#nonbinary main character

[beastimus]

Oh shit, I've barely posted about this... Anyway, on Saturday I'm releasing the Demo for a game called Wonderlanders that I'm working on with my brother onto Itch.io (and maybe some other places). Its a 2d RPG going for a similar vibe to Earthbound and Undertale (and some other, less popular games.) Featuring a non-binary protagonist named Scout (Featured Below) who gets teleported to the absurdist world of Atlas after trying and failing to feed pizza to a stray cat (Featured below that).

As they try to get home, they fight all kinds of enemies, ranging from a slug who's late for work to Kappa Prime!!! the shark captain of a crew of Pirate Ghosts!

But are they alone on this quest? NO!!! They are joined by many friends they meet along the way. Such as:

Kid, the adopted son of two goat detectives who are also the GOATS,

Carliese, the heiress to a fallen fast food empire,

And Kent the Cat, a Philosopher who's buff both physically and logically.

The demo is just the prologue, about ten minutes, until you actually get teleported into Atlas. Its mostly to get interest and feedback, and to have something to point to when we say we're working on a game. The real thing will be out in about six months.

[gaiabamman]

Summer reads!

I'll never forget my first novel, the one I got the courage to publish also through the encouragement of the Tumblr community!

“Tomboy” doesn’t quite capture it. In 1980s Italy, Leda is just trying to survive puberty, gender norms, and a summer of wild adventures. 💫

🍝 An Italian Adventure is a nostalgic, heartfelt story about a nonbinary preteen finding connection, friendship, and identity in the most unexpected places. Think Anne of Green Gables meets The Goonies, with queer vibes and Italian food you can taste. 💕🌈

📚 Perfect for fans of queer coming-of-age stories, timeless friendships, and indie books with soul. 🔗  

✨ If you haven't yet, get your copy here! Audio, paperback, and digital ✨

[e-kathryns-shadows]

William "Bee" Halo (they/them) from my WIP Nostalgia's Labyrinth which I'm currently seeking beta readers for.

[finngreyswan]

Working on an outline for November! It's a queer magical girl novella about a nonbinary person, a butch lesbian, and a gay boy teaming up to save Ishtar, the goddess of love and war. I'm working on the outline as fast as I can so I won't be lost during my November challenge.

It's based on the story of Innua getting herself caught by her sister in the underworld. She's rescued by a person that's "both man and woman." Unfortunately, the ancient version of a nonbinary person d!es in the versions I could find. I don't plan on anyone dying, so don't worry, lol.

[beccacoffindaffer]

I know it might be difficult to tell amongst all of the fandom reblogs and shitposts, but I actually write books and I just got the okay to share the final cover for my upcoming release THE BLOODY AND THE DAMNED.

So if that's your kind of thing, watch this space! Also, I'm going to get my shit together and send out a newsletter with a sneak peek for subscribers, so if you're interested you can sign up here:

[hopelessgingerbread]

I might start posting book reviews

A positive vision of a future where humans can actually learn from their mistakes.

I loved this book! The worldbuilding is robust enough to engage and give you a sense of what this world is like, yet it's not confusing. The main character Dex (a nonbinary overachiever just like me) takes you on their journey to find... something. Because something is missing, and they have no idea what it is. Maybe it's crickets? A new job? Maybe if they go far into the woods where humans hadn't roamed for centuries, they'll know the answer? It wouldn't be a major spoiler to say that life, this book, and even robots leave you with more questions than answers where the meaning of existing is concerned. Maybe, just maybe, finding nothing at the end of your journey is finding something. And perhaps the journey never ends? In the case of this book, it hasn't yet, because there's a sequel that I'm very excited to read. I ate the book up in a couple of days, and its philosophical meanderings and lovely atmosphere was exactly what I needed to soothe my soul.

[just-a-fly-on-the-wall-222]

Stardew Valley Fanfic I'm working on!

It's inspired from me and my friends playing stardew, and it's from the main farmers POV, yes theres more than one farmer, Oh and it might not make sense cause of the time skips but ENJOY!!!!

TW: there's cussing idfk what else to put

~Rowen~

The second I open my eyes, I know i'm not alone. He's there. He always is. Watching... He's disappointed, like usual. I can almost hear him, his raspy voice slithering towards me...

"Rowen..."

I shut my eyes, but i know it's no use. He's still there, and i'm still here. I need to wake up to get out of this nightmare.

The only problem is, i'm not sure if this is a dream.

"Rowen!?"

My eyes snap open, the sound of someone banging on the door echoing through my empty house. I groan, but reluctantly get out of bed. It's early, the sun isn't even up yet. Who could it be? I put on some jeans, look down at my oversized bill cypher shirt, and pray to Yoba that it isn't the mayor at the door.

As I shuffle over, I see the silhouette of someone through the frosty glass. Two figures, actually. My heart races for a moment, but I take a deep breath to calm myself down. I open the door, and am met with the sight of Mayor Lewis and what I assume is Robin, the local carpenter. Oh shit. Of course. I forgot they were coming over, it must've slipped my mind while moving in yesterday. I rub my eyes and try to compose myself.

"Uh. Hi! Come on in?" Damnit. Why did I say it like a question? I'm terrible at first impressions.

"It's nice to see you again, Rowen. It's not every day someone moves into ol' Pelican Town, you know? Oh! And this is Robin!" Lewis said, smiling in way that seemed too happy to be real. He was exactly as I remembered. It seemed the only thing that changed was the fact that Vincent, or Grandpa as he liked me to call him, wasn't...here anymore.

"Hi," Robin offered a tentative wave. "I'm here to help with any renovations or building projects you might have in mind for the place." Oh. I do not have the money for that.

"Thanks! I.. might need help eventually. But I'm good right now." I run my fingers through my hair, which probably looks like shit, and laugh nervously. "Is there something specific you guys needed?"

"Oh! Yes. Here's a little welcome gift." He hands me quite a few packets of seeds, which I take into my hands. Perrie's Premium Parsnip seeds, they read. Huh, interesting. "You're a bit late to the spring planting party, but these should still grow nicely," Mayor Lewis says, his smile not wavering even a little.

"Wow. Uh, thank you? I'll... plant these soon." I plaster on my best smile, and walk them out. I let out a sigh of relief as soon as they are out of sight. The last thing I wanted was to start my life in Pelican Town by being a farmer. It only makes me miss Grandpa.

I get back inside, and check my phone. There's a message from... Mayor Lewis? Already? By Yoba, this man is pushy.

Unknown: Hi! It's Mayor Lewis! Just thought of something I forgot to tell you. You should introduce yourself to the townspeople! They are all just so excited to meet you :)

Great. Just what I wanted to do.

-------

I look in the fountain. There's a few pennies at the bottom, probably from tourists. Why everyone seems to think that every fountain is a wishing well is beyond me. I sigh, and right as I am about to leave, I hear footsteps. I turn, and am met with what might be the prettiest girl I've ever seen. She's got blonde hair, blue eyes, and an outfit that makes me feel underdressed. She's also glaring at me like I'm the worst thing she's ever seen.

"You must be the new farmer." (She says farmer like its a slur) I cross my arms over my chest, feeling a bit defensive.

"And you are?" I say, looking her up and down. She's got this... vibe about her. Like she's used to being the center of attention and not getting her way is a foreign concept.

"Haley." Damn, her name is pretty as she is. Why am I surprised? "You know, you'd actually be cute if it weren't for those horrendous overalls. Wait. Maybe not." I actually laugh, the sound catching me off guard. It's been a while since I've felt anything but dread. "What's so funny?" She asks, her glare not wavering.

"Just... you. You're the first person to insult me before saying hello in Pelican Town. It's refreshing." I say, smiling slightly.

"Well, I aim to be memorable," Haley says, then she actually smiles, and it cuts through me. She turns around and walks towards town. "See ya around, Farmer."

It only hits me later that she never asked for my name.

-------

After a few days of hiding from the town after my introductions , I am interrupted from my daily pity party. Someone is banging at the door, and it doesn't seem like they're stopping till I get my ass up from bed. I assume it's yet another townie, who couldn't wait for me to seek them out myself. When I get to the door, I practically rip it from its rusty hinges.

"Hi. Yes, I'm the new "farmer". No, I haven't started planting anything. No, I don't need anything. I'm actually fine, content to live by myself. I don't need any-"

"Good. Neither do I."

I blink, then finally take in who's in front of me. They don't look like they're from here, but they don't exactly look like a tourist. Her hair is a deep red, and her outfit is killer. "I just wanted to let you know that ginger is building me a house, right next to yours." And with that, they turn and walk towards Robin.

"That ginger has a name, you know." I mumble, and close the door.

[writingstarter]

Baldur's Gate Fanfiction

When I was younger I used to write all the time (not necessarily well, but it was a passion) and one day I just kind of lost motivation and stopped. I have wanted to get back into it, and just posted a new fanfiction after 10 years.

It is a self-insert, and my character is non-binary and named Parker. Overall, I am just excited to be writing again, and to finally get to contribute more to a fandom I absolutely adore!!

Descent into Baldur's Gate (1503 words) by Starlight_Rogue Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Baldur's Gate (Video Games) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Characters: Astarion (Baldur's Gate), Karlach (Baldur's Gate), Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate), Original Characters, Original Non-Binary Character, Wyll (Baldur's Gate), Gale (Baldur's Gate), Lae'zel (Baldur's Gate), Tav (Baldur's Gate) Additional Tags: Self-Insert, Self-Indulgent, Flirting, neurodivergent, My First Fanfic, Illithids | Mind Flayers (Dungeons & Dragons), Tadpole | Illithid Parasite Powers (Baldur's Gate), Barbarian Tav (Baldur's Gate), Tiefling Tav (Baldur's Gate), Astarion - Freeform, Shadowheart - Freeform, Lae'zel - Freeform, Wyll - Freeform, karlach - Freeform, Tav - Freeform Summary: One of the main joys in Parker's life was Baldur's Gate 3. With over 400 hours of gameplay, and it still was not enough. Imagine their surprise, joy, and fear as they realize they woke up on the Nautiloid at the beginning of their favorite game.

[citizen-khen]

Sleeper, wake up.

Summary:

Sleeper — you have been so focused on surviving for just over a dozen cycles, and yet it has felt like your whole life. But Sleeper — there is more to life than surviving. This form feels pain and hunger and indignance and rage… so why not trust and love as well? The life of a Sleeper on the run is a cruel one, but past the inevitable betrayal and loss, your kindness shines through — for better, or for worse.

A story of the bonds Sleeper creates — and loses — throughout their time on The Eye. Mostly will be filling in the gaps between scenes that exist in game rather than reiterating any dialogue, but may end up taking some creative liberties with timing, characters' storylines and relationships, and the setting of The Eye.

Rating: Mature Length: 148K+ words; Chapters 59/??

[bookish-afrolatina]

Small But Mighty Book Recs

Looking for something small but mighty? Here are 3 novellas I read in January 😉

A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers

Wow! This book is really beautiful. It’s slow-going, at first, because we need space to get to know Dex and their world. I think that the conversations between Dex and Mosscap hit this wonderful cross-section between humorous, reflective, emotional, and grounding.

There are so many quotes that I loved but I think the message that affected me the most was about purpose. I’m not gonna share what exactly, as I don’t wanna spoil it for y’all!

Also a heads-up, the adventure with the robot doesn’t begin until halfway through the book so you’ve gotta be patient! This is the first in a series.

The Black God's Drums by P. Djèlí Clark

This is a mysterious & kinda cute YA speculative fiction book. It has a sort of steampunk vibe & takes place in a version of the U.S. where the Confederacy doesn’t lose the war. However, this is done well as it imagines New Orleans as even more connected to Haiti & Yoruba gods. The MC is headstrong which is always needed in an adventure like this. Her story is filled with spy craft, powerful women, & love of her city.

I enjoyed this book but would have loved a bit more character-building for the MC. The audiobook narrator also pronounces New Orleans differently than I’ve heard natives say it. This was distracting, at times.

In the Shadow of the Fall by Tobi Ogundiran

I am hooked!In The Shadow Of The Fall is a story about belonging, secrets, and faith. Despite this being so short, I felt fully immersed and invested in Ashâke’s journey. She has longed to be with her peers as a priestess and feels like something must be wrong with her if the orisha have yet to contact her. The pacing of this book starts off a little bit slow, builds some intrigue and then picks up speed towards the end. I’m assuming that is because the second book is meant to bring the action. I’m ready for that!

I highly recommend this book to everyone!

[frogmanfae]

I BOUGHT A BOOK TODAY BECAUSE IT HAD A FLUFFY BOY WITH BLUE HAIR LOOKING LOVINGLY AT A MERMAN ON THE COVER AND WITHIN THE FIRST LINE OF THE SUMMARY I FOUND OUT THAT THE MERMAN USES THEY/THEM PRONOUNS (I didn't research this book beforehand, I just picked it up, so obviously it was fate and I couldn't just ignore fate so I legally had to buy it) AND I JUST READ THE FULL SUMMARY AND IT'S ABOUT FAKE DATING I'M KSBAHQVAJSBSJW

(It's called Out of the Blue by Jason June btw if you were wondering)

((I'm going to post whenever something big happens in this book just so you know))

(((I'll use spoiler warnings if I post about anything that would need them)))

[floatingmochi]

Thalassa

TW: Child abuse, Domestic Violence, Murder, Violence, Sexual Content

Thalassa (/θəˈlæsə/; Greek: Θάλασσα, translit. Thálassa, lit. "sea"; Attic Greek: Θάλαττα, Thálatta) was the general word for 'sea' and for its divine female personification in Greek mythology.

Eavinary is a continent in the world of Vesela. Vesela is a realm where gods walk freely in different parts of the world. Most of them are found in Eavinary. These gods aren't a lot like you're used to seeing. These gods, while they are immortal, can die just like any other mortal when it comes to being mortally wounded. They can only die from unnatural causes. Among these gods are the more well known ones. Life, Death, Sun, Moon, War, and Disease. They're the most known and the most feared.

The moon goddess is all six year old Aurora looks up to. She's read stories about this goddess, has heard how kind she is and how she could never hurt a soul. It's a good escape when you have a drunkard dad that comes home every night and beats your mother while you hide under your bed. And it goes on like that for the next ten years of their life. But everything changes when they turn fifteen and tragedy like never expected hits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Being a little girl in a world full of gods and goddesses was certainly a difficult concept for a six year old to handle, especially when you were surrounded by nothing but bad things and evil people. 

When Aurora was six years old, her mother meant the world to her, she was her knight in shining armor and no one else could convince her otherwise. Her family lived in a relatively small village on the coast of the continent Taemora. Taemora is a sprawling landmass, characterized by its breathtaking diversity of landscapes. Towering mountain ranges, crowned with snow-capped peaks, stretch like the spine of a slumbering giant along the northern border. These mountains are rumored to hide secret valleys, where ancient tribes guard long-lost treasures. Or that's what her mother told her stories about. 

To the west, a vast, untamed wilderness unfolds, a realm of dense forests where colossal trees seem to touch the heavens. Deep within these woods, whispers of sentient flora and elusive forest spirits capture the imagination of daring adventurers.

As you venture eastward, the terrain transforms into a vast expanse of rolling, emerald-green hills, reminiscent of an artist's masterpiece. The plains were home to nomadic tribes who had mastered the art of horsemanship and whose grand caravans traversed the land in an endless dance of life and tradition.  Towards the south, the continent meets the sea with dramatic coastal cliffs that plunge into a crystalline, bioluminescent ocean. Here, hidden coves harbor pirate legends and rare, elusive sea creatures, while vibrant underwater cities of merfolk thrive in harmony with the tides.

Her mother told her all kinds of stories about the gods and where they came from, that no one quite knew, but that she did. "The Aurora Borealis, which dances in the northern skies, is believed to be a bridge between the mortal realm and the land of the gods, where the divine and the earthly converge." The soft voice of her mother echoed in her head, reminding her of how her name came to be. She'd go on and on about how the gods had blessed her mother with her existence, which is how she got her name, that she was the mortal who would unite god and man as one.

As her childhood continued, she lost faith in the gods, each new day a new bruise and the same grumpy brunette man screaming at her mother. The few times she spoke up, she shared a similar bruise to her mothers the next day. It got progressively worse into her preteen years when she started going by the name 'Rory', their mother adored their name and thought it fit them well. Their father was livid, they convinced themselves that he just didn't understand and tried to give him time. But it failed every time. Everyday, one new bruise.

Eventually, they stopped speaking all together to avoid any conflict. From ages eleven to thirteen they were silent, hardly ever spoke unless Arthur wasn't home. Arthur is what they started referring to their father as, they'd referred to him as such since they were ten.

Manipulators often exhibit a range of common signs and behaviors that can help you identify their attempts to control or deceive others.

 There were days where he was okay, the days when he was sober, the days he didn't recall any of his horrible actions and actually acted like a proper dad. One of those days, he tied a piece of pink twine into their hair and braided it down their back. 

Charm and Flattery: Manipulators often begin by showering their targets with excessive charm, compliments, and flattery. They aim to create a sense of trust and admiration.

He'd compliment it, say it was a nice color and that they should change it to look like that some day. That they'd be such a good and strong person one day and even that he was proud of them. It gave them hope.

  "..Dad?" Rory asked, glancing over their shoulder at Arthur as he braided their hair. "Yes sunshine?" He asked, a light hum in his voice. "...Why do you hurt mom?" They asked, bracing themselves for any form of violent action.

Gaslighting: Gaslighting is a form of manipulation where the person tries to make you doubt your own perception of reality. They may deny things they've said or done, making you question your memory or sanity.

  "I don't know what you're talking about, I'd never hurt you or your mother sweetheart" He said, his voice light, almost innocent sounding. "You know that don't you? why don't I make you something to eat, what would you like?" He asked. Rory paused, turning and facing him again. "My friends say that their moms talk about how you hit her with a lot of things because you drink too much" They said.

Isolation: They may try to isolate you from friends and family, making you more dependent on them for emotional support and validation. This isolation can make it easier for them to manipulate you.

    "I don't think these are good friends for you to be hanging around, they're putting this false information in your head, how about I get you more books and you can spend more time reading than trusting liars" Arthur said, going to the kitchen and starting on food, humming as he did so. "..But you hit me too, this bruise is from last week" They said quietly after having followed him into the kitchen, watching him turn to face them and come closer, kneeling in front of them. Manipulative Pity: They might pretend to be in a constant state of distress or crisis, using your sympathy to manipulate you into doing what they want.    "Oh Sunshine, I'm so sorry, I've just been under so much stress recently with trying to get a new job....I don't mean to hurt you" Arthur said, tears forming in his eyes as he started to hug Rory. "I'm so sorry baby, I really didn't mean to, I'm just so stressed and I need to be able to get a job so I can give you and your mother a better life" He said.

And they believed it.

The hope disappeared slowly overtime, disappearing entirely on the evening of their fifteenth birthday.

Rory never got much on their past birthdays, a book here and there, they were always happy with what they got. But every year their mother, Eve, never failed to get them a new birthday outfit. This year it was a pretty knee length powder blue dress with ruffles towards the bottom and they wore their pair of black dress shoes. She did their hair up in a fishtail braid and added a blush pink bow to the end of the braid.

   "Look at you, absolutely gorgeous" Eve spoke, giving their child a kiss on the cheek. The faint purple of a bruise could slightly be seen through the makeup on her face, her ash blonde colored hair draped over her shoulders covering the bruises on her collarbone and neck. Her brown eyes withholding tears in them, breathing out she put a necklace around their neck, a pink seashell with beads on each side on a leather cord. "Perfect, now you're ready" She said. Rory stood from their place at the vanity, following their mother out to the dimly lit living area, seeing a table with a small cake with a singular candle wick in it. It burned brightly, and there was a gift on the table wrapped in paper.

They sat at the table, smiling at their mother as they unwrapped their gift, letting out a soft gasp when it was unwrapped. It was a leather bound book, upon opening it the pages were blank, it was a diary. "Oh...it's beautiful" They said softly. "Thank you mom-" They started, the door slamming open seconds later. The wind from outside blowing out the candle wick on the cake. It was Arthur standing in the doorway, very clearly intoxicated, it very quickly went quiet. 

Abusers may overreact for several reasons, and it's important to note that their behavior is not justified or acceptable. Overreactions are often a manipulation tactic and a form of control. 

    "Did I miss you singing happy birthday?" He asked, his words slurring from the content of alcohol in his body. "No, I was just about to sing" Eve spoke up timidly. Arthur nodded towards her, motioning for her to start before pausing. "Wait, the candle isn't lit, can't you do a single damn thing woman? its a fucking candle for a cake and you can't even light the fucking candle, what the hell is wrong with you? useless bitch" He said. 

"There's no need to overreact Arthur, it's Rory's birthday, I think you need to tell them something" Eve said. "I can react however I damn well please, and I don't need to tell her shit, I created her if anything I should be celebrated" He said. "Them, we talked about this, they don't like us using she or her, please don't disrespect their wishes Arthur...they're fifteen" She said. "Good! then I can go ahead and marry her off so she can stop wasting my time" He scowled. "Over my dead body you will" Eve said, gaining a bit of a back bone for once during the past fifteen years of her marriage. "She's my baby and you are not getting rid of her" She said.

Arthur went silent, sitting on the chair, avoiding eye contact. Eve cut him a piece of cake, bringing over a plate and handing it to him. "You know Eve, you really should be careful with the phrasing of your sentences" He said, grabbing the hand of hers that held the knife and twisting her wrist and grabbing it and stabbing her in the abdomen. After that first motion, he couldn't stop, he had dropped the plate and started stabbing erratically, all over here body. The blood soaking into the wood floor and her struggling to try and crawl away and failing as Arthur stabbed into her spine, stopping her ability to move her legs and she just let out weak cries and screams while reaching for Rory. Her child that stood only a few feet away, eyes wide in shock and unable to make a single noise or move a single inch as they watched their mother being butchered by the man who they used to call their father.

Control and Power: Abusers often seek to maintain control and dominance in their relationships. In some cases, killing or threatening to kill their victims can be seen as the ultimate way to exert power and instill fear.

Running was all they could do. Their heart was pounding loudly in their ears, feeling like it was about to jump out of their chest. Their breathing became shallow and rapid, it began to feel difficult to get air into their lungs, they collapsed to the floor behind their locked bedroom door. The faded echoing of slamming on the door. They felt hot and cold at the same time, and their chest felt like it was squeezing itself harshly, their hands were shaking. They felt nauseous and dizzy. They needed to move, they knew they needed to get out. They needed to run. They didn't know where to go, but they needed to run.

 Panic is often accompanied by an intense and irrational fear that can be triggered by a specific situation, object, thought, or physical sensation. This fear is out of proportion to the actual threat, and the individual may have difficulty explaining or rationalizing it.

They set their sights on the window in their room, they blinked but suddenly they thudded to the grass outside their bedroom window and then they were running. They spread their wings out of their back and tried taking off the ground, jumping, crying, unable to catch their breath. They heard a crash from inside the house and gave up and started running and didn't look back. They couldn't turn back, not now, not ever. Their mother was dead. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Please stay tuned for new chapters every other Sunday on Wattpad. This is a story based on my minecraft lore based SMP called Wisper SMP, streamed on twitch every other week, told from the perspective of the water goddex Rory and things that have happened in their life.

[tjalexandernyc]

Currently Reading:

If you've ever wondered what audiobook you should be listening to when you're home alone in the middle of a thunderstorm with gothic horror vibes and plenty of Gender, boy do I have a rec for you!!!!

What Moves the Dead is an adult horror...speculative? Story? It's got some speculation. But England still exists. And America. And science!

T. Kingfisher literally never misses. I'm scared. I'm grossed out. I'm turning on every light in my house. AND it's kind of hilarious?? Sorry but this is how I want all my spooky reads to be for the foreseeable future.

[sunlit-chrysalis]

Sorry for falling of the face of the earth. I haven't had much to really post about, but this is Rye! They're the main character for the story I'm thinking about making and they are a fucking disaster child and I love them

https://www.neka.cc/composer/13819 is the character creator i used btw

[finngreyswan]

I did it! I wrote another book! Come read The Unicorns: Saving Ishtar now for $2! It's an all ages, LGBTQ+ novella. Only 9k words long. Inspired by Sailor Moon, Magic Knights, and Mesopotamian mythology.

https://finn-g-swan.itch.io/the-unicorns-saving-ishtar

[bunnyvirgo-thechocobunny]

I wrote something on Wattpad and I hope everyone who sees this will like it