#is u.m Telling <3

[naivety]

okay i need feedback from the autism mentall illness website um. this is going to read like an AITA post. brother vs half-sister (who are currently my dependents do to their own individual disabilities + ptsd/depression) spat i will skim the details on but i'm worried my sister will discount my take since i'm not autistic myself so. am i crazy to call it ableist to look at an autistic person (23) who is clearly going through it dealing w long term depression, a world that doesn't give a shit abt him, unemployment, very self-isolated and burnt out barely leaving his room because the world is an ableist dumpster fire with zero opportunities for him, and then bring up childhood abuse he's suffered and his diagnosis as reasonable factors on top of this to worry he'll [checks notes] abuse my cat just to hurt me or even worse have a breakdown and kill me and his other sibling in a violent episode, a train of thought i probably wouldn't even be having were he not [checks notes] mad at me for the first time in my life?

like i don't have any other read on this kind of fear-based characterization other than ableism. like those are very real things in his life but she never points out any current violent behavior, of which there are none, only the one (1) instance of him lashing out when he was like 14 and Officially Diagnosed Low Empathy she thinks is a concern and Hateful Looks toward her since he stopped getting along with her, that's it. i tried explaining to her why i, someone who's lived w him his entire life, can vouch for how unlikely he is to do anything like that, especially when it's again not based on anything he's actually currently doing except for isolating in a way that is much more indicative of him potentially being a danger to himself than anyone else, and being cold towards her specifically, and i thought she had let it go, but when i brought it up off-hand in a conversation tangentially related, she continued to defend and justify her Concern about the potential directions his behavior could lead to because [checks notes] other people in similar situations have lashed out and killed their entire families according to. true crime books or videos she's watched on youtube as far as i'm aware. ignoring the fact that her and i have had the same or Worse childhood abuse and have acted similarly isolated in the past, or for her literally just as currently as him, and she's not expressed any worry past or present about either of us doing anything like that, in my opinion obviously because i haven't cut her off due to our differences like he decided to. like am i big sibling biased because this is pissing me off so bad.

[miriakkon]

Well it’s been a w h i l e, so, have some doodles,

no art belongs to me, these are doodles all shit belongs to rightful owners and all that credit jazz,,

This is the most recent, it’s riddle as young Claude from wmmap, I trièdre make him look like Christopher Robin (and the headcannon behind this is: baisicly riddle at that age (I.e 6-8 ) was very similar to Christopher’s robin in nature, and his mother thought the hooligans he was making friends with were, well hooligans, so she set up play dates for the two (the other being a seemingly prim and proper Alice) and after like a year or so, she found out her d’ère boy was going out and having adventures with Alice and the hooligans she tried to separate him from, so this is basically riddle, wanting to ask his mother a question and overhearing the conversation between his mother and Alice’s mother baisiclly his mom telling Alice’s mom off for being a horrible mother and they can’t see each other again

So yeah, next 3 go along with that

Is of Lucas and athy but it’s

Riddle and Alice just chillin in the sunny patch of his room, probably having a nice orderly debate, also, side note, Alice beinga year younger, she looked up to riddle, so when she went to see him she fixed her hair to look kinda like his, and this is them in there prim and proper clothes, (my excuse for lucas’s robes looking the way they do) and the rose, and bits of red on Alice’s dress are little bits and bobbles riddle and his mother gifted her for a birthday,

And now

This panel of I think child athy, but this is basically Alice asking riddle to do something with his magic on one of there atveunters and he made bubbles, because child stuff is cute and fluffy damit

Uh, this is from pintrist originaly, but is Alice, with her child, when she’s like 3 and the cat has started going black, (due to seru/the cleaning eyes) because her cat dose that

Originaly nyo Japan and England fanart credited to google,

But left is briar at 4, left is Alice at 5 just being adorable,

This was a panel with Lily and athy, but now it’s riddles mom and Alice, also translation (Welsh google translate: I wish you the best of luck when it comes to me and my son, because he will never love you, regardless of your efforts) when Alice is like 11,or 12 ish, and riddle mother let her spend time with riddle a bit, like, at tea time

A 14 year old Lorelei using her u.m to safely float whales because she wanted to show her u.m to her grandad during her spring break (and also maby show her mer friends)

Lorelei as aph/hwsSeychelles fanart I.g

Lorelei using her u.m to make water a blanket (she wanted to be in Naiad form a bit longer, soo..)

I need to make a part 2

[insertmanyfandomshere]

Transformers hotel!Au

Was at Universal Studios today and saw a cafe called Starbot cafe. I accidentally said Starbot Hotel, and this hotel au just suddenly popped up in my head. My first au, so please, no flames, and tell me what you think!

(Tfa bots keep their design, but relationships may differ a little to fit into this au. Nothing too major though, so don’t worry.)

Scenario: Optimus and Megatron (TFP) opens a hotel on Cybertron some day after the war ends. Former faction members from both sides end up being the hotel staff, and the hotel is still somehow running.

TFP Autobots

Optimus - Owner and propagandist (also would make random appearances at hotel and 1) stand there looking cool or 2) help lost people find their way because certain porters aren’t doing their duties.

Ratchet - Grumpy head medic that does not want to actually be there over half the time. Stationed with duty 24/7 and constantly wants to bash head in.

Arcee - Porter #1 - drives everyone (and their luggages) to their rooms (is always getting annoyed by the other two porters and will not so subtlety force them to do their duties without running off)

Bumblebee - Promoter #1 (Actually a main reason why people go to StarBot Hotel is because of how adorable Bee is, but he’s a good promoter too. Secretly fanboys over every ship happening in the hotel and helped play matchmaker in some situations. Tfa Bumblebee is his twin of sorts.)

Bulkhead - Assistant nurse to Ratchet who always (accidentally) trashes the medbay more than keeping it in order. Always tries his best however, no matter what Ratchet says, so give him a break

Smokescreen - Porter #2 (hyper and fast, and will actually get the job done efficiently if he actually stops skipping duty to race with KO and Tfa Bunblebee. Gossips about relationships on off time, mostly to Tfp Bumblebee)

Ultra Magnus - Security guard #1 (tells everyone to be rule abiding. Seem to always have eyes everywhere 24/7. He and Soundwave makes a good team)

Wheeljack - Stunt performer who gives free shows to hotel users and tells people to blow up Ratchet’s medbay and blame it on Bulkhead. Flirts with Ratchet even though neither are romantically interested in one another.

TFP Decepticons

Megatron - Co Owner, receptionist and chambermaid (Optimus tells him that he scares everyone away and stuck him with cleaning duty unfortunately)

Starscream - Promoter #2 (Actually does a good job at convincing people to stay in the hotel with his convincingness. Helps out anyone else who needs it when off duty (except for Megatron))

Soundwave - Security guard #2 (Scares everyone silently into abiding the law. Magically appears whenever someone is about to do something wrong and stares at them until they get the cue and stops what they’re doing. Lazerbeak is his son and prodigy security guard-in-training and he would casually kill anyone who looks down upon him. In semi relationship with SS)

Knockout - Head cleaner, part time medic to help Ratchet (always yells at people who accidentally nicks the ground, wall or anything in the hotel even a little bit. When helping Ratchet, both constantly argues about each others’ choice of assistant. Also sneaks off during duty to race, much to everyone’s annoyance.)

Breakdown - Knockout’s assistant who always (accidentally) messes up what he’s supposed to clean (GIVE THIS BEAN A BREAK HE’S TOO BIG) Knockout understands though, and never calls him out.

Dreadwing - Security guard #3 (passive aggressively scares everyone to be law abiding by carrying his huge cannon around, and telling everyone earnestly that it’s dishonourable to break the rules)

Airachnid - Security camera manager #1 (doesn’t really care if a crime is being committed or not, thinks murdering is fine as long as not bloody so that knockout does not have a hissy fit. Thank goodness U.M. and S.W keeps everyone in check. Doesn’t like her partner on duty and secretly plotting to kill her.)

Shockwave - Receptionist #1 (Tries not to act as if he’s done with life. The mono optic makes it a little hard.)

Steve the Vehicon - The random jester that makes everyone laugh and has a not-so-secret admiration for Starscream

Other Eradicons and Vehicons - Cooks (and sometimes chambermaids and cleaners as well? Always gossip about the latest news regarding the mechs working in the hotel and is just done with their superiors and Lugnut)

TFA Autobots

TFA Optimus - Next in line to inheriting hotel (Optimus TFP’s Son. Is the kind and unsure person who tries his best and yet have things backfire in his face sometimes and have others questioning his authority. His dad is there to teach him though, everything will be fine.)

Prowl - Yoga instructor (gives everyone free yoga lessons and sometimes even karate. Tells everyone to either ignore TFA bumblebee or just kick his aft. Completely clueless to Jazz’s swooning, poor birb.)

TFA Bumblebee - Porter #3 (like Smokescreen, is hyper and fast and would be efficient if he wasn’t always leaving the job for Arcee to complete. Bails on duty sometimes to go racing with KO and Smokescreen. Sometimes Blitzwing catches all of them and sticks them with kitchen serving duty. Doesn’t like to be referred to as ‘Bumblebee’s twin.)

Jazz - Music provider / DJ (seriously, he comes up with the best songs. Provides the right kind of music for different occasions. Secretly head over heels for TFA Prowl. Is a really chill guy until you question his music tastes.)

Sentinel Prime - Receptionist #2 (is secretively scared of TFP Optimus but constantly undermines TFA Optimus. TFP Optimus puts him in line tho. Shockwave is secretly done with S.P.)

TFA Decepticons

TFA Megatron- Head chef?? Constantly tries to poison energon for bots and food for humans but always gets thwarted by Ultra Magnus (TFP) Also needs to learn how to treat the Vehicons and Eradicons better, but they always get back at him.

Lugnut - TFA Megatron’s assistant chef. (Worships the food and energon prepared by the guy. Also tries (and fails) to influence the cooks (Vehicons And Eradicons) with Megatron’s ‘mightiness and amazingness with cooking)

Blitzwing - Hotel supervisor and manager (Icy is extremely strict, calm and civil to patrons and tolerates paperwork. Hothead blows up at everyone and incinerates paperwork and Random just cannot be bothered with paperwork. Also in a semi relationship with TFA Bumblebee.)

TFA Starscream - (By a weird twist of fate) Megatron’s superior. Makes Megatron make extra dishes and energon as he pleases just because he could. (Doesn’t give two shits about Megatron poisoning food, ironically, even though he’s drinking that energon too)

Blackarachnia - On security cam duty with Airachnid. Surprisingly they do not get along and butt heads constantly. (Case to point, Thank Primus for Ultra Magnus and Soundwave (and lazerbeak). Knows that Airachnid wants to kill her but doesn’t bother with such petty thoughts, seeing that there’s three (four?) security guards on duty)

[ktliterary]

About My Query 16

Recently, at the SCBWI Summer Conference, I did a three-hour workshop on queries: what they should include, how to structure them, how to write them, and how to improve them. We’ve been posting About My Query critiques for years now on the blog, and while it’s not a regular feature, it is something we like to do every once in a while, because we know that not every author can get to a conference like SCBWI (although I recommend it if you can!) Without further ado, here’s a recent query sent specifically to me for critique:

Dear Kate,

SOS “Save Our Santa” signals a 5-year-old girl from North Pole. Will anyone answer the call?

Dia’s parents read aloud the front page story of Christmas Day morning newspaper, “Yesterday at midnight, a little girl Dia, took a sick Santa back to North Pole, where elf doctors treated him. Sunrise was only 2 hours away, and Dia knew that the children world over would be waiting for their presents. She wanted to help Santa in being happy and healthy before sunrise, so she sent kids an SOS to help her in quickly curing Santa.”

“Did kids respond to Dia’s SOS? “Was Santa able to deliver gifts before sunrise?” “How did Dia become famous?”

“Dia saves Christmas!” is a holiday fantasy easy to read chapter book for 5-6 year olds. Dia is an Indian American girl born to immigrant parents, who do not celebrate Christmas and other American festivals with the same enthusiasm as Indian festivals. Dia loves sharing her festival stories with her friends. There are not enough diverse books where young children from other cultures, who are trying to form their identities in America’s melting pot, are represented well. I believe they deserve to be heroes in books where they are saving the day. Kids who read diverse books are more likely to become adults with compassion and inclusion; a trend that is currently seen even in Oscars new attendee list and top TV shows like ‘Quantico’, ‘Scandal’ and ‘How to Get Away with Murder’. And, this is my attempt in creating awareness in children’s books.

I am an active member of SCBWI. My article has been published in the Inspiration Unlimited eMagazine.

I’m seeking representation for my book (3,334 words). Please let me know if it sparks your interest; I would be happy to send you the manuscript.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely, U.M.

The author also asks a few specific questions, so I’ll answer those first, and then dive into the query.

1) Did I correctly identify the age group? While I don’t represent easy-to-read chapter books, I do know that the tendency in children’s books is to read up, which is to say there may be some concern about a book about a 5-year-old protagonist being marketed to 5- to 9-year-olds. A lot of easy-to-read books are also part of a series, and published in bulk, so I wonder if this might be better served re-envisioned as a picture book. I also found this a pretty good summary of age ranges for children’s books. 2) Did I correctly identify the genre? Fantasy? Fiction? I think “holiday fantasy” covers it, yes. 3) Did I correctly identify the format? Easy to Read? It works for me, yes. 3) I see that many agents are only open to MG or YA? From your experience is Easy to Read a hard format to sell? It is, for some of the reasons mentioned above. A lot of Easy-To-Read books come out of established series with characters already well known to readers, like Angelina Ballerina or Batman, either from picture books or other media, so it can be difficult to break a new character out, especially if it’s a standalone title 4) SOS “Save Our Santa” signals a 5-year-old girl from North Pole. Will anyone answer the call? – Is this line considered as a pitch? If not, what should pitch contain? It’s a hook, certainly, although some would say a pitch needs to include a bit more information. With that said, let me get to the query critique!

Your first line/paragraph is a little confusing. There’s a timeline disconnect between the little girl sending out the S.O.S. and her parents reading about it in the paper the next day. This may just be a problem of the query, and not the text, but I think you want to keep the action in the present — not about Dia’s parents reading about what she did the night before when she was supposed to be in bed, but about Dia trying to help Santa with a worldwide S.O.S. in order to save Christmas. It also creates a disconnect with the main character, who should be Dia, not her parents.

I would also leave out the quotes from the text. Especially with such a short book, you really want to introduce the story but telling the agent about it, not quoting the pages which very well may be included below. Maybe something more like this?

On Christmas Eve, when Dia tried to stay awake to meet Santa, she was surprised to find him coughing and feverish trying to leave her presents. With not much time left before Christmas, Dia races him back to the North Pole to see his elf doctor, and puts out a worldwide S.O.S. to other children, hoping to quickly find a cure for the Claus.

That’s just an idea, of course.

I love the idea of Dia as an Indian-American child trying to combine her family’s heritage with American customs, and I appreciate your desire to write diverse stories that reflect the world we live in. That said, be wary of preaching to the choir. Instead of boldly stating “There are not enough diverse books where young children from other cultures, who are trying to form their identities in America’s melting pot, are represented well”, be more specific about you want to do with this book, with this project. I would also cut entirely the last two lines from this paragraph — a query for a chapter book isn’t the place to mention tv like Quantico and Scandal. One of my bullet points in my About My Query presentation at conferences is “Don’t Preach to Me”. Like so many in publishing right now, I’m well aware that We Need Diverse Books, and I want to do my part in shepherding them to the bookshelves. Tell me why Dia and her story is the book I want to spend my time promoting, not reminding me of the cause.

I hope this helps, and wish you the best of luck with your manuscript!

About My Query 16 was originally published on kt literary