Is it a law that you have to be lesbian to write Femslash?

[runetraverse]

Okay, I know it's a weird title / subject / whatever, but it's something currently bugging me, so I figured I'd post and see what people thought.  Not that I haven't wondered something to this effect for a while, but it came to a head as I read yet another rant on YouTube about "all you queers watching queers" in a Bad Girls vid commentary.  (this

Comments

[gargyloveswolfy]

No, but it helps.....I've read a lot of gay guys writtings on femslash....and they are pretty good......I think it helps to know how lesbians feel and see the world and might help get inside some of the characters' heads........but, no you don't need to be lesbian nor bi-sexual to write femslash as a woman.

[pattern_spider]

I've been slashing for close to a decade and a half now, and again and again it's struck me how femslashers are mavins for realism, where as homslashers are remarkably less so.

To the point that we saw the creation of Minotaur's Realistic Gay Sex Tips for Slashers site.

I have yet to come across even the mention of an equivalent for femslash, which to me potentially argues the implications that (a) authors are expected to have decent hands on reference, and (b) men aren't welcome as femslash authors.

[geonncannon]

I've never heard of such a thing! The vast majority of m/m slash - or so I've read - are straight women. And I've had a very nice career writing femslash and I'm a straight man.

So, no, the queers-watching-queers comment is just ignorance and bigotry, I think. Pay it no mind.

[runetraverse]

*grins* I usually don't, but reading it for the millionth time made me curious.

As for the m/m slash, I personally know more than a dozen straight female friends that write it, so you're right on that count.

Oooo, a straight guy that writes femslash. Can ya believe I've never heard of it before? ^^'

[geonncannon]

Ahh, good good. It seems like saying that you have to be a lawyer to write a lawyer. Although... well, not really. But it's the idea of writing fiction. :D

And heee, to paraphrase Dominic Da Vinci: I'm an anamoly, but I'm not alone. :D There are a couple of us out there!

[satyrnfive]

I write femslash too and I'm a straight guy. :)

[lettersandsodas]

I don't think you have to be queer to write or read femslash, but most of the writers I've met have been. Not all, mind you, but most. And I do think that the desire on the part of queers for representation is a big motivator for a lot of f/f fanfic that's written.

[runetraverse]

Awwww. *grins* I so need to post the next installments for LD and Witching Hour. And the Turbolift Challenge, Bad Girls style.

And yay! Someone else that thinks well-written fic = happyglee!

[djshiva]

i don't personally consider it a requirement that one is bi or lesbian to write femslash. i just consider a requirement that the stories be well-written, interesting and cut to the heart of the matter, so to speak.

love is love, regardless of gender or sexuality.

i do, however, think that an understanding of the subtler elements of being gay in this society can have an effect on how true to life a story is, so awareness of these things is always a nice touch.