forum hi who wants to tell me how to write a not too cliche lgbtq+ character

Started September 21, 2018 by @flora.books

tune

r e a d t h e t i t l e

OK THE MOST ANNOYING THING IS WHEN A LGBTQ CHARACTERS PERSONALITY IS LITERALLY JUST THAT THEY"RE LGBTQ. MAKE THEM FLAWED AND COMPLEX AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD.

OK THE MOST ANNOYING THING IS WHEN A LGBTQ CHARACTERS PERSONALITY IS LITERALLY JUST THAT THEY"RE LGBTQ. MAKE THEM FLAWED AND COMPLEX AND YOU SHOULD BE GOOD.

hhhow do i make them "complex" like what kind of stuff would classify them as complex

Like just give them a personality, flaws, likes, dislikes, stuff like that! like, as a gay person, my personality isn't just being gay.

hmm ok thanks!!

yeah totally!

I agree with @moonlight-viligante. Write the character like any other character, just remember that they are LGBTQA+

What bugs me is the "OH MY GOSH THEY'RE PERFECT BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT CIS/STRAIGHT!!!!" Give them flaws and personality outside of their gender and sexuality. Like, write and develop a character and then decide their gender or sexuality. Write them like you would any straight character, but they just have different romantic/sexual preferences.

^^^^

like, gay people can be jerks too, just like straight people can. and gay people can be super sweet and kind, just like a straight person could.

Also, don't rely on stereotypes, like the flamboyant theatre-loving gay guy, or the bi person that can't commit to a partner, or the sweet "too good for this sinful earth" ace, or the evil soulless aro who's evil because they haven't been in love, or…well, you get the idea.

wow you guys are really helpful thanks to alllllll!

I'm just gonna add another question onto this. In my story, I have characters who happen to be gay/bi/ace/etc. How do you go about conveying that in a story that's not about them being gay at all? Like that's just kind of part of them, and they have a fully fleshed out character that has nothing to do with their sexual orientation. I ended up giving one of my guys a husband because it made sense, but everyone else is single, and I don't want them to be "straight by default" in other peoples' eyes. I do know it needs to be worked in, not announced, because I want to show people they're gay. Not tell them. If only heteronormativity wasn't a thing.

most of that is up to you, the writer, but one of my favorite things in books is where you don't mention a sexuality for a character at all , and then just casually slip in a mention of it at a certain point. but thats all up to you!

Some great examples of lgbtqa+ characters that have great personalities and flaws would be Raymond Holt, Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99), Wylan, and Jesper (Six of Crows). These characters are lgbtqa+, but it is rarely mentioned and isn't the focus of their character.

the trick is finding a balance 0f good representation and not having stereotypes. (EG: fabulous, drama gay, or goth lesbian )