Do you write for a queer or trans audience?

[Testytesterton]

I've noticed that most of the fiction here is written with a cis lens, even in the transsexual section. I wrote a lot of it myself. It's only recently that I have been writing specifically with a trans and queer audience in mind, and I wondered if anyone else is?

 

[DeviantChalice]

I'm gonna get around to it, gawwdddd!

 

[Zeebop]

I'm not not writing with such an audience in mind, but Lois Lane's Night Out, for all of its non-cis content, isn't being terribly accurate to the trans experience either (magical/super-science gender change and fully functional if anatomically incorrect futanari are the order of the day). For most of the story, the default viewpoint is that Lois Lane at least thinks of herself as a heterosexual cisgender woman, even though events in the story often have that view of herself challenged by circumstances.

It's definitely something to keep in mind going forward, especially if I ever start a new story.

 

[Yabusa]

I'm gender dysphoric, although I decided not to transition for a myriad of reasons. But I do write a lot of fantastical scenarios that go in a lot of odd directions for things that serve as an outlet for my non-transitioning self to compensate. Hopefully, my angle on some things does end up resonating with trans readers as well as others who don't adhere to a binary, although I don't go nearly as far with it as I could. I do tend to write a lot of women coupling together as if it were just a natural thing in my universes to do.

Even so, on the trans side of things, I think a lot of that is partly the nature of how a lot of trans-related fiction from my generation was made. Just about everyone in my similar age group in all my trans-friendly circles in high school and college were heavily influenced by Ranma 1/2, this idea of a cis guy becoming a woman, and not enjoying it at all, but having to deal with it. It's still profoundly prevalent in a lot of writing that I myself do, as well as with other writers off-site that I'm familiar with whom I'd known for quite a while. I also mod on a couple Discords where it's very similar in the roleplay sections to the Ranma experience, at least for people roughly my age. For the newer generations joining those servers, they seem to be happy with ditching that premise and just going all-in with embracing change, so I imagine my viewpoint comes from being young when trans concepts at least weren't well understood nor accepted as much more than a punchline for jokes, rather than the more progressive outcome of today.

My worst offender for the Ranma trope is one I literally wrote to be similar in regard to Ranma, called Coinbearers. The premise is that a magic coin boosts a user's talent every time it's flipped, but they are transformed between male and female depending on the outcome of the flip. So the change is definitely meant to be a hurdle rather than anything else. I do try to not write it in the "oh no I'm a girl I hate this" way, but it does have similar ideas to other transformation-like stories where the main character is introduced to ideas like women's fashion and other things without having been interested in such things before. From my particular angle on the gender spectrum, I like it a lot, but I guess I'm like a trans girl in arrested development or something so the 'first time' stuff can be thrilling.

I'll have to give things a go with an explicitly trans main character on some of these stories. Just about all my stories could support a path like that, where the supernatural or scientific means of transformation is part of the goal or wish fulfillment rather than a side effect, and then the story would shape up quite differently depending on which of my stories this occurs in. Just about all my stories could support plots like that where there is some other challenge that the main character has to endure as a result of the story's devices, I just have to think about the approach in a friendly way.

 

[SeriousBrainDamage]

I've noticed that most of the fiction here is written with a cis lens, even in the transsexual section. I wrote a lot of it myself. It's only recently that I have been writing specifically with a trans and queer audience in mind, and I wondered if anyone else is?

Well, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I suppose it is rather predictable that most of the fiction is written with cis lens.
Aren't most of the people out there still cis? That checks out.

I'm gender dysphoric, although I decided not to transition for a myriad of reasons. But I do write a lot of fantastical scenarios that go in a lot of odd directions for things that serve as an outlet for my non-transitioning self to compensate. Hopefully, my angle on some things does end up resonating with trans readers as well as others who don't adhere to a binary, although I don't go nearly as far with it as I could. I do tend to write a lot of women coupling together as if it were just a natural thing in my universes to do.

Even so, on the trans side of things, I think a lot of that is partly the nature of how a lot of trans-related fiction from my generation was made. Just about everyone in my similar age group in all my trans-friendly circles in high school and college were heavily influenced by Ranma 1/2, this idea of a cis guy becoming a woman, and not enjoying it at all, but having to deal with it. It's still profoundly prevalent in a lot of writing that I myself do, as well as with other writers off-site that I'm familiar with whom I'd known for quite a while. I also mod on a couple Discords where it's very similar in the roleplay sections to the Ranma experience, at least for people roughly my age. For the newer generations joining those servers, they seem to be happy with ditching that premise and just going all-in with embracing change, so I imagine my viewpoint comes from being young when trans concepts at least weren't well understood nor accepted as much more than a punchline for jokes, rather than the more progressive outcome of today.

My worst offender for the Ranma trope is one I literally wrote to be similar in regard to Ranma, called Coinbearers. The premise is that a magic coin boosts a user's talent every time it's flipped, but they are transformed between male and female depending on the outcome of the flip. So the change is definitely meant to be a hurdle rather than anything else. I do try to not write it in the "oh no I'm a girl I hate this" way, but it does have similar ideas to other transformation-like stories where the main character is introduced to ideas like women's fashion and other things without having been interested in such things before. From my particular angle on the gender spectrum, I like it a lot, but I guess I'm like a trans girl in arrested development or something so the 'first time' stuff can be thrilling.

I'll have to give things a go with an explicitly trans main character on some of these stories. Just about all my stories could support a path like that, where the supernatural or scientific means of transformation is part of the goal or wish fulfillment rather than a side effect, and then the story would shape up quite differently depending on which of my stories this occurs in. Just about all my stories could support plots like that where there is some other challenge that the main character has to endure as a result of the story's devices, I just have to think about the approach in a friendly way.

That's really interesting.
I love Ranma, I've written or considered writing stuff with the same concept several times, yet I consider myself rather cisgender/eterosexual/straight.
Didn't ever crossed my mind it could be considered appealing to a transexual audience.
I mean, it obviously could, being the story of guy becoming a girl, I suppose.

 

[Testytesterton]

Well, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about, but I suppose it is rather predictable that most of the fiction is written with cis lens.
Aren't most of the people out there still cis? That checks out.

I am very aware of this and didn't actually ask for an explanation. I was looking for authors writing queer stuff. Because I'm queer and trans and yes crazy outnumbered and under represented and want to see more beautiful dolls getting their happy ending, with some smut thrown in to help it interesting.

That's really interesting.
I love Ranma, I've written or considered writing stuff with the same concept several times, yet I consider myself rather cisgender/eterosexual/straight.
Didn't ever crossed my mind it could be considered appealing to a transexual audience.
I mean, it obviously could, being the story of guy becoming a girl, I suppose.

I would consider Ranma a poor substitute for trans fiction other than how it portrays gender dysphoria. It's also not nearly queer enough despite me wishing every girl in it was a lesbian when I read it as a closeted teen. We take what we can get, because the pickings are so slim. I'm hoping we get more in all kinds of fiction, even erotica, because it is a valid artform.

 

[SeriousBrainDamage]

I am very aware of this and didn't actually ask for an explanation. I was looking for authors writing queer stuff. Because I'm queer and trans and yes crazy outnumbered and under represented and want to see more beautiful dolls getting their happy ending, with some smut thrown in to help it interesting.

I can only try to imagine.

I was under the impression that you were asking 'who writes with a queer audience in mind' as if to imply that the community should be more inclusive and whatnot, which would be bullshit in this specific case.
Sorry if my reply sounded rude.

 

[Testytesterton]

I can only try to imagine.

I was under the impression that you were asking 'who writes with a queer audience in mind' as if to imply that the community should be more inclusive and whatnot, which would be bullshit in this specific case.
Sorry if my reply sounded rude.

So you think it would be "bullshit" that the community should be more inclusive? You don't think there are trans writers here that don't feel comfortable enough to post openly trans positive stories? You don't think the "transsexual" category could use more trans representation and less "futas", "shemales", or "dickgirls"?

Or is the fact that we are outnumbered supposed to be justification for an environment that is at times actively hostile and often seems like it is embarrassed by our presence because we dampen the fun of a fetish?

I really just wanted to see if other authors were out there and lend them my support, but you felt the need to insert yourself into the conversation to insist it was "bullshit" that anyone suggest this place isn't inclusive. Well. Great job. I feel so much more welcome knowing you think my desire to see more erotica that doesn't treat my very existence like a "bad end" is a ridiculous goal.

 

[Haoro]

For the original question, I wouldn't say I write specifically for a trans or genderqueer audience though of course I'm happy with anyone who enjoys and reads my work. As someone who is slightly gender noncoforming but still very much considers himself a cis boy, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable specifically trying to go down that route. I'd feel better leaving it to people who understand that experience better.

However, there are some GNC themes explored within my stories, especially in terms of crossdressing, role-reversal and feminine boys, some of which is definitely drawn from my own experiences and my feelings about my gender identity, as well as the pressures I feel to present and act in a certain way as a boy. I'd hope that I am handling the ideas sensitively even from a trans viewpoint and that I'm not offending anyone, but it is something I'm writing largely for myself and hopefully other boys like me too, as well as others who enjoy this kind of content.

As I'm also bisexual, writing for that audience is something I'm more comfortable with, and I have written quite a lot of male/male stuff. Funny enough, I'm only comfortable writing m/m content as rather gentler and non-abusive even with the more feminine boy acting as the bottom and sub. A sadistic or abusive man is something I find really quite uncomfortable, and I'm much less willing to push the boundaries around consent there as I am in my straight, femdom-focused writing.

 

[Testytesterton]

For the original question, I wouldn't say I write specifically for a trans or genderqueer audience though of course I'm happy with anyone who enjoys and reads my work. As someone who is slightly gender noncoforming but still very much considers himself a cis boy, I'm not sure I'd feel comfortable specifically trying to go down that route. I'd feel better leaving it to people who understand that experience better.

However, there are some GNC themes explored within my stories, especially in terms of crossdressing, role-reversal and feminine boys, some of which is definitely drawn from my own experiences and my feelings about my gender identity, as well as the pressures I feel to present and act in a certain way as a boy. I'd hope that I am handling the ideas sensitively even from a trans viewpoint and that I'm not offending anyone, but it is something I'm writing largely for myself and hopefully other boys like me too, as well as others who enjoy this kind of content.

As I'm also bisexual, writing for that audience is something I'm more comfortable with, and I have written quite a lot of male/male stuff. Funny enough, I'm only comfortable writing m/m content as rather gentler and non-abusive even with the more feminine boy acting as the bottom and sub. A sadistic or abusive man is something I find really quite uncomfortable, and I'm much less willing to push the boundaries around consent there as I am in my straight, femdom-focused writing.

I have always found a lot of queer appeal to your work, and I am glad we have stories exploring gender non conforming stuff. Cis doesn't have to be such a narrow role and I love seeing men explore femininity. Keep up the good work!

 

[SeriousBrainDamage]

So you think it would be "bullshit" that the community should be more inclusive? You don't think there are trans writers here that don't feel comfortable enough to post openly trans positive stories? You don't think the "transsexual" category could use more trans representation and less "futas", "shemales", or "dickgirls"?

Nope, read again.

Or is the fact that we are outnumbered supposed to be justification for an environment that is at times actively hostile and often seems like it is embarrassed by our presence because we dampen the fun of a fetish?

I really just wanted to see if other authors were out there and lend them my support, but you felt the need to insert yourself into the conversation to insist it was "bullshit" that anyone suggest this place isn't inclusive. Well. Great job. I feel so much more welcome knowing you think my desire to see more erotica that doesn't treat my very existence like a "bad end" is a ridiculous goal.

Where this is all coming from? I didn't say, mean, or imply any of this.
Also, I beg you pardon, I was under the impression the forum was accessible and free to everyone, of any gender and sexual orientation.
I must have been mistaking all along.

I'll refrain from dragging this on.
Again, my apologies.

 

[Testytesterton]

Nope, read again.



Where this is all coming from? I didn't say, mean, or imply any of this.
Also, I beg you pardon, I was under the impression the forum was accessible and free to everyone, of any gender and sexual orientation.
I must have been mistaking all along.

I'll refrain from dragging this on.
Again, my apologies.

You said it "the community should be more inclusive and whatnot, which would be bullshit in this specific case." I included a few reasons why the community is NOT currently inclusive and countered your sole argument, that most people here are cis, as a reason for why there should not be more efforts to include people.

Ethics is not a numbers game. We should make this site welcoming to all people, especially marginalized people. Accessibility does not equal inclusion. Just because I can go to a site that treats my existence like a fetish doesn't mean I feel welcome here.

I am trying to make this place more welcoming. That means confronting bullshit when I see it. What are you trying to do? How are you helping anyone by saying everything is fine when people bring up the need for more diversity? Who benefits from that at all?

Or are you just so used to everything being tailored to you that considering that might leave others feeling less than included an offensive concept.

Also, apologies imply regret, or that you have stopped arguing your position that everything is fine as is. If you want to bow out, bow out. But don't try to act like the bigger person after trying to get the last word.

I regret nothing I have said to you and offer no apologies.

 

[haileytraynor]

I like to say I write for myself and if others are happy with it, it’s a bonus. I’ve learned especially when it comes to arousal and erotica, it is difficult to gauge how an audience will react to something. Additionally, while I very much write a LOT of lesbian content or bisexual content, I am very hesitant to go about with other races and areas such as transgenderism and non-binaries. Mostly because I write a lot in the humiliation genre. I don’t want to be someone who accidentally writes something insensitive when I’m just trying to embarrass the victim. It’s why most of my characters are either white or asian. While I know a lot of people love diversity, I am unsure if they really want it in the types of stories that I write. It’s best if the character is already established because then I can base it off purely their character and not any stereotypes or preconceived notions so I’m less likely to accidentally offend someone without meaning to. Sometimes I walk into a minefield with my explorations. I’ve learned a lot about what people like and don’t like in certain genres. Like ABDL vs BDSM vs sub genres within them vs ENF/ENM vs SPH and so on. There’s a lot of gray area already when it comes to all that stuff, and I’m hesitant with bringing a character in that is from a minority group especially one that has a lot of prejudice already and a lot of sensitive areas.

 

[haileytraynor]

And as said above, I do not want a representation to be included and seen as a fetish rather than just a representation. While fetishizing a small bodied woman or a micro penis man can be accepted, when it comes to fetishizing race, sexuality, and so on, it becomes a very iffy subject and is something I am not exactly willing to step into if I don’t have to.

 

[Testytesterton]

And as said above, I do not want a representation to be included and seen as a fetish rather than just a representation. While fetishizing a small bodied woman or a micro penis man can be accepted, when it comes to fetishizing race, sexuality, and so on, it becomes a very iffy subject and is something I am not exactly willing to step into if I don’t have to.

I get these concerns for sure. I would much rather people avoid these topics than fetishize them and it can be challenging to walk that line in erotica even when you belong to the group you are portraying.

 

[Cuchuilain]

I generally just write for me and if anyone else likes it, great - and I hope everyone else feels empowered enough to write to their own preferences and interests. With regards LGBTQI+, I'm realy just an interested reader of about half of the letters of the alphabet and in particular T.
I guess I feel this is a multi faceted - genre that I would tend to avoid writing for fear of causing offence by ineptitude, so I'm swithering on whether to write in it @Testytesterton, would you encourage probably flawed attempts at joining in or would a poor effort be worse than no effort at all?

 

[Testytesterton]

I generally just write for me and if anyone else likes it, great - and I hope everyone else feels empowered enough to write to their own preferences and interests. With regards LGBTQI+, I'm realy just an interested reader of about half of the letters of the alphabet and in particular T.
I guess I feel this is a multi faceted - genre that I would tend to avoid writing for fear of causing offence by ineptitude, so I'm swithering on whether to write in it @Testytesterton, would you encourage probably flawed attempts at joining in or would a poor effort be worse than no effort at all?

Fair question. The answer is complicated. I think it's best if queer writers write for a queer audience, if only because they know what at least one queer reader is into. If you are going to write for an audience you aren't a member of, maybe get input from someone who is? More content is better, and if its inclusive and hot, I think it's cool if non queer people add to it.

 

[haileytraynor]

I think that the best way to do it is to not see them as any different. Don’t lean on stereotypes or try to make them seem different. If you treat it like a scenario of a black person or a gay person who just happens to be in an embarrassing or erotic situation just as any white or asian or straight or pan person would, then it should be no different. If you’re going to pull out stereotypes that’s where you can find yourself into trouble the most. Every person is just that, a person, and if you treat your characters as a person, it shouldn’t really turn out as racist, sexist, or otherwise. When you draw from stereotypes like “the big cock black guy” or the “dumb blonde” or the “small asian” not only are you not being original but you are seeking to have that stereotype be the center of your story instead of an actual original, developed character who has a personality that isn’t just their body parts. I think erotic content can strive from being not just about the body parts but also the character behind them. If you have a gay character, they probably have a story behind them just as you would a straight character, so tell it. Why make them different when you don’t have to? I simply am more hesitant when it comes to trans people for example because it’s a lot more complicated, body parts included, and there are a lot of emotional/mental boundaries as well. They just aren’t experiences I can fully realize. But everything else I think is fair game as long as again you don’t lean on stereotypes or paint them any different. Would that be reasonable/acceptable?

 

[DeviantChalice]

I think that the best way to do it is to not see them as any different. Don’t lean on stereotypes or try to make them seem different. If you treat it like a scenario of a black person or a gay person who just happens to be in an embarrassing or erotic situation just as any white or asian or straight or pan person would, then it should be no different. If you’re going to pull out stereotypes that’s where you can find yourself into trouble the most. Every person is just that, a person, and if you treat your characters as a person, it shouldn’t really turn out as racist, sexist, or otherwise. When you draw from stereotypes like “the big cock black guy” or the “dumb blonde” or the “small asian” not only are you not being original but you are seeking to have that stereotype be the center of your story instead of an actual original, developed character who has a personality that isn’t just their body parts. I think erotic content can strive from being not just about the body parts but also the character behind them. If you have a gay character, they probably have a story behind them just as you would a straight character, so tell it. Why make them different when you don’t have to? I simply am more hesitant when it comes to trans people for example because it’s a lot more complicated, body parts included, and there are a lot of emotional/mental boundaries as well. They just aren’t experiences I can fully realize. But everything else I think is fair game as long as again you don’t lean on stereotypes or paint them any different. Would that be reasonable/acceptable?

This seems well-intentioned but the thing is that often queer sex doesn't resemble cis het sex in a lot of ways.

You see a lot of complaints from lesbians how much lesbian porn involves strapons, making it simulated heteronormative penetrative sex - and similarly there are criticisms about depictions of gay sex and sex involving trans people.

Tribbing, frotting, muffing and just three things that people with only an experience of cis het sex will not ever think to add to queer sex scenes.

 

[haileytraynor]

And yet someone who has never had het sex would also technically not be qualified to write about such things and yet many do. The amount of virgins including myself is inevitable. I was mainly referring to character anyways. Obviously different body parts and preferences would result in different outcomes of sex. But also the very idea of strapons is not to add a dick to a woman but to make them feel more powerful as they dom their partner. That doesn’t mean it should be exclusively that, but it’s also not unrealistic. Some lesbians genuinely do enjoy wearing strapons during sex while others prefer the scissoring techniques. There’s a lot you can learn through basic research which should be encouraged, but at the same time I don’t think no experience should result in no story telling. I for example have no experience in anything I write. I have no romantic, sexual, or embarrassing experiences to truly work off, but it’s through my writing I can explore such areas. If you’re asking for non-fetishized works, that’s fair. But if you’re asking for people to actually have the experience of what they’re writing then it complicates things. I’m sure there are plenty of areas where BDSM has been generalized and stereotyped from people looking from the outside in. And likewise I am sure other kinks have been explored by people who have never actually dabbled in them but that doesn’t mean they’re being disrespectful either. Of course personal experience will always enhance someone’s approach, but there are plenty who experience what they cannot write and others who write what they can’t experience.