this new character that i created identifies as gender fluid, and that's just the way they turned out in my head. the only problem is, i totally get the general idea of being gender fluid, but beyond that there really isn't a lot that i know about the subject. if someone could let me know a few things that i should definitely incorporate into their character that would be really great.
Uh hi, i have a genderfluid character as well (Declan-Rose) and though I am not an expert in Genderfluidity I have read a lot of books where they are the main characters so I do know some stuff. @glowingwithpride what is it that you're struggling with? Like, is it the transition between gender identities or something else? I'd be happy to help in anyway I can! x
The thing about fluidity is that some days you feel more masculine, some days you feel super feminine, and sometimes you feel a curious mix between the two - or nowhere near them. Sometimes it can last for a few hours, or a few days, or a few months. Or years! Your character may choose to identify with the pronouns they feel closest to (he when they're more masculine, she when they're more feminine), or they may choose to go by gender neutral ones (they or some form of xe, there's a lot out there) or even just stick with whatever pronoun people are used to calling them. Your best bet would be researching the term, getting first or second hand accounts of peoples' experiences with genderfluidity, or asking someone who identifies as such.
Also, considering I spend a lot of time questioning my own gender identity I like to try and incorporate genderfluid/transgender/gender non-conforming characters into my writing and though I'm not an expert on any of these things I kinda have feelings and stuff that I find helpful?
Like, I used to wake up some mornings and not be able to look in the mirror because it didn't feel right but then other days I'd be like "hell yeah! look at them curves" and it makes it a tad easier to kind of understand these identities but again I hate to say that I know everything because I'd hate to give someone the wrong information and I'm blabbering now, sorry x
omg! thank you for everyone who responded to this, and i know that all of your suggestions are going to be really helpful. i probably would have responded earlier, but i kind of crashed last night, and i just got back a little while ago. and as for @imjustshy 's question, i'd have to say mostly the gender transitions, as well as how that might affect day to day life.
I don't necessarily identify as genderfluid but I do know that some days when i wake up in a particularly girly mood I will act differently than when i am in a boy-ish mood. I'll kinda jump out of bed and be happier in the mornings, i'll probably apply some makeup and yeah but it's usually when I stat getting changed that my brain gets confused, and eventually i sink into a slightly heavier mood and i'll end up with jeans, a baggy shirt and a beanie.
At school too something like that might happen and it didn't really affect me that much (other than an intense frustration) because our school uniform is pretty unisex and my friend has a hat that I used to tuck my hair into but that's just my experience.
With Declan-Rose s/he is mostly fluid between male and female and sometime when put in certain situations it will 'trigger' a kind of gender transition.
The transition between genders is kind of like a switch. Its like you just know that somethings different and your character might find themselves sitting/talking/acting differently and/or wearing different clothes but it's difficult to describe the actual transition itself.
I'm sorry i'm probably not making any sense