Two wip posts in one week? It's more likely than you think! Thanks to @shrekgogurt @monbons and @hushed-chorus for tagging me today. I love all of the stuff you shared! I'm even up-to-date on some of it! (I KNOW, out of character!)

Okay, some Penny from Finally, (already, always), because... well, you'll see. (Eight sentences, but trust me, I tried)

"I think that it's a disservice that we're not being provided with sound information on the different kinds of sexual activities available to us." She holds up a hand and starts ticking off fingers, "Masturbation, fellatio, frottage, cunnilingus."  "Stop!" Garreth squawks. "Crowley, Penny, we're trying to eat." His face, along with Rhys', Pippa's and probably mine, are bright red.  "It's perfectly natural," she says. "Sex is supposed to be about feeling good, not just about making babies. It only works to make babies because we want to do it because it feels good."

Penny, when inspired to talk about sexual health. 😭😭😭 Have I forgotten whether the idea that Penny's mom gave her extremely thorough sex ed is canon or fanon of headcanon? Yes. Do I need to do a re-read soon? SURE DO.

Tags and some perhaps controversial opinions about Carry On below the cut

So, okay, this was written approximately two months ago when I was more actively writing on this story. I've been having some difficulty with reconceptualizing how the entire WOM would have been in different circumstances. I re-read Carry On when I started writing Simon's Two Mums, but most of it has slipped right out of my brain. Partially because I'm finding the somewhat slapdash worldbuilding of the universe difficult to build into a world that can be modified and show more-or-less logical flow-through of circumstances. It feels a bit like I have to build up the entire world from scratch for Carry On and then attempt to figure out how changes of circumstance would change that made up world. Which is hard to do!

Hello all friends, join me in sharing all your stufffff! :D @stitchyqueer @thewholelemon @confused-bi-queer @raenestee @facewithoutheart @cutestkilla @sillyunicorn @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @basiltonbutliketheherb @ileadacharmedlife @asocialpessimist @bookish-bogwitch @aristocratic-otter @captain-aralias @petedavidsonscock @takitalks @artsyunderstudy @yeonjunenby @carryonvisinata @takenabackbytuesdays @martsonmars @nausikaaa @nightimedreamersghost @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @ionlydrinkhotwater @that-disabled-princess @forabeatofadrum  @palimpsessed @fatalfangirl​ @blackberrysummerblog​ @valeffelees @imagineacoolusername @orange-peony @j-nipper-95 @whogaveyoupermission @wellbelesbian @rimeswithpurple @youarenevertooold @emeryhall @mooncello @run-for-chamo-miles

when I see something dated 2019 I think “oh that’s not too long ago” and then I remember that 2019 was not only five years ago but those five years have somehow contained several lifetimes

I have thoughts about this!

My central thought is that there's something a bit coercive about the way society as a whole conceptualizes and frames romance for women that it's difficult for people to write fic that doesn't echo or emulate that coercive vibe. And romance is conceptualized for men in a way that's a lot more voluntary/optional.

As a result, I think that especially for folks in general who currently do or ever have conceptualized themselves as women, it can be difficult to engage in the escapist romantic fantasy that fanfic so often represents when you're unable to divorce yourself from the lived experience of that romantic coercion, and it's more difficult to divorce yourself from that experience when you're writing or reading about women. Whereas there's more perceived liberty in a romantic relationship involving two men, and so shipping m/m couples can feel more freeing both in how it can fulfill romantic and sexual fantasy.

My secondary thought is that the ideal of sexual purity for women makes it more difficult to write something where women are having sex (with a partner of any gender or without a partner) if you currently do or have ever conceptualized yourself as a woman because it can feel very exposing, and that's something that feels bad largely because of purity culture. And while I haven't had the converse experience, it seems less culturally likely.

making my own post for REASONS, but No, the reason people mostly ship m/m ISN'T that there are "more male characters" or "the male characters are better written". I mean, yeah that's *part* of it, but if you're just going to say that and leave it there? Lazy thinking!

Okay, you could use this excuse if your fandom is lord of the rings. Sure. Of course the million and a half male characters are the focus of the story and the few female characters show up now and then to assist the.men, but come on. It's 2024. Female characters exist in *lots* of media. Sometimes they're close to 50% or more. Why do their stories get fewer fanworks and less attention?

Right here in the Simon Snow fandom, we have SO SO MANY complex female characters. We're spoiled honestly. Yeah, I totally get the focus on Baz and Simon. I love them too

But there are three (3) (THREE!) canon wlw ships. And yet somehow, there are so many more works about dev and niall than about them. Like. these are background characters for sure if there ever were any. And they have whole developed personalities and sideplots and storylines in many fics.

I mean, ily Carry On fandom, I'm not saying anyone is doing wrong to write about dev and niall, but that's just my point-- it happens here, it happens everywhere. Prefering the men happens in every fandom, even those where there's no convenient excuse!

I think there are lots of complicated reasons that male characters tend to get much more attention than female characters but saying "it's just math" BS! It's not just math!

never ask a woman her age a man his salary your mutual how late it is in her timezone when she starts posting about that bisexual man

There’s no such thing as work-life balance for neurodivergent & chronically ill people.

This is because everything in my life requires work:

maintaining friendships

keeping up with my hygiene

managing bills

making money

remembering my basic needs

sleeping regularly

outputting creatively

All requires some aspect of work for me.

And when everything in your life requires work, your balance goes out the window.

If you're neurodivergent and overwhelmed — I see you.

If you're chronically ill and overwhelmed — I see you.

You're not dysfunctional.

You're not incapable.

You're doing your best.

Some Six Sentence Sunday

Thanks for the tag @hushed-chorus! I can’t wait to dive into the new chapter. I am not mad at all at a potential 300k new words when they are so gooooood.

If you've been keeping up with The Eternal Life of Baz Pitch, I hope you enjoyed your first peek at Simon! He'll feature heavily in every chapter moving forward.

If you've been holding out on reading, now might be a good time to start. I can't promise it won't hurt--sad Baz will still be sad Baz--but Simon will be a welcome balm each chapter. (I've also been informed by @bookish-bogwitch that my fic slaps so hard it can be read in any order...so feel free to jump in wherever you want 😆.)

For those who've kept up to speed, you deserve a little more comfort for putting up with angst-fest, so have a snippet from chapter 6 under the cut, featuring some Penny and Shep!

“So, I think I had a date with a stalker today,” he offers by way of answer.  “Oooooh, sounds fun.” Shepherd plops himself down next to Simon. “Do tell!” “Shep, that is the wrong response to this situation.” Penny frowns at them both.  “He’s shown up like three times in the last two days, and he keeps ordering the same gross drink.” Simon hassles his curls. “He flirts with me the whole time, but it's awkwardly aggressive.” “That’s actually really concerning.” Penny’s eyes go wide. “What’s the drink?” Shepherd presses. Simon grimaces. “Pumpkin mocha breve.”  “How seasonally inappropriate!” Shepherd fakes outrage, hand over his heart like he’s been attacked by the beverage. “Don’t get me started,” Simon mutters. “Is he at least cute?” Shepherd punches Simon in the arm lightly. “I repeat, your reactions are truly concerning, Shep,” Penny chimes in. Both boys ignore her.

Hellos and high-fives! @thewholelemon, @roomwithanopenfire, @raenestee, @cutestkilla

@emeryhall, @beastmonstertitan, @aristocratic-otter, @brilla-brilla-estrellita, @best--dress

@comesitintheclover, @cattocavo, @arthurkko, @rbkzz, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe

@youarenevertooold, @valeffelees, @iamamythologicalcreature, @noblecorgi, @ic3-que3n

@larkral, @drowninginships, @shrekgogurt, @ivelovedhimthroughworse

@rimeswithpurple, @skeedelvee,

It never ends

Watford Era SnowBaz...I guess?

The kid will cherish this for their whole life. If they remember it.

there will be no fanfics with zero comments under my watch 💥💥💥

Thank you to @sleepnoises for making the original poll & for giving us the idea to to this :)

Sorry if we couldn’t get your favorite on here, we were limited to only 12 options (11 if you don’t include the “other” option).

ah yes, my favorite pairing,

super strong dumbass and his (only slightly) less strong twink bf

I often forget that not everyone reads gay fanfiction

straight friend groups be like: *blonde girl* *chad* *the funny one* *kyle* *brunette girl* *frat boy*

gay friend groups be like: *passive aggressive food YouTuber* *canadian NHL star* *harvard law student with a pornstache* *tiny unbeatable beer pong champion* *frat star slash science nerd with a 4.0 GPA* *loud and emotional 6′4″ econ major* *overexcited goalie* *ginger bob the builder* *nursey*

international people start calling our country aotearoa instead of new zealand challenge

Oh, hi. Good news: I am not dead. Bad news: my spirit is perhaps just a little bit dead. Thanks @shrekgogurt and @hushed-chorus for the tags! And to everyone else who's been tagging me over the past while.

I've been too busy dealing with school's bullshit about my daughter's behavior for the past (checks watch) six weeks to have any energy to write. But! Last night I wrote 230 words for the epilogue of my Check Please fic!

Anyway, I've been feeling very much like the amalgamation of Natalie and Zadie in Finally, (already, always) that I'll be honest, I've always known I was writing them as. For a snippet of my life, please read the two following snippets from that WIP:

Natalie:

Simon's teachers call us up to say he's a nuisance in class, but they can never say what he's done. Is he loud? (No.) Does he throw things? (No.) Has he hit anyone? (No.) Does he speak out of turn? (No.) No, no, no. He's just a nuisance, Mrs. Stephenson-Shaw. (Ms. Shaw, actually.) He's disruptive. He has to go to the office. He's risking expulsion. He's seven. Just a boy. Thin shoulders, long back, freckles, blue eyes and a smile. A tumble of energy and adoration and enthusiasm. He's my Simon. He's stories by the window, and sitting on the floor next to his bed stroking his back as he falls asleep. He's chasing after ducks in the park, climbing trees, and an overwhelming enthusiasm for knights and dragons.  I love him every way I can find. Every day I find more. I'm spilling over with love for him and aside from Zadie, no one seems to be able to see it: the things we love. The ways he's loveable.

Zadie:

I wonder if he might have seemed trustworthy. If he'd been subtle, if he'd been politic, would I have seen the monster as readily?  "We will talk with Simon about it. And we can tour the school. And if he's interested, then we'll consider it." He purses his lips. "A tour will be difficult," he says. "It is impossible for a non-magical person to enter the gates of Watford." Of course. Well, it's as good a demand as any to finish the conversation with. "Well then, I suggest that you find a way to let prospective and current students' parents visit the school, or the answer will definitely be no." I stand up and start towards the door. Nat stands and starts down the stairs. We fall in together, present a united front as I usher to David Cadwallader out of our home.  "I'll be in touch ," he says.

<3 to everyone and tags under the cut

@stitchyqueer @thewholelemon @confused-bi-queer @raenestee @facewithoutheart @cutestkilla @hushed-chorus @sillyunicorn @you-remind-me-of-the-babe @basiltonbutliketheherb @ileadacharmedlife @asocialpessimist @bookish-bogwitch @aristocratic-otter @captain-aralias @petedavidsonscock @takitalks @artsyunderstudy @yeonjunenby @carryonvisinata @takenabackbytuesdays @martsonmars @nausikaaa @nightimedreamersghost @chen-chen-chen-again-chen @ionlydrinkhotwater @that-disabled-princess @shrekgogurt @forabeatofadrum  @palimpsessed @fatalfangirl​ @blackberrysummerblog​ @valeffelees @imagineacoolusername @orange-peony @j-nipper-95 @whogaveyoupermission @wellbelesbian @rimeswithpurple @youarenevertooold @emeryhall @mooncello @monbons @run-for-chamo-miles

knight/prince snowbaz au because i can’t stop thinking abt them ever