When you are writing a character that is in the LGBTQ+ community, don't just outright say, or make them say that they are gay. Idk to me when that happens it makes it feel forced, let the reader know they are gay, without outright saying it, but don't make them do something ridiculously gay either. Ease into it. Something like this.
This is an example of what not to do:
I walked out the story and looked into the sky and shouted at the top of my lungs, "I'm gay and no one can stop me!"
Here is another:
He grabbed the boys face and kissed him so long that it felt like days.
The first one is fine if you are writing a comedy (ig) and the second is fine if you are writing a… kinda sensual romance.
I feel it should be something like this:
We saw Marcus' eyes, we all knew what he was thinking, but we didn't dare say it. Maya nudged him in the shoulder, a sign that he should go for it. Marcus stood up and awkwardly walked over the the person. "H-hi… um…" he stumbled over his words, "I'm Marcus, and.. do you think I could get your number?" The person turned around, "Of course," He said kindly, "Nice to meet you Marcus, I'm Jake."
I don't know that wasn't my best but you know what I mean.
I disagree, it depends on the setting. If it's realistic fiction, it's not unlikely for a character to reference their sexuality, like the whole "be gay, do crime" meme, or things like just casually mentioning it. For example, a lot of my friends are ace, and we make references to it a lot. And beyond that, sexuality is different for every person, because every person is different. One gay character might not mention their sexuality at all, and another might reference it frequently. If it's a fantasy, maybe not. My fantasy story has a lot of queer characters (though let's be real, practically all of my characters are queer) and their sexualities are pretty clear but never explicitly stated.
True, idk that's just me. I don't like it when something like that feels forced.
This is definitely not the chat for this conversation
Does this count for Bisexuals too……
Thanks for letting me know :)
When you are writing a character that is in the LGBTQ+ community, don't just outright say, or make them say that they are gay. Idk to me when that happens it makes it feel forced, let the reader know they are gay, without outright saying it, but don't make them do something ridiculously gay either. Ease into it. Something like this.
This is an example of what not to do:
I walked out the story and looked into the sky and shouted at the top of my lungs, "I'm gay and no one can stop me!"
Here is another:
He grabbed the boys face and kissed him so long that it felt like days.
The first one is fine if you are writing a comedy (ig) and the second is fine if you are writing a… kinda sensual romance.
I feel it should be something like this:
We saw Marcus' eyes, we all knew what he was thinking, but we didn't dare say it. Maya nudged him in the shoulder, a sign that he should go for it. Marcus stood up and awkwardly walked over the the person. "H-hi… um…" he stumbled over his words, "I'm Marcus, and.. do you think I could get your number?" The person turned around, "Of course," He said kindly, "Nice to meet you Marcus, I'm Jake."
I don't know that wasn't my best but you know what I mean.
It kind of depends on the character that you're writing. Also, I guess it depends on the setting, if you're writing a story in a fantasy setting, like in space or something, they may not have the words 'gay' or 'lesbian'
LOL! Hey, I'm a straight teenager (pRoBaBLy? Yeah idk but that's not what I'm here to discuss) and I wanted to ask how many stereotypes are true? My BFF is bi and she meets almost all of the stereotypes, but I don't really know as a whole. Advice, please? Thanks in advance!
I disagree, it depends on the setting. If it's realistic fiction, it's not unlikely for a character to reference their sexuality, like the whole "be gay, do crime" meme, or things like just casually mentioning it. For example, a lot of my friends are ace, and we make references to it a lot. And beyond that, sexuality is different for every person, because every person is different. One gay character might not mention their sexuality at all, and another might reference it frequently. If it's a fantasy, maybe not. My fantasy story has a lot of queer characters (though let's be real, practically all of my characters are queer) and their sexualities are pretty clear but never explicitly stated.
I do agree to an extent, but it can go either way. As long as it's not obnoxious. However, that is appropriate in some situations, as I have a character in one of my fantasy stories named Kevin, who is beyond flamboyant and makes references to his sexuality a lot. I do like the subtleness of not directly stating a character's sexuality, it makes it more.. normal? Like, more casual, you know? But again, it depends on the story and the character.
I am a classic disaster bi who gets nervous around everyone. That said: your attraction to a given gender might not manifest in the same way it does to another given gender, if that even makes sense.
LOL! Hey, I'm a straight teenager (pRoBaBLy? Yeah idk but that's not what I'm here to discuss) and I wanted to ask how many stereotypes are true? My BFF is bi and she meets almost all of the stereotypes, but I don't really know as a whole. Advice, please? Thanks in advance!
Um, stereotypes can be true, but the best ones to avoid are the "camp gay" trope and the "predatory gay/trans" especially the "cross-dressing serial killer trope" unless you actually know what you're doing and are subverting those tropes to be less queerphobic. Like, even stuff like Rocky Horror, which I, your local trans, actually like, is queerphobic and honestly it's just good to analyze your writing for how it could hurt people before writing it. Sensitivity readers are great! Also, there's a weird trope that I cal the "hot yaoibois" trope which is basically when gay men in a relationship or even with just plain romantic tension are over-the-top romanticized/fetishized and as a man who is attracted to men, I just… this trope irks me to hell.
Oh also not to bring racism into this but totally to bring racism into this, the "sassy black gay" character is… tired. Don't do it unless you yourself are black or are subverting the trope in a respectful way.
Yes I am talking about The Glass Scientists in this. If you don't know what that is, it's a webcomic that I distinctly have a love-hate relationship with because while Lucy is my queen, I basically… hate everything else about it.
Anyways I won't fandom-bash anymore, just be critical of the media you consume. Also, don't fetishize gay men. I'm out for now.
ACTUALLY NOPE I'M BACK.
So, I have a lot of thoughts about gay media, but writing us like the straights is a big no for me. Queer relationships are inherently different from straight, cis relationships! Stop trying to make us appeal to the cishets! It's gross and I don't like it okay? Also, nobody is the man or woman in a relationship, queerness is all about subverting gender norms!
I'm putting some advice that relates to more NSFW content in the spoiler below so. Uh, trigger for discussion of homophobia and NSFW I guess.
Spoiler - click to show.
So, there's this misconception that topping/bottoming is a personality trait, especially in gay media, and that the strong, big powerful cis man tops the smol softboi (possibly trans) man. No, that's stupid. Topping and bottoming is just what you prefer or enjoy in sex, no more or less. there is, again, no Man or Woman in the relationship. Gender norms suck, carry on my fellow fellows.
Anyways, back to more SFW stuff, making your trans woman characters aggressive or "manly" is shitty. But don't make them too feminine either, or they'll come of as a caricature of women and that's equally harmful. Butch and femme trans women exist, but that doesn't decide their personality. Butches can be short, fat, skinny, soft, mean, a P/WOC (Person/Woman Of Color), anything! Same goes for femmes! And nonbinary people can, in fact be lesbians! Okay?
Anyways rant over, this went nowhere.
Also, no more softboi trans men! We are not soft! I personally am a knife! We can be femme, sure, but not softbois, and there's a lot of both transphobic and misogynistic history to the trope.
Another Tip: There's testosterone gel! I think there's estrogen too, but I'm not sure. So if for any reason injections are a no, look into the gel <3
Oh, and also T patches! And pills, but pills, like androgen, can cause liver problems so be careful with those. I haven't done enough research on E, but I am planning to!
Also, the "I like men, unfortunately" legit leads to internalized homo/biphobia. It's bad. stop it.
LOL! Hey, I'm a straight teenager (pRoBaBLy? Yeah idk but that's not what I'm here to discuss) and I wanted to ask how many stereotypes are true? My BFF is bi and she meets almost all of the stereotypes, but I don't really know as a whole. Advice, please? Thanks in advance!
Um, stereotypes can be true, but the best ones to avoid are the "camp gay" trope and the "predatory gay/trans" especially the "cross-dressing serial killer trope" unless you actually know what you're doing and are subverting those tropes to be less queerphobic. Like, even stuff like Rocky Horror, which I, your local trans, actually like, is queerphobic and honestly it's just good to analyze your writing for how it could hurt people before writing it. Sensitivity readers are great! Also, there's a weird trope that I cal the "hot yaoibois" trope which is basically when gay men in a relationship or even with just plain romantic tension are over-the-top romanticized/fetishized and as a man who is attracted to men, I just… this trope irks me to hell.
Thanks! I've never been a fan of the 'gay serial killer' archetype anyway, and writing about fetishes isn't my thing. I was more of talking about the innocent 'flannel lesbian' or the 'fashion expert gay' tropes, I appreciate your feedback!
So basically my entire central cast is potentially 'shippable (although I'm not sure there will be romantic subplots). The little guy is definitely more aggressive than the big guy, and both of them are pretty damned masc (mostly in a healthy way, although one could talk about CJ's trauma-related issues).
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