Snowflake Challenge #1

[tjs_whatnot]

 

Challenge #1

The Icebreaker Challenge: Introduce yourself. Tell us why you're doing the challenge, and what you hope to gain from it.

Hello! I'm TJ. I accidentally chose the pronouns any/any at my new job (remind me to tell you all about that later! ) and now, the more I think about it, the more I like it. I never really liked they/ them (but get why others do) but I really don't mind either he/she him/her. 

I'm old. I've been here forever. Started doing fandom in 2009. Started doing the Snowflake Challenge in 2014, and accidentally got put in charge of running it in 2024. 😱😱 So, technically I'm here because I have to be. 🤣🤣 But really, I'm here because it's how I start the year. It's where I met my friends (either as reunion or as adoption). It's where I get inspired in my geek soul. I've carved out a queer space in my real life. I've carved out a writing community (and even a queer reading community) in my real life, but there is nothing like a geektastic, weirdo-centric, fan community to really make me feel less alone and ostracized. 

Things I'll probably be talking about here for the next month (and forever after):

TJ Klune's Green Creek series (and probably other books he's written) 
Cat Sebastian's and Alexis Hall's entire library of books
Murderbots
Queer media in general 
Reading/writing in general

Comments

[rekishi]

I think a lot of us are old. I recently did the math on how long I've been in fandom (just....the original X-Files run. not quite from the beginning but....early enough) and decided I would never do that math again, simple as that! 😂

[tjs_whatnot]

Right? So old. ❤️

But at least we're in good company.

*clinks glass*

[rekishi]

chinchin 🥂

[autobotscoutriella]

I think I'm younger than you, but I got into fandom around the same time - 2008/2009 seems so long ago now! Sometimes it's really nice to think about how fandom's still here all these years later. (And fandom has been a welcoming, comfortable queer community for me, too. It's important.)

Thank you so much for running Snowflake again! I look forward to this every year.

[tjs_whatnot]

So long! So much has changed and so much hasn't. ❤️❤️

Yay for found queer families communities! It makes life worth living!! 🎉🌈🎉

[potentiality_26]

I love the idea of any/any as pronouns! Wow! (Sorry, getting my mind blown here.)

Very interested by your thoughts about fandom.

[tjs_whatnot]

Right? Like, obviously I don't think anyone should start saying Any instead of literally any other pronoun, but that's just it. They could just use literally ANY pronoun and I'd be fine. I teach littles and at least one child each year will ask if I'm a boy or a girl and I'll just say "Yes." 😍😍

[potentiality_26]

Yes, exactly! When asked for pronouns online I've taken to saying they/them, but less because I actively identify that way than because I miss the old school internet "your pronouns, like everything else about you IRL, are an unknown quantity so I default to they/them" usage. I wish to be an unknown quantity.

But honestly "are you a boy or a girl" "yes" works too!

[nightfalltwen]

As someone who started fandom in 2001, I like to say I'm a fandom grandma.

[tjs_whatnot]

*shakes fist*

Why, back in my day...

🤣🤣

[walgesang]

That's awesome about the queer reading and writing community in real life! Here's the the old nerd souls. :D I feel like my 50s are better than my 40s or 30s ever were. If I luck out, at least I'll have still many more in the latter half of life but it also makes me value every day even more.

[tjs_whatnot]

It really is. I just happened to luck into a book store shortly after moving back to my hometown and saw an advertisement for a book club called "The Queer and Weird Book Club" and from them, I've found an entire community of queers and fans of queer lit. ❤️❤️

And right? It wasn't until I was in my late 40s that I thought, "You know what? I should maybe, IDK, start taking care of myself." It wasn't until my 50s that I got to reap the benefits of a healthier, more active lifestyle. ❤️❤️

[walgesang]

That's such a wonderful thing to hear, I'm so glad for you! ♥ ♥

I very much hear you there! I got a little bit of a late start but I'm turning 53 next year and I can't wait to see what else my 50s bring (hopefully a lot of longevity!).

[thatjustwontbreak]

I hear you on the pronouns. I literally was just journaling about it this morning and how I have no idea how to refer to myself in the third person.

Very grateful that you run the challenge! <3

[tjs_whatnot]

*sighs at your icon* You know, that actor really grew on me as the series went on. *sighs again*

Pronouns are tough. I'm getting better, but left to my own devices, I'm just a fan of using proper names whenever possible. 😍😍

[pattrose]

I love Alexis Halls books. I have a gift card from Amazon. I've got to see what's new. I've only read 2 so far. I hope there are many to choose from. Good seeing you. I love Snowflake Challenge. It's going to be fun. I'm old too. 😊

[tjs_whatnot]

Ohhhhhh! They have written SO MANY different sorts of books! I was happily surprised to see a lot of their books at the local B&N today. *sigh*

What two have you read? I could give you a rundown of recs based on your likes and dislikes. 😍😍

[pattrose]

I read boyfriend material and husband material. I loved both of them. I see there is one called father material. That sounds interesting. Rec some to me and I’ll bookmark them. Thank you.

[tjs_whatnot]

Ohhhh! That's how I started too. Father Material isn't out yet, but it's the wrap up of Luc and Oliver and I legit can't wait! If you want more of that level of angst, funny and sex, then 10 Things That Never Happened is really good too. It's like a queer "While You Were Sleeping."

If you want slightly more angst and more sex, he wrote a series called "Spires" that have four books and they are so lovely. "For Real" is my favorite followed closely by "Pansies" but you can't go wrong with any of those.

If you want that level of angst and even more sex, his Arden St. Ives series is phenomenal. It was written as a response to 50 Shades of Grey where he asked what if that book was better? And also queer? ❤️

If you like historical romance:

A Lady for a Duke is AMAZING!
Confounded Oaths and Mortal Follies are ridiculous and
The Something Fabulous series is even more so.

And that only scratches the surface. ❤️❤️

[pattrose]

Thank you so much. I’m saving this right now.

[matsushima]

I'm old. I've been here forever. Started doing fandom in 2009…
If you're old, I'm ancient!

I've been in fandom since 1999.

[tjs_whatnot]

Haha, well too be fair, I was pretty old when I started hanging out in fandom spaces too. ❤️❤️

[dreamersdare]

You know, I did read something a while back about 'gender indifference' as a gender identity (they might have called it something different, but it's along those line). It basically boiled down, I think, to people for whom gender is just not an important part of their identity, so they had a strong 'I don't care' about pronouns, or what gender identity was being assigned to them, because for them it didn't really matter. And that might not be you, but your post made me think about it again, and now I want to go and hunt that article down and re-read it.

Thank you for bringing us back to Snowflake again. Every ship needs a captain if it's going to stay on course, however big its crew it ♥

[tjs_whatnot]

Ohhhh, Gender Indifference is such a good term! *ponders* and it goes so well with the whole Sex Blaise I have going. 🤣🤣

Basically, I just want to be a brain in a jar. 🥰🥰

[dreamersdare]

Brain in a jar is entirely valid!

Also I found it, in case you're interested (the article I read was a preprint but its fully published now). It's gender detachment they talk about, I knew I wasn't remembering it quite right!

[tjs_whatnot]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing!

[mywitch]

Hey there, fab friend from firewhiskey fic good times! I'm old, too, but I came to fandom late. I love that this is a space that isn't ageist. Thanks for doing so much for this challenge! I am sure it is a lot of work. Best 2026 ever for you! Make it so! ;)

[tjs_whatnot]

❤️❤️❤️

[snowynight]

Hi! I hope you have fun! Best wishes!

[tjs_whatnot]

❤️❤️❤️

[wenchpixie]

So, technically I'm here because I have to be 🤣🤣 oh brilliant!

I am FASCINATED by the pronouns story