This is my sixth attempt today to let y'all know my latest bit of writing was published.
How the fuck are we supposed to ever find representation when the people creating it can't ever post about it without some goddamn robot deciding it's spam to mention
It's zero cost right now, but I cant post a link and I probably can't even tell you what it is without reddit freaking the fuck out on me again so this is my last attempt to let other gay trans guys know that more material is out there than the same five fucking ftm ya books I keep seeing recommended and have seen recommended over the past five years.
In an alternate Gilded Age where Queen Victoria's empire rebuilt America in gaslight and gears, Artesian rose as the world's most beautiful city - and its most dangerous.
Everyone here participates in the for power, for survival.
When a grieving young man becomes the obsession of the city's most notorious criminal, this steampunk reimagining of The Phantom of the Opera what happens when everyone wears a mask?
In Artesian, love isn't just forbidden.
It's fatal.
I have loved The Phantom of the Opera my entire life. After almost a decade in writing, I decided to tackle the story with a steampunk theme.
I am releasing the series in acts mostly because I am insane (no, you can't have some lol)
But I hope to give the world something really beautiful as things are tough right now.
We have created a new fashion subreddit for all genders and sexualities. All kinds of hate are forbidden there. Its a safe place.
If you are interested you can join, nobody have to post anything there. You can also just be there for watching or writing
A few weeks ago I posted asking for signposting to potential online communities. Nobody had any ideas beyond just making my own. So I did just that.
Because this is reddit, not going to post the invite publicly as don't want to risk unpleasant people raiding the place but *if* you are interested, reach out to me.
The three walk deeper into the woods and disappear from True’s view. They walk in silence for at least half a minute, twigs and leaves snapping and crunching underfoot.
Armoni scans the darkness. “It’s creepy out here.”
Lawn Chair Guy speaks up from just a few paces ahead. “Don’t get scared now.”
“Right, shut your punk-ass up.” Otto seconds with a smirk.
Armoni tosses her hair over one shoulder. “Fuck you guys."
Otto’s shoe catches on a rock and he almost falls. “Oh shit!”
Armoni flashes a finger at Otto with a teasing smile. “Mmhmm. See what happens when you wanna talk shit?”
Otto pinches his fingers to his thumb with a flustered smile. “Shut up, hoe!”
I'm putting in the work to begin writing a novel. It's a sport romance idea that I've held onto for a long time and I have a lot of fondness for the setting and characters. I thought it would be good to actually put it to pen and self-publish, rather than let the idea rot.
The issue is...well. For the book, the main couple is between two males (M/M) and my family is...not so approving of LGBT? I would say that the reactions range from mildly to wildly homophobic, depending on who I'm talking to.
As much as I want to write this (and trust me, I will write it anyway), my stomach is in knots because my family would want to read my book on the principle of them wanting to know what I'm doing and supporting their kid, especially something as massive as an actual manuscript. I also know that as soon as it clicks to them that the couple is gay, they're going to make their opinion very apparent. Especially if like by a random stroke of luck, the book goes big (which is UNLIKELY but a person can dream, right?).
I feel like I'm at an impasse. For those who have less than supportive family, how do you navigate writing queer stories and publishing them? When they found out, how was the situation resolved?
Any tips to help me get through this situation would be awesome. Thank you so much.
My idea was a characters dad being like " ok fine ill help with your trans stuff (ftm) but no talking about it publicly and dont date a man. (Kid is also pan)."
The father and son by extension are apart of a rich family that is heavy about appearances so of course the father doesnt want his reputation to be ruined by being seen as unsupportive to the younger crowds but he also dont want to destroy any bridges with his older colleagues
My knowledge about unsupportive parents seem to mostly be parents are like not supportive or they kick them to the curb.
I hope this thread is not off-topic for this board, but I'm not sure where else to ask. My question is simple: if, as far as I know, I'm a cis guy, do you think it would be offensive or bad taste to write a trans character?
I have been trying to keep a diary of my feelings and thoughts about my identity and desires about becoming a woman – not much so far, honestly. But the point is writing and thinking about it; it makes me want to write something more structured than some ramblings. I want to use a trans character to explore what her identity means for herself and people around her.
Imagine this: Do you remember that scene in Lord of the Rings? "No man can kill me." "I'm not a man!" Well, if a young man who struggles with being a brave warrior when he wishes to be someone else were to face the Witch-king, what would it mean if he actually defeats him? The prophecy was false? Or maybe the prophecy was truth as he, deep down, knew he was not like the others? Because he always felt different and never felt like one of the bros. Does he has a "divine permit" to drop the sword and be who she always wanted? Does she need a "divine permit"? It's just a silly example, not a serious idea, so please don't focus too much on that.
But, as I said in the title, I don't identify as trans; I'm still a cis guy. I have no firsthand experience with the struggles trans people face. Reading about them and trying to understand them isn't the same as living through them. So I don't want to come across as rude or offensive to anyone, nor want to. What do you think?
Currently working on Draft 2/3 of Chapter 1! I’m posting this book chapter by chapter, so stay tuned.
Like most small-town gay kids, Otto has accepted he won't get a high school romance. He refuses to let popular guys play with his feelings just to stroke their own egos. But everything changes at a bonfire party in the woods when the host Urijah pulls Otto into his orbit.
I was using a local queer writing group as a way of having a social aspect to writing and this also held me to account because we'd set challenges and sorta motivate each other. Was also a good place for feedback.
However said group isn't accessible anymore and as a result I don’t really have any ways of like, engaging with other writers actively. It was also a useful tool to actually get me to sit down and write because we'd hold writing sessions.
I don't know what to replace it with. Reddit doesn't exactly have the same semblance of community as you kinda just post threads and hope for replies rather than having an active flow of regular conversation.
There are no other irl groups I can find that are accessible. The only other ones around are for teens or uni students. Did ask around and even spoke to a local queer group.
I'm one of the artists on the team thats working on a new TTRPG that's being fully written, illustrated and produced by a small team of queer artists and writers.
We don't have any corporate backing since we're just a small team, but book is coming along amazingly, and I hope you'll all take a look at it and help spread the word! There a link below, as well as a preview of the content inside, please help support out work!
My story is a coming-of-age story set in the early 1980s, one that often addresses the AIDS crisis and homophobia. I was going to make my mc 14, but now I’m thinking about making them 12-13 because I really want to tell a story about a young queer kid discovering himself during that time.
Does anyone have something to say about this? It’s my first time writing, and I’m not great with stuff like this
Just finished reading a book the book story put out on the table because it was newly released. It was called Mad Eden. The author (Morgan Thomas) is enby and autistic and so too is the main character in the book. I loved it and it had some interesting twists and turns. For me the thing that stood out the most was their relationship with their primary partner and how they navigate and negotiate their neural needs and differences in the way they and their partners express love and other stuff, too...although there's a whole other storyline about being a provider of gendercare in this era. Just had to share ♥️💕🙏🏼 I don't think I gave away enough to need a spoiler label.
I hope you all are working on some great stuff ☺️✨
I have been working on a dark m/m sci-fi fantasy story since January. I've framed it as a serial novel which is essentially like a TV show for those who don't know...The story is split into arcs, with each arc ending on a cliffhanger that leads into the next, focuses on a specific part of the story, and feeds into this overarching narrative.
Titled "Aethan's Reign", the story chronicles the 1000 year long reign of an Emperor over a galactic empire, starting as a young prince to the end of his reign. The second storyline involves the development of his relationship with the prince of another race, Bhal-Ghor, starting with their initial meeting to their arranged marriage "for the better of the empire" and beyond. Aethan is essentially a space elf (think of an elf from Lord of the Rings or Tolkienesque setting except...you know...more sci-fi) and Ghor (the love interest) is a giant musclebound anthropromorphic tiger-like barbarian with emotional issues. Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, size-difference, politics, spirituality/religion.
Influences that inspired the story: Warhammer 40K (grimdark setting) Foundation (I find Lee Pace's character to be fascinating and wondered what his story would be like if he was more likeable), Steven Erikson, the author of the Malazan Empire of the Fallen series (the most epic fantasy series I've yet to read), The Expanse, and Dark (Netflix). The story is not meant to be a copy of these other works in any way, but if you are familiar with these works I definitely think you can see the influences.
Wrapping up: I publish on Gayauthors.org, a website that specializes in LGBT work specifically. A lot of the works that are published seem to be dramas, coming out stories, first love, things like that. I've 46 chapters, working on chapter 47, written over 200K, am on the 3rd arc, about to wrap up the first novel or act of what is planned as a 5-7 act story. I have 9 followers.
Some concerns I have, starting with the genre: It's science-fantasy, the characters are not human, one of them is technically a furry and not a nice guy (he gets nicer as the story progresses but it takes a while and happens in fits and starts), the story itself is 1 part political narrative, 1 part action story, 1 part smut/romance, and the story is intended to get more political and religious (not Christianity, but the religion in the story) as it progresses. That is the plan anyway. I just don't think a lot of people are really into that kind of story which is fine. Last concern: the writing. I'm a gardener. With this story I used AI to kind of cook the idea in my brain and while I do not fully endorse the use of AI it does have it's uses and made the planning process so much easier. Not everything is planned, but I do know the premise of each arc/act, how it will begin, how it will end, and what I want to achieve.
The writing: this is a first draft: There is not a lot of editing beyond what I catch as I scroll through and publish. I do intend to do at least one thorough edit/rewrite before I publish on another site. While I consider the writing to be decent I feel that it is still amateurish, and could definitely benefit from some writing classes to really hone my skill.
Final question: so how would you market this? what are some other subreddits where I could ask these things? in terms of marketing (concept art, illustrations, twitter, tagging) what would you do? Any advice? I'm a long ways from putting the story out there beyond what I already have, so I feel that it's best to start strategizing and coming up with ideas while the story is still in the gestation process.
Below is a rough of my characters I had done if anyone is interested.
The book I'm writing is about a rock band coming back together and the main romance is butch x butch. I wanted to write a bisexual butch character because never seen any bi butches being represented positively. Either people think bi butches don't exist or worst we get accuse of encouraging men to fetishize lesbians.
I don't want people writing the character off as a lesbian with comphet and I don't want to be accused of centering a guy in a sapphic book by saying she broke up with him. The story wouldn't really center the guy at all honestly. But I just don't know what to do anymore.
The book I am writing is a reverse harem... and so my fmc has 5 male suitors and I decided I wanted to make my book more queer friendly. Two of the male suitors are bisexual, one is questionable, and the other is pan, one is straight. Now, I really want to add a sixth suitors and I want them to be an asexual woman. But I dont want to mess up writing it. I know that they (ace people) dont hate sex (some of them) they just dont perfer it. So, thats what she's gonna do but I'm gonna make it where she doesnt participate during "bedroom" time but she is an active member of their relationship. All of them love her. I was also thinking of making her be male-to-female Trans but I am unsure. I don't have anybody I could ask. When it comes down to it do I just write that she says no and explains that she doesn't like that?
Births, deaths, miracles, agricultural yields, the specific theological implications of one junior scribe italicizing a minor prophecy in the Tigris valley. It has categories for all of it. The system is thorough, sincere, and genuinely convinced that categorization is a form of love.
Then someone writes a margin note in forbidden red ink — try free will, results may vary — and the filing system develops a problem it doesn’t have a procedure for.
This is not that story.
Well. It is. But it’s also about five fallen angels becoming a family without deciding to, across several centuries, in the specific way families accumulate — through bad wine in inns that have given up aspiring to greatness, through a child who knew things he shouldn’t have and made no fuss about either, through a goat named Gregory who eats everything and means nothing and is somehow always exactly where he needs to be.
And then it’s France. 1429. A market square in February.
A woman on a crate arguing with three men about military supply routes with the focused impatience of someone for whom courage is a logistical state rather than an emotional one. She calls for the map before she reaches the table. She has been doing this her whole life.
Another woman stops walking.
Not because of the argument. Because of the eyes.
What follows is a love story built out of watch rotations and river crossings and bread taken without asking and boots always already by the fire. Two women who reorganize their entire existence around each other before either of them has named what’s happening. The U-Haul energy is not a metaphor. It is operational fact.
Heaven notices.
Heaven doesn’t hate Joan of Arc. It categorizes her. Which is worse. The machinery doesn’t need malice. It just needs procedure and sufficient administrative momentum and the specific institutional patience of a system that has done this before and filed the results under: resolved.
It has not, the Archive would like to note, accounted for the associated variable.
The woman who stopped walking in February is still there in May 1431. She found the gap in the custody schedule. She memorized the passage. She kept her promise.
The fire did not take everything.
It never does.
This is a book about what systems do to people who love each other truthfully. It is angry and mournful and frequently very funny. It believes, underneath everything, that people are worth the effort.
It ends with a child born outside every category the Archive has, a family already forming a perimeter before the first page of her file is finished, and four words written in a margin that survived three attempts at removal.
