celticshewolf

[celticshewolf]

It was my son's birthday a few days ago. He wanted a gilded cake, so I made him this.

Now I'm currently having a cuppa tea, and a slice of cake I heated up in the microwave and poured salted caramel on. Yummy!

[celticshewolf]

IF authors - do you prefer to make a new Tumblr blog for your stories, a side blog, or stay on your author blog?

[celticshewolf]

What I don't get is how people can use their cards to go online & buy copious fetish paraphernalia, naughty dolls that look like Queen Lizzy, custom made phallic shaped objects, and many more adult/explicit stuff, for their sexual gratification and that's ok.

But I wanna read / write a Smutty story and it's like I should be burned at the stake.

Not even for a physical object, but for literal text.

Slapped on the wrists by the companies who provide the card that I use to access my own money from my own bank account, but I can still use it to buy cigarettes and alcohol whenever I want?

Am I the only one utterly confused?

The logic ain't logic-ing 🤨

Itchio has posted a update statement over their recent delisting of NSFW content.

[celticshewolf]

What alternatives are everyone using after the Itch fiasco?

I was planning on hosting my demo there when it's ready but I don't think I can now with the new rule changes.

[celticshewolf]

It's 7:44am and I finally got the stat bars done.

They are not fully how I wanted them, I envisioned more gentle gradient, but at this point it will do.

Yay! A week of broken codes and missing containers is finally behind me.

Now I can sleep 😴

[celticshewolf]

Stat bars.

I will die an old woman still trying to code these to how I want them to look.

And my son will take up the mantle in my absence. Generations of my family will continue this legacy, all for a stat bar aesthetic that probably cannot even be done.

[celticshewolf]

This is something I'm hyperfixated on right now. I love ellipses, and grew up only using commas and semi colons, but sometimes an em dash just fits the best. But now I'm aware of people associating them with AI, my anxiety goes into overdrive, and I go back through any new pieces I write to try to remove any. Then I have to restructure the passages as sometimes it doesn't look right anymore. It's a complete and utter head melt.

Sigh. Sometimes the idea that people in the IF community (and writers in general) are using AI to write really gets me down.

I have to remind myself that there's still a point even if the people who put out AI-assisted work are getting thousands of clicks and a bunch of people don't notice, while I can put out the writing I bled for and get accused of being AI because I like em dashes and ellipses...

...but it's hard.

[celticshewolf]

I think you should make a pin post of a synopsis for your story, that’s how you’ll draw people in and have them invested in your IF. The little snippet of family lore is interesting but idk what exactly the story’s about.

Ps. Would love to know more family lore. What’s the family dynamic with each other, why exactly is MC her mother’s favorite etc…

I have an intro post written out and saved to drafts, but I don't feel I have enough of the actual story written to post it. This is my first IF so I'm still learning coding and have no idea how long it will take to have something I'm happy with to stand as a demo. So I'd hate to have anyone waiting about on that, with just an intro post that promises much but has yet to deliver.

Unless that's what most people prefer and they don't mind the wait.

I'm working on the prologue now. Originally I had a very short prologue and was writing chapter one, but I've since combined them. So that's where I'm at now, still early stages.

[celticshewolf]

Fredrick! 😂😂😂 Wow

And he is utterly oblivious to the fact that everyone dislikes him.

[celticshewolf]

So I decided to take a break from writing the story as the coding has melted me today.

But I wanted to keep in the same headspace so I'm working on an introduction to the story. I just got finished introducing the family of the MC and thought I'd share a wee snippet...

I think Fredrick is going to be my favourite 😂

[celticshewolf]

Mastercard and visa have reported to a couple news outlets that they are currently being swamped with calls and complaints. Keep up the pressure and try to (politely) insist that you leave a complaint via phone instead of letting the rep direct you to emails. It's way easier to be overwhelmed by a much smaller number of calls so each one counts for a bit more!

[celticshewolf]

Can people truly not see how ridiculous this kind of demand is? It truly boggles the mind.

I really love your story, I really do. But seeing you're like, posting trivial things almost everyday makes me really frustrated, or annoyed, idk. I mean why don't you focus more on writing the IF, get all the characters personality more ON the IF instead of here, so you can update faster. I'm really grateful you're so friendly with us, thank you, but what I personally want is the IF, the game. I really don't want you to be the author that talks a lot of characters outside the game and gives us nothing on the game we actually buy, sorry, but not everyone follows the author on other platform.

I know my words are meaningless, (I just want to say my honest opinion I didn't mean this as a hate comment) and sorry if I hurt you, but I really hope you can progress on the story more. Thank you if you have the time to read this...

Hi! I understand where you're coming from, I do, but it's only recently that I've been active on this blog. Usually, and if you scroll back, I'd pop in maybe once or twice a month because I'd rather work on the story. And that hasn't changed. But, as I've said a few posts back, writing this latest episode has me in a 502 mood that pushes me to want to surround myself with it more hence why I'm answering questions more often these past few days. A lot of IF authors do because it helps with inspiration :). I don't think this is just a "me" thing, is it?

I don't answer scenario questions or do requests for drabbles because it takes too much time away from the story but I don't see how a few offhand questions that require maybe three sentences max of an answer is a big deal.

If you're annoyed I suggest you unfollow and maybe pop in on occasion for the update. It'll be tagged properly anyway when the time comes.

I don't mean to invalidate your feelings. I guess this is a roundabout way of trying to reassure you! What I'm trying to say is that I spend a lot more time writing than I do on Tumblr.

Thanks for telling me this in a nice way though! I appreciate that.

[celticshewolf]

It's my birthday!

And I got some very lovely gifts 💜

So I am enjoying some tea in my new mug on my new coasters and wearing my new t-shirt.

My mug cupboard is a bit overfull so I'll have to find space tomorrow 😁

I also made myself a custom phone case with my favourite book quote on it, a wee gift to myself 😂😂

[celticshewolf]

Steam, Itch.io and the banning of explicit and LGBT+ Content. What can we do?

[All images in this post have alt/id text if you need it or want to copy paste anything]

With no warning, Itch.io, a site where many host their indie games, comics, books and more, has started purging and shadowbanning explicit and LGBT+ works. Creators got no warning. And if they were still owed payouts from these works, Itch.io is saying they won't give them their money as they 'broke the rules'. Rules that were only just set in place, with no warning, and therefore no way for creators to try and draw out their money or delete these 'offending' works before they got banned under the new rules.

So Itch.io has been the most recent to fall to the demands of a group that's been contacting Visa and Mastercard and convincing them to threaten sites/businesses with 'stop selling what we consider to be explicit content on your sites of we'll stop allowing your site to have transactions with Visa and Mastercard'. Steam folded, and now Itchio has too. And a reminder earlier this year Gumroad also stopped allowing explicit content, further back than that Patreon banned some kinks and fetishes even if it's depicted in fiction not real life, and I don't have to explain to you guys the great Tumblr explicit content ban of 2018.

And as always remember this doesn't stop with sexually explicit work as LGBT+ stories and people are often labelled as explicit and already we're seeing works being taken off Itch.io that are about LGBT+ and especially trans stories. Other non-sexually explicit works I've seen already getting shadowbanned, delisted or deleted are SFW games featuring furries/anthros, SFW dress up games (because when you take the clothes the model is nude), and the aforementioned SFW games that include LGBT+ characters and stories.

I'm compiling here information I've seen around various social medias, mostly Bluesky, because I haven't seen all these things shared over here.

I don't personally have explicit content on itch, but I had been considering one day selling things on there and I do currently have explicit content on my Patreon, my main source of income, and am terrified that Patreon is going to fold next (if anyone knows alterative for hosting audio content behind a paid subscription service please let me know so I can start maybe making a back-up in case the worst happens). Because for me personally if Patreon goes next, it's not like I can go out and easily get another job. Not only because in general finding and getting a job is difficult enough, but I'm autistic and have chronic pain and have been constantly getting sick or new pains over the last few years and don't feel safe being trans in the UK right now and all of that combined rules me out of a lot of jobs and makes me feel unsafe to apply to any. I'm so grateful I've been able to make a community around my work, but if Patreon caves next and I just leave my SFW posts on Patreon... 10% of my Patreons are signed up to the SFW tier, 90% are signed up to the explicit tier... I know if Patreon caves I will go from someone living comfortably who's searching to move out of my parents so I can live in a safer environment to someone who can no longer even afford the rent I pay to my parents. I'll try and get an alterative found and set up in case that happens and I can only hope you guys will follow me to whatever other site I have to set up... but it feels unlikely that people will get a whole new account on a whole new payment provider just to support me on a website they might never have heard of...

But what can we do right now?

A petition you can sign (international but you do have to give your name, email, and postal/zip code):

Get calling:

Mastercard (US): 1-800-627-8372

MasterCard (UK): 0800 964 767

Mastercard (International.): +1-636-722-7111

Visa (US + Can): 1 800 847 2911 / 1-800-VISA-911

Visa (AUS): 1 800 125 440

Visa (UK) : 0800 891 725 or use their international call collect +1 303 967 1096

Visa (International): (call collect - it costs them $): +1-303-967-1096

PayPal (US): 1-888-221-1161

PayPal (UK): 0800 358 7911 from landline, +44 203 901 7000 mobile

PayPal (International): 1-402-935-2050

(numbers gathered from these posts X X X )

Don't know what to say on the phone? Here's a script written by timidtanuki:

Creators have had their work removed off Itch.io with no warning and since it's been removed for 'breaking the rules' (rules that were suddenly in place with no warning) they aren't entitled to get their payouts. Just like other sites such as Youtube and Twitch and Etsy, Itch.io hold onto money from their users in a wallet and then give them payouts. So there is money creators have made, are owed, that Itch.io is not giving to them.

People are recommending that if you still have works on Itch.io to turn down the revenue sharing to 0% so that Itch.io no longer takes a cut or your money if you no longer want to support Itchi.io finically but don't want to remove your works from their platform. X

Other Bluesky posts and calls to action I've seen:

radiantg.bsky.social is asking for anyone on Itch.io who got their game deindexed, removed , or payouts turned off to reach out to them (espeically if you make explicit and/or LGBT+ games) for a piece of journalism about what is happening.

sleepyhard.bsky.social is making a threat of all the games that Itch.io has censored/removed from their site search function. Obviously be aware this will include 18+ only games, games with sexual content and other dark or heavy themes.

thetransfemininereview.com wants you to reach out to them if you're a trans creator on Itch.io who is being affected by this so they can make an accurate report. they say 'authors' in their post and I'm unsure if they also want game devs to reach out.

dropdownbear.bsky.com wants you to reach out if you have purchased things on Itch.io that you can now no longer access because of this ban. they can include them in a report being filed with the Australian Consumer Commission as this may be a violation of Australian Consumer rights. If you are Australian you can no longer access things you purchased of Itch.io you can report directly with this guide.

It's a scary time for adult creators and sex workers. It's a scary time to be trans. Support creators. And if anyone knows of any alternate payment providers that allow explicit work, and/or alternate websites to Itch (and in case things get worse, also give me Patreon alternates please) where people can host, sell and/or offer paid subscriptions to writing, images, videos, audios, games and more please leave them in the replies. And please help share this post, the posts I'm linking too, and any other resources you can find.

Minors DNI. Ageless blogs DNI. I want resources and help but I don't reply to this post or follow this blog if you're under 18, this is an explicit blog and not for anyone under 18.

[celticshewolf]

CHAPTER 4 IS NOW AVAILABLE

457K + 166K —> ✮ 623,016K WORDS ✮

Fan Tier Release: July 4th

Public Release: July 18th

It's here! (Do you like the new cover??) After nine months, the chapter has finally come. This one took me a long time. I outlined and re-outlined and outline some more. There's something Sisyphean about writing an IF and there were long stretches where it felt like the end was never coming. This was definitely a set-up chapter aka it sets up a lot for chapter 5 and beyond when it comes to the routes and upcoming dramaaaa so I'm excited to see everyone's theories and thoughts on all of the breadcrumbs I drop in this one. I'm really thankful that I worked on Chapter 5 alongside of Chapter 4 because that means Chapter 5 won't take so long to come out! I'm excited for that yippeee! One thing to note: I usually leave the lyric options to the end but I couldn't come up with them this chapter. At all. Like for over a month I just couldn't. I am cashing in my "this is a wip" card and forcing a type-in. (It'll be fixed in chapter 5).

A change to note: Attached/Detached are no longer change options but they are now variables and in the stat page. As well as being negative/positive. It didn't make much sense to have the second one because jaded/ambitious does that job and I wanted the attached/detached markers to fluctuate for future story reasons.

There are new stats:

Castmate/Competitor ✮

Approachable/Aloof ✮

Leader/Member ✮

Camaraderie ✮

Born Star ✮

I wanted to focus on the celebrity/famous/botb/band part of it because those stats feel meaningful and important compared to generic personality stats. Some have been taken out but not completely. They are still being measured in the background for flavor text. Stats like Loved and Born Star don't change as often as they are dependent on the changes of invisible stats. They will make more sense in the future chapters !

PLAY HERE

If there are any errors (especially with the jumping to chapter page because its my first time doing that and there are a lot of choices) please let me know!

[celticshewolf]

Seems we have a clear favourite so far.

Authors, I need your options. As I've mentioned I'm writing my first interactive fiction. I have written many other stories & fanfics in the past and have always used third, and less often first person. But I am really finding second person so hard to write in, especially with the switch from past to present tense too.

Is it best to stick at it?

Do you know of any ifs written in third/first person I can check out?

And any tips that could help me with second person?

[celticshewolf]

Sometimes I like to pretend I'm Mr Robot