Etiquette and Protocol

      It's been a very strange month for me. I'm autistic, I lost one of the people who raised me, and some other stuff has happened that has simply been a lot to deal with and to continue to deal with. It's been weird navigating my self-diagnosis of autism because I've had a creeping suspicion for a long time now and also even though it's unofficial the suspicion was further confirmed by a friend who works in the educational system who brought up the possibility when I was describing some of my childhood "quirks" (for example; hating the feel of lotion and other sticky or greasy feeling substances to the point of needing to wash or wipe my hands because otherwise, I panic or rather am overstimulated by the constant sensory input, I mean Hello Dolly!). It's very strange to come to some of these realizations as someone who raised me directly though is not a direct parent passed away at the beginning of this month. If you think I'm being overcoy I...

I can’t stop thinking about Hermione Granger… sounds like the opening to a fanfiction I never wrote. It is a sentiment that is probably echoed in a thousand and one ships, no worry there. Fiction has always been a port of exploration, especially identity. Many times the protagonists of our favorite stories spend a lot of time pondering their identity and how they fit into the world. Part of the joy of fiction is seeing the hidden, inner lives of others and recognizing a common struggle that we can empathize with. Practiced authors take care to give their characters certain flaws and generally give the character or the narrator the self-awareness to tackle those flaws in a way that makes the resolution of conflict feel satisfying and realistic. Even though we tend to think of endings in terms of resolution this does not mean a character will necessarily shed their so-called negative qualities nor, most of the time, do we want them to, after all that is part of the unique make-up that dr...