Writing Straight.

by Victoria Whithear
24th September 2013

Along the same lines as Adrian's question about writing for the opposite sex, I wondered how everyone felt about writing for the opposite sexuality. As a hetero, do you feel awkward about writing gay story lines? If you are gay do you struggle writing straight romance? I have straight, gay and bisexual characters in my book. I found the gay characters the most difficult to make believable as I kept wandering into stereotypes. In fact, with one very gregarious character I had to develop a whole back story unrelated to his sexuality before I could take him seriously. Anyone else had difficulties adding characters outside the experience of their own sexuality? What do we think are the main pitfalls of writing outside your own experience in any context?

Replies

Hi all,

While we think this Q&A poses an excellent question, the answers are becoming more and more removed from the original purpose of this thread.

We would like our community to remain a place where all writers feel welcome. As a result, we would like this Q&A to end here. Apologies to those who would like to comment on the original question further.

Best wishes,

The W&A Team

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25/09/2013

Forgive me for the double post, and Victoria, I apologize for this,

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Ritesh
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Ritesh Nimmagadda
25/09/2013

"Why is it so difficult to imagine Harry Potter as gay? He is a *child*, his sexuality plays a very miniscule part and that only in allowing the audience to connect/remember their own first awkward kisses & crushes. To add a dash of familiarity and mundane to the grander plot scale."

A fox once again, you try to express your opinion as a fact. You say that, why is it so difficult to imagine, maybe not for you, but what of the others?

are you so sure as to say that everybody across the world agrees with your opinion? I do not think so, people's opinion differs, as is the case between you and me.

And pray do tell me, when have I said 'Male Dominance" is the majority, I do enjoy books books with female protagonists as do many others, The Hunger Games, is a fantastic example for what I'm talking of, not to mention A Series Of Unfortunate Events, which has a female as one of the three main protagonists. I'm not talking of "male dominance in any case" Both the male and the female are equal.

"The implication that your anti-gay/bi stance is a moral one, that gay/bi people are immoral"

Christians may have different beliefs and Muslims might have different beliefs, and if, take- a christian holds to his values and his belief's, that does not mean he despises Muslims or thinks that the religion is immoral, just because he is not in it. He just goes on with his own religion while the Muslims go on with their own. That's the way things work. Why, I have a very good friend who's a Muslim. As I said and once again repeat, I DO NOT DESPISE or HATE Gay/Bi people, please understand, I have even provided an example for you to better understand my point. Note, nor do i hate any religions listed above.

.

Damien- You make an excellent point, this is a place for us to acquire more knowledge and improve ourselves and help others, not for quarrels or any other discussions over sexuality, religion etc. I do hope this post will end this.

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Ritesh
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Ritesh Nimmagadda
25/09/2013