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luninosity · 4 years

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2019 writing round-up post!

It's been an interesting year!

Once again, I suspect I wrote more overall than last year - but much more heavily original, and even less fanfic (but still some!) again. But a couple of those have been stories people really love, or seem to, from the AO3 comments etc. I didn't finish one thing I'd really meant to finish, but I did write a 254k novel, which, what even.

So...let's see what all those things are!

Academic (just to get this out of the way first) ~A book chapter on Disney's Robin Hood for an edited collection on Disney & pop culture (my chapter's around 5,000 words) ~The intro/my chapter/overall editorial work/bibliography for the Terry Pratchett book, coming 2020 (collectively, probably around 15k words of my own writing, plus comments on contributor essays) ~The book proposal for the Star Trek book (~3,000 words) ~The in-progress Neil Gaiman and Batman book chapter - currently around 2k, needs to be around 6k including references ~Plus one more successful grant application! Not listing all the conference/unpublished papers, but those too. Fanfic Stucky straight from your heart, E, 10,516 words - ah, yes, my contribution to the Bottom Bucky Fest! It was such a marvelous prompt, about Steve guiltily having a kinky fantasy about essentially rescuing and caring for the Winter Soldier (which also includes teaching him all about pleasure), and Bucky finding out about this, and them then negotiating ways to make this fantasy come true. I hadn't been writing as much Stucky, but this one flowed really well and felt really good, and people seem to like it! Evanstan (hmm - way less Evanstan this year! still some, at least...) Evanstan Round Robin 2019, T, 12,497 words overall, but my chapters total 2,528 words. The annual holiday collaborative masterpiece! So soft and fluffy this year - such a delight sharing this love and creation and fandom with everyone! Extra Sugar - My Evanstan epic fic-baby! I added chapters 30 & 31 in 2019, which brings the total to 107,533 words - which means, doing some math, that's + 4,000 words exactly, apparently! There'll be one more chapter. I know what it is, I just haven't had the time to write it. 2020 goal: finish off this series, completely, entirely, at the end. I'm still so amazed by this whole universe that I somehow made, and by the fandom response to it. *hugs you all* Cherik When It's Time, T, 2852 words - this one's not up on AO3 yet, though I think I can do that now, if it's okay with the @cherikzine people! This was my story for the Bookends Cherik 'zine, and it's an AU with magicians in a sort of present-day fantasy setting version of the ending of Dark Phoenix, and it was fun to get back to one of my first real fandom loves, and I'm glad I wrote it. we are electric hearts, T, 2,732 words - fluffy little fun universe-crossover in which Erik and Charles meet Kris and Justin, my original Demon for Midwinter characters, written for @kernezelda <3 Original Fic (written and published in 2019) Gingerbread Dreams, M, 23,662 words - holiday m/m gingerbread competition baking fluff! A cranky judge! A cheerful ugly-sweater-wearing baker! The Grumpy One Is Soft For The Adorable One! The story I looked up medieval gingerbread recipes for, for a contestant challenge! Also contains a couple of familiar characters from "October Spice" in supporting roles... This story is also available as part of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Trio Collection from JMS Books - three novellas bundled together, at a discount! October Spice, E, 3,130 words - the story that briefly made it to #1 Best Seller on Amazon in the LGBTQ Short Reads category! My super-short flash fiction romance for JMS Books, priced at only 99 cents! (Or even less, when on sale!) A first meeting, instant attraction (and some orgasms!), a Halloween-loving baker, and an adorable firefighter. (Evan and Matt (well, Matt in baked-goods artistic tribute) get a supporting role in Gingerbread Dreams, as mentioned above, if you want to know what they're up to...) (Also, Evan's last name is 100% an Ace of Cakes reference.) Bisclavret, T, 11,756 words - technically I had about 5k of this written YEARS ago, back when I first read Marie de France's 12th-century lai in grad school and immediately had to write an adaptation of it. But this version has extensive revisions, and ended up over twice as long. If you like stories about a medieval bisexual werewolf and the demisexual king he falls in love with, and a love of books and cuddling...well, that's basically what this one is! A Leather and Tea Morning, E,6,993 words - the first of the Leather and Tea sequels! (There'll be at least one more, about which more below.) Ben and Simon, a lazy morning, and some emotional comfort sex in the wake of Simon having been in a car accident. He's all recovered and everything - but there're some emotions that need to be dealt with, about Ben and protectiveness and tenderness and care and getting back to a very cautious-but-satisfying kinky scene. Sound the Fairy-Call, E, 5,545 words - the heavily rewritten (like, nearly twice as long, new original characters, world-building, all of that) original-fic version of my old Evanstan fic Glow, and it's basically the medieval fantasy healing-sex-in-a-forest story, with a fairy and a tired mercenary and Eastern European folklore references! Plus I've managed to quote Robert Graves in the epigraph! (To be precise, I wrote the first draft of this at the very very end of 2018 - I had literally just signed the contract before last year's writing round-up post. But then there was editing, revisions, etc, in 2019. So it counts!) This story is also available as part of the JMS Books 2019 Top Ten Gay Romance collection! Come pick up a copy and discover all the bestselling gay romance authors! The Ninepenny Element, M, 12,274 words - my first published lesbian romance! With a lawyer, a witch, some hexed earrings, a psychic younger brother, and a ghost puppy! This is essentially the sequel to Elemental (m/m, E, 12,776 words), since Verity's the older sister of Sterling from that story, but you don't necessarily have to've read that one first. There'll likely be one more - I have a vague idea about weather magic, and there's more to explore in this universe. The Pooka's Share, E, 20,205 words - a weary magical cop, an unruly faerie horse shapeshifter, and some creative punishments for apple-theft! More fun with folklore and sex and two people finding each other and turning out to be exactly what they both need, full of magic and compassion. This story is also available as part of the Legendary Loves Trio collection from JMS Books - three novellas bundled together, at a discount! Original Fic (written in 2019, publication contracts signed but stories not yet published) A Demon for Forever, E, 13,752 words - surprise! I thought I was done with the Demon for Midwinter universe - but JMS did a submissions call for stories celebrating LGBTQ marriage, and, well - I'd written the proposal story for Kris and Justin, so...we should get to see the wedding, right? This one'll be out in February. Justin may or may not wear a wedding dress. A sparkly one. :D Leather and Tea in London, E, 20,909 words - the third of the Leather and Tea stories! Written for the JMS Books BDSM collection call. Simon's brother needs a favor. So Ben and Simon head to London, bringing Ben's retired-spy skill set and also some fun toys for enjoying themselves... Original Fic (written in 2019, not yet under contract or published other than on AO3) Character Bleed, E, 254,099 words. Which means...since last year I had 40,371 words done...that's +213,728 words. In a year. Not even counting the Bonus Scenes (see below) or the sequel-in-progress. THIS STORY, YOU GUYS. I love it and these characters so much. It's the most ambitious thing I've ever tried to write, that whole story-within-a-story, being about actors filming a Regency-era gay love story, and falling in love themselves. I'm just looking at it all...and I'm in awe...and the response to this, oh wow. I've been so amazed and so grateful and so thrilled - the art, the trailer, the comments, the people thinking about these characters and loving them along with me - I'm so lucky to have all of you. *hugs everyone* And now I have to figure out what to do with it, and how and where one even publishes this behemoth, and how to cut it into manageable book-length divisions...! Character Bleed Bonus Scenes, E, 25,697 words currently - there'll be one more chapter, of which I have about a sentence written. I know exactly what that is, too - Colby getting to top, albeit still with Jason giving some directions. :D The untitled Character Bleed sequel, which is Leo's story - not up on AO3 yet, though I might start that with at least the prologue, later today or tomorrow. But it's already up to 15,511 words, plus my outline... Ember and Serenity, E, 20,752 words currently - I added chapter 4 in 2019, so about +5k words in 2019, I think? I do have plans for this one. Oh yes. My librarian-magician and his book-thief...yes. And if you're wondering who hired Serenity, well, there already has been a clue... :D

A few little scenes, odds and ends, plot bunnies like that necromancer/prince opening...not sure what the word count is there, probably a couple thousand. ~~ Okay, I THINK that's everything! Which is...a lot of words. Character Bleed alone...wow. Just...wow. It's definitely tilted even more toward original fic this year, and I didn't finish 'rain on tin,' which means it's been over a year since I've touched that one, so I'll have to get back to it!

But I did get to go back and write a couple things for my old Cherik loves, plus at least some Stucky & Evanstan, so that felt good, and I'm super-excited about lots of those original fic accomplishments - Amazon sales rank, sheer length, fun with medievalism, Top Ten achievements, my first lesbian romance, and of course everything about Character Bleed, which is, I think, my favorite thing I've written - it's so real in my head, and it was so weirdly easy to write, despite the length! Thanks for reading! I hope your year is starting off splendidly. <3

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catscradlezine · 5 years

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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!

#bnhazine #boku no hero academia #my hero academia #zine #fanzine #info #ask

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ongshat · 4 years

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For a comprehensive list of most of my print work (not including magazine articles) see this list on Goodreads.

All my works dedicated to the memory of my dearly departed friends: The members of The Formless Ocean Group – Nina Graboi, Elizabeth Gips, Paddy Long, Betsy Herbert, and Robert Anton Wilson. Also to my departed friends: Dave, DW Cooper, Dr. Hyatt (Alan) and humdog.

PAST WORK

Beats In Time: A Literary Generation’s Legacy (Chapter 12 is my interview with Diane DiPrima) also to be included in Conversations with Diane di Prima to be published by the University Press of Mississippi, in 2021/22.

Transmedia: Who Invited the Lobsters Anyway?

Legend-Tripping Online: Supernatural Folklore and the Search for Ong’s Hat by Michael Kinsell – While clearly this is a book about my transmedia project it also includes a lot of things that I wrote as examples, so I include it here. Metamodernism, anyone?

Rebels and Devils: The Psychology of Liberation edited by Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D. introduced by S. Jason Black foreword by Nicholas Tharcher contributions by William S. Burroughs Joseph C. Lisiewski, Ph.D. Timothy Leary Ph.D., Robert Anton Wilson, Austin Osman Spare, Genesis P-Orridge, Aleister Crowley, Joseph Matheny, Peter J. Carroll, Israel Regardie, Jack Parsons, Phil Hine, Osho, and many others

Black Book Omega: CIRQUE APOKLYPSIS by Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D. Joseph Matheny, Nick Pell, Calvin Iwema, Wes Unruh, Antero Alli (more info here)

Contributor YouTube: An Insider’s Guide to Climbing the Charts (more info here)

Introduction to The Art of Memetics Aside: When I posted about this book on Greylodge, Seth Godin references the post as a good example of “How to write like a blogger“ This made me happy. 😉

Contributor/Editor:This is Not a Game: A Guide to Alternate Reality Gaming with Dave Szulborski (Excerpt here )I edited and contributed to : “This Is Not a Game” which was included in the annual Tween market report that went to marketing executives worldwide in the toy, gaming and youth market industries. Also, I appeared as myself/in character, in person, in the “Catching the Wish” ARG by Dave.

Third Realm (The Yellow King) Written and executed by me, produced in conjunction with Foolish People http://www.argn.com/2009/10/puzzles_for_the_apocalyps

4P2 My first foray into the True Crime arena. Formula: Just put up a single, spooky web page, that purports to be a recruitment drive for an organization whose actual existence is speculative at best and at worst is fiction presented as fact or paranoid, hysterical hand-waving in the interest of selling books and you will get all kinds of reactions. In all fairness, I think the theories mentioned read as good fantasy crime fiction and this was a conceptual attempt at that very thing. Apparently, it succeeded. The unnerving side of this was the equal amount of applications I received asking to join (Really? Join a group of underground serial killers? Really?) or outright death threats by people who really believe in such things. (Someone summed it up pretty well in this article from The Fenris Wolf)

the-fenriswolf-iss-no-4-pp-87-116 PDF Excerpt

El Centro & OMEGA This was a ARG/Transmedia style story with occult/horror/conspiracy elements, started in 2004 and ended in 2006. It utilized Web, print (booklet), radio, phone trees, theater and news wire services. [A version of the doughnut shop scene from this story was used in Amsterdam production of Terra: Extremitas by Foolish People.] This project was done in collaboration my late friend Dave Szulborski. There’s a LOOOOOONG story about this project. So long in fact that it will take up at least three chapters in an future book.

Contributor: What Would Bill Hicks Say with Ben Mack, Amelia the Great and Soft Skull Press (along with Jeff Danziger and Martyn Turner; writers Neal Pollack, Robert Newman, and A.L. Kennedy; and Thom Yorke of Radiohead and others…)

Contributor: 2004-2005 Exquisite Language project for the 2004 ELfest and collected in the Spring 2005 issue of of 2 Gyrlz Quarterly. NOW AVAILABLE AT POWELLS.COM

Introduction, afterward and editing for Poker Without Cards– First Edition. I orchestrated the first release campaign for this book, with the main character becoming “real”on the Internet for a while. After the first few months I turned it over to the author. (statement regarding this work here)

GALT’S ARK: The Black Symphony, First and Second Movements Produced by Cthulhu The Players: Joseph Matheny, Christopher S. Hyatt, Ph.D., Father Daniel Suders & Nicholas Tharcher Illustrated by S. Jason Black, Jonathan Sellers, Weirdpixie & MobiusFrame

THE BLACK BOOK Volume III, Part I

THE BLACK BOOK Volume III, Part II

(The Black Books are considered the workbooks for The Psychopath’s Bible, which I wrote an infamous jacket blurb for.)

The Incunabula: Ong’s Hat Project [ Reviews | Interviews, etc. | Wikipedia | History] This was a ARG/Transmedia style story started in 1988 and ended in 2001. It utilized zines, BBS, early Internet, Web, CD ROM, CD Audio, DVD, print (book, graphic novel and magazine), radio, phone trees, fax, and news wire services. I gained and leveraged exposure in both the mainstream and alternative media to distribute over 2 million copies of CD ROM, ebook and print versions of the story combined. Story elements from Ong’s Hat were also included in the EA Game, Majestic which unfortunately ended prematurely due to 9/11. It was the subject of a full 4 hour show on Coast to Coast AM, been the subject of an article on the Weekly World News and been covered on many radio shows world wide, books, newspapers, magazines, etc. Links to media here.

Description: “…a bizarre Internet phenomenon: an “immersive” online experience—part mystery, part game, part who knows what—known as both the Incunabula Papers and Ong’s Hat. The Incunabula Papers/Ong’s Hat was, or is, a “many-threaded, open-ended interactive narrative” that ”weds an alternate history of chaos science and consciousness studies to conspiracy theories, parallel dimensions, and claims that computer-mediated environments can serve as magical tools…. the documents provoked a widespread “immersive legend-trip” in the late 1990s. Via Web forums, participants investigated the documents—manifestos—which spun up descriptions of brilliant but suppressed discoveries relating to paths that certain scientists had forged into alternate realities. Soon, those haunted dimensions existed in the minds and fantasies of Ong’s Hat’s many participants. That was evident as they responded to the original postings by uploading their own—all manner of reflections and artifacts: personal anecdotes, audio recordings, and videos—to augment what became “a really immersive world, and it was vast”. – The Chronicle of Higher Education—-

“Ong’s Hat was more of an experiment in transmedia storytelling than what we would now consider to be an ARG but its DNA – the concept of telling a story across various platforms and new media- is evident in every alternate reality game that came after.” – Games Magazine 2013

Though Ong’s Hat may not have set out to be an ARG, the methods by which the author interacted with participants and used different platforms to build and spread its legend has been reflected in later games. –Know Your Meme

The Incunabula Papers are arguably the first immersive online legend complex that introduced readers to a host of content, including what religious historian Robert Ellwood has called the “alternative reality tradition. – Legend-Tripping Online: Supernatural Folklore and the Search for Ong’s Hat

As a companion piece to understanding some of the history of the transmedia work that centered around Ong”s Hat you may also want to read Legend-Tripping Online: Supernatural Folklore and the Search for Ong’s Hat, reviewed here.

The Incunabula Papers CDROM was recently included in the BNF (Bibliothèque nationale de France) digital art collection.

Game Over? (currently re-vamping this for re-release)…but if you just HAVE to have it now, someone is selling one for $900 over here. 😛

What Really Happened at Ong’s Hat?

The Incunabula Papers (CD ROM) Free ebook versions here

Incunabula: The Graphic Novel Free ebook version here

Why DVD? (B and N Digital Bestseller)

A booklet published in April-99

Over 100,000 in circulation to date

Available from booksellers nationwide in October reprinted by:

DVD Creation Magazine

Videography Magazine

(printed copy sent out with each issue – July,1999)

Video Systems magazine

and many others

Convergence 2000 (B and N Digital Bestseller) Free ebook version here

Covert Culture Sourcebook

Earth Dance 2000 (Video and DVD)

The Millennium Whole Earth Catalog

Transmedia Litany (with Genesis P’Orridge)

Thee psychick bible

esoterrorist (publisher)

My idea for an Exquisite Corpse jacket blurb using faxes. (WSB missed inclusion by a day). Used on Esoterrist

Banishing Ritual (cover) with Illusion of Safety (audio here)

The Last Book

Also contributed a few articles to Bob and Arlen Wilson’s Trajectories.

A write up I did about my old friend Rob Brezsny for disinfo.com

Interview that I did with with Beat poet and author Diane DiPrima

Nina Graboi Interview, bOING bOING, Number 8 (written under my nom de plume: Michael Kelly)

I’ve contributed articles to AlwaysOn and Adotas. I’ve contributed book, music, and movie reviews to Gnosis and Magical Blend in the past as well as the old Boing-Boing print magazine and Fringeware Review. Note, in the interest of full disclosure, I’d sometimes contribute more than one article or review to a single publication and to avoid the appearance of saturation, I’d use the pen name: Michael Kelly for some of the articles.

Writing For a comprehensive list of most of my print work (not including magazine articles) see this list on Goodreads…

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transtech-zine · 5 years

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Page 04:

CHARACTER BIOS

Cheetor – Supreme Commander

Not that long ago, Cheetor was an impulsive, speed-obsessed punk. Then he was forced to step up as a squad leader during the Battle of the Sparks. Now, for what he feels was merely being in the right place at the right time, Cheetor must face his most challenging role yet: leader of Cybertron. He doesn’t doubt that he’s still the fastest cat on two or four wheels; it’s the responsibility of running a planet that weighs heavy on his shoulders. After all, why should he and his team lead Cybertron just because they were the ones to liberate it?

Optimus Prime senses great potential in Cheetor, and has taken him on as a mentee – tutelage for which Cheetor is grateful. While he chafes when Optimus oversteps his bounds and starts giving his team orders, on some level he’d like to be that cocksure rookie again.

Under Optimus, Cheetor has honed his Transcendence ability. He no longer needs to dream to see a prophetic vision of the future; now his Transcendence allows him a flash of foresight. Combined with his super speed, this makes Cheetor a dangerous and evasive adversary in any combat situation.

Optimus Prime – Mentor

The legendary leader of the Autobots. Once, he singlehandedly ended the Great War by trapping himself and Decepticon High Command in the Millennia Dome, ensuring they would be suspended in time for all eternity… barring accidents. Now, Optimus Prime finds himself on an unfamiliar Cybertron, surrounded by new faces and old enemies. Allying himself with Cheetor’s squad of former Maximals, Optimus is committed to ensuring that Megatron’s forces do not shatter the peace that he has fought so long to establish.

After initial teething troubles, Optimus Prime has stepped out of the spotlight and into an advisory role, counselling Cheetor and the younger Autobots. In this capacity, Optimus is a veritable fount of wisdom, with four million years’ worth of battle experience under his belt. However, his charges sometimes find that his insight is more applicable to times of all-out warfare rather than the relative peace of Cybertropolis.

When called upon to battle, Optimus Prime is a force to be reckoned with. Upgrades during the Great War have maxed out his abilities, giving him above average strength, speed, and firepower. His Transcendence allows him to manifest hard light energy weapons, including his signature axe.

Transcendence

The Battle for the Sparks was the Maximals’ darkest hour. Optimus Primal and his team had managed to seize control of the Grand Mal, the Vehicon Megatron’s stronghold, and with it the lost sparks of every civilian on Cybertron. But they were outnumbered and outgunned, besieged by the Vehicons from all angles. Primal retreated to the sparks’ chamber, where the spiritualist beseeched the Oracle – the supercomputer at the heart of Cybertron – to grant him the wisdom and strength needed to defeat Megatron and bring balance to Cybertron. Speaking as one, the captive sparks granted the Maximals phenomenally boosted power and speed. For a time, this allowed them to have the upper hand over their Vehicon enemies, but their newfound abilities faded when Megatron cut their connection to the Oracle.

However, part of the Oracle’s power still lingers within Cheetor’s team, beginning to manifest in ways they cannot control. Optimus Prime recognises the effects; the ancient hero was similarly touched by the Oracle during the final phase of the Autobots’ war with the Decepticons. Under Optimus Prime’s tutelage, each of the former Maximals can begin to harness that power and channel it into a unique special ability.

I wanted to bring some of Beast Machines’ sense of graphic design to the page layouts in this zine. The font used for the headers is Neuropolitical, a wide font that screams 90s graphic design. Rounded rectangles are used in this section, as they are on Beast Machines’s cardbacks. The dotted and dashed lines in later pages are also from BM toy packages.

We start with a potted history of Cheetor. Following Beast Machines’ finale, which feels like a definitive ending, the question is, what happens next? The answer is: Cheetor gets anxiety. It’s easy to write a story where the hero wins and becomes the king of the land, but to me there’s always the lingering doubt that swashbuckling heroism is transferable experience to governing. Cheetor’s impostor syndrome is deliberately evocative of the G1 cartoon’s version of Rodimus Prime, including an episode where he gets to be young and reckless again.

There isn’t much of a close-up look at Cheetor’s head in extant Transtech concepts. Notoriously, pictures of his toy prototype lack his finished robot mode. As I’d intended to digibash said toy back into existence, I had to pick a pre-existing head to model his appearance on, so I chose his relatively obscure Titanium Series toy. It’s not made clear in the credits, but I drew all the character profile art.

With Cheetor in the main hero role, Optimus Prime has to become a mentor. This is patterned after the Robots in Disguise 2015 cartoon, where Optimus returns to life and finds himself at odds with Bumblebee’s leadership.

“Barring accidents” is a Doctor Who quote, for some reason.

At once stage I was committed to referring to the character as “Optimus Prime”, never “Optimus” nor “Prime” alone. I’m glad I dropped that.

Look at me, retconning both Cheetor’s prophetic dreams and Optimus’ energo-axe into manifestations of the same ability. It’s like poetry, it rhymes.

When my brother proofread an earlier draft of this zine, he fed back that Transcendence was quickly glossed over in the overview without ever being clearly explained what it was and who could use it. I added this additional section in here; while not strictly a character bio, it does allow me a consistent three profiles per page.

EDIT: Just over a year later, the fan-run unofficial continuation of Ask Vector Prime here on tumblr would retcon Transcendence as a variant of Masterforce’s Chōkon Power, giving it the name Kijūchōkon, roughly meaning “Machine Beast Super Soul Power”. Transtech is shonen now

#Transformers #Transtech

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songofwizardry · 5 years

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wolfstar teacher!au, part 2: the other marauders

part 1 of my wolfstar teacher!au that I posted an embarrassingly long time ago (you can find it here) got way, waaay more attention than I was expecting it to, so here y’all go: part 2, the backstory for Sirius, James and Peter, and how they all ended up in and around Hogwarts. Feat. our faves, Fleamont and Euphemia Potter! as always, enjoy and let me know what y’all think! [content warning: parental queerphobia/abuse/implied awfulness in bullet points 3 to 6.] ☆------------------------☆------------------------☆

So let’s talk about where our faves, the rest of the Marauders, are.

Being posh af, both James Potter and Sirius Black attended Hogwarts from the time they started secondary school.

Originally from London, Sirius is the kid of Orion, a Senegalese diplomat who was posted in London right at the start of his career, and Walburga, oldest daughter of a Ghanaian-French high-society couple, who moved from Paris to London when she was a child.

Sirius’ interactions with their family headed straight towards disastrous very quickly—during their initial years at Hogwarts, Sirius’ rebellion got more and more noticeable, all number of increasingly-terse letters and increasingly-angry phone calls were exchanged during term-time, and summers got increasingly-awful every year. This culminated in Sirius being outed, in a horrible, dramatic, and very teen-TV-drama-very-special-queer-episode-esque way at one am one night, the summer between their fifth and sixth years.

The ensuing conversation (‘I will not tolerate anything – anyone – of that sort under my roof!’ / ‘Well that’s fucking fine, isn’t it, because I won’t be under your roof!’ / ‘You’re doing this to yourself, Sirius, remember that—we’re not kicking you out. You’re making this choice.’ / ‘Oh yes, just one in a long string of things I’ve chosen to do, things I’ve chosen to be, isn’t it? Fine, then, I’m choosing to leave.’) meant that Sirius walked out of Grimmauld Place at about two-thirty in the morning, with only their coat, their mobile that was on twenty percent charge, and their ‘emergencies’ bag that they’d had for years now (it didn’t contain much more than several old cereal bars, about a hundred quid in change that a much-younger Sirius had squirrelled away, and a scrap of paper, dating back to first year, with James’ home number and his address scrawled on in messy handwriting that was definitely not Sirius’).

More than slightly out of it, Sirius ended up walking to the end of the road, called a cab to drive them across London in the middle of the night, paid the ludicrous eighty-something pound fare in mostly one- and two-pound coins, and finally, at about four in the morning, stood in front of the Potters’ house and called their landline.

(It was James’ dad who picked up, James’ dad who insisted Just call me Monty, now, none of that, whenever Sirius referred to him as Mr. Potter, James’ dad who’d given Sirius a hug the second time they’d met and whose glasses were somehow, impossibly, even more crooked than James’ own. When he picked up the phone, his voice was thicker, accent broader, with sleep; and Sirius, suddenly horribly unsure, crumpled the ancient note from James in one fist and said, “Hey, uh, Mr. Potter? I’ve—well, I’ve left my house, I’m—outside yours? Can I come in?”)

That was how Sirius, short of everything but legal adoption, ended up a Potter child, had their diet switched to one that suddenly contained far too many rotis, and was introduced by James solely as his sibling, with an associated glare that dared anyone to question it.

After Hogwarts, Sirius’ deep-seated desire to not return to London manifested in them running off to St. Andrews to do a fine art degree. Mrs. Potter, who had been looking forward to having the children not be off in Scotland, was slightly disappointed, but she responded by instead posting Sirius numerous packages of fancy teabags, because Mrs. Potter (rightfully) believed that in the absence of being actually there to fuss over someone, the next best alternative was to provide them with tea.

While Sirius was off being artsy as fuck, James Potter was off… also being pretty artsy. In a move that made Monty raise his eyebrows and quietly wonder how he’d ended up with not one, but two children doing creative arts, James stayed closer to home, went to Reading, and read English and Creative Writing. It took staying on for a Master’s for James to decide he’d had enough of academia, and of the overwhelming whiteness of English departments, for a bit, and to decide that he wanted A Break, and also a source of income that wasn’t a student loan. Enter Sirius.

James had been off being pretty unemployable, while Sirius was being… slightly more employable. A couple years volunteering during their degree had led them to the shocking realisation that holy shit, they liked teaching people about artsy shit. Their only problem was that nobody (short of the Potter parents, but Sirius wasn’t keen on taking more money from them) wanted to fund an art teacher. A year out of uni, with a year of mixed work and volunteering under their belt – leading museum tours, art therapy at kids’ hospitals, one particularly fantastic weekend spent spray-painting with a youth group in Manchester, pretty much anything they could get their hands on that had ‘art’ and ‘young people’ in the description – Sirius heard, through the grapevine, that Trelawney had finally retired.

On a whim, they called up Hogwarts. The conversation with Dumbledore went something like this: ‘I haven’t got a teaching qualification, sir, but I do have a full year of experience–‘ / ‘We’re an independent school, Sirius, we don’t exactly need the qualification. Anyway, an art degree and some experience is more than Sibyl had when she started, so why don’t you send an application along to me, hmm?’

Hogwarts got back to Sirius quickly, which is how, a week later, they called up James, saying, “Hey, you know how you wanted a break from uni and all that shit? How do you feel about moving to Hogsmeade with me?”

It was a completely impractical decision. James, unlike Sirius, didn’t have a job offer there, didn’t have plans, he only had the sudden realisation that he’d kinda missed living with Sirius, and his pretty-unshakeable confidence that things would always turn out the way they were meant to.

He said yes.

Which is how, two years down the road, we find the two of them here—living opposite The Three Broomsticks in a small house, one bedroom on the bottom floor and one on the top, that’s owned by Rosmerta.

Sirius is an established figure at Hogwarts, where they’re a bit of a student favourite and have acquired a reputation for being slightly chaotic (possibly because they once let a stressed year eleven class decorate the wall of the art classroom, spray-painting it with the words No such thing as bad art!).

James, being a bit too posh to have ever done the unemployed-grad thing of waiting tables, is a triple-threat freelancer instead—he writes fortnightly book reviews, which often end up with a bit of a commentary on The Human Condition, for eccentric magazine The Quibbler; he contributes regularly to Parivaar, an online artsy zine/website/collective that started up in Birmingham but has now got contributors across the UK and readers across the world, that describes itself as art, fiction, and opinions by and for desi rebels, misfits and weirdos; and, because Hogsmeade is small, he does the marketing and runs the social media for The Three Broomsticks—which isn’t much work, considering how small it is, but at least he can ensure the fifty-odd people, mostly students, who follow @3BroomsticksPub only see grammatically-perfect tweets.

The Potter parents are… slightly concerned about James’ rather non-traditional sources of income, but Euphemia reads The Quibbler and can’t deny he writes very well, and he says he’s fine and no, the two of them don’t need any help with the rent, thank you very much, so they tut a bit from afar and perhaps still send them too many teabags, and load both James and Sirius up with a frankly ridiculous number of tupperware containers full of curry and roti when they come visit.

This is when James and Sirius meet Peter Pettigrew.

It’s a rainy evening in late March. The two of them have, earlier that day, just come back up from London, where they spent the weekend with James’ parents, who wanted to see him for his birthday. They’re now in the Three Broomsticks, because that’s what they do—Sirius is nursing a pint, hair up in a bun, sketching out an idea for a mural—they’ve convinced Dumbledore that the third-floor corridor that students insist is haunted by the spirit of a giant, three-headed dog is in need of a rebrand before another generation of first-years gets pranked by being trapped in there and is scarred for life. James has lemonade and is watching Sirius, recounting the many tales of the three-headed dog he heard during his time at Hogwarts, including the one story that claims the spirit is called Fluffy. This is when they see Peter.

Anyone new at The Three Broomsticks sticks out when it’s not a student visit weekend, and this short white guy, his hair and coat and rucksack wet from the rain, is no exception. He looks damp and cold and rather lost and lonely, sitting at a corner table with a drink, so James, being Euphemia and Monty’s son and thus, genetically speaking, destined to be the ultimate mother hen, decides to go over to him and offer to buy him some of Rosmerta’s excellent, and very warming, tomato soup. That’s just what James does, and Sirius is used to it at this point, so they only watch, amused, as James drags the sodden stranger over to join their table.

Introductions are made, and they learn that Peter, who was born in Shropshire, trained to be a nurse in Shropshire, and until very recently, worked in Shropshire, had finally left Shropshire – for good – for Hogsmeade, because his Mum had died earlier that year and he couldn’t stay in the same house. Through the NHS friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend grapevine, he’d ended up finding a job at St. Mungo’s Hospital, a few towns over, and was moving in with a woman he’d only spoken to on the phone, a Lily Evans—she was also a friend-of-a-friend found through the same grapevine, lived further down in Hogsmeade, towards the Hog’s Head, and had recently also started work at St. Mungo’s, and needed someone to split the rent with. In short, Peter explains, draining the very last of the admittedly-incredible tomato soup, everything feels like a bit of a mess, and he would really like to take a nap for about a week.

Aforementioned mother hen, James, is appropriately horrified and sympathetic at Peter’s plight, and declares himself and Sirius Peter’s “official guides” to life in Hogsmeade and settling in.

It’s only a few short months after this – a few months during which Peter hangs out with James and Sirius regularly at The Three Broomsticks, they meet his housemate Lily, and Sirius lets the leavers’ class, slightly dead after all their exams, help paint a giant mural on the third-floor corridor that features a surprisingly-cute three-headed ghost dog, with the Hogwarts crest and the word FLUFFY on its collar – that Sirius hears about The New Teacher.

At this point, they’re kinda used to the disaster that is the state of physics teaching at Hogwarts. It’s early in the summer, and they’re vaguely aware that Flitwick is running interviews again, only because it’s the talk of the staff room and the entire science department have looked like they’re on the verge of breakdown since Moody, or as they call it in the staff room, The Iraqi Plane Incident.

That weekend, though, they run into Flitwick in Gladrags, where Flitwick is searching, as always, for trousers that will fit his small frame, and Flitwick takes one look at them, grins, and says, “Sirius! We found someone! He’s called Lupin, he’s got an actual physics degree, and, consider this, he seems decent!”

And that is the first thing Sirius Black hears about Remus Lupin.

#wolfstar #harry potter #wolfstar au #remus lupin #sirius black #teacher!au #everyone is gay #james potter #peter pettigrew #desi james potter #euphemia potter #fleamont potter #james potter is the ultimate mother hen #lily evans #gay remus lupin #queer sirius black #this au is getting out of hand #repost because typos

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yoiangstzine · 5 years

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Mobile FAQ

About the project:

Namida is an inclusive Yuri on Ice zine focusing on ‘angst’ and ‘hurt/comfort’.

Namida is the Japanese word for tears. Hurt/comfort and ‘angst’ is a common trope in fan works… for good reason! Both making and creating work with an emotional impact can be a helpful way to process or release emotions. Sometimes we all need a good cry.

Inclusive means that everyone who submits and application will be able to participate in the zine. There will be no judging. Because of the scale of this project, participants will not be paid. Their work will be considered a donation, and all sales of the zine will benefit The Trevor Project.

About The Charity:

The Trevor Project is a non-profit phone and chat suicide prevention hotline for LGTBIA+ youth based in the United States.

The Trevor Project is rated 4 out of 4 stars on CharityNavigator.com

More from Charitynavigator.org:

The Trevor Project is the leading and only accredited national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under the age of 25.

The Trevor Project offers a suite of crisis intervention and suicide prevention programs, including TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, and TrevorChat as well as a peer-to-peer social network support for LGBTQ young people under the age of 25, TrevorSpace. Trevor also offers an education program with resources for youth-serving adults and organizations, a legislative advocacy department fighting for pro-LGBTQ legislation and against anti-LGBTQ rhetoric/policy positions, and conducts research to discover the most effective means to help young LGBTQ people in crisis and end suicide.

If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, our Trevor Lifeline crisis counselors are available 24/7/365 at 866.488.7386. www.TheTrevorProject.org

Who are the Mods?

@creme13rulee and her IRL best friend @imandarr (on Twitter) and TheBookeWyrme

I have published @wordstudyzine. Outside of YOI, I’ve raised over $1200 running past events (prom and another dance) for Washingtonstuck, which at the time was a 1000+ member Homestuck fan group in my home state. I formerly was on the mod team. I’ve also organized one-day cons (Pancon) in Seattle and a few Christmas parties in the past. I love planning events! I have not planned in-person events lately as I work in a Title 1 (high-poverty) special needs classroom and my spare cash for rental has been going to activities for my kiddos.

My etsy is here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/cremebrulee My tumblr, Ao3 and twitter are all under @creme13rulee @mandarr has been my best friend for over a decade. She’s spent her entire life volunteering and working to help others.She is now a board member of a youth service organization we are both past members of. She is a traditional artist and has had her art featured at Jet City Comic Show, local murals and Ever free, a MLP convention. She is an amazing leader, hard worker and my platonic better half. I dragged her into the YOI fandom. She is currently an artist for multiple writers in the Victuuri Fluff bang and has made art for my fic Deep Within my Bones and co-written a fanfic with me.

You can find her on Twitter and Facebook (Mandarrart) and her website here http://www.visualartsservices.com

@thebookewyrme loves reading and writing fluff angst and smut and creates amazing podfics! Meet her in the project Discord and check our her social media!

Follow them at @thebookewyrme (Tumblr, Pillowfort, Dreamwidth)

Twitter @LiaWolff

AO3 TheBookewyrmeWritesFic

How will the zine work?

Namida will be primarily released as a PDF sold on our bigcartel website. 100% of the proceeds will go toward the Trevor Project.

The zine will also be available in print through Lulu.com.

To keep it affordable, the zine will be divided into ‘volumes’ of roughly 100 pages. Participants will be notified of which volume their piece will be included in. Those participating in the zine will be able to buy a copy at-cost from Lulu.com. The general public will be able to buy print copies directly from Lulu.com with a set donation added to the cost.

Why is the print version through lulu.com?

Lulu.com is a Print-on-Demand marketplace we have used in the past. Using Lulu.com enables us to run a large project and still enable participants to see their own work in print form.

People who buy from Lulu.com will be able to get their book shipped within 7 business days at a cheaper shipping rate than what is available to the public.

Using the Marketplace also allows the zine to collect money for the Trevor Project without having to worry about preorder issues with Paypal that other projects have encountered in the past.

Will there be merch?

Due to the potential scale of an open zine, we are not planning to offer merch as part of the project. We encourage you to check out any shops that zine participants may own!

General Participant Requirements/Rules:

Fiction (and art) can be cathartic to read/see. The main idea of the zine is to get a cry and feel good at the end. Hurt/comfort angst, or ‘angst with a happy ending’ is encouraged.

If there is enough interest, there will be a section for works that may not have a guaranteed happy ending.

Being dark for the sake of being dark is discouraged. Please explore difficult themes carefully and with respect.

Pieces with tough subject matter should be ‘tagged’ with appropriate warnings, even if they may spoil the story.

Any characters in romantic or explicit/sexual situations must be obviously 18 years or over [by age and appearance.]

No non-con (non-consensual)/rape, underage or child abuse please.

We reserve the right to ask you to change your idea, or refrain from adding it to the project if it is deemed inappropriate.

Writer requirements:

Any type of previously unpublished prose up to 5,000 words.(No minimum)

Word count can be split between pieces (e.g. poems) but they should be cohesive (belong to each other) and be a stand alone story. (No continuation or prequels to existing fanfic)

Artist requirements:

8.5x11/ Letter size format (2550 pixels wide and 3300 pixels tall)

300 DPI digital art or high-quality scan/photo

Formatted for RBG

Comics -> 5 pages or less, formatted as above

Are we allowed to do AU (Alternate Universes?)

Yes!

Can we collaborate?

Yes! There will be a channel for collabing in the Discord. It will be up to participants to find someone to work with by Check-in 1.

Can I sign up as a writer and artist?

Yes. You can have both roles!

What pairings/ships can we do?

Namida is open to all pairings/ships, as long as any romantic/explicit content features characters at least 18 years old or older.

How can I apply? Applications will open January 1st 2019 and close on the 31st at this link:

https://goo.gl/forms/F799OXkht2RD8fi23

How do I know you got my application?

You should receive a confirmation email from Google forms. Occasionally Google acts up. If you do not get an email feel free to DM/email us to check. Please include the email/username you used to apply!

Do I have to submit a sample/ spotlight piece?

Since it is a open project, there is no judging. The link you submit is a highlight of your favorite work to be featured along with your social media information.

It is not required. If you don’t submit a link or otherwise contact us, I will assume you do not want a spotlight post. You will still be announced as a contributor and featured in the zine regardless!

What are the requirements for the spotlight?

YOI Related, Safe for Work and easily copied/downloaded from the link. Work can be published or unpublished. If its unpublished (not on Ao3 or FF.net) then we will post it in whole on the spotlight piece.)

You can contact us through our tumblr, twitter (@yoiangstzine ), Discord (cremexbrulee#1430, TheBookewyrme#6691 or Mandarr#9986) or at [email protected]

#mobile faq

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ardett · 6 years

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What’s Promised

Description: Matt finds his way as time ticks down to his acceptance to the Garrison.

OR a series of vignettes full of promises made and promises kept.

Author’s Note: Written for the @vldmattzine!

I'm decently pleased with this fic and I was honored to be a part of this zine! The finished product was really beautiful and if you didn't get to grab a copy, please enjoy this!

As always, feel free to check it out on Ao3!

Matt is five when Katie is born.

He’s small, his handprints miniature compared to his dad’s, and the kitchen counter still towers above him, but Katie is even smaller. And chubbier. He pokes her cheek a couple of times in the cradle before his mother gently reprimands him. She says he looked like this when he was born too, soft and round. He doesn’t know if he believes her.

“Ka-tie… Katie.” He tries her name out loud. She doesn’t look like a Katie. She just looks… pudgy. “Pi- Pudgy,” he pouts. His mother ruffles his hair and he squeaks, ducking away.

“Come on, Matthew, let Katie get some sleep.” She guides him towards the door.

“When are we going to be able to play together?” Matt glances back at the cradle where a contented gurgle sounds. He thought for sure he would at least get a playmate out of this, but she’s too tiny to do anything fun. She can’t even talk yet. All he’s heard so far is blubbery giggles and the occasional whine.

His mother laughs. “Not for a while, baby. Don’t hold your breath.”

The first time Matt holds Katie, he’s struck by how warm she is. She radiates her own bubble of heat. Their mother reminds him to support the head and he does as she nuzzles against him. Her tiny, pudgy fingers grasp at his clothes. There’s so much life in her, even as small as she is. Her eyes are big and blinking, her breaths a bit weezy, and ever so gently against his chest, he feels her heartbeat.

He smiles and thinks that even though he wanted a brother, a baby sister might be even better.

Matt can recite his four times tables forwards and backwards.

He’s working on his times tables up to ten forwards and backwards now but he doesn’t have anyone to practice with. He tries to practice with a classmate during recess but the other boy just looks at him strangely. He says they’ve only learned up to three.

Matt asks his teacher about it later, while everyone is grabbing their coats from their cubbies.

“I want to make sure you’re being challenged, Matthew,” she says. “You should be learning new things in school. If you already know it, there’s no need to keep quizzing you on it.”

“But…” His brow scrunches. “But other people aren’t taking the same quiz I am?”

“There are a few kids in other classes taking the same quizzes as you. But it’s true, most of your peers aren’t.”

“But their quiz is easier. That’s not fair!” He pouts and wrinkles up his nose.

“It’s not easier for them. Multiplication is as hard for them as division is for you. Does that make sense, Matthew?”

“No,” he frowns.

“Hmm, tell you what.” His teacher jots something down on a piece of paper. “I’ll call your family later, okay? They’ll be able to explain it to you a little better than I can.”

“What?” Matt’s hands grips the edge of the desk. “But I didn’t do anything wrong! Why do you have to call my parents?”

The bell rings a second time and his teacher gets up from her desk to bring them out to their buses. “You’re not in trouble,” she says as she shoos him towards his coat. “I’m just going to discuss some things with your parents to make sure we’re all on the same page. Okay?”

Matt nods, even though he doesn’t really get it, and works on his division tables on the bus ride home to distract himself.

They do talk about it when Matt gets home.

“So your teacher called today, Matt,” his dad says, glancing up from where he cuts another piece of chicken.

Matt almost bursts into frustrated tears right there. Instead, he only stabs at his food and mutters, “I didn’t do anything.”

“Hey, buddy. We know you didn’t do anything.” His dad leans down to meet Matt’s downcast eyes and sticks out his tongue once they make eye contact. Matt laughs despite himself. “That’s not what this is about. So you wanted to know why you’ve been taking different tests than the other kids in your class, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Your brain just works a little bit differently than your classmates. Some things, like maybe math, come easier to you than other people.”

“Now,” his mom interjects. “That doesn’t mean anyone is less than you are. Everyone’s good at different things. Some kids might be really good at sports. Some kids are good at art. Being smart certainly isn’t anything to be ashamed of but remember that being kind is the most important thing you can be.”

“I know, mom,” Matt grumbles.

At the end of the year, the school asks Matt and his family if they want to accelerate him but, in all her kindergarten prowess, Katie protests, “No! I’m going to catch up! It’s not fair if Matt gets even more ahead.”

Matt agrees and Katie gives him a huge smile.

Matt hasn’t slept in three days.

His computer is mocking him, cursor just blinking and blinking until the screen dims and he moves his mouse to wake it again. He’s only typed three new words. He has to write at least another paragraph tonight.

Why do you want to attend the Galaxy Garrison? the application reads.

He holds back a groan and leans back in his chair, rubbing at his burning eyes. He almost wants to write, my dad works here, you have to accept me, but he can’t be that obnoxious and pretentious. He really does want to attend the Garrison but putting it down in words is like prying out his ribs one by one. Awful.

Finally, he turns to his still unfinished math homework. At least that should come easy to him.

It doesn’t. He can’t even do math correctly. How could he ever think he had a chance at the Garrison? Even if he gets in, they’ll crush him.

The lead of his pencil snaps.

Matt growls through his teeth and clicks the top for more lead for almost a minute before realizing the mechanical pencil must have run out of graphite. He roots through his bag (too aggressively) and throws the case of extra lead on his desk. He rips off the cap (too violently) and sticks of lead scatter across the table’s surface and spill onto the floor.

This time, he actually does scream. He slams his head into the desk. There are footsteps in the hall and the creak of his door opening. He doesn’t look up.

“Matt? Are you doing alright, honey?” He screws his eyes shut as he feels his face heating up. “Matthew?”

“I’m fine,” he chokes out, and there is it, the first tear. When it becomes clear his mom isn’t going to leave, he lifts his head. He swipes at his eyes and mutters again, “I’m fine. You don’t have to stay.”

His mom walks closer. “Why don’t you take a break? You’ve been working on this for weeks now.”

“And it’s still not done, mom! I need to…” A frustrated snarl escapes him as more tears drip down his face. “I just need to finish this.”

He doesn’t resist as his mom leans down to hug him. It makes the tears come even faster until his throat starts to burn and ache. “Dad’s going to think I’m so stupid,” he whispers into her shirt.

“Neither of us thinks you’re stupid.” She kisses the top of his head.

“But what if I don’t get in?”

“Then you don’t get in. You’ll go somewhere else and you’ll have a wonderful life and you’ll do great things. And we’ll still be proud of you.”

Matt smiles, still a small and fragile thing, and pulls away. He rubs at his cheeks with his sleeve. “I just… I want to go there so bad,” he confesses.

“I know, baby. But for tonight, why don’t you try and get some sleep? You can try again tomorrow, okay?” She taps on his desk.

“Okay,” Matt agrees.

The funny thing is he can’t fall asleep. He’s trying. He’s been trying for two hours. And all he’s really been doing is laying down on his bed, staring at those stupid, completely inaccurate glow-in-the-dark stars on his ceiling, and thinking about how much he wants to fly among them.

For years and years, he’s heard his dad recount his adventures. Missions to the moon and watching the world from so far above and glimpsing solar flares lick panes of reinforced glass. He wants desperately to be a part of something greater, something bigger than the world itself, and he knows he has to leave the bounds of this planet to do it.

As his eyes drift closed, the glowing stars wink at him. Maybe they’re making a promise.

The two of them have spent their lives together. The Holt siblings: the menaces, the geniuses, the inseparable.

Matt never minded when Katie hung out with him and his friends. She’s as witty and funny as the best of them. It never felt like the babysitting it started out as. Once Katie gets older though, his friends start to question it.

Isn’t she old enough to stay home alone? Does your little sister have to sleep over too? It’s not that we don’t like her, man, she’s great, but doesn’t she have her own friends?

The last comment makes Matt pause. Of course she has friends. He can’t imagine why someone wouldn’t want to be friends with Katie. But… she never has any friends over. She never talks about her friends. He’s never even seen her with other kids from her school.

Matt bites his lip. That can’t be right. There’s got to be something he’s missing.

His friends invite him over to watch a movie a few days later and when Katie asks if she can come to, Matt inquires as casually as he can, “Maybe you want to go over to one of your friends’ houses. You never seem to hang out with them.”

Only silence answers him. Matt glances up to see Katie’s fingers paused over her keyboard. She swallows and goes back to typing. “Nah, they’re all busy,” she says.

“Yeah?”

“Yep.” Katie doesn’t look up.

“I mean… I’m just asking because I feel like I never see you hanging out with anyone in your grade, you know?”

Katie slams her laptop closed and Matt jumps. “Look, if you don’t want me there, just tell me!”

“W- What?” Matt stammers but Katie is already storming from the room. “Katie! Katie, come on!”

Matt curses under his breath with a groan, running his hands down his face. He really messed up this time, didn’t he? (Did he? He doesn’t even know what set her off.)

He flinches as he hears Katie’s door bang shut and the house rattles along with it. He finally gets to his feet and makes his way to Katie’s room. He knocks first but there’s no answer.

“Katie?” Matt sighs into the silence and leans his head against the door. “Katie, I didn’t mean it like that. I want you there. I really do. I love hanging out with you. You’re, like, the smartest person I know. I just want to make sure you have friends, which I know sounds so stupid, but… You have other friends, right? Other than me and my friends?” Matt waits, before asking again, “Katie?”

“I have friends, Matt! Just go away already!” She sounds a bit more watery than Matt had hoped but he doesn’t know what else to do. So he leaves it.

Matt privately wonders how to fix this while he lays awake in his bed until his door creaks open. He sits up, eyes widening at the sight of Katie. She’s rubbing at her eyes and at first he thinks it’s because of sleepiness but as she comes closer, it’s clear she’s crying.

“Matt?” she whispers. She crawls onto his bed as he sits there, frozen and useless. “I lied.”

A shock of cold spears through his heart. All he can seem to muster is a, “Hm?” but she barrels on.

“I- I don’t have any friends. They all h-hate me and they think I’m such a nerd and the only time they ever want to talk with me is when we have group projects-”

“Katie.”

“-and it’s just cause they want me to do all the work and then when I don’t do it they say that’s why they hate me and now you don’t even want to be around me so it must just be me-”

“Katie!” Matt grabs her shoulders and Katie jolts. “I want to be around you. I love spending time with you.” She looks away. “No, I mean it. No one else gets quantum frequencies like you do, right?” She laughs a little at that and Matt smiles before it turns again to a frown. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Katie curls into herself. “Because you have friends. And it’s just… It’s more complicated than that. I’ve spent my whole life trying to catch up to you, accelerated classes, skipping grades, and it makes all the other kids hate me even more. And I didn’t even catch up! You’re going to leave and then I’m really going to be alone!”

“Well, we don’t know-” Matt tries.

“Come on, you’re getting in. And I want you to. I know it’s your dream. I don’t want you to have to worry about your stupid younger sister.”

“Don’t say that. You’re a lot of things but you’re definitely not stupid.”

“Thanks,” Katie scoffs. “I don’t know. It’s just… hard.”

“It gets easier. When kids are your age, they’re insecure, you know? You make them nervous. I actually used to eat lunch with my guidance counselor instead of in the cafeteria.”

“Really?” Katie sniffles and Matt feels like a failure of an older brother.

“Yeah, really. I didn’t meet my friends until middle school.”

“So I have to wait.”

“I guess. But you’ll be okay.” Matt pulls her in for a hug and she lays on his chest for a few seconds before wrapping her arms around him and returning the embrace. Matt doesn’t know what else to say but as he gently strokes her hair and hugs her a little tighter, he hopes this is enough.

“Alright. Thanks, Matt.” Katie untangles herself and gets up, wiping away the last of her tears. She pauses right before she exits the room. “I just want you to know… I’m going to be okay. If you get in and have to leave. I mean, it’s going to suck for a little bit but I can handle it. And then I’m going to meet you at the Garrison.”

Matt doesn’t need a pinkie promise to believe her.

In the mail, Matt receives one acceptance letter. (And at home, Matt has to say one goodbye.)

Matt doesn’t even read the rest of the letter from the Garrison. He’s starts crying, crying, as he reads the header that says, Congratulations! His mother snatches the paper from him as he buries his head in his hands but it’s tears of relief coursing down his face.

“Oh my god,” he whispers into his palms. His mom honest-to-god squeals and hugs him, knocking him out of his shock. “Mom,” he grumbles but a smile creeps onto his face as it hits him.

He made it in. He’s going to the Galaxy Garrison.

“I knew you could do it.” His mom brushes a hand against his cheek before pulling away. She claps her hands, grabbing her phone from the counter. “We have to tell your dad! He’s going to be so proud.”

He is. He promises to them that even though he won’t be able to make it to Matt’s graduation, he’ll be the first one to greet him when he arrives at the Garrison. “It’ll be good to have another Holt around,” he says.

Katie takes it much better than Matt thought she would. It’s been another bad day at school, he can tell, but as he shares the news, he sees the fire light in her eyes. This only motivates her further.

Summer comes and goes faster than Matt can ever remember. His things are slowly packed into boxes, clothes and photos and books and tangled headphones. Saying goodbye to his home is much more sweet than bitter. He can feel the stars nearly at his fingertips, so close, and he’s ready to reach out and grab his future.

Katie and his mom drive him down to the Garrison. Hugs are exchanged as his dad greets them at the gate. Boxes are moved and furniture is shuffled about. He looks out the window of his new room, the realization that this is his life now hitting him hard.

He breathes deeply and smiles.

Katie lingers after their mom goes to start the car, the goodbye sticking in both of their throats. Her toes draw circles in the dirt and she holds her hands behind her back, gaze fixed on the ground.

“I’m going to miss you,” she finally mumbles.

“I’m gonna miss you too, Pidge.”

She huffs a laugh, muttering, “Don’t call me that.” The smile fades a bit. “Seriously though, I am going to miss you. Don’t forget to email or call or something.”

“I will. I promise.”

“Okay.” Katie finally meets his eyes. “This is only goodbye for now. Not for long. Because I’m going to catch up.” She jabs at his chest to emphasize her point. “Just wait.”

Matt grins and nods. He pulls her in for one last tight hug before she goes to follow their mom.

As they drive away from the Garrison, Matt sees Katie mouth, See you soon.

To the wind, he whispers, “I know.”

#voltron #vld #matt holt #katie holt #origin story #thewar

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takemyhandzine · 6 years

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Guest Artist Hero Profile: Cherriielle

About:

Cherriielle [tumblr]

Hello hello! I'm Ella, and I'm a 17 year old digital artist from Canada. I'm taking business in university (woo economics and marketing!) and I also play the piano! I've actually only been making BNHA content for 3 months, but it's honestly been the best fandom experience I've had thus far. And of course, being given the chance to draw two of my favourite boys makes it even better!

Quirk:

2D to 3D! This quirk gives the user the ability to create physical objects from images simply by touching them. The larger the object is, the more energy it takes to create it. Both organic and non-organic objects can be made, but sentient creatures cannot! If an attempt is made to create a person or being, the result will be distorted and rather horrifying.

Drawings have spotty chances of perfection depending on the level of detail, but pictures have 100% functionality.

Sample of Art: (reposted with permission)

Want to join the Hero Team along with @cherriielle? Don’t wait and miss your chance to apply for the Take My Hand Zine!

ARTIST APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN

#hero profile #takemyhandzine #kiribaku #bakushima #bnha #bnha zine #bnhaevents

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styleemag · 7 years

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1000 years by your art

Viola aka @pitypagn aka @faheej is a 16 year old SHINee lover, currently living and studying in Budapest. Being a prolific and extremely talented young artist, she has something yet to draw and say about her ultimate K-pop favourite - 5HINee.

Tell us, please, about SHINee Fanzine project. How did the idea emerge? Who are the participants? How is the process organized? ^▽^

The fanzine started with a tweet by my friend Gib (Twitter @cat__boy ). He wanted to participate in a SHINee themed zine but there wasn’t any around, so he thought of creating one. (By the way, it would be really nice if more zines and artist collabs were organised in the fandom! We haven’t seen many collaboration zines, mostly individual artists’ artbook and older theme collabs by korean shawols that hasnt happened in a while.) I messaged Gib that i would support the idea and so did his friend Flo (Twitter @omjkt_), and we became an admin team of three. For our theme, we went with something I had in my mind since April; a project that celebrates SHINee’s 10th anniversary by making a collection of fanarts themed around their songs. The name ‘10 years by your side’ is also referring to their song '1000年、ずっとそばにいて・・・’ (1000 Years Always By Your Side).

Gib and Flo organised the technical aspects like choosing a printing shop, looking up printing requirements, shipping options, setting up a Tumblr page with all the necessary information, asking a friend to translate to korean and making the actual application form. It’s a big work and involves a lot of discussion, so I’m glad we could work it out; three is a good number for organising a zine, especially for first-timers like us as we can discuss and ask each other things effectively, split up work, point out things that the others forgot and such.

About the participants; we decided to invite some artists and open applications as well. We came up with a list of about 20 people — mostly SHINee fanartists known in the fandom — who we would like to work with and simply invited them through Twitter. It was a really rewarding part of the organisation process as it got me to talk to some of my mutuals i really look up to but we haven’t talked because of language barriers; someone whose art I really adore actually told me I made their day with the invitation and I found out we’re birthday twins with another artist! Also, good language exercise, hehe. While inviting artists, we also promoted our application page, where we received over 120 replies (which is incredible) and ended up choosing 15 artists from them, making our number 36 with admins.

To distribute the songs, we made a document of the list of songs we wanted to include in the zine (so they make a coherent timeline of SHINee’s music and visual concepts through the years) and sent it to artists so they can sign up to the song(s) they would like to draw, or add others that they had in mind. Currently, everyone is working on their pieces and us admins are in the making of the design of the printed zine. We also have a chat with all artists to get to know each other and share work in progress pictures.

For what’s still to be done; after all the designs and artworks are edited into one, we will start printing and selling towards the end of the year. Until then, we will update our social media (@shineefanzine on Twitter and Tumblr) on how things are going and possibly previews of the artworks!

It seems like you are doodling all the time, cause you often publish works done in notebooks, on working sheets of paper. It creates a unique atmosphere of understatement, so what does it say about you, in your opinion? 6v6

Haha that’s actually not correct! It’s true though that my sketchbook is a checked spiral notebook (that’s probably 10+ years old), so I understand why it seems so! I kind of wish I could draw more in school but it’s simply not the best place for me as I’m occupied with other things, and I like to make more focused drawings lately. Which is also why I haven’t really used that sketchbook (and updated my Instagram where I put traditional sketches) in the latest months. I might get back to it again, as I need to make some studies and I can’t continue my summer break drawing work ethic with finished digital pieces almost every day.

Understatement is a really nice way to put it though, I’m glad it seems so! There are multiple reasons for my sketchbook, one is that I feel too pressured having to draw something nice if it’s on some expensive special paper. Also, it’s easier for me to sense depth, proportions and sizes (aka how close i am to the paper) if it has patterns on it, although when the print ink is too strong, it’s not very good for drawing. The notebook I have has a good paper and lightly printed so it’s nice to draw on. This is the technical part, and what I think this says about me…simplicity? Since I started doing digital, traditional art became secondary for me and that’s great in the quality that it provides me more freedom in it, in some way. That it doesn’t matter if I draw something badly in traditional as it’s not as important to me. This is more of an image I would like if people saw when they looked at my Instagram, that it’s carefree, not looking for perfectionism but has its own beauty in sketchiness and stationary tools. Also that the first and most important thing you need for art is, well, doing art, not professional art supplies.

Be it a pencil sketch, or a digital masterpiece, your artworks are professionally done. Do you have plans to follow an artist’s career? ㅍ_ㅍ

Thank you so much!! I do! Since a little less than a year ago, I decided I don’t want to study anything I’m being taught (mistake of going to a school known for its math) and it would be much nicer to occupy and surround myself with art and artsy people. I am planning to start taking art courses later this year or next year, learn to make a portfolio and look up some art colleges. At this point, I would be the happiest to be an illustrator but animating sounds good too, I will have to see yet where I will go!

What role does fashion play in your life? Do you use it as a tool, an artist’s medium? `ㅂ´

I’m probably not fashionable enough to say that, haha. Or rather I’m not satisfied with my own fashion because I don’t have the wardrobe I would like to have, my own personal issues getting in my way. It interests me though, and I do have the nagging feeling to do better, the room to improve, the inspiration. I like simplicity, gray and dull colors, oversized clothes, simple and clean designs that are great in their quietness. I would like to be like that.

Fashion in my drawings is a bit of a different topic I know, but I would like to mention since even though I’m usually preoccupied with people in my drawings, it can be really meditative and nice sometimes to sit down and compose an outfit and fiddle with details. Also high fashion, it can be quite an inspiration for me.

What thing, or maybe person, impressed you most of all recently? ㅎㅅㅎ

Eastern Europe. It has an exciting aesthetic that isn’t celebrated enough, at least from what I could see. I really love the folk wear, and it feels like home. I would like to make illustrations based around it as well as my own country’s historical fashion, it’s beautiful. The other side is the ~dark~ post socialist aesthetic, big blocks of panel houses made of concrete that don’t age well. It has a grim and heavy feeling but it’s also something uniquely here. I don’t know, maybe only the grim feeling might appear in my art style, maybe I will abandon it for lighter aesthetics but it’s interesting nevertheless.

We are thankful to Viola ( @faheej ) for her fabulous creations and the talk. Design by Anna Maria ( @sh5untik ).

#shinee #stylee #shineefanart #interview #shinee world #shawol #5hinee_너를지켜줄게

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gulgbtqplus · 4 years

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AGM Candidates

This year, due to coronavirus, we are having out AGM online. We are also taking questions online via this form, https://forms.gle/kh2gkvKt8LQdzDct7 , and answers to questions will be updated on this website.

We are still tweaking the voting but are hoping to open it on the 25th, the original planned date of our AGM. Stay tuned for updates!

We will update the candidates as more applications come in! Here’s what we have so far...

President

1) Emily T (she/her) Why do you want this position? “ I believe I'd be very well suited to this position due to already having two years of experience on the GULGBTQ+ Committee so far, one year as First Year OM and this year as the Events Officer. In these roles I have run coffees, helped to organise large and small events, been in charge of the organisation of this years Queerfest and been involved in collaborations with the SRC and with other Societies on Campus such as the Quidditch Society, Food and Body Positivity Society, Feminist Society and the Self-Defense Society, as well as communicating with organisations and individuals outside of university. I have great time management and organisational skills that I've been applying to these positions on committee, and I feel they will be even more useful in my role as president. I'm a very friendly and welcoming individual, which I know doesn't come across so well in a written speech but hopefully to those that have met me in person and are currently talking to us on our brand new, lockdown-friendly discord channel will see it more. Hopefully I would be a very welcoming face and presence for the society and I can continue to carry on building links with other societies on campus, working with the SRC and welcoming new and old members to the society. I would also hope to continue to improve how welcoming we are to these new members, as I know that is a criticism we have had previously. As part of this I will continue our work with the BAME Society and the SRC to make our society more welcoming to people of colour in the community, who can often feel excluded from the very white scene in Glasgow and from this society as well. As well as this I will continue the committees efforts towards making the society as accessible as possible so that we are available as a space for anyone and everyone who wishes to come along to our events. I hope you vote for me because I'm really committed to making this society as good as it possibly can be for all who want it and need it as a safe space, a social space, a supporting space or just somewhere to go for a good time. I know that this society has been a real lifeline for me and for others, even through more difficult times like losing our Twitter earlier in the year, but I think that it's still a really incredible and important place for LGBTQ+ folks on campus and I'd be really grateful and honoured if you'd elect me as president so that I'd be able to carry on that legacy. “ VP Secretary

1) Will (they/them)

Why do you want this position? “ I'm running for the VP Secretary position because, in the year I've spent on committee so far as both Men's Officer and Non-Binary Officer, I have been able to put a lot into the society which I will elaborate on further in the manifesto. I believe in this position, I would be able to go above and beyond what I have already achieved, which would help the society to thrive. As for why I think I'm well suited for the role - I have successfully run 3 different coffees this year, 2 of which I introduced myself. My attendance is extremely reliable at all of our events, especially on Wednesday evenings, whether in the form of organisation, running them, or just making an awful joke to entertain. I ran two panels this year - the Trans Food and Body Positivity Panel, and the Mental Health panel - which were both extremely well attended, and successful (despite my tendency to get my own pronouns wrong!) I helped to run not only our Waverley Care bake sale, wherein we provided free HIV spot tests, but also the Trans Day of Remembrance event, and the Winter Ceilidh. I contributed to both the Ceilidh and TDOR - the former by sourcing and collecting raffle prizes, and the latter by speaking about my journey and experiences as a non-binary person. I have showcased my cross-campus skills on multiple occasions by working with individuals from the QMU, GUSA, the SRC, as well as a number of GU societies. These have included BAME, the Food and Body Positivity Society, BEAT, and Aloud. Moreover, I have contacts outside of the university - such as Category Is, and the Scottish Trans Alliance. I feel that this is important to mention, as working with others is an important part of the VP Sec role. As such, I believe this showcases my ability to handle the responsibilities and the pressures of the role. In addition to these qualities, which would benefit me in the more formal aspects of the role, I feel that I am a kind and approachable person. I am a keen attender and snack provider of our Monday lunchtime drop-ins, at which I try my best to interact with, and welcome, as many society members as possible. As for what wish to achieve in this role, my primary aim is maintaining the high standards of the previous committee. Though I might be biased, as a current committee member, I think that the committee has done an excellent job at bouncing back from previous years’ hardships. I aim to continue this in the following year, as well as continuing the work that has been done to make the society more welcoming and accessible place. This is especially prevalent in regards to our disabled, POC, and international student members. I aim to further this, and to uphold the constitutional standards of safety for our members. I want new students, as well as current students who may be unsure about joining the society, to view the society as a place will not only accept them, but that they want to be. Being elected as your next VP Sec would be an honour, and I will ensure that everything I do is the best that I can for everyone. Thank you, and vote for me!”

VP Treasurer

1) Judith she/they Why do you want this position? “Why do I want this position? - GULGBTQ+ has given me so much, and I want to give back to it - my year as international officer has made me want to take on more responsibilities - among the positions with greater responsibilities, I believe I am most suited to the role of treasurer How am I suited to this position? - I can count (no seriously, I do stats as part of my degree) - I'm very organised and this will help handle my role both as VP and as treasurer - over the past year on committee, I have emailed a lot of societies and got in touch with the Rosey Project, so I am ready to maintain relationships with other societies and organisations as well as try to establish new ones - having been a member of the committee for a year, I have a good idea of how things run and issues we've run into this year that I would try to fix What do I hope to achieve? Considering the current situation due to the cancellation of the farewell dinner, I am aware that this puts us in a difficult situation. I am hoping to palliate to this by: - increasing the amount of fundraising by organising bake sales and fundraising events whenever the circumstances will permit - looking into fundraising that does not involve face to face contact, for instance by seeing if some of our members would be open to having art commissions to benefit the society, possibly through the use of Patreon I am aiming to raise enough funds to enable us to run our annual ceilidh next year, while still being able to raise funds for our charity of the year. I am also hoping to establish more stable contact with inclusive businesses in Glasgow, such as: - Category Is, by working with them more closely regarding our book club - both the venues included in the Scene Tour (Katie's, Polo, Delmonica's, etc) and other venues with regular LGBT-oriented nights or events such as The Flying Duck or Nice'N'Sleazy, by proposing sponsorship agreements or collaborating on events - accessible cafés around the university, by proposing sponsorship agreements or collaboration to improve the safety and accessibility of our coffee meet-ups To conclude: - I am aiming to increase fundraising and collaboration with other organisations - Again, I'm a gay who can count “

Welfare Officer

1) Enea O (he/him)

Why do you want this position? “I want this position because I have come to care about this society so much over the past year, and would give anything to keep channeling my time and passion into this society and improve its position on campus. I specifically want to help improve it to become the best and most welcoming and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ students. Over the past months as part of the committee I have proven myself as a reliable committee member and for Queerfest 2020 I had the honour to edit and curate the society zine Uniqueer, displaying art and poetry by many GULGBTQ+ members. As Welfare Officer I will set up the society family system, which I intend to do to welcome new members. As of recently though, GULGBTQ+ has also created a Discord server to keep all members in contact, and I very much intend to maintain this server permanently and see that it thrives. In regards to the safety of members, I will see that all committee members are trained in suicide and sexual violence awareness in accordance and collaboration with the SRC, Positive Minds and other student welfare societies on campus. In order to help the society grow I plan to implement an official feedback system for all members to contribute thoughts on how to improve events and accessibility. Protecting and providing a safe space for LGBTQ+ students is my top priority. Vote for me :)”

2) Orla She/They

Why do you want this position? “ I am the current welfare officer for the figure skating society and have really enjoyed it, I feel I am well suited for people to come and talk to if they need it whether it be good or bad news. I'd like to join the GULGBTQ+ committee this year, as the society has helped me a lot. Having found people who understood the complex feelings you can have regarding your sexuality and gender; it made me feel a lot more comfortable with myself. And I would love to give back. I would like to help maintain a safe space on campus, especially given the times, and just be a grounding point for people to come to in times of need. I also make really good cakes, and cake can make pretty much anything better. “

Events Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I want to continue the amazing work Emily T has done this year on events! I want to think of various ways for us to advertise our fundraising events, particularly Launch Night and Queerfest. As well as this, I want to work with other societies and student unions to collaborate on various fundraising events. I also want to create specific events, such as bringing back the conversation about trans swimming which was incredibly successful a couple of years back. I also want to focus on making the society more accessible, which includes events we host, including (but not limited to) autism friendly events, maybe more online events for those with limited mobility, and working towards finding people who could interpret or translate certain events. I also want to acknowledge constructive criticism we've received in the past and try to make events feel welcoming, particularly to people of colour, disabled people, transfeminine people etc.”

2) Sol they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I would want to continue the great work that has been done to reform and adapt our events to make them accessable and as intersectional as possible. I would want to increase the representation and recognition of migrants and international students. I would want to particularly focus on those who are diasporas and whose identity is mixed or conflicted. This is because, due to my own experience, I have found it hard to have discussions around being LGBTQ and from two conflicting cultures. I would do this by ideally creating a consistent outlet for diasporic students in the form of either panels, an inclusion in the annual Queerfest day or a specific focus from the zine. Linked to this I would like to work with societies like BAME to increase the lacking accessibility of our events to people of colour. I would do this by taking advice from and including people of colour in the organising processes around all events. However I would like to target specific large events such as Queerfest, Launch Night and meet and greets. This is because these are some of the society's largest events and so would gain the most from people of colour being included in the discussion around how to make our society more accessible. To add I have been on committee the previous year as the bisexual/pansexual officer and so have an understanding of how the society's events are structured and run. While the events officer position is distinct there is overlap with my previous position. This comes in the form of organisation and managing people. For bi/pan officer I was in charge of organising, and running biweekly coffees. Most importantly I was also in charge of helping create a relaxed and positive atmosphere at the coffees, which requires people management and personal awareness skills. In all I would like to use the position of events officer to create more of a space for diasporic students to add another angle to the ongoing discussion of being LGBTQ. In addition, I would like to help make up for our lacking accessibility to people of colour by including them in the organisation of the society's events. Thereby empowering them to make significant decisions that increase the beautiful intersections of this society. “

Women’s Officer

1) Fatima S she/her

Why do you want this position? “ hi i am a first year history/economics student who is a passionate feminist. Over the past year i have been involved with the GU feminist society and i also am a QMU board member. It has always been my priority to ensure the welfare of all especially women.”

2) Judith she/they

Why do you want this position? “ Why do I want this position? - GULGBTQ+ has given me so much, and I want to give back to it - I feel very strongly about being woman-aligned and a lesbian How am I suited to this position? - during my year as international officer, I gained experience running coffees and it is something I will happily keep doing - over the past year on committee, I have emailed a lot of societies and got in touch with the Rosey Project, so I am ready to maintain relationships with other societies and organisations as well as try to establish new ones - having been a member of the committee for a year, I have a good idea of how things run What do I hope to achieve? - I hope to collaborate more with the feminist and women-specific societies on campus - I would like to work with the Rosey Project in raising awareness for available support networks for survivors of abuse, having self-care and mental health-oriented workshops, and developing LGBT-specific support systems”

3) Ursula she/her

Why do you want this position? “ I have found my involvement with the GULGBT+ society to be a very positive and beneficial experience over the past two years at Glasgow. I have met so many wonderful people, some of which are now close friends who have then introduced me to many other now close friends (because all the gays know each other!). Having like-minded friends is something I longed for during my teenage years and I’m beyond grateful for the society in helping that dream become a reality. I’ve gained so much confidence from this and feel it’s my duty to help create that experience for others in a similar situation. I’ve attended many events that have formed memories to last a lifetime. The opportunity to play a greater role on Wednesday evenings and running women’s coffee would be very exciting. I’m also quite partial to a night out in Polo so would be available for chauffeuring (not literally -please DON’T drink and drive) and as a general friendly face in the crowd. I would, therefore, like to take a more active role in the society in the coming academic year to continue providing a safe, supportive and fun space with my peers in the hopes that other uni students can have an equally (if not more *winky face*) amazing experience!!”

4) Anest ‘Ani’ Williams she/her

Why do you want this position? “ I'm suited to this position due to me being a woman. I consider attending GULGBTQ+'s many events this past academic year to be the highlights of my second year, and I want to give back to Glasgow Uni's LGBTQ+ community by providing other individuals with the same joy. I hope to be someone that all women of the community could speak to in a time of need, in the coffee hours, at events, or at any other time. I would love to represent the women of our community on GULGBTQ+'s committee.”

5) Lauren she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a member of the GULGBTQ+ society in my first year of university, I found a great sense of inclusivity and community within the events I attended, and through the people I met. The idea of being able to continue my involvement within the society as an officer would not only be an honour, but something I would take on with great passion and vigour. The role of women’s officer within the GULGBTQ+ society is such an essential role, the issues dealt within the society surrounding sexual orientation and gender identity encapsulating also the issues dealt with by ALL women, may that be cisgendered, trans or nonbinary folk. I feel very strongly about women’s rights and issues we face, and would hope to make a welcoming and safe space for any women within the society, and be a friendly face for all members, whether it is to do with a sensitive subject or just for a chat! I have no previous experience as an officer within the society, but we all need to start somewhere, and I think this would be the perfect place to begin as an officer to all the amazing LGBTQ+ women out there!”

Men’s Officer

1) Sanskar R he/him

Why do you want this position? “I am Sanskar from India. I feel that POC and Asians are not represented enough in the society. Not just that, I feel that a lot of events the society is running isn't reaching the right crowd. I would like to contribute in whatever way possible to help change that and be able to learn and grow in the process.”

2) Jack L he/him

Why do you want this position? “ I have a keen interest in raising awareness about men's health and several ideas on how to do so. Other than that, I want to bring people together in nice and easy ways so that they can, if new to the community, find their feet. (Completely honest moment, if another person runs for this position, maybe consider putting them first. I'm now one of the string managers for the Kelvin Ensemble and I'll be in final year and I won't have a proper abundance of time. Perhaps if another candidate wants to work together. I also have many ideas on joint events that could happen)”

Trans Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I was nonbinary officer year before last and I believe I took to the roll quite well. I fully came out as nonbinary last year, and since have done a lot of research into the uni's procedures for name changes, as well as trying to deal with Sandyford etc. Therefore I believe I would be a great resource (as well as a creator of great resources!! wink wink trans zine wink wink) for those who have just come to terms with being transgender / transitioning. I would love to work with the student unions to work on being inclusive to trans and nonbinary folks, as well as more widespread campaigning about these things where members of the society think it's important. I also aim to raise the voices of those who are often spoken over within our community, being inclusive of trans women, disabled trans people, trans pic, etc.”

2) Eden it/its

Why do you want this position? “ I want to give back a little to this society, as it's been so good for me over my first year. I try to be a friendly face that people can talk to, be it about specifically transition-related topics (I don't pretend to be an expert, but I've been doing this for a while!) or just everyday things. Given the current trans healthcare crisis, informing people about our options and working together is critical - I've done work spreading awareness and information about doing self-med HRT safely before and I'd be happy to do it again, for example, and I know enough people doing this kind of work to be able to point people in the right direction for questions I don't know much about.”

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I am running to be your next Trans Officer. I want to do this because being trans is a very important part of my identity, and I think this would be a great opportunity to be able to represent my fellow trans folk here at Glasgow Uni, and even the wider Glasgow community as well as campaign on trans and non binary related issues. I am excited to work on committee again, and in this role closely with the Non-Binary Officer, as I enjoy collaborating with others, so I will work to build and maintain good working relationships with other members of committee. Also I’m a very sociable person, so I’m confident I can make people feel very welcome at society events. I am very excited about the opportunity to run an identity coffee again, two years ago I ran Gay Men’s Coffee (despite not actually being gay or a man 👀) so I already have experience with this. Again I’m a very sociable person and thrive in large groups (Trans and Non-Binary Coffee often has one of the biggest attendances) and so I am confident that I will be able to ensure the inclusion of anyone who joins the coffee so that they feel welcome. I am also excited to take opportunities to co-run events, such as Trans and Non-Binary 101 and of course working with the Events Coordinator for events surrounding Trans Day of Remembrance. I’d also be happy to work with the Campaigns Officer to do the Pronoun Pledge with the unions and some societies on campus if needed (as well as any other campaigns that the society will be running or involved with). For those of you who have met me, you’ll know I am a very confident, theatrical (and I’d hope fabulous) person so I would have absolutely no issue speaking in front of a large group of people (I’m a theatre student, it’s pretty much all I can do). In closing, I think I’d be a great addition to committee because this society is such an important part of my life here at uni, and so I will dedicate so much time and energy to this role, and in general just helping any way I can to making this society as great as it can be. Hopefully this dedication has been reflected in my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member 2020.”

4) Ollie S he/him

Why do you want this position? “ Moving away from my safe, accepting bubble at home to come to Glasgow University was a terrifying experience for me, as I did not have the confidence to stick up for my gender identity and was scared of any transphobia I could've encountered. However, the GULGBT+ society immediately made me feel welcomed and safe and allowed me to create a new home away from home. I have met inspiring people that have showed me that I am definitely not alone in the trans experience and this has given me a lot more self confidence and allowed me to accept who I am. I would absolutely love to take on this position, to be there for scared freshers like I was and to be a person to turn to for those struggling with trans issues. I am very early on in my transition and I very much feel the pain of long waiting lists and the frustration of being misgendered and have found many ways to cope with such problems that I would love to share with others that may be tackling similar obstacles. I think the representation of pre-transition trans people is so important as it enables people to see how everyone's journey is different and everyone is going at their own pace. I would be honoured to host Trans & Nonbinary Coffee and would love sharing my knowledge and the things I've learned from my experience, but also, would love to learn from others and their experiences. I am so excited for my second year as part of this society and really hope to gain a leading role here.”

Postgraduate and Mature Student’s Officer

1) Andrei he/him/they/whatever

Why do you want this position? “ Hey Andrei, you're queer and also old. You should run for Post/Mat officer" - Literally everyone for the past couple of months. I've had the entire postmat experience, after starting my undergrad at the tender age of 23 I am familiar with the unique stresses involved in adapting to academic life while also integrating with peers who are almost generationally different from oneself (as it says on my LinkedIn "Down With the Kids"). Five years and a lot of hard lessons later I find myself having grown in experience and empathy, and I would find it a privelage to be able to support any member of the society in any way possible. I'd like to say that I'd bring the benefit of wisdom and maturity to committee meetings but to be honest I'll probably just end up bringing sarcasm and a strong tie game. However, if you're looking for a warm body with a pulse that can still be an absolute menace in Polo then I may be the human you're looking for. My major objectives if elected: Building bridges with GUSA Getting freshers home safely Biting Will Getting distracted by cats... Andrei for Post/Mat officer: "Because someone has to" “

Campaigns Officer

1) Gwen she/her

Why do you want this position? As campaigns officer for this last half year, I've tried my hardest to push the society members to fill in the Gender Recognition Act draft reform consultation. When the Scottish Government responds I would like to either organise for them to improve the bill or (if they have already improved it) get society members to lobby their MSPs to back the improved bill. While we wait for that response, I will focus on tackling transphobia on campus, putting together a cross-party campus pronoun pledge (the SNP, Labour, and Green clubs have already responded positively). I would like to continue our work with Hidayah and other charities. Our society has sadly seen a nasty increase in transphobia, particularly with awful messages left on doors to toilets. As campaigns officer, I will try and create a "Hear it from us first" campaign. It's likely that transphobia will get out regardless of what we do, but by making sure people hear our side first we will be able to make the campus are more sympathetic place. I also want to lead a discussion in the society and with local GPs and trans organisations about the future of trans medicine. While the current Gender Identity Clinic system is clearly underfunded, it is not clear if it should be funded further, or if responsibility for prescriptions should be the job of GPs. In line with my view of the society as "political, but not partisan" if we can agree on a position or even just start a conversation, we will be in a better place to lobby the support of politicians and advocacy groups. 2) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ In my previous roles on committee (nonbinary / bi/pan) I have been involved in campaigns including meetings with previous Charities of the year we have chosen and thinking about fundraising opportunities, as well as presenting many pronoun pledges. I plan on continuing what I have already done, as well as picking up on other campaigns and fundraising opportunities, for example a more widespread awareness of transphobia on campus and how to prevent this, as well as creating resources of safe places for lgbtq+ people. For fundraising, I want to help advertise our launch night better, as well as creating more communication between the student unions to possibly collaborate with us for fundraising events / nights out / etc.”

Communications and Technology Officer

1) Summer they/she

Why do you want this position? “I am running for the position of Communications and Technology Officer because I love this society, want to help it and have the skills needed to help out in this position. As last year's ComTech officer I am familiar with everything that keeps the GULGBTQ+ committee running behind the scenes - as such, I can help make the handover to the new committee smooth and painless and ensure everything keeps running. Last year I helped streamline some of the systems we use which helped reduce complexity and running costs for the society. Additionally, there were some projects for the committee that I did not finish last year due to time and mental health (e.g. an updated website) which if I am reelected I will endeavor to complete.”

2) Belinda she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a nervous fresher this past year, the only society I wasn't afraid to take part in was the GULGBTQ+ society. Now that I'm part of this big 'ol family, I'd love to be able to give something back. I, like many others, rely heavily on emails and social media to keep up with whateverthef*ck is going on. I hope that my skills as a seasoned introvert will help me to communicate society events in a way that can reach and encourage every member of our society to join in and feel welcomed and included. My inexplicable need to be organised will almost certainly be useful too I suppose (hit me up with any pronouns, names or other changes that need to be made on the system and I'll get on it ASAP). I hope this role will allow me to contribute to this amazing society, whilst I get to keep being an introvert in my natural habitat, hidden behind a computer screen (and going to events too of course). Keep smiling, be gay and do crime ~ your local comp sci sapphic ace”

First Year Ordinary Member

1) Meris she/her

Why do you want this position? “Hi I’m Meris (she/her) and I’m running for First Year Ordinary Member. In the past months I’ve attended almost every Freshers’ coffee and actively helped out as much as I could. I wish to continue Enea’s work within the society, representing all the first year students and freshers at the university. Being a fresher at the start of last term and completely new to Glasgow, I was more than a little lost, but GULGBTQ+ has helped me find a community where I feel safe and at home. As an officer, I would like to ensure the safety of First Year Students within the society and a safe space for them to open up and/or listen to others’ experiences. I believe that First Year Students often find it hard to feel welcome in spaces where people seem to already know each other really well and I wish to make sure every new member feels welcomed and cared for like everyone else!”

Bi/Pan Officer

1) Bethany she/them

Why do you want this position? “ I want to provide a safe space for bi and Pan people like they deserve! I would be suited to this position because I always try my best to be kind to everyone and I try to be social. I always go to the Bi coffee’s and I’m close friends with Sol so I will have a lot of useful guidance. This society means a lot to me in regards to me accepting myself and I’d like to help it do the same for others!”

2) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “I was bi/pan officer briefly last year before leaving to take role as secretary in another society. Although I wasn't in the role for a long time, I feel I achieved a lot and would like to continue this and campaign to create awareness on different ways to be bisexual, to combat biphobia within the LGBTQ+ community and outwith, and to raise the voices of bisexual/pansexual people who are often silenced.”

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “I’m running to be your next Bi/Pan Officer. This role specifically interests me because being pansexual is such an important and fundamental part of my identity, and one I struggled with for a while, trying to fit in as either a heterosexual or homosexual, trying to make myself ‘choose a side’, having my sexuality erased both externally and internally. Going through this, I know how important Bi and Pan visibility is and why I want to be able to represent this community in both the society, and across the university. I am excited to take the opportunity to once again run an identity coffee (I ran Gay Men’s Coffee 2 years ago, despite not being gay or a man), so I have experience doing this. However, Bi/Pan Coffee is possibly the most attended identity coffee, which, if elected, I would be running mostly single handedly. I have utmost confidence that I can handle this, as I am a very sociable and friendly person, and thrive amongst large groups of people, so I will have no issue in making sure everyone feels both welcome and included. I am also excited to be able to run events, for instance I will certainly want to do something to mark the occasions of both Bisexual and Pansexual Days of Visibility, as I said earlier how important visibility is to our community. I was also like to do something around the awareness of non-monoromantic identities as I feel this is something that is often ignored or looked over, and again, visibility is important for all of these identities. Finally, I think I’d be a good committee member in general as I’m a good team worker, and will work to build and maintain good working relationships with other committee members, which will be greatly important when working with 15 other people. The society is also a largely important part of my life, hopefully as reflected by my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member, and so you can be assured that I will dedicate so much time and energy both into this role, and to helping make this society as great as it can be.”

4) Emrys they/them

Why do you want this position? “ * I’ve been a very active member of the LGBTQ+ community for a few years now - I’ve made countless social media posts with information about all kinds of LGBTQ+ related things, promoting awareness days/weeks and making it known that I’m always happy to have conversations about LGBTQ+ things and answer any questions - as I know personally how important it is to have all the right information available to help you, and to have people to talk to about it - I’ve made efforts offline as well to raise awareness for both bi/pan specific issues and other LGBTQ+ related issues, as I was very involved with my sixth form’s LGBTQ+ society and helped run events, and have taken the time to answer people’s questions about bi/pan issues * I have already had experience as GULGBTQ+’s Ace/Aro officer for about 5/6 months - I gave a presentation for Ace Awareness Week in October - I made an informative video about aromanticism and shared it on our social media accounts for Aromantic Awareness Week in February - I have helped run many of GULGBTQ+’s main events throughout the year so far - I have a good track record of attendance to GULGBTQ+’s main events * if I was elected for Bi/Pan officer - I would continue with the work and effort I have already put in to this society, making sure that bi and pan voices are heard and uplifted - I would work to combat biphobia and panphobia wherever I see it - whether it’s outside the LGBTQ+ community or from within - to raise awareness and debunk the myths about bisexuality/biromanticism and pansexuality/panromanticism to help people better understand orientations that are often erased - I’ve spent the last few years struggling to figure out if I really am bi(romantic), and being a part of this society has helped me understand and accept that I am, which I will always be grateful for - so I want to give back to the society, and help others who may be similarly questioning! - I like to think that I am a very empathetic person, a good listener and very open-minded, so I will always be open to chat for anyone who has questions about LGBTQ+ issues, or needs a shoulder to lean on!”

5) Anest ‘Ani’ Williams she/her

Why do you want this position? “ Why do you want this position? - Please write a short paragraph about how you would be suited to this position and what you would hope to achieve. I'm suited to this position due to my being a bi/pan individual. I consider attending GULGBTQ+'s many events this past academic year to be the highlights of my second year, and I want to give back to Glasgow Uni's LGBTQ+ community by providing other individuals with the same joy. I hope to be someone that other bi/pan people could speak to in a time of need, in the coffee hours, at events, or at any other time. I would love to represent bi/pan people on GULGBTQ+'s committee.”

6) Lauren she/her

Why do you want this position? “ As a member of the GULGBTQ+ society in my first year of university, I found a great sense of inclusivity and community within the events I attended, and through the people I met. Going into my second year I would love to help introduce new and old members into the society, creating a welcoming and safe space for Bi/Pan folks, and of course all other members. Stigma around Bi/Pan folks within the LGBTQ+ community is something that needs to be discussed, and a light needs to be shone on. Bi and Pansexual folks often feel invalid or excluded within the community, this is not the case and I would love to help any members who feel this way if I were to be elected as Bi/Pan officer! I currently don’t have any experience as a previous officer within the society, but I think this would be a great place to start my journey. The society has already helped me accept myself more and feel a sense of belonging within the university, and the idea of being able to create that sense of belonging for other members, whether Bi/Pan or not, would be amazing!”

International Students’ Officer

1) Fatima S she/her

Why do you want this position? “ hi i am a first year history/economics student who is from India. i want to be the international officer because i truly believe i can help international students, because i understand how difficult it is to accept our own identity when all our lives we have lived in a society who considers it a taboo. Coming from a diverse background i can bring a fresh perspective to this society and really make a difference for all international student members.”

Asexual and Aromantic Officer

1) Emrys they/them

Why do you want this position? “* I’ve been an active member of the ace community for a few years now - I’ve made many social media posts with information about asexuality for LGBTQ+ events throughout the year (but especially for Asexual Awareness Week), because I personally understand the importance of having the right information available wherever possible - especially for an identity that is less known than others and is widely misunderstood - as well as online, I’ve made efforts offline to raise awareness for asexuality (and aromanticism) - I’ve made it known that I am always happy to have a conversation about it, and explain to people anything they don’t understand. At my sixth form, I often helped run the weekly LGBTQ+ society meet up, and held a presentation for Asexual Awareness Week to inform my fellow students * I have already had experience as GULGBTQ+’s Ace/Aro officer for about 5/6 months - I gave a presentation for Ace Awareness Week in October - I made an informative video about aromanticism and shared it on our social media accounts for Aromantic Awareness Week in February - I have helped run many of GULGBTQ+’s main events throughout the year so far - I have a good track record of attendance to GULGBTQ+’s main events * if I was re-elected for Ace/Aro officer - I would continue with the work and effort I have already put in to this society, making sure that ace and aro voices are heard and uplifted - I like to think that I am a very empathetic person, a good listener and very open-minded, so I will always be open to chat for anyone who has questions about asexuality or aromanticism, or other LGBTQ+ issues, or needs a shoulder to lean on!”

Nonbinary Officer

1) Valentine they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I was nonbinary officer year before last and I believe I took to the roll quite well. I fully came out as nonbinary last year, and since have done a lot of research into the uni's procedures for name changes, as well as trying to deal with Sandyford etc. Therefore I believe I would be a great resource (as well as a creator of great resources!! wink wink trans zine wink wink) for those who have just come to terms with being nonbinary / transitioning. I would love to work with the student unions to work on being inclusive to trans and nonbinary folks, as well as more widespread campaigning about these things where members of the society think it's important.

2) Eden it/its

3) Aster they/them

Why do you want this position? “ I’m running to be your Non-Binary Officer for the coming year because I am excited to work on committee again, and specifically in this role, in close collaboration with the Trans and Welfare Officers. I enjoy working and collaborating with others since I’m a very sociable person, which will be very useful, as in committee I’d be working with 15 other people, so it’s important to build and keep good working relationships with everyone. This role specifically interests me as being non-binary and genderfluid is such an important and fundamental part of my identity, which I struggled to realise and accept for so long, so now I want to burst out of the closet and represent my fellow enbies in Glasgow Uni and well as campaign for trans and non-binary related causes. I am very excited about the opportunity to run an identity coffee again, two years ago I ran Gay Men’s Coffee (despite not actually being gay or a man 👀) so I already have experience with this. Again I’m a very sociable person and thrive in large groups (Trans and Non-Binary Coffee often has one of the biggest attendances) and so I am confident that I will be able to ensure the inclusion of anyone who joins the coffee so that they feel welcome. I am also excited to take opportunities to co-run events, such as Trans and Non-Binary 101 and of course working with the Events Coordinator for events surrounding Trans Day of Remembrance. I’d also be happy to work with the Campaigns Officer to do the Pronoun Pledge with the unions and some societies on campus if needed (as well as any other campaigns that the society will be running or involved with). For those of you who have met me, you’ll know I am a very confident, theatrical (and I’d hope fabulous) person so I would have absolutely no issue speaking in front of a large group of people (I’m a theatre student, it’s pretty much all I can do). In closing, I think I’d be a great addition to committee because this society is such an important part of my life here at uni, and so I will dedicate so much time and energy to this role, and in general just helping any way I can to making this society as great as it can be. Hopefully this dedication has been reflected in my recent win as GULGBTQ+ Keenest Member 2020.”

4) Summer they/she

Why do you want this position? “ This society means a lot to me, in large part because it has been a massive part of helping me to explore and understand my gender identity. I want to be able to help more people through their own process of discovery as the Non-Binary Officer. If elected I intend to continue to help raise awareness of issues affecting non-binary people as well as make sure that our non-binary spaces are open and inclusive. I know that many people when first questioning their gender identity worry about not being perceived as "non-binary enough" (I personally did not attend many events for a while because of this) and so want to make sure all of our non-binary events and resources are as open as possible and not intimidating for newcomers.”

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