things to lessen species dysphoria 

except it's actual advice and not just "buy gear"

1: tend to paw pads, when washing, pay extra mind to clean the pads. remember to also keep your pads moisturized, w lotion etc. pet owners moisturize their pets paws, you should do the same with yours!

2: find other words to describe "human" things. friend group = pack. brushing hair/fur = grooming. partner = mate. bed = nest. house/room = den. etc etc

3: obligatory gear mention BUT it can help. for me, it's mainly when taking photos in it, then looking back at them later. however, if you have talons, eating/stabbing food with claws could be fun. just clean them before and after!

4: you can always buy pet toys, pet beds, collars, and possibly human grade pet food at walmart. absolutely no one would think anything at all. also, you can probably find big pet cages online. and if a pet bed isnt your style, you can always get a giant bean bag!

5: you can make any food animal-fied with molds and cookie cutters! plenty of cute dog bone shapes etc! find something to match your species! you could also use the molds for cutely shaped ice!

6: treat yourself like an actual animal. look for species friendly foods, species friendly soap to wash with, etc etc. just also make sure your vessel can handle it as well! "human grade" is necessary, even if you yourself aren't.

7: refer to your body with less "human" terms. hair = fur. teeth = fangs. nails = claws. hands = paws/claws/talons. etc etc

8: dress in colors or styles that remind you more of your true self. (aliens may want greens and purples or otherworldly looking options, deer may want something more soft and natural like cottage core, a dragon may want to flaunt jewelry, etc etc)

9: species doesn't wear clothes? your home is a lawless land LMAO strip em off if you gotta. maybe close window blinds and have clothes in reach in case of visitors however!!

10: listen to music that makes you feel less human! (the song "harpy hare" is probably a big one for more forest-dwelling creatures. but it can be anything! sparkle dogs may want loud breakcore or vocaloid, a doll may want something classical and pretty, or a canine may want some anxiety relief music for dogs!)

11: sew or commission a nonhuman sheath or vulva to wear. stop giving a fuck, be free 🙌

12: tend to plushies or fake eggs like they're your cubs/hatchlings!

13: turn your bed into a comfy nest!

14: pretend to be somewhere else if wanted! your bath could be a fancy hot tub fit for a dragon, your bed could be a cozy burrow with the blankets serving as your roof, etc etc.

15: practice nonhuman noises! you can probably find tutorials on youtube, or work with whatever comes naturally for you! not all animals sound the same, ever heard an old chihuahua bark? LMAO don't worry about how you sound!

16: if birdlike, wyvernlike, monkeylike etc, pick up things with your feet!

17: lap at water from the faucet, or the soup in your bowl!

18: match the eating techniques of your species, without choking obviously LOL lots of animals swallow whole. if birdlike, maybe chew it up before tossing your head back to swallow-

19: play with your pets like you're one of them!! dogs will love this lol

Welcome to the January 2026 Fictionfolk Census! Through this survey, we're looking to see what sources are most common in the fictionfolk community. This survey is open to all who identify as being fictionfolk.

All you have to do for each response is tell us the name of your source! No extra information needed. From these results, I will be examining:

What sources seem to be the most represented in the community?

What type of media seems to be the most prevalent in the community? (live action, video games, animation, film, television, etc.)

Does a certain media's popularity correspond to the amount of fictionfolk who have it as a source?

The survey will end 2/15/2026, and results will be posted on @fictionfolklore. (though the survey may be extended based on the amount of data collected) After the survey ends, I will try my best to get the results out in a timely manner (i anticipate a large range of data to look through, however).

You really want to be an animal, or your favourite character, but you know you're not? You can do that--you can just.. become them.

You have a hearttype but it feels kinda weird and it feels like you should have been that thing, but you're not? You could always 'link it if you're dysphoric about not being that thing.

You have something that was--or you thought was--a kintype, but now it's not, and you miss it? Just link it back into yourself.

You think [thing] is really cool and it'd be cool to be one? You can!

You want to incorporate an aesthetic of [thing] into your identity and it'd work best if you just became that thing? That's absolutely a thing you can do.

You think it'd be fun to identify as something other than what your body is? You can make that happen.

Being [thing] would help with something in your life? Go ahead, you can do that.

Are you from fiction? Do you have some [weird] relation to fiction? Is reality a bit wibbly wobbly for you? Come talk about it with us at Fiction Faire, where stories comes alive, the character becomes the audiences, and multiple worlds and realities collide!

Fiction Faire is a Digital Convention arounds Fictions Folk !

It is currently a work in progress.

This survey aims to know our audiance and plan the convention around its result. Whether we'll be expecting more adults or minors, what kind of pannels you would like to see as well as the month you would like to see it happen! Please answer throughfully. No email will be collected.

However if you to be updated on the Con progress give us your e-mail at this form below