fictionfolk-guide

guide for fictionfolk !! they/them

[fictionfolk-guide]

hey! i don't know if this is weird or anything but i'm starting to wonder... is it normal to remember certain things better when in certain shifts (talking about irl memories)? i mean if in one shift, it'd be harder to recall certain things than if i were in the other shift (that most likely experienced whatever it was).

Depends on the fictkin! (I know, terrible answer, bear with me here.) Though I should say that this sounds suspiciously plural to me, and you may want to look into fictive heavy systems, it could be that certain kins are tied heavily to different parts of your life. For example, let's say you have a particular time in your life that can be very closely related to... uhm... Alex Fierro from Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard. You later kinfirm Alex, and when you're shifted, you have clearer memories from when you were most interested in Alex.

A spiritual explanation could be that this time is when the piece of your soul that remembered the most from your past life was the most prevalent. If you're psychological, then it could be that this was the part of your life your brain most associated with the kintype, so when you shift, those memories are what comes to mind.

I will reiterate how this is sounding plural to me, but it's very possible that it's just a fictionkin thing.

In case you do want to research plurality, I'll put some definitions under a cut for you.

plurality definition

plural-adjacent

fictive

fictive heavy

median

pluralpedia is pretty reliable and very interesting to read through, so if you have time, i'd recommend looking around. i hope the links work properly-

[fictionfolk-guide]

is it weird to headcanon your source with headcanons that don't match you and acknowledge the source, source with headcanons, and you, can all exist at the same time

Not a bit. The amount of headcanons we have...

(nonnie i am so sorry this got buried so deep in our drafts-)

[shroomishroomcatte]

THERE!! PETITION!! UNDO THE REBLOG UPDATE!!

Tumblr recently announced an update where all reblogs get their own notes, and really, it's pointless and nobody asked for it, and also this makes it so that none of the reblog's notes contribute to the original post's, and this is really weird because it eradicates the sense of community, and now a reblog could get way more popular than the original post. Anyways I made a change.org petition go sign it right meow

Sign the Petition

Undo the Tumblr Reblog Update

optional tags (sorry if you didn't want to be tagged I just tagged my moots who were in my notes most recently)

@ang3l-d0lli3 @salamie-baby @beware-of-pot-holes @mossymenaces @benreydroid @applejuicedragons @cielchelovek1999 @ayane-chan-loves-water @mesa-sys @mrjohn2 @pillbot @achilles-the-bard @lanterns-and-lightmares @deductivelogico-offical @beccahasarrived

[fictionfolk-guide]

Is there a specific way/any tips on getting (voluntary) kinshifts/kinmems?

I'm not entirely sure, as I'm permashifted, so I decided to ask my headmate. There isn't any way to get memories or shifts, but here's how they do it:

They say that what always helped them was playing scenes in canon and then focusing on themself in that scene. Later they'd picture that scene from their own perspective. In one scene, they were running up to another character, and despite that not being very clearly shown, they remember it vividly. Similarly, for non-canon scenes, picturing the area from their perspective and thinking of what they're doing in said scene normally did the trick. However, they always had an abnormally easy time getting memories and shifting. Shifting for them came along with memories, and they were always on the edge of a shift.

Asides from my headmate's method, I scoured tumblr for meditation links to help you shift. Uh... I fell down a rabbit hole of dissociation stuff and I had no idea what the acronyms were and needed to know and I still don't. I may have gotten a little lost. But seriously, do search up tips for kinshifting and you'll find a ton. Some of that stuff is really helpful, others aren't, but look for it. Try not to fall down a rabbit hole. If anyone wants links to the dissociation stuff, I've got them.

Sorry if this post was horse shit, I just woke up.

[fictionfolk-guide]

Do you have any tips for figuring out/realizing you're a fictionkin?

Sort of? For me, it was mostly that I kept getting memories. If you don't have memories, it's a lot of introspection. Think about the character's motives, dreams, feelings, thoughts, etc. Compare those to yours, keeping in mind the difference in situations. Think about characters that the character you're considering may have had strong feelings towards and compare those to your own. (For example, my love interest was one of my favorites when I first watched my anime.)

If the character died, think of how you feel about their death. (For me, I lived exactly how I wanted to and I've always been very accepting of my death, as an example.) It's hard for side characters, but if you want to find content of the character you're considering, go for it! Looking at who the character is and how they're perceived. Other people may have picked up on smaller details you missed, which could help.

[fictionfolk-guide]

hey, mod here. i am so sorry for the lack of posts, there were some irl things that came up. surprise, im in a system. the headmate who was running this went dormant and they'll probably come back eventually but yk. ill try to keep this up, if anyone wants to be a mod, dm me. (@beware-of-pot-holes)

[fictionfolk-guide]

uh. i just need advice for something cus i feel weird.

what should i do when i suspect im developijg a crush on a canonmate thats 10 yrs old. (my fictkin is also 10 but im still bodily 14. almost 15 very soon)

-hazel wells :/

I'd say that you're fine here, Hazel! As long as you don't expect a younger fictionkin who is bodily ten to be romantic with you, you're good. Hell, try not to expect any fictionkins of this character to be in a relationship, but that stands for all romance in these situations. You're allowed to ship your in-canon self with the character, and tumblr is relatively good with situations like these, from what I've seen.

If it makes you uncomfortable to have a crush on someone younger than you, I can't help much, but google says to create distance, think about their flaws, and focus on self care. I don't entirely believe that google is right, but it also says to give yourself time to process your feelings instead of repressing them.

I'm sorry if this doesn't help, but I hope it will!

[frameacloud]

Fictionfolk resources

This post is about fictionkin, fictives, and other types of fictionfolk and experiences of fictionality. In it I recommend some readings and other resources for definitions, primers, etiquette, history, questioning, databases, and community.

Definitions

A quick guide to fictionfolk terminology by @aestherians

A fictionfolk glossary by the Dragonheart Collective

Primers

Fictionkind FAQ, by the Dragonheart Collective

Fictives: A Short Intro, by Ryn^Aristocrats

Soulbonding info carrd, by fairy tea

Changing beliefs & behavior through experience-taking, an academic article by Kaufman & Libby

Etiquette

A couple guides to avoiding faux pas & treating your fictive friends with respect.

By the Quicksilver System

By Sprites

History

A Timeline of the Fictionkin Community, by @houseofchimeras

Pluralpedia on where the word fictive came from, researched largely by LB Lee & sobqjmv

Questioning

Questioning guide for fictionkin, by DoctorCorby

The Big List Of Fictionkind Experiences, by 375-6

Databases

100+ writings in the fictionfolk category in the Alterhuman Archive

17 games, zines, & other creations on itch.io by various

Community

Web ring, maintained by @nova-dracomon

Dreamwidth community, moderated by @tanadin and sun_dragon

Safety in Alterhuman Spaces, by Dragonheart Collective

I have also shared this list as a Bluesky thread.

[fictionfolk-guide]

Hey, so if you have something you want me to discuss or really any questions on what I wrote or a topic that relates to this, send an ask. I can write these short essay things in forty-five minutes to an hour (if I'm interrupted while writing), and I really could do multiple a day, I just don't have topics. Please send me ideas or questions, because I'll answer them. <3

[fictionfolk-guide]

What does being "valid" actually mean?

Alright, so here's a question. Alterhumans as a whole, but especially fictionfolk, are told we're invalid. But what makes us valid or not?

Roughly stated, "valid" means that something is legally binding or officially acceptable.

With a quick google search of "what does it mean for someone to be valid" you'll be told that being told that you're "valid" means that the truthfulness of your ideas is being agreed upon.

So how does that fit into alterhumanity? How are we, as alterhumans, "valid?" How is our identity any of these things? The thing is, we aren't valid or invalid, because this is who we are. Our identity doesn't rely on being "valid." Valid is if our identities are truthful and agreeable to society's standards. And the truth is, we aren't socially accepted. We're a big fucking mess of creatures and objects and characters from worlds that people don't believe exist.

We're whatever we want to be. We're dragons, fae, elves, characters, creatures, gods, angels, concepts, elements. We shouldn't box ourselves in with a word like valid, we shouldn't be tormented by the question "am I valid," because we don't need to be. Being fictionfolk is being who we are, who we want to be, who we need to be, and who we were. No matter how strange, how "invalid," how stupid, how odd, we are fictionfolk. And hell, maybe you're not. It's okay to stop being alterhuman if you realize you're not. You weren't faking if you didn't know, you weren't pretending if you thought it was real. As much as I talk, fictionfolk is just a label like any other. You're whoever you want to be, and if a label doesn't fit you anymore, or makes you uncomfortable, then you can stop using it. You have a right to comfort, you deserve to be happy. You don't need to be valid, you don't need to stay the same all your life, because you won't stay the same forever. You'll always change, because nothing is static. And whoever you end up being, you have a right to be there and to be happy. Next time you're called invalid for being someone or something that "isn't real," know that they don't matter. Know that they aren't you, and validity is just a concept. Next time you look in the mirror and think that maybe you were wrong about who you are, remember that's okay.

I don't care who you end up being, I just think you deserve to be happy.

[fictionfolk-guide]

sigh should I make an intro post or something

[fictionfolk-guide]

Villainous Behaviors

This post is going to have a lot more input from me personally, as I'm a villain myself.

Anyways, being a villain is kind of insane. No, we won't murder anyone, but there are smaller habits that, in my experience, stick around. For example, I serve the Beast of Deceit. I'm a compulsive liar.

If you're in a supportive environment, you'll probably be told to stop (behavior) because it can be harmful to you and others later in life and building up a habit of (behavior) will result in some sort of consequence. But for you, that behavior is already is already a habit, because you built a habit in another realm that's stuck around, or that's just part of you.

If the environment isn't supportive, you'll probably just be punished. Suspended if it happens enough, lose a few friends because you're a troublemaker and their parents don't like that, or they don't like that. Of course, you'll also receive the majority of the adults in your life disliking your presence in their lives.

It's not a great situation either way. Some habits are fine, maybe a little embarrassing or nonsensical, but others are harmful, and even when you know that, you can't exactly control it. It's who you are.

But you can try to get better about it. Lower down the harmful habit slowly. For me, that's been lying about smaller things. Don't lie about whether or not you did task, only lie when you're certain you can get away with it or get better at lying. Don't lie to authority figures if they'll catch you, don't lie about anything consequential. Half-truths are my best friend. I don't know what that could look like for you entirely, but let's go obsession.

Let's say you get attached easily and have trouble letting go, get obsessed to an unhealthy degree. First of all, you shouldn't be looking to tumblr for this, but I digress. What I'd recommend is procrastination. Oh, I'll talk to so-and-so tomorrow. This is a technique used for addicts and suicidal people, saying "I'll kill myself tomorrow" has gotten people through years. This might not work, maybe it's shit advice, but it's worth a shot.

I know this post isn't much, but it felt necessary to get something out on it. I'll probably do another one later to expand on this, but here's what's in my head.

[fictionfolk-culture-is]

Fictionfolk flag - a flag for anyone with any fictional identity, or anyone who falls under the fictionfolk umbrella.

This can include but is not limited to:

Fictionkin folks

Fictionflickers

Other fictionfolk identities

Synpaths/otherhearted folks

And fictives.

The symbol was made to look like a loop/repeating, that there's no one way to define everyone's identity, and that there can be many different ways someone experiences it. The inside is supposed to look like an open book, representing the fictional aspect of the individual's identity.

Symbol and flag with titles beneath the cut.

[Flag ID: A flag with five stripes with colors from the top down being dark purple, purple, a dark peach color, orange, and dark orange.]

[fictionfolk-guide]

Welcome!

So, I figured I'd start this blog out with some basic clothing advice.

Looking exactly like yourself is hard. And depending on the popularity of your media or your species, you will probably be called a cosplayer. If you don't want that in your daily life, here are some tips. We'll start with things I do for myself:

I usually look at my specific aesthetic. Me personally, I dress in a dark-lolita leaning style more often than not. It can be hard to find clothes in that aesthetic if you live in a conservative area like I do, so here are some tips on that:

Go to the mall. Find smaller things. Pieces of jewelry, clothing in your color scheme, accessories, etc.

Go thrifting. Someone in this town has been as strange as you, I guarantee it. It's cheaper and you can find vintage clothing if that just so happens to be where you're from.

If you don't mind cosplay (let's be real here, we're fictional, being against people being a little whimsy is hypocritical) then cosplay. It's basically just gear. I've been working on making my hard to find accessories out of cardboard and foam, and you probably can too. Even if your first or twentieth attempt isn't quite perfect, it's better than nothing. For beings with colors that aren't exactly natural for humans, wear wigs. Especially if you can't afford to dye or don't want damage from bleach. It'll give you a glimpse of how your current body will look with your colors, which is a lot better than just dying and finding out.

And obviously, order online. Try to avoid companies like Amazon and Shein if you can. Go for smaller shops, support small brands. Go on Tumblr or Twitter or YouTube or even fucking TikTok. Find a small clothing brand, or a wig maker, or shoe companies. They're out there, I guarantee it, and chances are they have what you're looking for.

If you're going for goth, whimsy goth, punk, etc, hot topic and thrift stores. Not how I dress, but every goth person I see thrifts. I've seen people saying that the sleepwear and lingerie sections have the best things, so check there! Hot Topic isn't as great for flowy ruffles in clothing, but what it's great for is accessories. I don't know if they have corsets in every store, but they are certainly in all my local ones. Fae? Yeah, you people, I see you, this is for you. Dragons, depending on your colors, this stuff could be for you too. And several dozen fictokins, probably.

Scene/Scenecore/rave aesthetics? Yeah, to Hot Topic you go. (But also there's a website called Rave Wonderland, which might have some of what you're looking for. Honestly, search up "scene platform boots" on google and look through the buy options. There's a ton of stuff there, but they tend to be expensive. Double edged sword.)

This is where I leave off for now, hope you enjoy!