#and here we have how I was coping in the middle of all my zine work

[nocusbonkus]

Ezyone doodles dump!!!

[catscradlezine]

Never fear, recovery is here!

Hello, everyone!

Thank you so much for all the interest in our zine! At one week in, we’ve received an incredible amount of support and we thank you very, very much for all your interest in our project! 

Since we’re halfway through the interest check, we’d like to take some time to answer some of the questions we’ve gotten on the survey. So many of you have also sent in encouraging things in the comments section of the survey and we appreciate each and every one of them! Truly, the support for our zine has blown us away.

So without further ado, here’s some answers to the questions you’ve left us!

Will this be for all characters or character centric? Is it canon compliant?

This is for all characters. We will be having 5 categories of characters/general topics to choose from (UA students, pro heroes, villains, family, other) so that the zine isn’t over-saturated with one or a few characters. As for canon compliant, we do very much encourage headcanons for our topic, but we would like to keep it in-universe. 

Would ships be allowed?

There are a few questions like this, so we’re sort of compiling them into this one answer. This is a gen zine and we want to keep it as free from ships as possible. While we understand the importance of a romantic partner helping their partner through something, we ask that you don’t make the shipping explicit. You can still have them as friends or leave their relationship up to the viewer/reader. This is to ensure that the zine is for everyone and not just people who like certain ships. Thank you for understanding!

What kind of recovery are you looking for and is it going to be different for each character? Like I know for todoroki he is going to be dealing with things different than say uraraka. And then how far are we allowed to go with the recovery? Like emotion wise and are there certain topics that you would rather not have involved? Some people are uncomfortable with certain things and there are triggers but I understand this is a zine for self care and working on that so I'm guessing you'll have limits but not that much. 

We’ve touched on this a bit in asks like this one, but you’re very right--recovery looks different for every character and that’s where you as a contributor will have your artistic freedom. It’s up to you to decide what recovery looks like for your character. As for how far you go, that’s up to you. Your character(s) could be at the start of their journey, the middle, or the end of it. 

We’ve explained how we’re handling triggers a bit here. There are limits, yes, but we have plans for how to handle things. We also ask that everyone keep in mind that the zine is rated T and is also to focus on recovery. 

This is briefly mentioned in the zine description, but I'd really love to see an emphasis placed on physical disability in this, and recovery around that, and not just mental health! Of course the two go hand-in-hand, and the latter accompanies the former anyway, but I hope there's a good focus on the physical side of things too. 

While this isn’t a question, this is a good suggestion I wanted to touch on here. This is absolutely a topic people would be allowed to cover. While we don’t want to touch on disability as something that needs to be ‘cured’, the psychological process of accepting it and coping with things and/or the effects of physical injury are definitely topics that we would allow in the zine. You are very right in saying that the two go hand in hand. 

What will the timeline be, past present future? Is any character allowed or is it a pre picked group? Will this be for profit or charity?

This is a charity zine, donating to two charities. You can find more information about our charities on this page!

You are definitely allowed to portray things in the past, present, or future. All we ask is that you keep it in-universe, rather than AU. As for characters, all characters are allowed, but in order to prevent over-saturation of characters, once participants are picked we’ll be having them sign up for which ‘group’ (students, heroes, villains, etc) they want and asking them for which characters they’ll be focusing on. We’d like to focus on many different characters in this zine and have a diverse group. 

Would you consider opening applications for cosplayers?

Sorry, we’ll only be having applications for writers and artists (with a merch option on the artist application)! Thank you for your interest, though!

I’m super glad you guys decided to do this! I saw the zine a while back but guessed nothing had come of it, so I’m super pumped to see it starting back up! 

While this isn’t a question, I wanted to take the time to say we appreciate it! It’s been hard rebuilding the zine after the old team left, but it’s going very well and we’re all having a good time! Thank you!

What would be the tryout process for writing? How many MHA pieces would you like to see?

We haven’t decided exactly, but in general, we’re going to be asking for 3 pieces of writing, a portfolio link, and some general ideas/characters you’d like to focus on for the zine. We’d like to see at least 1 MHA piece. The examples will probably have to be 3,000 words or less, in the interest of time.

I would love to participate as an artist OR a writer, whichever you need more! 

You can definitely apply for both, if you’d like! You’ll only be accepted into one position, but you can try out as both artist and writer.

Is there a age limit for contributors? and I'm curious if I were to apply and be chosen if it's okay that I can't be payed due to not having a paypal?

We ask that contributors be 13+. We’re a charity zine, so you do not need a source to be paid, since all profits will be donated to charity after compensating contributors with full bundles. 

I saw that there are only two mods on staff right now and a jr mod? I’d highly encourage reconsideration to add at least two or three more mods onto the team, considering recent failed zines I’ve seen. Especially if all writing and comics are to be as strictly vetted as you’ve indicated.

While we understand the concern, sometimes smaller mod teams are better. There’s no reason for us to add more mods since the three of us are able to do everything. All three of us--our junior mod included--have also completed publishing projects and have finance experience. Additionally, sometimes with larger mod teams, things become over-delegated and it can just be better to have a smaller team of mods who are familiar with each aspect of modding. Thank you for your concern, but we feel more than comfortable with our team.

What's the skill threshold for being an artist in it? I. Want to participate but don't know if I'm good enough, nor what all it entails.

There’s no skill threshold to apply and while we understand the feeling of not thinking you’re good enough, we still encourage you to apply! There’s times where all of us have been surprised and even if you aren’t accepted, then you can’t say you didn’t try.  

I filled more writing than art, but I'd suggest a bigger word count for writers? Because something about recovery probably needs time(and words) to flesh it up. Although some writers can probably do it in a short word count, I personally like longer fics!

Yes, we’re thinking the same thing :) Our zine will definitely have a bigger word count for writers than most zines do, for this exact reason!

I would give up my left lung and stomach for this.

Not a question, but this made all of us laugh. Thank you!

Thank you all for your interest so far! The interest check is still open and will be open for about another week! We’re so excited to see all the support so far!

[carnationbooks]

Double Interview! annundriel and pawspaintsnthings!

Guys! GUYS! We are so excited to be bringing you this interview! It’s the last day of March, and therefore the end of our month featuring Check, Please! This has been a fun month full of hockey, pie, fic, art, and getting to know some of the creators in this delightful fandom. To close it out, we talked with @annundriel​and @pawspaintsnthings​. We think this interview is the perfect end to this month’s series of chats. We hope you enjoy it!

Annundriel’s fic is here on AO3! 

Pawspaintsnthings’ art is here!

They are currently collaborating on an absolutely gorgeous Check, Please! Fairytale AU fancomic which can be read here: The Wolf At The Door (@fairytalecomic)

How did you first get into fandom? What was your first fandom?

Pawspaintsnthings: I honestly can't remember.  I do remember getting "obsessed" with things from a pretty young age, and coming up with alternative ways the show/book/what have you could have gone in my head.  But it was never shared with anyone. My first fandom-like experience was probably, on a small scale, "The Legend of Zelda".  My best friend and I would have sleepovers, and stay up all night drawing Zelda fanart for our own little personal Zine.  I'm talking crayola colored pencils on computer paper.  I think we also wrote a couple of fic together and posted it on fanfiction.net. We filled sketch book after sketch book that our parents bought giant tubs to keep them in, of what was basically fanart.  Though we didn't know that's what it was at the time.

Annundriel: I stumbled across something on the internet while looking for something else, probably. The first thing I remember actively reading fic for was Jane Austen. I got into her works in middle school and then discovered people wrote continuations? And posted them online? And sometimes they were from other points of view or were in different settings and times? It was eye opening, and I loved it.

What inspired you to start writing fic/making art?

Pawspaintsnthings: I've drawn the vast majority of days  since I was tiny.  So it was a pretty smooth transition to have whatever I was really into at the time, be it an anime or video game or book, and just incorporate that into my daily drawing.  When I was really young I wasn't interested in drawing anything but animals.  When I got older, met my best friend, and started watching anime/playing Zelda with her I started drawing people.  I credit fanart with being able to jump right into figure studies in college.  I had at least some comfort with it that I might not have had otherwise. I'm not able to exactly pin point what makes me want to draw fanart.  I've had fandoms that were a huge part of my life for years, that I didn't draw a single piece of fanart for.  And others that sparked my interest for only a couple of weeks that I churned out a few pieces for.  Then there are those, like Check Please, where I almost compulsively make fanart for.  And even within those fandoms that I like to make fanart for, there's usually only very specific elements of the story that scream "draw me!".

Annundriel: Oh gosh, I'm not sure I remember any real sort of catalyst? I liked telling stories and making things up when I was much younger. We had a computer program where half the screen could be used to make an illustration and the other half to type the story and I played with that all the time. I was also always a big reader, and I enjoy thinking about and talking about the media I consume, so I think writing fic became a natural extension of that for me.

How did you get into Check Please? What are your favorite tropes and pairings in this fandom?

Pawspaintsnthings: I was between fandoms and one of my mutuals was posting about it back in September of 2015.   I checked it out, and instantly devoured it. I enjoyed it immensely, but I'm not sure if I knew at the time I was going to be as into it as I became.  I experienced a traumatic injury shorty after reading it, and during the physical part of that recovery I had my first burst of fanart.  I've absolutely used it as a coping mechanism.  There's a lot of hurt/comfort being produced on my end! Ha. I discovered it at a very opportune time for me. 

Definitely Zimbits.  That's the one that poked that muse button for me, and poked it hard. I enjoy a lot of the other pairings on a casual level.  Though I tend to not ship anything that rocks the boat of my preferred ships.  Which goes for all my fandoms. Tropes? I'm a hurt/comfort kinda girl. Just give everyone a hug for me.

Annundriel: I started seeing it a bit on my dash around the time of The Kiss, and I got curious so I sought it out. (And then I dragged marswithghosts down with me.) Trope-wise...I really enjoy stories where the characters accidentally fall in love or they realize, like a bolt out of the blue, that they've fallen. I also really like fake dating and Canadian shack fic and bed sharing and, oh! Historic AUs. Give me a Regency or Victorian AU and I'm happy. Give me something with tall ships and I'm thrilled.

What is your favorite thing you have written/drawn so far?

Pawspaintsnthings: Oh, man.  I lack an emotional attachment to most things I make. Mostly by design.  I get intensely anxious about finished pieces so it's best if I just immediately move on.  Once I finish it I rarely  look at it again. As it is, the act of making it is mostly where the emotion is for me.  If I had to pick a piece I'm most proud of, probably the set of realistic portraits I did of Jack and Bitty.

Annundriel: Hmm...well, I really love The Wolf at the Door. It's been an absolute pleasure to brainstorm and create it with Haylee. Of solo work that I've posted, I have a deep love for Perpetual Motion (http://archiveofourown.org/works/7755439), an AU where Kent doesn't show up at the epikegster. But my real favorites are probably two WIPs: a baseball AU and an AU based loosely on a book called The Scorpio Races.

What is your favorite fic/piece of art by someone else?

Pawspaintsnthings: I'm terrible at this question. I have an intense appreciation for fanart/fanfic and I'm loathe to pick just one favorite.  The most recent works that really made an impact on me though where the fic and gorgeous accompanying art of "Everybody Begs to be Redeemed" by cynical_optimist, QueenOfTheCute, and strangetowns on AO3.

Annundriel: I could name so many! The first that comes to mind, though, is A Little Bit Closer (http://archiveofourown.org/works/7289398) by marswithghosts. It was a gift for finishing my MLIS, and so it holds a very special place in my heart.

What pairings do you like to read in this fandom? What pairings do you like to write or draw? 

Pawspaintsnthings: Mostly Zimbits, but I enjoy reading Ransom/Holster and Shitty/Lardo.   I really only have the muse for Zimbits.  My muse is fickle.

Annundriel: I love to read Jack/Bitty, Dex/Nursey, Shitty/Lardo, Ransom/Holster, Kent/Tater...(I also love Kent/Javier Martinez from the sequel to A Little Bit Closer.) I love to write Jack/Bitty and Dex/Nursey. I'd like to expand that, but I'm a bit nervous!

How does collaborating on a project differ from working on your own? What is your process like when working together?

Pawspaintsnthings: I love collaborations.  It's like taking the spirit/the best parts of fandom and compounding it into one project.  I tend to feel very isolated when I work on my own.  Even with fandom friends that I chat with I don't share a lot of process, and I often to have to fight the urge to withdraw from the going's on of fandom. Which is complicated, but in part because I go to a vulnerable place when I'm making something. Which harkens back to the whole not looking at my art once I finish it business.   So when collaborating I have to push myself to talk a bit more about what I think is cute or why I like an idea.   When making art you can just take an emotion, no matter how intense, and put it out there.  But it's harder with words, and to explain how you want to get to the final peice, and not feel like you just exposed yourself in some way.  Mary and I do all of our collaborating over Twitter  DM's.  We generally have a pretty solid, mostly panel by panel idea of how each update is going to go.  I do some roughs and we make changes to those together.  Then I draw it and Mary works on the script which we finalize together.  It can be hard to find times when our schedules match, as things tend to flow more smoothly when we're actively chatting rather than catching messages at later times. But it works out!  We're both flexible with one another which is important.  

Annundriel: I've done several collaborations throughout my years in fandom, and I think one of the big differences for me between working with a partner/partners versus on your own is the need to remain flexible. You might think something is a really great idea or a great moment or image, and the person you're working with may disagree and vice versa. You have to be able to communicate and compromise.

Can you tell us how the idea for The Wolf At The Door came about?

Pawspaintsnthings: I wanted to try my hand at a longer comic project than I'd ever taken on. I'm in love with all things fairy tale, and had the very basic foundation idea in place when I asked Mary if she'd like to be my partner in the project. From there we worked together to fully flesh it out and bring it to life.  I knew I needed someone with more experience/talent in story telling than I possess, and Mary both fit that bill, and is someone I consider a friend and knew I could work with.

Annundriel: Honestly, I am just so happy Haylee came to me with the idea. We'd talked before about our mutual love of fairy tales and Diana Wynne Jones, and to have the opportunity to put all that love into something creative? So exciting.

Do you have a favorite moment or image from the comic so far? 

Pawspaintsnthings: Well. My favorite moments are definitely to come!  But, so far I'd say that the first comic was really fun for me to draw.  Just an exciting moment for me overall.

Annundriel: I agree with Haylee; some of my favorite moments are coming up! But I absolutely adore the cover Haylee made for the comic. I remember the first time I saw it and how perfectly it fit the feel and the characters. I also really enjoy writing the banter between Bitty and Bun. I love it when Bitty calls Bun "clever clogs" in the first chapter.

Do you have any advice for our readers who might be considering taking on a similar project? 

Pawspaintsnthings: I'm still figuring out a lot of this stuff, and learning as I go.  So I'm certainly no expert.   But I've been so grateful that Mary and I work at similar speeds and have similar communication styles.  It smooths things out, especially when you need to do a lot of communicating via social media.  I'd also say to be sure to go into it expecting to take your time.  I'm a staunch believer in fandom never turning into or feeling like a second job. So if you need to take a break, take a break. If you want to go full throttle, then do that.  

Annundriel: I'd like to second everything Haylee says. Especially the last part. Be kind to yourself, and if you need a break from a project, take it. If you're working with a partner, be honest with them. (I'm a firm believer in communication, period.)

Any more recs for our readers?

Annundriel: I haven't read a lot of fic lately off of tumblr, but recently I really enjoyed @iboatedhere​‘s Graduation Day (http://archiveofourown.org/works/9850652). Also @porcupine-girl​'s Jack Zimmermann is a Masochistic Fuckwit (http://archiveofourown.org/works/8910685). I love all of @marswithghosts​' work. I also really enjoyed @rhysiana​'s Dex/Nursey AU, The Punk and the Florist (http://archiveofourown.org/works/7652692). In the Dex/Nursey vein, I also love akadiene's row upon row (http://archiveofourown.org/works/7559800). I could go on, haha. There are just so many good works out there!

A heartfelt thanks goes out to @annundriel and @pawspaintsnthings for taking the time to answer our questions and give us some insight into their fandom experiences and how they work on creating amazing content for us to enjoy.