the respect. Personally, what pisses me off is that she uses her giant platform to advocate for feminism by discriminating trans people. She has the right to have her opinion. But if you have such a large community and you know the trans people have been moved by your work, is it that hard to keep your opinion to yourself and let them live their lives? Is it hard to not ruin their lives? She isn't just giving an opinion here, she's using her large platform to hurt them which really angers me.

But um anyways, these are just some unfiltered thoughts from reading her tweets, fuck you jkr.

#jk rowling #jkr #just kidding rowling #harry potter #eveytime i say like hp i have to add 'i do not support jkr' otherwise it feels wrong #trans people deserve normal lives for being themselves #transphobia #if you agree with her tweets please stay away from me #i get that many people can't read hp anymore which is totally reasonable and valid but for me i still like the books #but i have made sure that no money goes into her pockets #tbh im not as involved in the fandom anymore but still i do think she wrote good books #but fuck her #trans rights #have a great day/night!

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newsmutproject · 2 years

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Cunning Linguists Author Interview: Ollie Fox

Property of Damien ♥, she writes on my arm, in blue, to see how long the markers last. The felt doesn’t tickle like I’d expected. It’s just a smooth, gentle pressure, with a hint of sharpness when she presses down. It feels like it’s scratching an itch I didn’t know was there.

-from “Written” in Cunning Linguists

Ollie Fox is an American writer and creator of The Queer Earthling, where they write sex toy reviews, erotica, advice, and real-life stories. Ollie, who is nonbinary and on the asexual spectrum, is passionate about showing the world that sexuality and relationships don’t have to look like anyone else’s to be joyful and fulfilling, and that sex positivity and inclusiveness go hand in hand.

What inspired you to write this story?

“Written” was a nonfiction piece I wrote about my experiences with body writing, initially published on my blog in 2019. It’s one of those stories that just tumbled out of my fingers, wanting to be written, inspired by kink, mental health, and my love for the written word; I also really enjoyed the anachronistic order and exploring my relationship to all those things at different ages. (I would note that it uses she/her pronouns for my spouse, which is what they used at the time; they do not any longer, but they encouraged me to leave their old pronouns even for this collection, as it reflects our reality at the time it was written.)

When did you start writing about sex? What are some of the challenges and benefits you’ve discovered?

I formally started writing about sex—and, specifically, my relationship—in 2019, initially as a standalone article on a website before launching my blog, Queer Earthling. My spouse and I are both a-spectrum and trans nonbinary (although at the time I didn’t know I was either of those things) and live a nonsexual kink lifestyle. I didn’t see many sex blogs or sex content that included relationships like ours or even acknowledged that folks like us were out there. I initially just wanted to write about how people could connect in intimate, but not traditionally sexual ways; it ballooned into writing personal anecdotes, sex toy reviews, contemplation of identity, kink guides, and—of course—erotica.

I still love writing about sex and relationships, but it can be hard to maintain a blog, keep a regular posting schedule, and balance what I want to share with the world and what I want to keep private, to say nothing of the discouragement I feel sometimes in the current political climate. However, even though I’m less prolific than I was when I began my blog, I am really proud of the work I’ve produced. I’m overjoyed whenever I hear people reach out to tell me if they find it relatable or even helpful, and participating in the wider sex-positive and queer community has been so rewarding.

What’s your favorite sexy word? Is there a word you really like that has an unfair bad reputation?

I’m a huge fan of the word “cunt” lately, when used to actually describe a vagina (rather than as a derogatory term for a human). It’s less clinical without being euphemistic, its single-syllable Anglo-Saxon simplicity makes it nice and punchy in either erotic writing or dirty talk, and its bad reputation can make it feel extra sexy when used without malice.

Cunning Linguists comes out May 18th, 2022! This anthology of language, literature, and lechery is available at

Gumroad (use coupon code NEWSMUTPROJECTFAN for $1 off)

Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk Amazon.ca Amazon.de Amazon.fr Amazon.es Amazon.com.mx Amazon.co.jp Amazon.it Amazon.nl Amazon.com.br Amazon.com.au Amazon.in

Smashwords

Support indie bookstores when you buy a paperback copy through Bookshop.org

Barnes and Noble

Indiebound (where you can arrange to get a copy through your local bookstore)

Book Depository

Alibris

Other retailers – Books2Read

And add it to your shelf on Goodreads and LibraryThing

#Cunning Linguists #Ollie Fox #body writing #sex positive #sex writing

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evanescentjasmine · 4 years

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I’m going to talk about a little pet peeve of mine with regard to portrayal of poc in fic, TMA specifically since that’s what I mostly read and write for.

I suppose I should first start by saying that, of course, poc are not a monolith, and I’m certain there are other poc who have many different views on this issue. And also this post is in no way meant to demonise, shame, or otherwise discourage people from writing poc in fic if they’re doing something differently. This is just a thing I’ve been noodling on for a while and have had several interesting conversations with friends about, and now that I think I’ve figured out why I have this pet peeve, I figured I’d gather my thoughts into a post.

As a result of the fact we have no canonical racial, ethnic, or religious backgrounds for our main TMA cast, we’ve ended up with many diverse headcanons, and it’s absolutely lovely to see. I’m all for more diversity and I’m always delighted to see people’s headcanons.

However, what often happens is I’ll be reading a fic and plodding along in a character’s PoV and get mention of their skin colour. And nothing else. I find this, personally, extremely jarring. In a short one-shot it makes sense, because you’re usually touching on one scenario and then dipping out. Likewise if the fic is in a different setting, is cracky, or is told from someone else’s PoV, that’s all fine. But if I’m reading a serious long-fic close in the poc’s head and...nothing? That’s just bizarre to me.

Your heritage, culture, religion, and background, all of those affect how you view the world, and how the world views you in return. How people treat you, how you carry yourself, what you’re conscious of, all of that shifts. And the weird thing is that many writers are aware of this when it comes to characters being ace or trans or neurodivergent—and I’m genuinely pleased by that, don’t get me wrong. Nothing has made my ace self happier than the casual aceness in TMA fics that often resonates so well with my experience. But just as gender, orientation, and neurodivergence change how a character interacts with their world, so do race, ethnicity, and religion.

As a child, I spent a couple of years in England while my mother was getting her degree. Though I started using Arabic less and less, my mother still spoke to me almost exclusively in Arabic at home. We still ate romy cheese and molokhia and the right kind of rice, though we missed out on other things. She managed to get an Egyptian channel on TV somehow, which means I still grew up with different cultural touchstones and make pop-culture references that I can’t share with my non-Arabic-speaking friends. She also became friends with just about every Egyptian in her university, so for those years I had a bevy of unrelated Uncles and Aunties from cities all over Egypt, banding together to go on outings or celebrate our holidays.

As an adult who sometimes travels abroad solo, and as a fair-skinned Arab who’s fluent in English, usually in a Western country the most I’ll get is puzzled people trying to parse my accent and convinced someone in my family came from somewhere. When they hear my name, though, that shifts. I get things like surprise, passive-aggressive digs at my home region, weird questions, insistence I don’t look Egyptian (which, what does that even mean?) or the ever-popular, ever-irritating: Oh, your English is so good!

At airports, with my Egyptian passport, it’s less benign. I am very commonly taken aside for extra security, all of which I expect and am prepared for, and which always confuses foreign friends who insisted beforehand that surely they wouldn’t pull me aside. Unspoken is the fact I, y’know, don’t look like what they imagine a terrorist would. But I’m Arab and that’s how it goes, despite my, er, more “Western” leaning presentation.

This would be an entirely different story if I were hijabi, or had darker skin, or a more pronounced accent. I am aware I’m absolutely awash with privilege. Likewise, it would be different if I had a non-Arab name and passport.

So it’s slightly baffling to me as to why a Jon who is Pakistani or Indian or Arab and/or Black British would go through life the exact same way a white British character would.

Now, I understand that race and ethnicity can be very fraught, and that many writers don’t want to step on toes or get things wrong or feel it isn’t their place to explore these things, and certainly I don’t think it’s a person’s place to explore The Struggles of X Background unless they also share said background. I’m not saying a fic should portray racism and microaggressions either (and if they do, please take care and tag them appropriately), but that past experiences of them would affect a character. A fic doesn’t have to be about the Arab Experience With Racism (™) to mention that, say, an Arab Jon headed to the airport in S3 for his world tour would have been very conscious to be as put together as he could, given the circumstances, and have all his things in order.

And there’s so much more to us besides. What stories did your character grow up with? What language was spoken at home? Do they also speak it? If not, how do they feel about that? What are their comfort foods? Their family traditions? The things they do without thinking? The obscure pop-culture opinions they can’t even begin to explain? (Ask me about the crossover between Egyptian political comedy and cosmic horror sometime…)

I’m not saying you’ll always get it right. Hell, I’m not saying I always get it right either. I’m sure someone can read one of my fics and be like, “nope, this isn’t true to me!” And that’s okay. The important thing, for me, is trying.

Because here’s the thing.

I want you to imagine reading a fic where I, a born and raised Egyptian, wrote white characters in, say, a suburb in the US as though they shared my personal experiences. It’s a multi-generational household, people of the same gender greet with a kiss on each cheek, lunch is the main meal, adults only move out when they get married, every older person they meet is Auntie or Uncle, every bathroom has a bidet, there’s a backdrop of Muslim assumptions and views of morality, and the characters discuss their Eid plans because, well, everyone celebrates Eid, obviously.

Weird, right?

So why is this normal the other way around?

Have you ever stopped to wonder why white (and often, especially American) experiences are considered the default? The universal inoffensive base on which the rest is built?

Yes, I understand that writers are trying to be inoffensive and respectful of other backgrounds. But actually, I find the usual method of having the only difference be their skin colour or features pretty reductive. We’re more than just a paint job or a sprinkle of flavour to add on top of the default. Many of us have fundamentally different life experiences and ignoring this contributes to that assumption of your experience being universal.

Yes, fic is supposed to be for fun and maybe you don’t want to have to think about all this, and I get that completely. I have all the respect in the world for writers who tag their TMA fics as an American AU, or who don’t mention anyone’s races. I get it. But when you have characters without a canonical race and you give them one, you’re making a decision, and I want you to think about it.

Yes, this is a lot of research, but the internet is full of people talking about themselves and their experiences. Read their articles, read their blogs, read their twitter threads, watch their videos, see what they have to say and use it as a jumping-off point. I’m really fond of the Writing With Color blog, so if you’re not sure where to start I’d recommend giving them a look.

Because writers outside of the Anglosphere already do this research in order to write in most fandoms. Writers of colour already put themselves in your shoes to write white characters. And frankly, given the amount of care that many white writers put into researching Britishisms, I don’t see why this can’t extend to other cultural differences as well.

#the magnus archives #tma #poc in fanfic #representation #tw racism #long post

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