bezernaya :)

What can I submit? We will be accepting both written and visual submissions! This includes both digital art and traditional art! Digital art pieces must be at LEAST 1700 x 2200 with at LEAST 300 dpi. You may submit using any format, but PNG is preferred. For physical pieces, we ask that they are JPEGs with multiple angles of your work. Written pieces must be 500-1,000 words. If longer, please link a google doc/AO3 with the writing.

Is there a theme? Not necessarily! All we ask that your piece either includes a yuri ship, OR, a piece with a character(s) expressing their connection to sapphic identities. Poly ships are also welcomed! As long as your piece relates to sapphism/lesbianism in any way, you're good to go! It doesn't JUST need to be ships!

Will this be physically printed? Maybe. If there is enough interest, we can potentially look at prints, but there is no guarantee. It depends on if we have the means to get it done! HOWEVER. Please note that a fee will need to be paid if physical versions do release!

What kind of art will be allowed? As long as it's kept 13+, anything! Non-sexual nudity IS allowed, but anything NSFW is NOT. This goes for writing too.

How many pieces can I submit? As many as you like!

Can I submit pre-existing pieces? Yes! Please just be sure to note that it's an art piece you made before the zine so we can prioritize any new pieces we receive.

Can I post my submission on social media early? Yes! We will not make anyone wait to post their submissions to any social media accounts. If you would rather wait for the zine to be released, then go for it! If you want to post your stuff before the zine's release, then feel free to! It's entirely up to you!

If you choose to post your work to any socials, please use #Fireflies of the Setting Sun Zine and/or #FOTSS Zine in your work so we can find and reblog it! Also feel free to tag this account in your post too so we have a higher chance at seeing it!

Why Fireflies of the Setting Sun? We thought fireflies were a perfect representation for the yuri ships within fandom spaces. Fireflies are small but bright, just as yuri ships are small (underrepresented) but still have their own light to them that fandom wouldn't be the same without. Not only that, but they're usually only seen after dark! Which follows our sunset theme wonderfully! And of course, the sunset is there to represent the lesbian flag :}

Note that the information below is more geared towards the celebrations that Godpoke's hometown in particular would throw, and other birdfolk types may have differing celebrations depending on where they're from! :}

There's no set dress code necessarily, but usually clothing is very loose with a spacey theme/deep blue colours. As long as it resembles missy in some way, it doesn't matter toooo much,, feminine birdfolk will usually wear skirts/dresses similar to missy's, while masculine birdfolk will wear ponchos and capes; tho once again there's no real rules to this and yew can mix things up as yew please. Clothing will be patterned with moons and stars while also likely having some lace to them too. Tassels are also common, especially on hats

They will also paint the upper part of their faces + beak white to resemble missy's face. Scales and inside of wing/tail feathers will also be painted white to look like bones,, I've not shown it in this doodle but they'd probably also have small hearts painted onto their foreheads similar to missy's heart in her head

Godpoke in particular likes to wear a large cowboy hat that's been modified to look like a crescent moon. Instead of painting their scales they have a bone patterning on their gloves; tho this isn't always the case. Sometimes they will remove their gloves and have painted scales, it entirely depends on how they feel in the moment. Their gloves and hat have tassels on them and they wear a loose poncho and cape decorated with stars/moons. Their chaps are much looser than normal, now only being held up by two golden pins instead of being tied closely to their hips with a belt. The belt they wear now has a moon on it rather than a horseshoe/King's stamp. Their bandana is also now a creamy white colour instead of the orange they usually wear,, contemplating having the face on the bandana change too but I don't know what to,,, might just have it be smiling instead of grinning buuutttt I dunno shrugs

Regarding the celebration itself; it usually revolves around staying up all night, spending time with loved ones, offering things to Missy shrines, and of course, eating food! At midnight, a dance will start with a live band playing, tho no one is forced to participate. The holiday is more focused on familial relationships, usually more-so parental ones, but any family can be celebrated :}