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Sometimes you have to tell modesty to take a hike and I don't mean in a whorish way.
I have a goal, and its a lofty goal. I am trying to separate Transgender Fiction from Transsexual Erotica. I think most people lump them both together and I generally don't write smut or delve into the fetishy side of cross dressing and hair salons all that often.
I am embarking on a new novel. Perhaps one as special as the God Bless the Child trilogy. I would like to take a few people along with me on the journey. I just finished writing out my initial outline and figured that maybe I could get a handful of people to be my test audience as I go along with "Wrestling Against Myself". The initial draft is going to have the story in chronological order, but I don't think that's going to be the way it winds up. I have been playing the movie of this book in my mind for a few months now (My real writing is like a fine stew) and I think this might be awesome. Think of "A Soldier's Girl" in a high school setting and without the homicide at the end. I can probably guess a couple who might be interested, but will take on a few more.
I need people who are willing to be critical and to be able to suggest some ideas as I go along. While I am writing this, I will probably explain why somethings are in there and I want people who will tell me if it is valid or not. I think if I can write about 3k words a day I might get this done by the end of November. It would be a great Christmas gift to the site and then I can go back to "lesser" works.
Comments
*blinks*
"... trying to separate Transgender Fiction from Transsexual Erotica..."
They're lumped together? I guess they are for some folks. But, to be honest, it never occurred to me that they were related that closely. I know nothing I've written would fall in the latter category... Nor does most (if not all - I won't say all, but I can't think of any right now that would fit that description.) of what I read here.
That said, best of luck with your new endeavor.
Annette
Annette please note
Please note that when I talk about TG literature as a whole, I am not referring to this site. Usually I am referring to everything and the views that I have heard expressed from mainstream outlets. The one reason why I post here (though sometimes I do port stuff over to FictionMania) is because it has more TG Fiction than most and the fetishy/erotic stuff is at a minimum.
When I refer to this site as an individual entity I will always say Big Closet.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Ummm...
I wasn't referring to just BCTS. But, apparently I've lead a very sheltered life, and been "lucky" on the other sites with trans fiction that I used to visit. As I said in my PM, but feel I need to repeat publicly, I had no intention to imply that you were wrong in your observation. Just that it differed form my experiences.
Best of wishes.
Annette
Be a part of something special
Whose opinion do you value? THAT will help you to choose from volunteers.
May Your Light Forever Shine
The sky is blue, water is wet...
and I'm a bad, bad Laika.
What borders on stupidity?
Canada and Mexico.
.
It's Really Not that Hard
No, it is not that difficult to write a good story involving a transgender character that is a story rather than more than a collection of bump and grind encounters. The two key elements needed for a good piece of TG literature as I believe you are defining that term are an interesting and/or compelling story and a character that had depth and, golly good gosh, character.
I would like to think most of my stories are not what Little Katie views as transsexual erotica. Of course, such distinctions are in the eye of the beholder. I've no doubt there are some here who consider my efforts in the past as being pathetic smut. Others view it differently. The fact is no matter what you do, there are some people here, as anywhere else, who would complain if they were shot with a clean bullet and not waste a second to fire off a comment telling you so. So write from the heart. That is where you find your best characters.
As to soliciting people willing to be critical, I can honestly say based on my experience few writers who are willing to tolerate true, unvarnished criticism. I have had too many people in the past who had asked me for my honest opinion on their writing and then, when I gave it discovered they really didn't want an honest opinion after all. I lost a good friend that way. A writer needs to have a hide thicker than the armour plating on a Warrior APC when it comes to dealing with first readers and editors who are more than like minded simpering sycophants.
Speaking of first readers and editors, even when you do find one who is able and willing to help, do not allow them to sway you too far from what you have established as a plot, storyline and character development. Remember, they are your characters. Stay true to them and they will come out just fine. If you start trying to incorporate every change someone else suggests, you'll wind up with Frankenstein, one with a brain harvested from Abby Normal.
I wish you luck in your endeavors. Good stories that involve more than recounting a series of 'wham-bam-thank you ma'am,' long, drawn out detailed descriptions of dressing up in female attire or countless trips to the mall are always great fun and enjoyable to read. Just remember, story and character. One without the other is like a PBJ sandwich without the bread.
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
foot in mouth- nancy cole
Sometimes I say things and I think it comes out the wrong way. I've been actually wanting to buy one of your ebooks but the beginning of the month is not the time. When I put the word transgender literature in places like Amazon and Google, I always end up with titles like "Cum Slut" or some old trashy looking crossdressing pamphlet or some personal autobiographical F2M things (which is non-fiction and completely not what I am referring too)
I really want a story where a character is trans and it not be about shopping or dressing or getting their hair done (not saying that is your story or anyone else's, just a vague over generalization of what people assume I write if I say i wrote something transgender). I want a story where people think that the TG character isn't outside the norm and should be locked away or feared, but that they can empathize with pretty early on and say "oh, so transgender isn't some weird kinky sex think but more a physical disorder (I would call it the third arm syndrome but I'm not that endowed).
I take criticism very well. Part of it is my arrogance lets me shrug certain things off, but my pride makes me correct things that need to be fixed. There was a major error in continuity in Finding Jenny and only one person brought it up and that was disappointing (the reason was I wrote Finding Jenny and then went back and added something to God Bless the Child and forgot to update the chronologically later story). I am also just looking for tidbits, not really plot points. Things like, hey you should play this up a little more or tone that down or add more descriptions to this. Things that I generally miss when I am trying to get the major points of the story down. Things like describing clothes or settings better.
Because of the way this site is operated, sometimes I don't get that kind of feedback but would really like it in one form or another (though I sometimes get aggravated when someone says I have a spelling or grammatical mistake but doesn't tell me where). I think that polite criticism is the only way to get better, though I know some don't appreciate it.
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
A Simple Twist in the Way You May be Thinking
K.T.
Rather than telling a story about someone who is TG, approach the issue by writing a story in which the main character just happens to the TG. There is a distinction that appears to be subtle, but is not. The primary focus shifts from the issue of being TG and all the sturm und drang associated with dealing with TG issues to one in which being TG is merely a characteristic or aspect of the character. It might complicate things for the character, but it is not the center of his or her universe or the unifying thread that holds the story together.
Even in my current effort, 'The General and the Butterfly,' the real story line is that os a teenager dealing with coming of age, navigating her way through the complex maze of school, friends and family. Being TG is simply a complicating issue
As to finding people to help and work with you, that is not as simple as it may appear. The close collaboration Persephone and I developed took years to reach a point where there is almost nothing I can say or suggest to her that she will not take it in the spirit in which it was meant. Even my habit of telling her there is no 'u' in the word color and honor doesn't seem to bother her any more. It also helps that she understands the twisted sense of humor a sick puppy like me enjoys. So when you do find your muse/first reader/editor, take your time and develop a trusting and effective relationship without compromising your principles or voice as a writer.
Nancy Cole
"You may be what you resolve to be."
T.J. Jackson
Transgender Fiction from Transsexual Erotica
I think we need a g to pg sight for kids and teens. I do copy G and pg stores for kids / teens to show them that are not alone ( yes credit goes to the original author). this sight is blocked on most libraries and school computer because of the 18 ratting... Sometimes you just have to get around the system. I help kids/teens because they need to know there is a way and they can go around their parents and find anther way instead of the streets, which to many end up. I think you have a good Idea and I don't read smut or the fetishy side of cross dressing. Of course I am very fussy what i read and I follow my inter most heart.
I look forward to your new story.
Love and Hugs Hanna
Love And Hugs Hanna
((((((((♥)))))))((((((((♥)))))))((((((((♥)))))))((((((((♥)))))))((((((((♥)))))))
Blessed Be
Tg for teens - Hanna Melton
I was actually thinking of bundling three stories in a collection for young adults. I am debating if I should put "The Dress Punishment", "The Test Taker" and "Summertime Pinks" together. They have common ages of characters, and are pretty much smut free. I would think teenagers would like the stories.
Do you show these kids my stories? (Out of curiosity) and how do they respond if you do?
Katie Leone (Katie-Leone.com)
Writing is what you do when you put pen to paper, being an author is what you do when you bring words to life
Well, yeah!
You know I'm interested!
Wren