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I thought I would throw out a challenge to the authors here:
We have a lot of stories about little kids transitioning, some teenagers, and a few who are college age.
But we don't really have a lot of stories about older transitioners
Anybody wanna take a stab at writing a story about someone transitioning at 40, 50, or beyond?
Comments
An astute observation
At the risk of blowing my own trumpet, I think only one of my stories features children as the main character(s). Another one does start out with the characters as children but the main part of the story happens when they are early 20's. The rest are generally 20's and older.
I just don't have any interest in writing teen transition stories.
However as you say, the older generation (35+) is pretty well neglected. Perhaps this should be the subject of a contest?????
Samantha
Contest Donation
I'd be willing to put up $50 for the contest. Anyone else interested / willing /able to contribute to the prize fund?
*Kisses Always*
Haylee V
Been there
Written that! More than one, in fact. Alice Powell and Gillian Carter are two of them.
interesting challenge
Interesting challenge Dorothy
I am a fairly new author finding my high heels in writing and posting so maybe just maybe........
And possible subject of competition?
Love
SamanthaAnn
7.5%
Having a look at my own stories I realised that only 7.5% of them have a post-college age adult transitioning as the main person (one possibly in her 70s, definitely older than 43 anyway) with another 2.5 % with a cross-dressing adult. Most of the others are in a school setting.
I usually write stories on a whim rather than with due deliberation so I wonder what this say about me?
Later life transitions
I've had too many people share with me their stories of transition in their 50's, 60's and yes even in their 70's. Were I cynical enough, I could say, 'I could write a book'. Much of their stories are those of a life of regret. There is a lot of pain there, with little relief after transitioning.
One of my friends came out late in life, she was a writer, and was preparing a biography of another of my friends. She even interviewed me about my friend, asked me for some anecdotes. She transitioned rather publicly, (national news, publicly) reverted and ultimately, tragically, took her own life.
I think we all prefer to see stories how we wish life would be, rather than how they are. There are happy endings, several of my friends did remarry and have wonderful lives. They would go stealth and disappear. I continue to hear a new crop of women with their transition issues and the cycle begins anew.
I'd probably try to write a story. I've got plenty of material to work with. I'm not sure how enjoyable the story would be to read though.
Hugs,
Leila
Interesting concept.
Interesting concept. Personally my approach to dressing and all the many implications and nuances related to crossdressing have evolved over the years. The young lady in me has matured from the feverish excitement of my teen years and has mellowed to a personal acceptance of dealing with life, people and my "hobby" in general. Sometimes I regret not being more outgoing with dressing or in not venturing out to social events and meeting others like me.
Donna
Unless one is using magic
These early stories relate to real life. It is easier to transition early in life than later. The age at which boys and girls become distinctively different varies with each individual. The ability to transition successfully also depends on obligations one has in life as one gets older. When one is younger it also depends on parents, doctors, and friends if one is ostracized or supported in their life changing role.
Some parents support their child and give advice and encouragement no matter what endeavor the boy or girl is trying. Did the young protege want to be a skier or ice skater or...? Did the parent support or discourage because it was too much work, time, money? Now tie that into transition.
At an earlier age there are few kids who have a gender boy-girl gotta be one or the other problem. As in real life there are always the bullies no mater what age but few and far in between. As they grow older it becomes more programmed into young minds. One is BOY, other is GIRL! Blur the dividing line and suffer the consequences.
The problem with education of the masses is it takes a generation passing to begin to get a different look at how life and the world is changing from the "old ways." Remember the World is Flat? The earth is the Center of the Universe? Man will Never Fly? Joan of Ark was burned at the stake for heresy. Her sin, wearing pants among other things.
Changing people's minds is like changing TV channels. If you are the only one in the room, watch whatever you want. If there are hundreds in the same room, good luck finding the remote because others didn't want a change. If you took a universal remote with you and changed channels, God help you because there will be an uproar. Wait until that crowd is moving out and new faces are moving in. Change channels and the new faces will accept and think it was what they were supposed to watch.
Life is like that. Serenity Prayer Reinhold Niebuhr[
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
Courage to change the things I can,
And wisdom to know the difference.
I promise with all my heart and soul, this mortal body we wear is NOT the end. Believe, don't believe makes no difference. Don't find out after giving it up. Accept what is, change what one can if possible, and live today.
always,
Barb
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
Twins
My story "Twins" is about a post-college age protagonist anywhere from late 20s to early 30s in age. But she is still fairly young, and that is for two reasons. The first is fairly obvious - that's what I chose to write. That's the age and outlook I find most interesting and allows me the leeway to write what I want in terms of personal growth and conflict.
The second reason is the younger age range is what many readers want to read. At least here on BC that is. Just as FM has a "market" that likes certain types of stories, so does BC. I'm here because the types of stories I enjoy reading are prevalent here. It's no wonder that what is written reflects what is being read.
There are good stories with older protagonists being posted here. One such is "Sisters xx" by cyclist. Wolfjess's Marshal stories may be another. But many stories that start off with an older protagonist have some sort of age regression in them. Even though many of us are "older" we tend to favor younger protagonists because it is a way of taking control of our youth and living it the way we wish we could have.
So while there may be a market for stories with older protagonists it isn't a large one. Such is life.
"Life is not measured by the breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
George Carlin
I've written several short stories
with protagonists 40 or over, including the problems that go with it.
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/49131/hard-times
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/46936/isnt-it-about-time
http://bigclosetr.us/topshelf/fiction/39495/queen-mountains
Angharad
Blowing My Own Trumpet
I have posted two pieces in the last few months about a 60+ transitioner. They are D-Day and D-DAY Plus.
In fact, Dorothy, you must have read one of them because you commented!
and I really liked them!
its just I know its easier to write about kids or teens or even early adults - more drama, more easy to "pass", but I am not a kid anymore, and sometimes, its good to know even people my age can make it.
Dorothy...
Yes, it's easier, but if one is trying to stretch oneself as a writer, then 'easier' is not the best choice. Additionally, when the Plot Fairy dictates...
Too close to home?
I've thought about this ever since Dorothy posted this.
I am myself an older transitioner (MTF) -- first considered that I might be trans at 60, started hormones at 62, full time at 63 (can't resist telling everyone -- I'm full time now!!) So, yes, I have lots of personal experience -- if I wrote about transitioning as an old person, I'd really be writing what I know.
But, to be honest, I can't see a story there. Externally, it was very, very straightforward. I had it easier than probably 99% of trans women. Other than being called "sir" a few times in the past year and a random stranger saying I reminded her of Mrs. Doubtfire (unfortunately, she's right), I haven't had a single bad experience. It would make maybe one paragraph.
Internally, it was all kinds of drama and stress, but only some of it had to do with transition and I haven't been able to put any of it into coherent words. It would be, "I decided to transition and I spent the next nine months freaking out several times a day in ways I can't describe and now I'm full time and I'm still freaking out but not so much and I still can't say why or what." I can't find a story in any of it.
Maybe I'm just too close to it.
P.S.: here's an idea: late transitioner A talks to B and B takes the pieces and make them into a story. Even fictionalized, it would be more accurate and true to life than what your average talk-show host makes of what a trans person guest says on their show.
Very good points. And as
Very good points. And as another pointed out you would have a limited target audience/market. The movie "Cocoon" found away to make a story about aging interesting.
Donna
People identify more with children.
I think one reason that you see more transition stories about children: they're more popular.
Stories about children transitioning -- with the obligatory stuffed bras, nail polish, beauty salon visits, and of course high heels -- and they're always very, very pretty -- get a lot more page hits. They get more kudos. They get more comments. They get more requests for sequels.
I've noticed this with my stories. The one that has gotten by far the highest number of kudos was The School Play, an IMHO rather slight story about an elementary school boy. It's also tied with one other story for the highest number of page hits, almost twice all the others.
My guess is that a large fraction of the BigCloset community really wants wish fulfillment fantasies, by which I mean how they wish their childhoods had gone, so a lot of these stories get written and they get read a lot.
(FWIW, I'm as fond of wish fulfillment stories as anyone, although I'm less interested in the paraphenalia of becoming a girl and more in the emotions.)
My latest book does just that.....
...It's Never Too Late... is betrayed by the title. This deals with a 60 year old who takes the plunge.
This has received several 5 Star reviews on Amazon....
..here's but one.
Thanks Tanya, once again this book has held my attention. Mostly for the similarity to my situation. It was as though I was reading my own life story.
Well done, I really enjoyed this & totally recommend it to anyone with feelings of gender confusion.
I suppose when one is over 60, it is easier than being 20 and trying to imagine it! :)
Tanya
There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!