#if the zine is bad today is the day of posting. if the zine is good then it is good. what the hell ever.

[antimony-medusa]

Do you like DEADLINES? Do you like writing to someone else's prompts, staying away from the stuff they said they DID NOT LIKE? Do you like CHALLENGES?

WELL HAVE I GOT THE ACTIVITY TO YOU.

Ever wanted to save someone's day?

I've been helping out with the big @fiabex exchange, and the final deadline passed last night, and there are— a lot of pinch hits from people who didn't make deadline. A lot of people had a bad October. It took three posts to post them all. All of these gifts have to be fulfilled before the exchange opens.

The reason I am here today though is that there's a segment of MCYT on the pinch hit list, and it's always hard to fill MCYT pinch hits cause there are less MCYT people who do exchanges! So here I offer you the breakdown of the mcyt pinch hits:

PH 72 - needs 3k 2k - fandoms are Dream SMP, SMPEarth, The Mandalorian (TV). You can see all of the requests at https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/Fic_In_A_Box_2024/user/Kryon CLAIMED

PH 77 - needs 1k - fandoms are Dream SMP, 3rd Life | Last Life SMP Series, Hermitcraft SMP, SMPEarth, Hotguy Comics Zine - Various (DFE), Origins SMP. You can see the entire signup at https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/Fic_In_A_Box_2024/user/Odaigahara CLAIMED

PH 102 - needs 1k - fandoms are 3rd Life | Last Life SMP Series, Hermitcraft SMP, Good Omens (TV), Hamlet - Shakespeare. You can see the entire signup at https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/Fic_In_A_Box_2024/user/adlerthetranscender CLAIMED

PH 103 - needs 1k - fandoms are Dream SMP, 3rd Life | Last Life SMP Series, QSMP | Quackity SMP. You can see the entire signup at https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/Fic_In_A_Box_2024/user/amaranthinecanicular CLAIMED

PH 144 - needs 8k - fandoms are QSMP | Quackity SMP. You can see the entire signup at https://autoao3app.fandom.tools/#/Fic_In_A_Box_2024/user/WhyB (I SPECIFICALLY want to draw attention to this one, cause it's only one fandom so that means they won't hold the exchange for this pinch hit to be filled but it being 8k means the person already turned in that much, so if you know anyone who can help with fitpac or animations family— let them know) CLAIMED

If these have gone out for pinch hit, this means that these people have already delivered a gift of at least this amount, and they need an equivalent gift. The due date is November 13th at Midnight EST— can you get a gift written in that time?

But wait, you could maybe write 1k, but not the 3k that PH 72 needs— that's fine! We can take it in small bites. You can just tell the mods that you can take 1k (or 2k, or however much you can take) and then the mods will drop the "needs amount" to 2k, and then we're that much closer to everyone having a gift. If 8 people do 1k, we can get WhyB completely covered!

If you can write a gift fast, adhering to someone's Do Not Want list, about the requested characters or worldbuilding prompts, you might be exactly what we need here. We've got Emduo requests! Animations family! DSMP Fiances! Scarian! Fitpac! Cletho! Boat boys! Preyduo! Watchers prompts!

You can take a pinch hit by either commenting on the dreamwidth post where the PH you want is posted here (tell them the pinch hit you want, an email to reach you, how much you want to take, and the Ao3 account you'll be posting from), or emailing the mods at ficinaboxmod@gmail.com— (tell them the pinch hit you want, how much you want to take, and the Ao3 account you'll be posting from, they already have your email, but check the post to see if the PH has been claimed before you email just to save yourself some time).

And if you can't take it, I'd appreciate it if you'd reblog this, cause if we can get this in front of as many eyes as possible that increases the possibility of someone who says "great british bake off beeduo? yeah I can do that", etc!

[chiropteracupola]

scribblezine about my great-grandma (who died before I was born) and related topics. who can say.

[piccolos-bigtoe]

Happy yaoi day, everyone have a yaoiful day today,, yey. I did it I did the meme thing guys, (credit to sweepswoop_ on Twitter for the original version)

I did it guys,,, I confessed to my crush on yaoi day,,, I hope it goes well eurhm, I’m not good at expressing emotions. I’m just worried about making them uncomfortable mostly, I’m not very bad at taking rejection. I’m also kind of semi art blocked lately augh,, Besides that I don’t really have much going on in my life rn hrrmm, I joined a Fallout Zine so I will keep people posted on that maybe,,? If I can,? I’m not sure what they allow us to share/not share yet.

I hope everywan has a good day subscrive like comment and hit thag bell hell yeah.

[olderthannetfic]

Fandom olds: "Kids today have no idea how hard it was being in fandom back in the day! You wouldn't last a second in the hard, cold, unforgiving environments we made fandom in!"

Also fandom olds, in your inbox: "I saw one person who ran a zine being a dick and now I think all is lost. I'm considering not posting any of my work to the internet anymore."

As someone who has had someone leave a 3k long series of comments talking about how they wished they could paralyze me and carve me open, forcefeed me my own intestines, carve off my breasts and then fuck each hole repeatedly... let's just say I find myself pressing X to doubt when fandom olds talk about how hard the bad old days were. They can't have been that bad. One person charging once for a zine breaking you completely indicates, to me, someone who grew up without much adversity.

--

Why do you guys always send me this nonsense?

The thing people were afraid of in the old days was losing their kids in the divorce because they got caught writing gay stories.

Or losing their government job and chance at retirement money due to a morals clause.

Or, yes, enraged stalkers sending threats like that.

Or, hell, being outed as queer and getting a baseball bat to the head.

[gentlebeardsbarngrill]

03/16/24 Daily OFMD Recap

TLDR; Cast & Crew; Samba Schutte; Megan Vertelle; Save OFMD 3rd Tier Survey; In Soup Now; Stun Move Sunday; AdoptOurCrew; Rhys Madness Party; Request Uproar!; Pirate Radio/BoatThatRocks; Fan Spotlight; A to Z Ed Teach Zine; Cast Cards; Love Notes; Daily Darby/Tonight's Taika;

== Cast & Crew Sightings ==

= Samba Schutte BTS =

Samba definitely delivered with the BTS today! Today was shout out to the set design folks regarding The Floating Market! Source: Samba Schutte's Instagram

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 1

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 2

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 3

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 4

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 5

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 6

= Megan Vertelle =

Brilliant Set Designer Megan Vertelle added some more bts for us in regards to the floating market today!

Source: Megan Vertelle Instagram Stories

The Floating Market BTS - More Stills

The Floating Market BTS - Video Part 7

The Floating Market BTS - Video Bonus

== Save OFMD Crew - Survey ==

Please vote on the final stretch goal of the London Ad Campaign! It closes Monday 4 pm GMT / 12pm EST / 9am PST Link to the Survey

= StunMoveSunday =

Time for another #StunMoveSunday! Join SaveOFMDCrew on Instagram!

= In Soup Now =

Up to $1640 on the InSoupNow Fundraiser In Aid of Team HAVEN!

For an extra bit of fun:

== EVENTS ==

= Adopt Our Crew: Rhys Madness Party =

Our crewmates over at @adoptourcreware hosting a celebratory even for Rhys' birthday week! More details tomorrow!

SRC: AdoptOurCrew Twitter

== Request Uproar at your Local Theatre! ==

Today we heard back from @BlueFoxEntertainment and they have been kind enough to give us some instructions on how to request Uproar at our local theatres! Please go to: Blue Fox Entertainment Linktr.ee and follow the instructions below!

== Watch Parties ==

Mar 17th: The Boat That Rocked AKA Pirate Radio Watch Party

7:30 pm GMT / 3:30 pm EST / 1:30 pm CST

Watch Party Hashtags:

PirateRadio 

AdoptOurCrew

SaveOFMD

OurFlagMeansWatchAlong

Mar 18 - Mar 22: Wrecked Season 3

Season 3 watch from March 18th to March 22nd. 

Times will be 10pm GMT / 5pm EST / 4pm CST / 2pm PST. Watch two episodes per day. Episodes are 21-22 minutes each. Use the following Saturday for the tags/watch if interested but not able to make this time.

Hashtags: 

#WreckedPirates

#SaveOFMD

#RhysDarbyFaction

== Fan Spotlight ==

== Ed Teach A to Z Charity Zine ==

I've been meaning to post this for a week or so and I kept forgetting! So please please please check out the #AtoZofEdTeachZine! You can still get it! Visit the following link. Just donate to an LGBTQ+ charity, $10-15 depending on which version you'd like and they'll email you the zine! Great cause with AMAZING ARTISTS AND WRITERS! Please please check it out! Thank you @xray-vex!

= Cast Cards =

Another wonderful card for the most forgiving chief, Gary Farmer! Check him out in Reservation Dogs! Awesome show! Thank you as always to @melvisik for keeping the case collection coming!

== Dedication to Matthew ==

For Matthew One of our dear crewmates, Stephanie, lost her son back in 2022. They both watched S1 together, and tragically he passed away not long after. Stephanie has been an active member of our crew for years now, and she reached out to Rhys and he made a lovely Cameo for her. Some of you may have already seen it as she's been kind enough to share it with us previously, but after talking with Stephanie and hearing about who Matthew was, I wanted to put together a small dedication to him, and share Stephanie's words with you with her permission.  Please visit this post here on tumblr for the whole story or here on the Repo for those of you not on tumblr.

== Love Notes ==

Happy Saturday Lovelies! It's already Sunday for all the folks over on the other side of the Earth, and the weeks starting up again.

Today's been a bit of a long day, and I've been bad about not getting enough sleep lately so I'm gonna leave a couple notes from other folks. I hope you have a lovely evening or morning and know that you are incredibly loved as your imperfect unhinged self. Love you all <3 Night.

== Daily Darby / Tonight's Taika ==

Tonight's theme-- SWEATERS! Darby Gif Courtesy of @kiwistede Taika Gif Courtesy of @/Lightyear on Tenor

[circusclownproductions]

🖤hi🖤

🍊🖤ophelia, 19, she/her🖤🍊

🕊️🇵🇸PALESTINE AP GRATIS🇵🇸🕊️

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

special interest :D -

mycology, please talk to me about it I love it so much

likes:

music-

will wood(and the tapeworms)

lemon demon

tally hall

miracle musical

siouxie and the banshees

against me!

icp

bad religion

the cramps

system of a down

the smiths

ethel cain

tv girl

rage against the machine

cage the elephant

cake

idkhbtfm

mitski

depeche mode

korn

cursive

slipknot

rod bernard

she/her/hers

dream nails

the front bottoms

thursday

thesaurus rex

movies/shows-

murder on the orient express

death on the nile

a haunting in venice

into and across the spiderverse

dhmis

big top burger

top gun 1+2

christine

coraline

all studio ghibli movies

rocky horror picture show

bee and puppycat

hilda

atla

ruby gloom

the amazing world of gumball

lisa frankenstein

phineas and ferb

but im a cheerleader

delicious in dungeon

frieren

books-

the metamorphosis

the trial

letters to milena

lanny

grief is the thing with feathers

house of leaves

the yellow wallpaper

the stranger

the diaries of franz kafka

i have no mouth and i must scream

games-

stardew valley

portal 1+2

minecraft

good pizza great pizza

potion craft alchemist

tukoni

animal crossing

harvest moon

fallout(almost all games)

rdr2

batim

bg3

little kitty big city

cult of the lamb

hollow knight

slime rancher

hobbies-

drawing

crocheting

sculpting

linocut printmaking

jewelry making

collecting things(bottles, rocks, beetle/cicada related items, mushroom related items, shells, soda tabs, bread tabs, clown things, fruit stickers, playing cards, buttons, antique spoons, etc.)

animation

tattooing

book binding

sewing

quilting

zine making

graffiti

baking/cooking

embroidery

gardening

bird watching

foraging

basket weaving

paper making

whittling

misc-

my friends

poetry

psychological horror

nature

bugs

animals

clowns

mardi gras

coryxkenshin

strawberry shortcake

my sweet piano

snoopy

miffy

mary oliver

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

tagging system-

🍱- original posts

🎠- reblogs

🍂- art

🪐-music

📜- literature

☕️- things I wanna buy

��- positive anecdotes about my life

🪽- asks

🍊- positive posts

🍜- my recipes

🃏- tag games

🪶- queued or scheduled posts

🎟️ - word of the day

🍄‍🟫 - mycology

🖤🖤🖤- saves n favs

‼️‼️‼️- important stuff

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

I love you all make sure to eat and drink water today <3

everything is ok to rb unless explicitly stated otherwise !

[moonoftemperance]

Coquette/ Faunlet movies to watch on Tubi

Hey guys and todays blog will be about movies I recommend watching on Tubi.. Hope you like them

The devil in the flesh is about a teenage girl who has a craze obsession with a teacher that turns deadly

This movie in my opinion is like The crush if she's on steroids

Dirty girl is about a troubled teenage girl who goes on a journey with a gay boy in her class to find her father

I loved this movie the aesthetics of it was badass and its gives off Coquette runaway vibes

Yes, God, Yes is about a Catholic girl who struggles between faith and sexual pleasures also the irony of people in the religion

I like this movie because growing up Christain it hits home

Tank girl is based of a zine comic back in the 80s (I think) about a girl who saves the world from evildoers from stealing water and saves her friend who got kidnap by them

I recommend this movie GREATLY mainly because the outfits are so cute and Tank girl's personality is bold and funny

Before the dawn is about a teacher who moved to a different state to start a teaching job and creates a relationship with one of her students

I think the movie was ok put i decided to put it on here because the boy she falls for has this bad boy Faunlet vibe

Teenage cocktail is about a lesbian teen girl who meets a girl named Jules at her first day of school who introduce her to a world of being a cam girl but eventually turns deadly

I like this movie and I'm convinced that this film was inspired Euphoria

And last and not least we got.. Lila says

Lila says is a French film about a Arab teen boy who meets a new girl who moved in his rundown neighborhood named Lila who talks about her sexual fantasies and dreams in life

This movie is so good and sad I love the quotes and I'm shocked that this movie isn't posted in Coquette accounts even the quotes its so iconic

Ok everyone everyone that is it for the recommendations.. Tell me what you think? Until the next blog.. See ya!

[fickleminder]

Obey Me Masterlist

All writings feature GN!MC unless otherwise stated :)

✨ = Popular!

Masterlist Directory >> HERE

Latest:

50 Ways to Die in the Devildom

To prevent another war, one of the cardinal requirements of the exchange program was for the exchange students to be alive at the end of it. No one said anything about what happens in-between.

Halloween 2024 fic.

Gag Gift

Fics:

face off

The one where your boyfriend looks like your murderer.

Inspired by the Identity pop quiz.

cosplay (with commissioned art)

You convince Raphael to cosplay for you.

forget you

You saw an opportunity to walk away, and you took it.

Inspired by the Glass pop quiz.

sacrificial lamb > part 1, part 2 ✨

The impossible choice between you and the Devildom.

Inspired by the Frost pop quiz.

seven supervillains and one (1) normie

You move in with seven normal, law-abiding housemates.

Written for the Devildom zine.

be good ✨

AU inspired by this prompt: Humans are born with demon counterparts to protect them. The more innocent and pure a person is, the more mean, fierce, and terrifying their demon becomes.

Halloween 2023 fic.

date night

Inspired by @777xara​‘s art here.

never after

Not all fairy tales have a happy ending.

Based on Satan’s Breaking Curses Devilgram and this post.

what’s up doc

Based on this post. Dedicated to the Satan simps who didn’t manage to pull his card in the Doctor Nightmare.

Zombie (commissioned art here) ✨

Mini-blurb based on an answered ask by @sparkbeast20​.

CW: blood and gore (in both the fic and the art).

would you lie with me (and just forget the world)

When taking out the trash, it’s more efficient to do it all in one go.

Karasu’s Confession Corner ✨

Seeing Karasu, one of Mammon’s crow familiars, at your windowsill isn’t an uncommon occurrence. He likes to stop by sometimes to hang out with you, but today he’s acting oddly for some reason…

Written for the OM Secret Santa 2022 event. Features Mammon x GN!MC.

let us die young (or let us live forever)

Life in the Devildom living with seven demon lords is pretty darn good. If there’s one thing you’re sure of, it’s that you’re loved, wholly, irrevocably, and forever.

Halloween 2022 fic.

The Escape

You are attacked while alone in the House of Lamentation.

Based on this scenario.

Bad Days ✨

You didn’t sign up to be their therapist, least of all their punching bag.

Inspired by @barbabetos‘ post here.

falling (for you) (commissioned art here) ✨

Five times you fell on Satan, and one time he returned the favor.

Obligatory 5+1 fic featuring Satan x GN!MC.

careful what you wish for

You and Satan find out that sometimes magic wishes have unexpected consequences.

Based on Satan’s Wish-Granting Charm Devilgram.

Food Favors

Mini-blurb based on an answered ask by @house-of-laminations.

Dirty Pop(sicles) ✨

When a human can’t even enjoy a popsicle on the beach without inviting salacious thoughts, you do what you have to do, toothache be damned.

CW: suggestive content but nothing explicit.

crawl to the in-between (part 1, part 2, part 3/?)

While recovering from an attack within the HoL, MC slowly finds out that there’s more to the Devildom than meets the eye.

This AU’s still a work-in-progress, summary to be updated.

forever valentine

Satan gives you flowers every Valentine’s Day.

Spin-off from this scenario (spoiler alert!) with a V-Day twist.

soft kitty, warm kitty

You sing Satan to sleep.

Lyrics taken from Big Bang Theory.

cum laude (commissioned art here) ✨

Season 1 AU. Snapshots from a year in which the human exchange student actually acts like one instead of playing demon family therapist.

Dedicated to all the goody two shoes MCs out there.

Inner Demon ✨

The one where the human exchange student gets possessed by a lesser demon.

Crack-ish fic inspired by this post. CW: mild body horror.

Cuddle Puddle

Technically every week is considered “hell week” in the Devildom, but this particular one has Elleroy ready to throw in the towel and call it quits.

Written for the OM Secret Santa 2021 event. Features Satan x M!OC x Asmo.

of electric rodents and demon butlers

Pokemon AU. Wooing a demon butler who hates rats on principle is a little tricky when you have an electric rodent on your team.

Self-indulgent Pokemon AU.

so wake me up (when it’s all over)

Your demons turn against you.

Halloween 2021 fic.

hear me cry > original, alt ending ✨

The one where the brothers team up to catch you.

Inspired by the Masked pop quiz. CW for alt ending: violence, blood.

Into The Woods > part 1 (commissioned art here), part 2

It’s like with Lilith all over again. Hindsight is 20/20, but given the circumstances, Lucifer has no qualms repeating history.

Inspired by The Nature of Sin.

Unholy

You haven’t said a word since you were moved back into your old room, but that’s okay. You’re in one piece, your burns are healing nicely, and there’s cream in the medicine cabinet for the scarring on your wrists and neck. The charred, bloody stumps on your back can wait; all Luke cares about is getting rid of the damned marks those accursed bangles had branded into your skin as they melted off.

Inspired by an answered ask from @obeythebutler.

the years start coming and they don’t stop coming > part 1 (commissioned art here), part 2 ✨

In which Lilith’s return distorts her brothers’ perception of time.

The original replaced!MC AU except we have Satan on our side.

Keeper

"Will one million Grimm be enough?” / “...How much is that in human currency?” / “Good point. One million American dollars it is then. We can say we sold everything at a charity auction or something.”

Inspired by the Angelic pop quiz.

Schrödinger (commissioned art here) ✨

Many ghosts dwell within the House of Lamentation alongside its demonic inhabitants. One in particular takes sick pleasure in tormenting Belphegor. (Alternatively: when the you that disappeared from Mammon’s arms isn’t completely gone)

Halloween 2020 fic.

Idea Blurbs:

no hope, no love, no glory

Replaced!MC AU. Wherein falling out of favor with Mammon has consequences.

weakest link

Inspired by the key route in the Lantern event.

Emergency Contact ✨

MC’s night alone in the HoL takes a turn for the worse.

The Haunting of Serenity Manor

Haunted House AU inspired by this and this.

your name

Mini scenario where MC isn’t really “MC”.

soul on paper

Inspired by Satan’s 2021 birthday pop quiz and UR Devilgram.

equalizer

Features a fighter-MC, lots of OOC characters, and generally dark content.

Incorrect Quotes & Headcanons:

Zero

Sugar Daddy ✨

Saving Daylight

Intimidate

Hidden Skills

Anime Run

Good Workout ✨

Depressed!MC moves into HoL AU ✨

[ckret2]

Who wants some Really Really Bad Ace/Aro Representation?

So—I have a longtime fondness for corny villains from kids' shows. The kind that are usually purple, black, and red, oftentimes look like ghosts, skeletons, or robots, and—depending on the complexity of the show they're from—usually have motives ranging from "conquer the world/universe" to "destroy friendship and rainbows." Guys that look like this:

I love guys like that.

But once you age out of media for 7-year-olds and start hitting teenage media, when writers give their over-the-top wicked villains motives, they start saying things like "incapable of feeling love." From time to time crime fiction describes some twisted murderer as "asexual" to justify their motives. Etc.

(The villains above mostly skip this treatment, being from kids' shows; but they're cut from the same cloth, the baby versions of more adult media's "loveless" villains.)

On the one hand: stop using ace & aro coding as a shorthand for villainy, yadda yadda listen I'm assuming I'm preaching to the choir here and we already agree.

On the other hand: like I said, I'm fond of these guys. It's the old "unfortunately, queer-coded villains are incredibly cool." Like, I know 100% that if No Heart was from any series but Care Bears he'd be trying to "destroy love" instead of "destroy caring". C'mon, his name is No Heart. But also, I would enthusiastically invite No Heart into the ace/aro fold, no hesitation, no questions asked. (Never mind that you could toss an ace flag on any of these guys without even noticing. Aro flag wouldn't look half bad either.)

So here's the point of this post:

A few years ago I got to write a short story for a zine on asexuality. I decided to write a satire/conflicted love letter for cheesy cartoony villains and the fact that, for the longest time, "too evil to comprehend good, kindness, and love" is the only approximation of the aro & ace experience a kid might see.

I wrote a showdown between a cruel, heartless villain who wants to destroy the world and all that's good in it—Lord Loveless—and a hero—the Arrow Ace—who's been searching for someone else like herself... and is furious that all she's found is him.

Since the end of the zine, I've been sitting on this story for a couple years, trying to decide what to do with it now; and I think releasing it during Pride Month is fitting. Consider it a one-week-late offering for Aromantic Visibility Day. I'll be posting it later on today, ideally, if I can get some art done quick—I really wanna draw Lord Loveless—but I wanted to make a post about why I wrote it first.

I hope when y'all read it, you'll see bits of yourself in both the villain and the hero, and bits of beloved villains past that should have done better.

[syn4k]

man i almost feel bad about posting the first chapter of s&ts today since the mianite 10yr anniversary zine is also dropping sometime soon but theres more than enough room in this tiny ass fandom for both of those things i think. today is a day we celebrate things we love and although mianite is not without its issues (good god does it have its issues) i love it dearly and hold it very close to my heart. my one regret is that we didn't discover it sooner because brother let me tell you if we had gotten into this shit instead of hermitcraft s6 back in 2020 our life would have been irreversibly changed in ways so vast and complex that nobody would have been able to comprehend the sheer scope of it. But thats beside the point. Might bake some chocolate chip cookies today yall want any?

[naamah-beherit]

On fanzines and the mess their current state is

Or: musings from a writer's biased perspective.

This post has been a long time coming, but always something else caught my attention and months passed as such. Finally, the time has come.

There was a zine wank recently. The mods proved to be quite ignorant how art works, kicked the artist, the artist went public with receipts, the mods insisted it wasn't like that, and the whole affair kept derailing with possibly another explanation for the kicking until at last the mods cancelled the zine. And it's just the latest wank of many. A zine here took money and never delivered the product, another zine there has a mod who hasn't read the book but only heard about it from their friends who, coincidentally, are the other mods. And so on, and so forth. Everywhere you look, there's a fanzine. Multiple fanzines in fact, sometimes at the same time. Which is understandable, given how old a concept of a zine is and how solid their foundations in fandoms.

Or, well, technically, because when I think about the zines of today, I can't help but realise they're gradually losing the connection to their roots.

(yes, this might be another post of the "old person yells at clouds" type. I'm fully aware of that)

I won't summarise a history of zines, because that's not the point here and also Fanlore has done a much better job in this article. It does serve as a good starting point, though, if you've never ventured past "zines are a thing that exist". The most important thing to keep in mind is: the zines used to be about much more than just art. And here lies some of my beef with them.

Nowadays, most if not all zines are art books. Worse than that: art books that refuse to acknowledge the fact, own it, and market themselves accordingly. I actually own an art book that was announced and sold as such (Ages of Arda Anthology), which to this day in all my fandoms¹ remains the only publication of that kind. And if the zines of today would have acknowledged their main focus is mostly if not only art, I wouldn't be writing this.

Alas, here we are. I participated in four zines. Additionally, I was one of the editors in one of those. It was the first English Hualian zine, actually, back in 2019 - unless another one somehow slipped my mind, but I don't think so. My 2019 was bad, but TGCF is the only thing I remember well from that time. I've also been traditionally published (three times so far), which is also relevant to the rant. I admit I don't remember how many check-ins we had for that one zine I was in the staff of. We had a word/size limit for the entries. As fas as I recall, that was the entry criteria. I might be missing details, though; I was hella depressed at the time. Like I said, bad year, few memories and 99% of them is TGCF.

But anyway, the other three zines I wrote for. I applied, was accepted, went through the process, saw it to the end. You know, the "usual" zine process. The one I've got Opinions™ about.

Let's start with submissions. x samples of works of y quality. Okay, sure, we all think without stopping to realise it's a tad weird to submit a selected portfolio of works for a hobby event as if it were a job application. It gets weirder the longer you think about it, because, as I once wrote, fandom is for fun. It's a hobby. Maybe I'm old and jaded, or an idealist, or an old jaded idealist, but I believe everyone has a place in something as deeply tied to the fandom as a fanzine.

Then comes what I've got a personal vendetta against: check-ins and deadlines. Sure, I know people create projects with specific time frames in mind, but dear gods, again, it's not a job. Nothing bad will happen if dates shift around a bit when there's no money involved. Maybe it's just me being bitter about putting fun, fannish activity into strict professional frames. again, I'm old and jaded. And dear gods, check-ins. Here's when my trad pub history comes into play, because in neither case I had to let the editorial staff know I was actually working. True, it might be a case for a story that isn't done yet, doubly so if there's a deadline looming over both an author and their editor, but when you submit something finished and aren't asked to revise&resubmit, you go over the editorial input, make the changes (or not if you're feeling brave, lol), send it back, go over the proof copy, submit possible adjustments, and that's it. Or at least that's how it worked for me for two magazines and a short story anthology.

What does it matter if someone writes a story the day before the zine submissions are due? If it works for them, then it shouldn't be an issue. Again, it might be just me, but standardising and project-managising a hobby activity doesn't really sit well with me. From my very biased perspective, I don't see fun in chasing deadlines and writing on the clock, but that's just me.

Zine being a project rather than fun activity also ties to it becoming a product. That means a zine has to sell to at least cover the production cost, and with the quality the organisers and the audience expect, the labour cost is basically non-existent. That at least remained from a fun hobby activity - people working for free, lol. It also enables situations when the same few highly popular artists partake in most or all zines in a fandom (often upon invitations, whose very existence makes my blood boil), leading to a reality where zines become an endless cycle of repetition. And don't even get me started on invitations that add to the marketing strategy of selling the zines. "Here are our wonderful, carefully selected artists, and here's everyone else". That's how I see it. Where has "we're all fans of the same thing" gone? Where's "share our mutual love for the same thing"? Instead, we get invited people and those who have to submit a CV-like application for a senior position.

You ruined a perfectly good fan activity, is what you did. Look at it, it's got capitalism.

And last but not least, art books that refuse to acknowledge what they are and the subsequent treatment of writers.

The longer I look at zines, the lower the artists:writers ratio is becoming. Sure, people like to look at art, because it's quite often easier and always quicker than reading. Sure, ain't nobody got time for reading these days. BUT. The growing disparity between respect and reception of works of artists vs writers is, well, growing, and by not giving writers an equal treatment and exposure in something as important to fandoms as fanzines doesn't help to improve the situation. Again, my opinion, but when seeing zine promos that have got approximately 20-30+ artists and 5-10 writers at most is not cool. This is why I say most of the zines these days are art books that refuse the name. And there's nothing wrong with that name, or with including only artists in something that's only about visual art. But when it's mixed for art and writing, then the least zine organisers could do is make the numbers equal. Again, we're all fans of the same thing, and no fan activity is better than the other when its outlet is meant to be varied. Also, where are cosplayers? Where are meta writers? Both of those have got a place in a fanzine as well and should be given a treatment equal to other expression of fannish love.

Am I trying to turn back a river with a stick? Probably. But I'm fed up with zines that fail because someone embezzles funds, zines that prioritise the same group of people over and over again over a more diverse crowd, or claim they're welcoming to all forms of expressions but obviously prefer to include only fanart. I'm fed up with manufacturing zine after zine after zine just because they sell. I'm fed up with fandom becoming more and more of a structured professional endeavour instead of a hobby. I'm fed up with audience that constantly demands a faster and faster stream of, well, content. Neither of those is what fandom and fanzines should be like.

.

PS. not proofread. Sorry, I'm too dead to do that, so mistakes may get fixed within the next few days, 'cause they sure as hell are many.

__

¹ - I don't know anything about other fandoms, though. Like I said: it's all opinions from a very personal angle.

[lunarhobbits]

i dream of jeannie tumblr dashboard simulator

( 0 notes )

🌌 spacefan65 Follow

new moonshot today!!! hype!!!

🌌 spacefan65 Follow

HOW DID TONY NELSON END UP ON A DESERTED ISLAND

#DUDE THAT IS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION OF WHERE YOU WERE GOING #whatever im just glad he's okay

( 155 notes )

🧞‍♀️ jeannie-in-a-bottle Follow

hey what did i miss sorry i've been unable to reply for like 2000 years

🧞‍♀️ jeannie-in-a-bottle Follow

why are people tagging this "#me" this did NOT happen to you

( 7,567 notes )

🚀 unofficial-cape-kennedy Follow

okay we've all seen tony nelson and roger healey together right. we know what's going on there right

🚣 flymeto-themoon Follow

please don't speculate on real people's sexuality !!! it's really rude and not to mention could get them fired if it's true

👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 beatlemaniacforsale Follow

okay but hear me out: nasa knows and that's why they keep sending them on moonshots together. they're trying to get rid of them but they keep coming back

🚣 flymeto-themoon Follow

Les Wingate has been on those moonshots too. you're telling me that they're just willing to kill a whole other guy while trying to get rid of Nelson and Healey?

👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 beatlemaniacforsale Follow

we love an ally

🚀 unofficial-cape-kennedy Follow

Tony Nelson and Roger Healey got gay married in space and Les Wingate was the officiant you heard it here first folks

( 381,054 notes )

🌌 spacefan65 Follow

i wish i worked at nasa soooo bad it seems so fun and cool. unfortunately i've heard they have a psychiatrist on base at all times so the minute i stepped foot in there he would be able to smell the 56475647 mental illnesses on me and then want to study me like a bug forever so

🧞‍♀️ jeannie-in-a-bottle Follow

the psychiatrist is actually very nice and won't bother you! he's too busy because almost every day he's studying Major Nelson like a bug. and sometimes also Major Healey :3

🌌 spacefan65 Follow

hey. how do you know this

🌑 nasaheritageposts Follow

NASA heritage post

( 878,943 notes )

📝 a-trekkie-zine-maker Follow

that post about nelson and healey getting gay married in space has aged really poorly now that nelson is married rip

🚀 unofficial-cape-kennedy Follow

op of that post here! that's, quite literally, what the government wants you to think

( 26,890 notes )

✨ monkeesmonkeesmonkees Follow

tired: tony nelson isn't gay bc he's straight married

wired: mrs. nelson is a nasa-provided beard to cover up him being gay

inspired: tony and jeannie nelson are in a throuple with roger healey

#have you SEEN those three together

( 17,232 notes )

[manonamora-if]

May Check-In

This is a bit late, because I've been debugging the past two days.

So I bought Tropico 6 during the last Steam sale. If you haven't seen me posting for a while, blame by wish to be a benevolent dictator of a fake Caribbean island.

Onto the usual index:

Recap of last month’s progress

IF Events in the Next Month (I won't do this anymore)

Plan for the next month

Still long post under the break. If you want a mini version, head on over to itch.io as usual!

April Progress

From last month, what did we do:

Play more games: ✅

I started so good, finishing reviewing the SeedComp! entries, as well as the Revival Jam and had started on the Spring Thing... then I got distracted by the TALJ and Tropico... I also need to update @manonamora-if-reviews at some point... It's at least 100 reviews behind.

Finish the Code of Ch5✅ of Harcourt and edit the Ending Chapter ✅

YES! IT IS DONE! I have finally fixed those godamn doors in the maze that were giving me so much trouble. Also MelS has gotten my edits on all the Chapters/files (and was given extra comments because I also fixed some code in previous chapters). He is hard at work dying editing the missing text.

The only thing left for me is to: - add the maze visuals (map, book/letter formatting) - settle on a design for the final maze puzzle (need to so some research) - include the missing chapter/text (waiting for MelS)

Finish fixing The Roads Not Taken. Or An Eggcellent Preparation. Maybe the other parser too (it just needs a smidge of polish).

LOL... This is the shameful failure that is following me around, ringing that darn bell.

Should i give up on it? Maybe one day...

Complete the TALJ entry. ✅

I have been battling this one the whole morning trying to fix so many bugs. But I'm pretty happy about it. For one: it was actually tested by someone (not like last year). For two: it's actually an easy parser (like you can't lose!).

And the idea had been ringing in my head for so long, I had the prompt submitted to last SeedComp!.

But yeah, this had been happening for a while already. And even though it doesn't have the level of polish I had hopped (future me problem with updates), it is probably one of the better one I've made.

Anyway, play Lysidice and the Minotaur (I'll have an official post tomorrow). (and you can vote for it if you want...)

What else happened this month????

Well, the SeedComp! ended, so I had to deal with all the admin, and making the cool stickers for the different entries. That took quite a bit of time... but worth it! Some really cool entries this year, yet again!

Well, this is more of it's been done last month but released this month: Les lettres du Docteur Jeangille has been translated into English, for the Spring Thing (in the Main Garden, if you feel like voting for games). You can find the post there!

I've been also drafting some post-mortems, one for Jeangille and one for Lysidice. They should come out during the month, at some point.

:/ I have to update my website again now...

I wanted to do an entry in the Dialogue Jam, but my idea didn't pan out on time (too buggy for release). Or eer... cough cough... I had enough will power not to do it? Anyway, also I made the Really Bad IF Jam, which starts today!

What’s happening in May?

As mentioned at the start, I'm dropping this section from my check-in. First, it's buried deep in a wall of text, so no visibility (it should have been a separate post, oh well). If people actually check the events out, I'm sure it would be a miracle.

But mainly... a zine has popped up recently, specifically about IF called What's New in IF? (@if-whats-new), releasing weekly. Since it includes events, like the jams/comps/conferences I used to mention here (and it looks more sleek than a Tumblr post), I'll just leave them do all that hard work instead 😅

So yea... as long as the zine is happening, I'm out 😅 Well, I'll drop them links to my jams and stuff I see, because they seem to be looking for help in finding stuff.

The PLANtm for May

I'm playing Tropico, so I'm getting and will probably going to get less stuff done. Which is not a bad think. Breaks are important. Will I go on a break this month?

Probably should...

But if I don't, where's what I hope to do:

Play more games: On my juicy list I have: the Spring Thing, the newly released Dialogue Jam and TALJ, the Locus Jam and Really BAD IF is happening this month too (so more gameses!), and a few non-comp releases I've had my eye on.

Code Chapter 6/Endings: I need to wait for MelS for this, since he's editing my comments. I'll prob look for visuals for the puzzle in the meantime.

Fixing an older games. Instead of new, do something old.

Write the next Chapter/Scene of a WIP, because it would be good to actually do that. And make some actual progress at seeing stuff being done. (I want to write some Razac snippets....)

Let's have a boring month!

~

The 2024 To-Do List:

LOL, I've only done the website! :D

The hopefully maybe easy to handle To-Do:

fix the bugs in EDOC + overall the French version to match (waiting for Adventuron to get the French language)

fix the bugs of TRNT + find a way to add the missing pieces (giving up on the translation)

fixing the interface of LPM and the popups + check animal interactions

figure out the One-Button JavaScrip/jQuery issue...

edit the loading screens of the completed tiny games to include the program/format logo at least.

The 'Need a Bunch of Content to update but it's planned!' To-Do:

Update my website (bunch new title - also I don't think the logo clicky thing work...) + redo my itch page

Finish TTATEH (MelS dependent)

Finish Exquisite Cadaver (half-way mark by this summer - manif)

Finish P-Rix - Space Trucker (main path at least)

Update CRWL (it's been almost two years... I'm ashamed)

The Unlikely But it Would be Dope To-Do

Finish The Dinner as it was planned (and translate)

Finish In the Blink of an Eye as it was planned (and retranslate)

Finish The Rye in the Dark City

Fixing TTTT (at least fixing, maybe try adding some storylets)

And finally The 'It's impossible, but one can wish' TO-DO:

Remaster SPS IH (if I managed to start this after completing the rest... I'm going to eat a whole sheet cake).

Start the IFComp project (2025? Might end up being a ST?)

[terezis]

Last Line tag game

Rules: in a post, show the last line you wrote and tag as many people as there are words (or as many as you feel like.)

tagged by @ceilingfan5 i will share two different ones and tag no one <3

-

(taz zine piece)

"Why's it so hard to make, though?" he asked. "Isn't it just, uh—what's it called—puff pastry?"

Lup snorted, not unkindly. She picked up a cream puff of her own, weighing it in her hand like a bag of gold, and said, "Barold, that's like askin' if Delayed Fireball is just a spell. It's all about the timing—‘specially when they’re making a fucking thousand of 'em."

-

(throwing stones aka astarion's no good very bad day)

"So, Astarion."

"Hm?" Astarion doesn't look up from his pack. Health potions, check. Arrows (fire, ice, lightning, and acid) check. Drow poison stolen from Shadowheart: check. He probably won't need the smokepowder bombs today—but better safe than sorry. What if—

"We're friends, aren't we?"

Astarion pauses, frowning. He glances up. "What? No."

This is clearly not the answer Wyll was banking on. He opens his mouth, then closes it again.

"What? We're not," Astarion says, lip curling. He shoulders his bag and stands. "None of you like me, and that's fine. I don't like any of you, either."

Karlach, already waiting by the door, whips her head back towards them. "Aw, what? C'mon, that's not true! You like me, don't you, Fangs?"

Astarion rubs at his brow. "I don't like any of you, and I tolerate Karlach," he allows.

[rumalumasuns]

Lout of the Count's Family Zine - Sample #2: Lost in a Child's Paradise

Hope everyone's doing well! This post is to promote a pay-what-you-want charity zine related to Team One from the webnovel/manhwa Lout of the Count's Family I had the pleasure to write some pieces for. Please check it out!

“Team Leader! You can’t just run off like that!” said a panicked company worker. Roksu ignored him, storming off from the meeting room he just came from, his pursed lips and crossed brows showing his great ire.

The worker, apprehensive of what the heads of the company would say, tried to chase after Roksu, widening his steps for a chance to catch up, but to no avail.

“Too bad. Tell the higher-ups that today is my day off. If they don’t let me have it properly, I’ll quit,” said Roksu as he walked out of the organization’s building, his long tan coat flowing behind him.

He couldn’t believe he was called in for an “urgent task” that could’ve been easily handled by any other team at a lower level than his own. It was his day off, for goodness sake! He was supposed to be picking up his niece from daycare, not dilly-dallying with any sort of menial task, especially on this important day.

Once he reached his company building’s parking lot, Roksu got into his car, closed the driver’s door with a loud SLAM, and secured his seat belt. His phone connected to the Blacktooth speaker of the car, starting to blast an old movie soundtrack he found in the MeTube playlist of the original Kim Roksu. 

Although the music somewhat calmed him, Roksu was still annoyed by the earlier encounter with the company worker, so he aggressively drove out of the lot, his brows furrowed and his grip on the wheel tight.

While driving to the daycare, he received a call from Sohoon.

“Team Leader, did you just leave the building?”

Roksu groaned. He knew that concerned tone meant Sohoon was going to nag at him for being rude to that random worker. So, he used his secret weapon.

“Please, dongsaeng-ah. I’m kind of busy at the moment. Can I call you back later?”

There was a long pause on the call before Roksu heard a flustered huff from Suhyeok’s end.

“Heh heh… d-dongsaeng?… Jeez, Team Leader. You… Seriously, you have to tell me more about this later, okay? Minah sunbae is also gone... Why am I the only one working today? :(”

“Thanks, dongsaeng-ah. See you later,” replied Roksu, smiling amusedly at his subordinate’s whining.

With another huff, Sohoon ended the call.

Even though that short call lifted Roksu’s spirits a little because he got to tease Sohoon, Roksu was still a little bitter and quietly complained to himself about how he was going to be late as he drove faster to his destination.

Eventually, a one-story pale yellow building came into Roksu’s view. In the space in front of the building was a large yard with patches of grass surrounded by a painted white fence. From the yard, high-pitched shrieks of laughter were heard as little children were playing games like soccer and hopscotch. Outside the gate, other guardians were also picking up their children, walking hand in hand with them to get to their cars and go home or another destination.

Roksu double-checked his bag to make sure that he brought his wallet and ID. Having one annoying inconvenience was enough for the day. He didn’t want another problem at the daycare with some random daycare worker thinking he was a threat or kidnapper. It wasn’t his fault that his dark clothes and height made him look scary to the children. Though, that was a story for another day.

After parking safely in front of the daycare, Roksu slowly got out of the car.

“Uncle Roksu!!” shouted an excited high-pitched voice.

Did you enjoy it? If you want to read the rest, please check out this link here if you haven't already! For more details, please check out @passingrecords

[izzy-b-hands]

Feeling slightly better than i have been at this moment (hence being on Tumblr for more than a half second before my body goes 'hm, actually, that's too much. put the phone down or i make u throw up 🥰' as it has been all week since this back pain bullshit began

(more blathering abt this stuff and work and just. general life update as of this week below the cut)

But realised that's probably only bc:

-Housemate (who has been an absolute angel thru all of this and has looked after me better than my own mother ever has tbh), got me some Pedialyte style drinks, and I've made it thru nearly all of one today (a miracle bc the nausea has otherwise been constant even when the pain isn't as bad and has made eating more than like. broth and saltines and gummy edibles basically impossible)

-Im stoned, on a increasing rotation of meds (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, mucinex which it turns out has potential off label use for muscle spasms, as Housemate researched and found out, edibles, magnesium, and now ginger pills to help the nausea) all of which im grateful for but combined leave me feeling less in pain but a bit. idk. blah? brain foggy, more than usual? Tbh it's probably the pain making the brain fog, the pills just can't do anything for that and i don't fault them for that, but for a brain fog example, I've been trying to place an order for some local chocolates to ship to my mum for mother's day, and legit it's taken me ALL WEEK just to get the site open, to the shipping menu, and just today actually putting things in the cart, but I haven't managed to check out yet bc just getting the cart together that made me feel like i needed a nap. This post is the longest thing I've typed in days, and I'm struggling rn to keep going..But i started it, so we're finishing it, back spasm at a level 4 of pain be damned

-and im doing basically nothing aside from stretches (gentle yoga ones i already know the forms for, and some pilates gentle type things i remember from when mum joined that fad lol), using one of our wand vibes on my back (never had done before, they actually do work for that too! kinda fun to find out, just wish i hadn't found out like this!!), laying on a heating pad and wedge pillow, and trying to nap (bc the pain is worse at night so I've somehow been sleeping even worse than i usually tend to)while YT videos and/or the 1973 JCS plays on repeat.

I mention all this bc i work this weekend, and i don't want to have to call out for the first shift tonight. but like. if im struggling just to type this post up (nvm that i have my zine checkin to finish and send in as well, if Nads or anyone else from the group reads this pls know i will make sure i have it done by the due date! it's just been taking. longer, with this back pain mess), keeping my brain on track is difficult rn (as evidenced by...this entire post), and my back is starting to twinge up to a 3-4 overall already bc i let the heating pad turn off, thinking that maybe, just maybe, if I'm feeling okay enough to be on Tumblr then maybe that's a sign this is finally over, and my back is done making life miserable...

then maybe work isn't a great idea. but it scares me every time i have to call in (and I've tried not to unless i absolutely had to, but they're very particular abt ppl basically never calling out, so i know that even if they acknowledged i sounded as sick as i was, that doesn't mean this wouldn't be reason enough to fire me)

I just don't know what to do. i want to work. i want to make money. i also don't want to have to mute my mic bc my back spasms hard enough to make me vomit tho, and that's unfortunately still a very real possibility (spent entirely too much of this week throwing up from the pain tbh!!! not happy abt it, i do not like being sick like that, for any reason!!) The last reason makes me think calling out is the right thing. but. i have a few hours yet, so im gonna see how it goes, acknowledging that i probably do need to call out, whether i like it or not

(if for nothing else, to maybe be recovered for my first set of doubles on Sunday)