Not all notes or warnings apply to all stories.

Queer Identities & Slurs

Many of the characters in Tamika Wood’s Birthday Party are Queer. They think of and refer to themselves and each other as queer, gay and trans. I do not include any other words or terms used as slurs. I’m sure you know plenty of those words but I didn’t want to write any of them down.

My characters, like most people who live in this world encounter and are victims of bigotry which affects them and shapes their experience of themselves, each other and the world. I have not included any specifics of homophobic or transphobic abuse or slurs.

Trans Characters

Trans women are women. Trans men are men. Non binary people are non binary. Non binary people who identify as trans are trans. Non binary people who do not identify as trans are not. People are what they say they are. Sometimes people discover things about themselves and change the way they perceive their identity or the way they identify. If you do not respect these things then please go ahead and read a different story.

Wherever possible trans characters will be referred to by correct name and pronouns – the ones they use. I will not deadname characters. I will not include specific slurs or transphobia on page.

Initially I had intended that trans characters would always be referred to with correct name and pronouns. Unfortunately I am writing some stories which are narrated by characters unaware that someone is trans and avoiding using pronouns entirely when writing POV and dialogue from people they love and are close to is… not really feasible.

Nevertheless; I promise that no POV character or main character intentionally disrespects anyone who is trans!

If and when dead-pronouns appear due to POV obliviousness or unawareness I will include warnings in the content notes for the story or chapter.

Trans characters who have socially transitioned will never be misgendered or deadnamed in dialogue or narration on page.

Neurodivergence and Autism

I am autistic and I’m not 100% sure I really understand how allistic (non autistic) people really work. Some of my characters may not strike you as autistic even though they totally are. While Alan Sebastian is more stereotypically autistic than most of the other characters I have tried to represent some of the other ways that autism can present in people. Many of us are not identified as autistic until later in our lives because we do not present in a stereotypical way and the same goes for my characters.

Ableist language

I try very hard to avoid the use of ableist language. This may make the story feel unrealistic but in this case I do not care (this is in contrast to my attitude about profanity). I will not use ableist insults such as cr*zy, l*me, r*****ed, id**t etc as I believe these words to be harmful and it’s pretty easy to just find other words.

That said: as a human who has grown up in a time and place where such words are routinely used without question it is possible that I have slipped up and not noticed where I have used ableist words. If I have I apologise and I’m happy for you to point them out so that I can change them or warn for them in content notes.

Racism

I am a white person and I imagine the main characters in Tamika Wood’s Birthday Party as white people. If you would prefer to imagine them as people who aren’t white I encourage you to do so! Other stories in the Tamika Wood’s Birthday Party universe do include more characters of colour but they just didn’t seem to work themselves into TW itself. I acknowledge that this is a reflection of my white privilege where I can imagine that everyone is basically like me, and of Australia which is an extremely racist country.

Red(D)ress is more racially diverse but as I am a white person with white privilege I will not be doing into detail about racial identity or racism because I don’t know what that is truly like to experience.

Choose Your Own Adventure

• assume that all characters of colour experience levels of racism that seem plausible to you
• assume that the Tamika Wood’s Birthday Party Cinematic Universe is a much better world to live in than the real one.

Child Abuse and Neglect

Some of my characters had pretty shitty childhoods. This affects the characters pretty deeply, obviously, but it all happens “off screen”.

Sexual References

People have sex in this story. Some of them are pretty young. Most of them are not married to each other. Sometimes they are not even in relationships with each other. I’m way too embarassed to write about this in detail. Specific sex acts are rarely mentioned. I will add content notes where that happens but won’t warn for sex in general. If you want to read a story where people don’t have sex I am sure you can do that but this is not that story.

Sexual Assault

Some of my characters have been sexually assaulted, taken advantage of or sexually groomed in the past. These events may be referred to but only in past-tense terms. It will never happen ‘on page’.

I will warn for these things! Even single line mentions of them. Even when it’s just implied.

Profanity

I am Australian. My characters are Australian. They speak like Australian people speak. This story takes place over 20 years and they swear more as young adults than they did as teens and they swear less as older adults than they did as younger adults.

Suicide and Self Harm

Some of my characters experience thoughts of self harm and suicide. I have not included any descriptions of methods. I will include chapter warnings for suicide and self harm. I will include spoiler notes about whether anyone actually dies.

No Point of View or main characters will die.