Still around

[inky_magpie]

Hey, still around here, just trying to find more people to talk to so I've been more active commenting elsewhere.

One of these days I'll get around to going though some of my old writing that I did for a creative short fiction class and post it up here.

I've been working my way though ysabetwordsmith and dialecticdreamer 's shared world Poly-chromatic Heros ( siliconshaman also writes in this world, but I haven't gotten to his section yet)

I stumbled into it with a poem featuring Shiv, a young supervillian who's had one hell of a rough go at life. I didn't realize it was was part of a much bigger world at first glance, but quickly figured that part out and dove in head first and I've barely come up for air since.

Ysabetwordsmith's index can be found here:

http://penultimateproductions.weebly.com/polychrome-heroics.html

Comments

[teigh_corvus]

*waves*

I've read bits and pieces of that world, but haven't gone full immersion. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on it all.

[inky_magpie]

This is probably going to get long and rambley, so I apologize in advance.

One big chunk is Yasbetwordsmith's use of warnings and footnotes. I don't have triggers exactly, but I do have a few things that squick me the hell out and a handful of common pain points that while I'm in a good headspace I can brush off, but if I'm not... well it's best for me to find something else to read. She makes it really easy for me to know if something's going to hit those. And her footnotes... she does her research. And then shares it. It can cover everything from how to notice bullying, giving a good handshake, Emotional First Aid, Cognitive therapy worksheets, to youtube videos of medieval court dances.

Another thing is the world itself. The world building is excellent and I can tell just how much thought has gone into the background (superhero support groups. SuperVILLAIN support groups :) medical training for non-standard biology, laws effecting people with powers.) it's internally consistent and builds up on itself. actions have reasonable reactions. nonhuman telepaths that are clearly not human, and thus have a very different way of thinking/ speaking/reacting to things. A wide array of powers, and a fair amount aren't very flashy/ "high powered" but still have a large influence on how that character sees themselves and the world. (sometimes literally, one character has eyes like a fly)

The world is also just... kinder and more self aware. Social safety nets haven't been gutted. the school to prison pipeline doesn't exist. Anti discrimination laws are enforced. There's focus on harm-reduction instead of "zero tolerance" bullshit. I mean, terrible awful shit still happens but it's not this... grimdark "everything is awful all the time" dystopia. Granted, a lot of this might be from a "Do you want supervillians!? Because this is how you get supervillians!" argument... but over all this is nice. And really needed right now.

And most of characters are somewhat sympathetic even if they're 100% asshole. (OK, not the prison warden, but he's more of characterization of the abuse of power than anything else)

[teigh_corvus]

Holy moly, don't apologize! This is far more than I expected, but is EXACTLY what I wanted! Your review of the year has made the world immersion a hard YES for me, AND SOON. Thank you for taking the time to ramble at me. <3

[inky_magpie]

:) :) :) I ramble well on things I have Opinions about. I have a lot of opinions.

[siliconshaman]

I apologise in advance.. I'm not as stringent about warnings as Ysabet [I'm not sure *anyone* is!] but I do try. I do writ fluff as well, Shiv in particular. [Poor boy needs something good in his life!]

Also... some of my stuff can get a bit epic in length. So, I apologise for the all evenings/nights you may end up losing.

[inky_magpie]

Warnings are generally not a problem, most of the things that bother me are common (child abuse, self harm, etc) If something comes up in one of your stories I'll send you a message. :)

>> some of my stuff can get epic in length...

That's not a problem right now, plus I can have the internet in my pocket now... when I have pockets *makes a note to rant about clothing manufacturers and sexism at some other point*

[siliconshaman]

Ahh.. those are themes that do turn up in my stories. Two of my characters self-harm at points... one other has suffered child-abuse. It's not something I cover in graphic detail, and the abuse is in the past. But, it makes them who they are, so it's mentioned.

I think I put up warnings about them however... so, we should be good.

You might want to be careful with my story entitled Rule 34.. it was my one and only foray into super-hero porn. It gets a bit..weird.. in places.

[capri0mni]

All of this, btw, is why I much prefer ysabetwordsmith's superhero universe to the MCU... and one reason why I don't feel any burning need to see the Marvel movies (though I am looking forward to streaming Black Panther when it becomes available).

And her adept use content warnings puts the lie to every Right-winger's complaint that they stifle discussion or intellectual engagement. If they do that for you, it's clearly because you're using them wrong -- like trying to open the mayonnaise jar with a hammer.

[inky_magpie]

*nods* I like the MCU, there's just a lot I wish went differently. Quicksilver? Nearly all of Civil War? yeah.

But the MCU is a very different 'verse than Polychromatic Heroes. It's apples and oranges. And I was a huge fan of Black Panther.

Honestly, I don't understand the debate around content warnings anymore, they've been around and used in enough contexts that it's just... your side lost the argument, STFU. The only reason I can see it still being a thing is because their of the opinion that if the other side of the debate stops interacting due to tired/disgust/whatever it means they "won". (I guess if someone is coming in uninformed of previous discussion could be one reason, but I'm Fandom Old and I've seen this rehashed since the late '90's. My reaction is more, "here, let me link you a thing")

>>like trying to open the mayonnaise jar with a hammer.

This is a brilliant image, I may have to use it at some point.

[capri0mni]

This is a brilliant image, I may have to use it at some point.

Be my guest!

[capri0mni]

If you're doing a deep dive into ysabetwordsmith's* world, it'll probably be a while 'til you come up for air.

I suggest subscribing to her journal as a whole, and keep an eye out for the Poetry Fishbowl -- that's the day she sets aside each month for writing commissions (The next one is day after tomorrow).

*you misspelled her user name (swapped the s and a) in your original post)

[inky_magpie]

Thank you for the spelling correction, post has been edited. I've already subscribed to all of the authors mentioned. And yeah, it may take my awhile, but I'm enjoying the heck out of it, plus they all keep writing so I won't run out anytime soon :) :) :)

[capri0mni]

Yeah, it took me a while to get the spelling right, too, until I realized that "Ysabet" is a nickname for Elizabeth, and she is a Wordsmith... But a and s are easy to switch anyway...