no one:
me: here’s a flow chart of 41 lgbtq+ book recommendations, have fun!
disclaimer: this is a very non-comprehensive list since I’m only including books that I’ve read
Thank you for sharing this.
Here is a very useful resource where FOG is an acronym for “fear, obligation, guilt”. The website is intended for those who are in relationships with people who have personality disorders but the toolbox is useful for everyone.
it's hard to explain because inevitably you sound like an asshole, but some people are allowed to lose their temper, lose their mind - you're not, though.
when your friend never texts you first and misses your birthday and never makes an effort; you don't mind. you know she's struggling, and you want her to get the help that she deserves. you give her every excuse and every chance.
it shouldn't matter to you so much that people are always coming through for her. you want her to be happy, you love it for her. you love that her community rises up to the occasion. why does it bother you that when she snaps at someone, says horrible mean things - but two hours later, everyone is comforting her while she's crying. you know she's stressed. why do you kind of hate that she is welcomed back to her job, that her parents are endlessly wiring her money.
and you're - fuck, are you envious?
but when you don't text back, someone sits you down and says i know you're struggling, but you're being a bad friend. when you're too numb to show up for work, your boss just shakes his head. i'm sorry. i can't approve more time off. we have the company to protect. when you finally snap back at your family for making that shitty comment again, you're forced to apologize for being too sensitive.
god forbid you need something. people aren't used to you being the one asking. you're the giver like the book you hated; your pages all open and rumpled. you always have the answer, always have the solution. you are reliable, trustworthy. people like you don't struggle with things. you're supposed to be lifted by tragedy. you are given a maximum of 24 hours to grieve, and then you need to just behave at the party.
you can't read the giving tree without feeling like crying, and even that feels like it's too much emotion. like, nobody looks at you and assumes you're the tree; they'd name five other people before even considering you in the running. you're just there, never-asking.
your friend gets to say mean shit, that's just her personality. when you make a snide comment, you're just being petty. people laugh when your friend stands you up for another event; they say she's just like that. you were 5 minutes late to a meeting with friends and they were mad about it for the rest of the evening. your friend sets everything on fire; everyone applauds her through the ashes. you so much as light a candle: and suddenly now you're an arsonist.
you don't want your friend to suffer, though. the thing is that you just wish that the empathy and kindness your friend gets - you wish you had that option, that everyone offered you grace and money and a gentle reception.
the other day you were fighting down the bad urge; the void call, the end note. you tried-anyway. you went to the family event, tried laughing at the right moments. nodded and smiled and all of it. one of your siblings threw a fit, but she's allowed to, so everyone just rolled their eyes about it. you took 3 whole minutes to stand outside when you got overwhelmed. you literally set a timer about it.
in the morning you woke up to a text from your parents: you were a complete disgrace last night. idk what your attitude problem is, but you really need to fix it.
A list of words commonly used in the Writeblr community and their meaning!
I’ve gotten a lot of questions about what some things mean, so I thought it was time to compile a list of meanings.
Writeblr — A community of writers on tumblr; A blog that posts primarily about writing. See here for a more in-depth explanation. (Also written as Writblr on occasion)
WIP — Stands for Work in Progress. Primarily, it’s a piece of fictional work that is still in the writing process and is unfinished. (Also see: WIP page)
OC — Stands for Original Character. This is a character entirely of your own creation.
Tag list — A tag list is a list of users who will be tagged in every post that a Writeblr makes about a certain WIP. It is often included at the bottom of a post, and people are free to ask to be included, or removed from it.
WIP Page — A page or a post on a Writeblr that describes a WIP. Commonly includes a synopsis, setting, characters, etc. See here for what goes in a WIP page and how to make one.
Tag games — Tumblr games where people will do something (often answer questions, a snippet of their WIP, etc) and ask other users to participate by using the @ function in that post.
Ask games — A tumblr game where a user will request people to send them things with the ask function. Often times will include a list of questions they wish to be asked.
Fanfiction — Fiction written by a fan about an existing TV show, movie, book, etc. Often features the characters, the setting, etc. of that piece of media.
AU — Stands for Alternate Universe. AUs typically feature the same cast of characters of a WIP or an existing piece of fiction with a major change or two. (For example, a Fantasy AU would involve placing the characters in a fantasy setting. There also may be an AU of what might happen if a certain character didn’t die in their story).
Canon — Material or information that is accepted as an official part of a story. (i.e., the creator confirms it and includes it in their story).
Headcanons — Ideas and interpretations of a fictional work that is accepted by a fan, but isn’t necessarily supported by canon.
Moodboard — A collection of images meant to evoke a certain feeling or emotion. Often used by Writeblrs for their WIPs and OCs.
Have a word you’d like to see included? Let me know and I’ll add it!
Have a question on what a writeblr term means? Ask!
Be warned: Slight spoilers if you haven’t watched S04E12 “The Chosen” yet
... I was surprised that Clarke didn’t say goodbye to Niylah in this episode. Worse, Clarke left Niylah in a room of scarred skaikru. Clarke didn’t even ask Abby to make sure that Niylah was in the lottery - like Emori asked to be. Wow! Clarke, what the hell. I know that people die after sleeping with you but don’t assume that is always the case. Yes, I know that Niylah is not Clarke’s soulmate but at least a, “thanks for the snuggles and being supportive even after I stole the bunker” from Clarke before she headed off in a hazmat suit, would have been nice. Just sayin’
If a website has a paywall, like New York Times, DO NOT use the ctrl+A shortcut then the ctrl+c shortcut as fast as you can because then you may accidentally copy the entire article before the paywall comes up. And definitely don't do ctrl+v into the next google doc or whatever you open because then you will accidentally paste the entire article into a google doc or something!!!! I repeat DO NOT do this because it is piracy which is absolutely totally wrong!!!
of @the-wip-project‘s #100daysofwriting challenge.
Q52: Pick an idea and write a short "shopping list" of what will happen in the story.
A52: I did this but did not feel like sharing with you. Hope your ideas and shopping list are delicious!
Lexa’s expression as she listens to Clarke in this scene is so intense! I would love to hear Lexa’s internal monologue as she listens to Clarke. « Clarke is so beautiful, confident and smart. And intense. I imagine she is really good in bed, her passion, focus, intensity... Oh jok! Clarke asked me a question. Focus and spit something out. That wasn’t so bad. Phew. Jok! She was not impressed hmmm ... what is Quint doing. Oh wow! Clarke is so amazing. Wait where is she going? Air ...? I need Air. Okay, call a recess and then casually follow her with an expendable warrior. Here we go... »
I have to buy Christmas gifts for my highkey homophobic relatives because if they’re gonna shun me for being trans they better be upfront about it, I’m not going to give them any other “reasons” for it by God I am going to give them good gifts and they are going to have to justify hating me for other reasons.
Anyways. I spent 1 night searching etsy for the queerest stores I could possibly patronize, while also having products with plausible deniability for homophobic relatives bc I don’t want to start a riot on the spot I just want to have a nice innocuous gift that comes from a source that would absolutely make them furious if they knew. My goal was to find someone who donates to a charity like the Trevor Project so I could get An Innocuous Non-Gay Looking Item but cackle inside knowing that the gift money is actually going to The Gays.
JabaCrafts: sells a variety of what looks like very nice soaps, some are Normal and could be used for Homophobic Relative Gifts, a percentage of money (they didn’t say how much..?) from the sale of only the Pride-themed soaps goes to local LGBTQ+ charities.
TrandleBoutique: Transwoman-owned shop with Pride candles. Also sells plain colored candles that could be used as Homophobic Relative Gifts whilst directly funding a trans artisan.
TBrosSoapCo: LGBT-owned (I”m assuming they’re a trans man based on the prominent T pun in the title, which also includes a hypodermic needle so heads up if you hate those, the soaps look like they come stamped with the design so unfortunately I can’t use these as Homophobic Relative Gifts but I love this store and may one day have to patronize them For Me) and their soaps look very nice
SpookiiBubbles: Has spooky/Halloween-themed stuff, which I love; also has a bi and a neon rainbrow pride design, donates the profits from the pride-themed soaps to the LGBTQ bail fund.
WildRaeBoutique: donates 3 dollars from the sale of every rainbow pride soap to the Trevor Project. Also has Innocuous Non-Gay Items For Homophobic Relatives.
JiroSoap: INCREDIBLY CUTE soaps, some are CAT THEMED, have 3 rainbow designs and all are gorgeous
HarnettHeritage: just some very cute molded soaps in a variety of themes (I was sorely tempted by the Halloween potions set) and they have one rainbow pride option
HoneyBubbleSoaps: has one Pride design and some other very nice items (the rose loofah soap is beautiful and would make a great gift)
PeppyLittleSoapShop: has some very interesting soap designs/scents, also sells some pride designs and offers to custom-make any pride flags they don’t currently offer.
LA Ramen Girl: cute ghost pride pins, donates 10% to the Trevor Project.
TabKimpton: has a sparkly headstone patch that says CAN’T BURY THIS GAY and I have literally never in my life vibed with something more omg
And here’s what I ended up deciding to go with.
FlambeboyantCandles.
They have subtle pride-color candles and candles inspired by drag queens. The entire shop is gay as hell and donates a percentage (again idk how much but I believe them) to the Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian organization that helps queer people escape from persecution in other countries. And the candles just look cool and based on the reviews smell quite nice. They are a bit more pricey than some other stuff on this list, about 20 bucks per candle, but I’m willing to pay that price for a once-yearly Gay Rights Stealth Homophobic Relatives Gift.
((Additionally… not 2 shill but… I also have an etsy and it sells necklaces, mostly cottagecore-themed, I have some cute mushroom pendants, skull beads, fish vertebrae, one design is trans pride themed, hi im trans))