Really enjoyed this post Kaitlin, I am aware of a need to shift my perspective and your tips are so relatable that already my feet are on a surer path.
You've whet my appetite with your previews too - your novel sounds a fascinating plot journey.
I love queernorm stories! It's so nice for people to not bat an eyelid, and see being queer and trans as being completely normal and unremarkable. I'm queer, trans, nonbinary, and also on the aro ace spectrum, LOL.
Another thing I've noticed, is that when we have a romance between a cis and a trans MC, the trans MC tends to be the focus/ star of the show. While I don't think that's inherently problematic, it would be nice to see some variety. A horror romance I'm writing, is between a cis woman and a trans man. Both are bi. My cis female main character is definitely the star here. My trans male main character, despite being trans, is more like an ordinary guy, lol.
He's a nice fellow but also a bit self-effacing and average. We only find out much later that he's trans. I like that his trans identity makes no difference. He's simply a guy who happens to be trans. We don't need to justify why he's trans. We trans people don't need to justify our existence, so why should our fiction characters need to? So yeah, queernormativity ftw!
Yessss I love everything you’re saying! I think what you said about the trans character in a romance not needing to be the star of the show is a very nuanced insight. A cis character can be in love with a trans character, and that doesn’t need to be remarkable!
I write queer historical romance, so the kind where yes there is prejudice but also, always queer HEAs :) I have bisexual characters in M/ M relationships, as well as in M/F relationships. And casual mention of transfemme/ masc people. Its fun times. I do love to READ queernorm stories though!
Yay, I love queer historical romance with queer HEAs! My introduction to that was Sarah Waters. Your writing sounds right up my alley—can you send me a link to something you’ve written? (Thank you for the M/F queernorm rec!!)
I don't have anything out in the world yet (except for with beta readers) but my first novel is on submission right now! So you know, in like 2 years it might be available. LOL.
I did just this, made no fanfare about my FMC's college-aged child using the pronouns "they/them". It just was. But I had one reviewer say they didn't understand why I never mentioned that the child was a conjoined twin. 🙄 I don't know if that reviewer was being intentionally obtuse or truly didn't understand. And frankly, I don't care.
Really enjoyed this post Kaitlin, I am aware of a need to shift my perspective and your tips are so relatable that already my feet are on a surer path.
You've whet my appetite with your previews too - your novel sounds a fascinating plot journey.
I’m so glad to hear it Posy!!
Amazing article! So many truths in it!
Thank you!! I'm so glad it resonated.
I love queernorm stories! It's so nice for people to not bat an eyelid, and see being queer and trans as being completely normal and unremarkable. I'm queer, trans, nonbinary, and also on the aro ace spectrum, LOL.
Another thing I've noticed, is that when we have a romance between a cis and a trans MC, the trans MC tends to be the focus/ star of the show. While I don't think that's inherently problematic, it would be nice to see some variety. A horror romance I'm writing, is between a cis woman and a trans man. Both are bi. My cis female main character is definitely the star here. My trans male main character, despite being trans, is more like an ordinary guy, lol.
He's a nice fellow but also a bit self-effacing and average. We only find out much later that he's trans. I like that his trans identity makes no difference. He's simply a guy who happens to be trans. We don't need to justify why he's trans. We trans people don't need to justify our existence, so why should our fiction characters need to? So yeah, queernormativity ftw!
Yessss I love everything you’re saying! I think what you said about the trans character in a romance not needing to be the star of the show is a very nuanced insight. A cis character can be in love with a trans character, and that doesn’t need to be remarkable!
I write queer historical romance, so the kind where yes there is prejudice but also, always queer HEAs :) I have bisexual characters in M/ M relationships, as well as in M/F relationships. And casual mention of transfemme/ masc people. Its fun times. I do love to READ queernorm stories though!
Yay, I love queer historical romance with queer HEAs! My introduction to that was Sarah Waters. Your writing sounds right up my alley—can you send me a link to something you’ve written? (Thank you for the M/F queernorm rec!!)
I don't have anything out in the world yet (except for with beta readers) but my first novel is on submission right now! So you know, in like 2 years it might be available. LOL.
Also a recommendation for a book that is a (cis) M/F romance in a queernorm world: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen. So good.
I did just this, made no fanfare about my FMC's college-aged child using the pronouns "they/them". It just was. But I had one reviewer say they didn't understand why I never mentioned that the child was a conjoined twin. 🙄 I don't know if that reviewer was being intentionally obtuse or truly didn't understand. And frankly, I don't care.
Way to go on using they/them casually, and I’m sorry someone said that!! One day that will be history, I hope ❤️