#this one is definitely not going on the twitter :)

[cravingsfromatwistedone]

ACE TRAPPOLA X READER ART! THAT ONE ART TREND GOING AROUND ON TWITTER... DEFINITELY ACE CODED ME THINKS... WITHOUT CAPTIONS UNDER READ MORE!

[elumish]

I talk about what writers should do a lot, so now I'm going to take a break and talk about some reforms that I think agents should make.

A caveat: I am not an agent! Unlike when I talk about writing, I am just talking about this as an author who happens to be in the midst of querying. If I have an followers who are agents who think I'm getting something wrong, please let me know!

That said, here I go:

Trad publishing is, fundamentally, about getting past a whole bunch of layers of gatekeepers, and agents are the first gatekeepers. With some very limited exceptions, you can't be trad published without having an agent. From what I can tell, being an agent is a bit of a thankless job--it's based on commission, so an agent only gets money if they are selling their clients' books. (Remember: the money flows towards the writer. If someone claiming to be an agent is telling you that you need to pay them to represent you, run.)

Because of this structure, agents have a massive amount of power over unagented authors, particularly because unagented authors simply do not have another option if they want to trad publish. It is my opinion that that power dynamic is part of the reason why querying actually sucks so unbelievably much for authors.

Now, part of why querying sucks is that it's a numbers game, which means that most of us will lose. Every writer is competing against a gazillion other writers, some of whom are better or writing things that are seen as more sellable or happen to be eariler or whatever. You are going to get a bunch of rejections, and that's not the fault of agents.

But here's the other problem:

There are, from what I can tell, no true industry standards and somewhat limited professional expectations for agents when it comes to how to deal with querying. Again, this is what it looks like from the outside--agents, if I'm getting this wrong, please let me know.

For example, many agencies and many agents will have different rules about what you can submit to them and how, and in many cases those rules are in somewhat arbitrary places, which means that querying authors have to hunt for them, and it's easy to run afoul of them even when you're trying. It's common for some agencies to say that you can't query two agents from the same agency at the same time, but some say that you can't query two agents from them ever--a rejection from one is a rejection from all.

But most agents' Twitter bios/MSWL pages/personal pages/etc. don't say that--which means that authors need to hunt through every individual agency's webpage and then cross-reference against every agent that they have ever queried previously, which can be arduous when many people are querying dozens or hundreds of agents. It also means needing to keep track of things like when agents switch agencies.

There are also no standard expectations for agents to actually respond to queries in any sort of time span, or at all, which complicates the above issue even more. But it also is just (imho) kind of unprofessional to ghost people who are seeking a professional relationship with you, when you have explicitly asked them to reach out to you seeking that professional relationship.

And to make that worse, many agents don't say whether or not they respond to all queries, meaning that authors are often left wondering if a 6-month or longer wait is a "no" or an "I haven't gotten to this yet but will definitely respond to you."

There are more issues that I could cite, but my overall point in this is that authors have no recourse here. There's not authors' union, no way to go on strike until agents change what they're doing.

And some agents are really awesome about this! But enough are not, and authors don't really know what they're going to get when they query someone.

So all of this is to say that, if you are an agent, here are some fairly easy changes I would love for you to make to your own behavior to make querying a little bit less of a nightmarish hellscape for authors (and thank you so much if you already do some or all of these):

Respond to every query that you receive

Tell people your general response times and be communicative if that changes. It's okay if it regularly takes you six months! Just tell us it regularly takes you six months, so we're not left wondering if we've been ghosted at four months

Outline all submission guidelines on Query Manager or where you accept queries, including things like a) rules about whether a rejection from one is a rejection from all, b) length expectations for things like synopses (I've seen a range), and c) any other expectations you have (e.g., you require trigger warnings). Don't make people hunt through 2-4 websites to find what you want

Stop asking or at least strongly rethink how you ask about Own Voices or why an author feels like they are qualified to write about a marginalized identity--I understand the impulse, but nobody should be expected to disclose medical or other personal information like that in a professional setting

Also, just to say (other than please don't reject my query because of this post), agents: authors really do appreciate the work you all do. I want someone to work with to get published, because I am very well aware that I am not the expert in this situation.

And again, please tell me if I got anything wrong or misrepresented anything.

[hotwaterandmilk]

I'm seeing "Wedding Peach was unsuccessful" trotted out on Twitter again and it's honestly kind of funny to me. You can dislike the series, but you're rewriting history if you suggest it was a massive commercial flop/astronomical failure — it simply wasn't.

The Wedding Peach TV series maintained viewership throughout its run which is why it aired an entire year's worth of episodes (the full length it was intended to run) and didn't get cancelled like Nurse Angel Ririka SOS, for example.

I'm not going to pretend it did Sailor Moon numbers, dear god, it absolutely didn't get close hence why it wrapped as it did. I would suggest looking back now, that it was the definition of a mid-performing title for the time period. It sold toys decently but not outrageously, it got viewers but not an outstanding number, and it garnered a small but dedicated fanbase of male otaku. All of which is par for the course when it comes to a mid title in 1995.

Wedding Peach DX was produced because the TV series LD sales were decent enough to warrant it. Children were not buying LD box sets at this time, adult fans were and it was this interest that justified the creation of the four DX episodes as direct-to-video releases. If a series doesn't sell well they don't make more episodes, let alone higher quality deluxe episodes specifically for the home video market (and thus for older audiences with spending power).

It is very important to point out that Wedding Peach DX had NO INVOLVEMENT from the original creative team. Tomita Sukehiro and Yazawa Nao did not contribute to its creation, Tadano Kazuko didn't provide designs. Yuyama Kunihiko was the driving force behind the production of the DX episodes and he served as both director and writer for all four episodes (bringing on Wedding Peach animator and soon-to-be frequent Pokémon collaborator, Ichiishi Sayuri to serve as character designer).

What inspired these to be fanservice dreck to the level they ended up being is honestly beyond me. I mean the otaku market definitely wanted more episodes featuring the characters (and more songs featuring the seiyuu, if you want to see how keen otaku were for FURIL please see this post) but part of what they liked about the characters at the time was their (barfbarfbarf) perceived purity and innocence. The DX including panty shots and swimsuits kind of threw them for a loop. Even now, if you look at discussions about the DX among otaku there's a bit of a divide in opinion.

The DX episode sales were (as far as I can tell based on magazines from the time) also mid, but enough to cover four episodes. Three and four don't seem to have sold as well as one and two, but again the stats from the time aren't comprehensive. I think the fact that there weren't any after episode four says it all, honestly. OVA episodes are expensive to produce and it was extremely common for them to stop immediately if the sales weren't there. DX didn't justify its existence beyond those four episodes and Yuyama moved onto a far more successful project in Pokémon.

On that topic, I think it's important to note that Wedding Peach was OLM's first television series (albeit a coproduction with KSS). If it and the studio's adaptation of Mojacko hadn't made some level of profit it would have been quite difficult for them to adapt Pokémon. Neither Mojacko nor Wedding Peach set records with their viewership or sales numbers, but they both did "OK". It was in Pokémon however, that that OLM truly found a successful property with the series still running today. Sometimes you've got to have a few runs at producing things before you find success. Wedding Peach was one of these early runs, a project where a lot of people cut their teeth but one that didn't justify its own continuation beyond a certain point. Just a very standard media mix from the mid-90s, in other words.

Wedding Peach is a problematic title with indifference through to outright objection to representing love outside of heterosexual romance. Looking back now it feels like an absolute dinosaur on so many levels. Between the anime's fatphobic episode and Momoko dropping some gender essentialism, I'm not surprised people want to relegate it to the dustbin of history.

However, I think it is very telling that Tomita Sukehiro, when presented with the opportunity to tell a similar story in the modern day, chose to represent not just queer love, but platonic and familial love in Wedding Apple. While he can't undo the regressive and cringy elements of the original series, as a creator he has progressed and I'd like to think we can all continue to improve our outlooks and output as we grow.

Disliking Wedding Peach in the modern day is completely understandable. I'm not going to pretend anyone should watch it in 2024 without knowing that it is a camp, cheaply made relic of a time when heterosexuality was considered magic. However, just because it pandered to all the worst things trending at the time doesn't mean it didn't sell enough products or hold enough viewers to justify its production. It did, it just wasn't a strong enough property to go beyond that and that's representative of mediocrity rather than mind blowing commercial failure imho.

[olderthannetfic]

I find it really sad when proshippers partake in "cringe culture" so to speak. you can't build your platform on anti-harassment and then make fun of people for being into something you deem stupid/trash/etc.

Like, I know in my mind that proshipping is more about anti-censorship and being pro "darker" stuff so to speak, and that it's not REALLY built on "we shouldn't make fun of people for reading/watching Stupid Stuff" but shouldn't the two be connected? I'd honestly argue that the latter argument is a stepping stool to the former?

Because how can you reblog "all ships are good ships" "ship and let ship" and then make fun of someone for being for an adult who still ships Steven Universe characters? How can you post "RPF is fine" but then make fun of that person on stan twitter who's a bit too into kpop rpf?

just makes me sad. The people who have made fun of me for the most for my MCU hyperfixation are my fellow proshippers. I've unfollowed people for posting book-tok screenshots that are clearly just mocking the OP for the fact that they read Colleen Hoover or whatever.

And I'm not talking about privately shittalking something, or just hating something in general; I'm not not even really talking about laughing at the *media/media creator itself* and criticizing it. I mean, I myself still laugh at the "read another book" Harry Potter meme (which, if i really need to add a disclaimer, i am DEFINITELY not talking about people who think it's weird and fucked up af that some people still like JKR as a person because. . .how can you at this point?). Moreso I mean people who claim to be SOOOO anti harassment and SOOOO pro-all-forms-of-art-even-'bad'-art (whether the art be bad in a moral way or in a creative way, whatever "art" "bad" "moral" and "creative" even MEAN because it changes with everyone.)

Obviously no one is going to like every single piece of art ever, and it's, imho, really human to be a "hater" to some degree! I just have a problem when someone genuinely makes fun of the FANS of something or thinks that someone is less intellectual just because the someone in general likes Disney/Twilight/Taylor Swift/Hamilton/whatever. No one gives af if you think a certain writing or acting style is cringe, but if you think the fans are cringe, that says more about you than it does about the fandom.

(also as a send off -- all the 'yous' i said here were general, def not directed at anyone on this blog. I'm just venting and this seems like the best place to do so where people will agree with my words.)

--

[mik3stuff]

DC AU where everything is the same except it's in Brazil

okay okay that's a good one!

Gotham = Rio de Janeiro (RJ), Metropolis = Fortaleza (CE), Central City = Brasilia (DF), Star City = Salvador (BA), Bludhaven = São Gonçalo (RJ) i know looking at the images it doesn't make much sence but trust me

The Kents are from the backlands of Ceará, but Clark moved to Fortaleza in search of work years later as an adult.

The Waynes are subcelebrities and have CERTAINLY already had about 7 false exposures that gave them a headache to deny on our late Xwitter (X + Twitter, it's a meme)

Jason is definitely the kind of person who refuses to go to McDonald's, but instead, every weekend he and the Outlaws +Duke go to a favela diner owned by some old lady he met when he was homeless, and each of them eats, like, three Brazilian-style hot dogs.

Indigenous Wonderfam, Black/Mixed Batfam (yes even Bruce. the only exeption is Cass and Damian are still Asian/Arabian, just mixed) and Superfam and i don't know the others well enough to tell

memelord Steph but by accident she's just too silly

Tim had a YouTube gameplay channel as a kid, but he lost the password and so he created a new one to post his theories. Every couple of months Steph reminds him of this and he's two seconds away from deleting it by hacking YouTube out of embarrassment, but he knows she has the videos downloaded.

sorry this is mostly just batfam lmao it's the media i have more contact with but i'll try to remake this post in the future ^^

[transform4u]

Can you make me into a slobby, chubby gamer bro?

You’re sitting at your desk, slouched in your chair, the screen glowing as you mindlessly scroll through Twitter, pausing now and then to like whatever attention-grabbing thirst trap pops up from some cute guy on Instagram. It’s one of those lazy afternoons where time feels irrelevant. Suddenly, an obnoxious pop-up ad blares across your screen—something about a new video game.

You try to dismiss it, clicking furiously, but it won’t go away. The ad seems to multiply, each attempt to close it only pulling you deeper into its grasp. Frustration mounts as you keep clicking, your patience dwindling. Finally, in a moment of surrender, you hit "accept."

A download bar appears, and you feel a strange jolt in your hands, a surge that sends a wave of heaviness through your fingers. It’s as if your muscles are slowly dissolving, replaced by a warm layer of softness. An eerie comfort creeps in as you realize your gym time is slipping away. You glance down to see your arms plumping, fingers widening, and you can almost hear the soft squelch of fat settling on your bones.

As you glance down, your arms plump out, the skin stretching taut over the expanding flesh, a soft, pillowy layer beginning to form. You watch in disbelief as your forearms widen, the definition of your biceps fading into rounded curves, the once-firm contours replaced by a gentle, squishy mass. Your fingers grow thicker, the knuckles softening, and you can almost hear the soft squelch of fat settling on your bones, enveloping them like an unwelcome embrace.

Your stomach feels heavier, a soft swell emerging as the waistband of your pants digs in, struggling against the burgeoning softness. You can sense the fat pooling in your midsection, a thick layer forming, making your clothes feel snug and restrictive. Each breath feels slightly labored, as if the growing weight is pushing against your diaphragm, reminding you of the physical changes happening all around you.

The computer buzzes ominously, the sound growing more frantic, echoing the chaos in your mind. A throbbing headache begins to unfurl, burning away the sharpness of your thoughts. The vibrant interests and hobbies that once defined you dissolve into a haze. Facts and figures—gone. All that’s left are flashes of the most basic passions: video games, Marvel superheroes, Doctor Who.

A grin forms involuntarily on your face, but then a dark cloud sweeps in as you remember the recent uproar over the new Doctor casting. Anger bubbles up, boiling over, and you can feel the heat rising within you. Your fingers, now chubby and unrecognizable, begin to type furiously, each keystroke punctuated by a surge of indignation. The once-welcome thoughts about your interests twist venomously as you vent your frustration about how “woke” nerd culture has become.

You let out a guttural giggle snort, your cheeks flushing with a mix of embarrassment and indignation as you feel the glasses appear on your face, perched crookedly on your bulbous nose. You're still getting used to your new pudgy physique, the result of those blasted video games you've been playing non-stop.

"Why do they have to make it so damn easy?!" you mutter to yourself, jabbing angrily at the screen. Your finger hovers over the mouse before landing on the "Play" button. With a resigned sigh, you click it, and soon you're immersed in a vibrant open-world, ready to lose yourself in pixelated adventures.

Time passes in a blur as you game late into the night, your PS5 humming with activity. The sounds of crunching virtual foliage and clashing swords fill your apartment. You barely register your surroundings, too focused on the screen as you explore every nook and cranny of this fantastical realm. Occasionally, your hand drifts lower, stroking the thickening bulge in your sweatpants as your imagination runs wild with thoughts of busty NPCs and steamy cutscenes.

As you finally reach the end credits, a wave of pent-up frustration washes over you. Your rage at the new Doctor boils over, and you start typing furiously into chat forums, railing against the "SJW cuck-chasers" threatening to ruin everything. You vent about how the new cast are "whiny little soy boys", how they're betraying the spirit of fandom.

With a grunt of annoyance, you load up Tinder, scanning the profiles of potential matches of hot babes. You get incredibly horny as you load up Tinder, at first annoyed at the profile you see. It's the old you - cute, lean, gay and eager to please. But slowly, the image shifts and morphs, revealing the chubby, slobby straight nerd that's always lurked beneath the surface. An entitled, misogynistic, and sexist gamer profile takes its place, oozing toxic masculinity and entitlement. You smirk as you swipe right on every single girl who crosses your path, undeterred by their lukewarm responses. The more they dismiss you, the hornier you get, desperate to find some chick to match with and dominate.

You adjust your glasses, a newfound confidence surging through you. The real you is finally in control, and he's ready to take what he wants. You load up your most aggressive dating apps, your eyes scanning hungrily over the profiles of hot college girls. "These bitches don't know what they're missing," you mutter to yourself with a wicked grin"

[didalexiabreakupwitholgayet]

In Alexia's new video when that man said "when celebrated and you took of your shirt, probably for the views" (or smth like that?)

I was like what the actual fuck??

Imagine being a low-life and talking like this to one the best player in the world who's little finger is worth more than your whole being???

What was that man thinking wtf??

But tbh, I'm sad, because I'm not really surprised

yeah, it's a classic example of speaking without thinking. and just goes to show where immediately their minds go. or they think they are being funny when in reality they are being so cringe and disrespectful. especially annoying when alexia talks about that goal as one of her most favourite ones.

source: mdaychampions on twitter

these are the types of thoughts you keep to yourself and you definitely do not say in front of alexia! 😵‍💫

thankfully alexia is more gracious than i am!

[uncanny-tranny]

Learning to internalize the message above, but art is in all of our bones. If you feel afraid to create art because it won't be "good enough," it's worth it to explore why you feel that fear. Creating art is one of the basic impulses of people, and if you want to create art, then you absolutely must.

[fence-time]

Zed mentioned on the a world w/o podcast he likes cider and I immediately thought of this meme

[qqchurch]

Saijaku Muhai no Bahamut had an arc where the MC crossdresses, is treated as a girl for the entire time, and has pseudo-yuri scenes with the main girl cast, and the staff changed the ED to show the MC in his girlself for the entirety of that arc????

what were they cooking

for reference, this is the usual ED and the guy's looks:

[p1x1x]

[ladylikelamb]

The hell are these guys even talking about? 

I think clawdeen and misa would make Eddie cry 

[floorpancakes]

[vaugarde]

not to kinda get on a high horse about this because i know ive probably mentioned her more than i should (altho in my defense it’s because i was a fan of her when i was a teenager) buuut. for people who arent looking specifically at the allegations against her or her bigotry, i have to wonder if some of the attention on lily orchard from people who were never associated with her or victimized by her just feel vindicated at a trans woman making an ass of herself online

[todayisafridaynight]

Maybe I'm just stupid, BUT SNAP UR FILIPINO??? PHILIPPINES MENTIONED 🇵🇭. Nice to know there's a few more Filipino creators in the Yakuza community :]

heh... thats me..... 🇵🇭.......

[slightlytoastedbagel]

actually On Your Feet gave us two good things (well. three if you like Realize which I do). Kohane's "it's frustrating" line and the great crack fic idea of Vivid Bad Squad getting cancelled online for skipping school to yell at The Kotaki Taiga as he was about to go back to America.