Okay, so this is a difficult question to answer, as you no doubt know. I agree that it's ridiculous and way past due that every single gender and sexual identity isn't given space in fiction (or, you know, in RL) to live beyond their label, or at least beyond a cis/heteronormative person's introduction to what ~being trans is all about. I actually think about this a lot with my own writing and I try hard to write across the spectrum, but I know I fall short. The sad truth is something I think you already know: YOU are going to have to write those stories that you want to read. You are going to have to be the trailblazer. Which sucks because this should have already been done for you. It's 20fucking16. Now in terms of writing for a mainstream audience? I don't know how that's going to work. I'm just about as jaded as you there. However, I also believe the whole "the moral arc of the universe is long and bends towards truth" bit, so I think that - worst case scenario - if you were to only ever get your writing published by a smaller press, that is still going to affect people. All you need is one person to get attached to your writing, to make it realize that they want to write and you have a snowball effect. You will have enacted change. Tl;dr: the mainstream publishing industry has failed you, so you might need to go outside the mainstream. As for what to read…well, you’re going to have to suffer through some more cis stuff to be able to nail the genres you want to write, there’s no doubt about that, unfortunately. I think pound for pound the best written porn anywhere is found in fanfic, so you’re good there, but if you were honestly asking for recs rather than making this a rhetorical question let me know what genres you’re interested in writing and I’ll pull out the best of what I’ve read for you.
Seriously, you're thinking about it, so you're doing better than 90% of people already. In a lot of ways I wish people were thinking about it less - it's like everyone wants to justify why they're writing a character as trans and it's like, honestly, who gives a shit. No one's ever felt the need to justify all the cis assumptions. I suppose this is one way the whole diversity awareness mindset (while useful in a lot of ways, obviously) might sometimes hold even the well-meaning people back because they think they haven't done enough due diligence. And then, to show that they did expose themselves to something, they plop in the stupid "born in the wrong body" trope and it's worse rather than better.
Anyway, I'd totally trust you to write a trans character and there's really not that much to it. Just give them individuality which is the #1 rule of writing anything, right?
The problem with the trailblazing concept, to me, is that it doesn't seem to really work. If the effects I've seen in fandom are anything to go by in larger society, it's more like the people who are already interested will read it - the ones who aren't, won't. I can't magically make a cis-centric, sexist society be interested in something other than cis men. So it all feels a little, not pointless exactly, but like it's an inner circle type of endeavour and no social change will be happening no matter what I write or don't.
It was rhetorical, but you just had to go and turn it useful! XD The thing is I don't really have a genre in mind. The closest I've come to pinning it down is "speculative fiction". I think that's what appeals to me about fandom too - the loose ends, the behind the scenes, the what ifs.
Yeah, I really hope we get to the point where no one has to stop and consider whether or not to make a character trans or not. That said, for me, I do feel like I have to be more conscious and write characters outside my limited realm of experience because if I don’t I’ll be lazy and I’ll end up just writing all white/white-passing cis heteronormative people.
Aw, thanks, I really appreciate that! The particular character I’m thinking of is from my trilogy and he’s like an ace lieutenant in the military, which has always been one of my favorite tropes. One of these days I hope you’ll read it and tell me what you think.
I totally get your feeling that way, but, if I may, a counterpoint: nothing ventured, nothing gained. You’re probably right in that it won’t affect societal change, but why not try anyway? Especially if you want to write no matter what. Worst case scenario, you’ve proven yourself right.
It's occurred to me that I actually do have a few books that I've loved that address - if not trans issues/characters outright - gender fluidness. My first rec is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin. This is the first book in a trilogy (though each book is separated by about fifty years) and there is an amazing character who is both male and female because he (this is the pronoun the character typically gets) is a god. So that's awesome. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and the sequels are all pretty much led by WOC, so that's great too. Jemisin has another book, The Fifth Season, that does have a secondary trans character but I fucking hated that book and can't recommend it.
Also, you might be interested in Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. Leckie decided to address the male as default bias by switching the default pronoun over to "she/her" so every character is given a female pronoun and it's basically an exercise in gender assumption (or was for me anyway) while also being a great sci-fi book. (Protag is a sentient space ship, btw.)
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson - though a completely different genre - is kind of similar in that you never find out what that protag's gender is. All you get is some fine ass prose.
Considering that medieval fantasy is such a big deal, and is ripe with tropes, I think it's worth reading something adjacent to that genre and for that I recommend Hild by Nicola Griffith. Based on the real life of a British saint. Bisexual protag, and all around badass women. Advanced warning for incest tho.
Historical fiction: Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. Lesbian subculture in late 1800's London.
For speculative fiction, you need some Jo Walton in your life. Both My Real Children and Among Others are both amazing, but the first one touches a bit more on sexual fluidity - in a really, really interesting way.
Magical realism: Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. No LGBTQ, I'm afraid. Just strange and lovely short stories.
Also, in terms of sheer writing amazingness, which you should read purely because it'll help you improve your writing, I'm going to recommend one book of poetry: House of Light by Mary Oliver. I'd also recommend reading up on Mary Oliver herself, because she's pretty damn amazing.
I feel like you also need a ~literary type book for this list to be complete and for that I recommend Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. Exclusively cis women protags (no central male characters) but my God the prose.
Finally, and most obviously, and probably one you've already read: Orlando by Virginia Woolf.
Very late reply, but I just want to say I really appreciate how much time you took to answer this in such detail! I kept not having time to answer "properly" but in the end it's worse not to answer at all, so here I am answering at least a little. Thanks for all these recs, and serious kudos to you for being able to recall them just like that on being prompted.
Of these I've only read Tipping the Velvet, Orlando, and actually two other books by Jeanette Winterson but I could always do with more of those. The rest are new to me, so thanks again!
In terms of writing out of your comfort zone, yeah, I'll be the first to agree that if you're writing a marginalized group without being part of it, you need to approach it with some serious...seriousness. At the same time, as regards LGBTQ+ characters specifically, I feel there's less room for screwing it up as badly as e.g. white people screw up on racism. There's no cultural or "objective" prerequisite for someone realizing they have an identity that falls under the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and since it's a spectrum there is no necessary "wrong" way to identify under it (despite what the gatekeepers insist). Offensive stereotypes and dehumanization are the biggest risks, but if you're worried about them, you're already unlikely to be the type of writer who would be prone to these things or unwilling to change them if challenged.
So TL;DR write as much of that as you like! And oh, I always sort of assumed you didn't want to share the work you plan to have published until it is, but if you are I'd be happy to read it. Regardless of the topic.
You're welcome! I am literally always up for making book lists, haha.
Ooh, which other books did you read by Winterson? I've got Oranges Aren't the Only Fruit on my TBR but what else by her is good?
I've always tried to be serious when writing anyone outside my experience so hopefully that's come across. And I def agree with your point on LGBTQA+ vs. race because even country to country race perceptions and racism is so, so different.
I keep not wanting to share it until it's entirely done (that is to say that all three books are done). So right now the first and third are done but the fucking second book remains a perpetual pain in my ass. That's probably the one that I'd need your opinion the most on, ironically. When lightning strikes and I figure out how to solve my problem I'll inundate you with my series, haha. Probably, you may get the horror book first.
Tl;dr: the mainstream publishing industry has failed you, so you might need to go outside the mainstream.
As for what to read…well, you’re going to have to suffer through some more cis stuff to be able to nail the genres you want to write, there’s no doubt about that, unfortunately. I think pound for pound the best written porn anywhere is found in fanfic, so you’re good there, but if you were honestly asking for recs rather than making this a rhetorical question let me know what genres you’re interested in writing and I’ll pull out the best of what I’ve read for you.
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Anyway, I'd totally trust you to write a trans character and there's really not that much to it. Just give them individuality which is the #1 rule of writing anything, right?
The problem with the trailblazing concept, to me, is that it doesn't seem to really work. If the effects I've seen in fandom are anything to go by in larger society, it's more like the people who are already interested will read it - the ones who aren't, won't. I can't magically make a cis-centric, sexist society be interested in something other than cis men. So it all feels a little, not pointless exactly, but like it's an inner circle type of endeavour and no social change will be happening no matter what I write or don't.
It was rhetorical, but you just had to go and turn it useful! XD The thing is I don't really have a genre in mind. The closest I've come to pinning it down is "speculative fiction". I think that's what appeals to me about fandom too - the loose ends, the behind the scenes, the what ifs.
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Aw, thanks, I really appreciate that! The particular character I’m thinking of is from my trilogy and he’s like an ace lieutenant in the military, which has always been one of my favorite tropes. One of these days I hope you’ll read it and tell me what you think.
I totally get your feeling that way, but, if I may, a counterpoint: nothing ventured, nothing gained. You’re probably right in that it won’t affect societal change, but why not try anyway? Especially if you want to write no matter what. Worst case scenario, you’ve proven yourself right.
It's occurred to me that I actually do have a few books that I've loved that address - if not trans issues/characters outright - gender fluidness. My first rec is The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms by N. K. Jemisin. This is the first book in a trilogy (though each book is separated by about fifty years) and there is an amazing character who is both male and female because he (this is the pronoun the character typically gets) is a god. So that's awesome. The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms and the sequels are all pretty much led by WOC, so that's great too. Jemisin has another book, The Fifth Season, that does have a secondary trans character but I fucking hated that book and can't recommend it.
Also, you might be interested in Ancillary Justice by Ann Leckie. Leckie decided to address the male as default bias by switching the default pronoun over to "she/her" so every character is given a female pronoun and it's basically an exercise in gender assumption (or was for me anyway) while also being a great sci-fi book. (Protag is a sentient space ship, btw.)
Written on the Body by Jeanette Winterson - though a completely different genre - is kind of similar in that you never find out what that protag's gender is. All you get is some fine ass prose.
Considering that medieval fantasy is such a big deal, and is ripe with tropes, I think it's worth reading something adjacent to that genre and for that I recommend Hild by Nicola Griffith. Based on the real life of a British saint. Bisexual protag, and all around badass women. Advanced warning for incest tho.
Historical fiction: Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters. Lesbian subculture in late 1800's London.
For speculative fiction, you need some Jo Walton in your life. Both My Real Children and Among Others are both amazing, but the first one touches a bit more on sexual fluidity - in a really, really interesting way.
Magical realism: Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell. No LGBTQ, I'm afraid. Just strange and lovely short stories.
Also, in terms of sheer writing amazingness, which you should read purely because it'll help you improve your writing, I'm going to recommend one book of poetry: House of Light by Mary Oliver. I'd also recommend reading up on Mary Oliver herself, because she's pretty damn amazing.
I feel like you also need a ~literary type book for this list to be complete and for that I recommend Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson. Exclusively cis women protags (no central male characters) but my God the prose.
Finally, and most obviously, and probably one you've already read: Orlando by Virginia Woolf.
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Of these I've only read Tipping the Velvet, Orlando, and actually two other books by Jeanette Winterson but I could always do with more of those. The rest are new to me, so thanks again!
In terms of writing out of your comfort zone, yeah, I'll be the first to agree that if you're writing a marginalized group without being part of it, you need to approach it with some serious...seriousness. At the same time, as regards LGBTQ+ characters specifically, I feel there's less room for screwing it up as badly as e.g. white people screw up on racism. There's no cultural or "objective" prerequisite for someone realizing they have an identity that falls under the LGBTQ+ spectrum, and since it's a spectrum there is no necessary "wrong" way to identify under it (despite what the gatekeepers insist). Offensive stereotypes and dehumanization are the biggest risks, but if you're worried about them, you're already unlikely to be the type of writer who would be prone to these things or unwilling to change them if challenged.
So TL;DR write as much of that as you like! And oh, I always sort of assumed you didn't want to share the work you plan to have published until it is, but if you are I'd be happy to read it. Regardless of the topic.
Reply
Ooh, which other books did you read by Winterson? I've got Oranges Aren't the Only Fruit on my TBR but what else by her is good?
I've always tried to be serious when writing anyone outside my experience so hopefully that's come across. And I def agree with your point on LGBTQA+ vs. race because even country to country race perceptions and racism is so, so different.
I keep not wanting to share it until it's entirely done (that is to say that all three books are done). So right now the first and third are done but the fucking second book remains a perpetual pain in my ass. That's probably the one that I'd need your opinion the most on, ironically. When lightning strikes and I figure out how to solve my problem I'll inundate you with my series, haha. Probably, you may get the horror book first.
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