I am working on a story that has the main character one year into transition MtF. Is it wrong or less confusing to always refer to her gender as her? Example would be in discussing a flash back when the character was twelve. He often went with his father on weekend hunting trips. Or, she often went with her father on weekend hunting trips. When in fact at twelve the character was trying to be the son his father wanted while struggling and denying who she really was.
In my mind, I should always refer to her as female. That was my plan. I am running into situations were there is past interactions between family members and they are interacting with a son or brother. The father would say, "That's my son". The sister would say, "He's a good brother".
The story structure and outline is laced with flashbacks. To add to the complication, I didn't want to start out stating the main character is in transition. I want the reader to read about a female character. Only later, when love is involved, does the subject come up.
Have you all run into this conundrum? Any advice would be appreciated.
Always using female pronouns would be the best way.
The point isn't whether they were living as a guy or a girl at the time, but how they saw THEMSELVES. You say they were in denial at the time of the hunting trips, but that means that their gender dysphoria was already in effect, and with hindsight they can admit the truth about how they felt.
The he/she pronoun switch is most useful in TG fiction as a sort of culmination of the character coming to realize a core part of themselves. You've already passed that point, so switching pronouns, in this context, is unnecessary.
Melanie E.
I've seen it both ways
Personally I prefer that when present as male, the male pronouns be used and when presenting as female the female pronouns be used. As an author I would find it difficult to remember that the narrative pronouns are to be female and the dialog are to be male.
If you alter the type face (e.g. italics) during the flashbacks then it should be easy enough for the reader to remember that she used to be he.
Hugs
Patricia
Happiness is being all dressed up and HAVING some place to go.
Semper in femineo gerunt
Ich bin eine Mann
Use She
If she already knows who she is, there is no requirements to being Female. Even if she has a full beard is wearing a tux with a rose in her mouth, she's still a Woman. Surgery and hormones and clothes do not make one Female, what makes you Female is who you are inside. Nothing else matters.
I know who I am, I am me, and I like me ^^
Transgender, Gamer, Little, Princess, Therian and proud :D
flashbacks
If she was flashing back, I would assume it would be up to her how to present that time in life. When I talk about when I wrestled, it is always in the masculine, using masculine pronouns and my male name (actually I would use Tiny, but that's another story). Also, if you are using quotes, the dad wouldn't refer to his son as her or she.
I would just let the story come and see how things flow for you. Maybe the problem solves itself as you tell the story.
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
Thank You
I want to thank everybody for their input. Your comments are very helpful. They got me over the stumbling block trying to decide which way was proper. I picked a system and I am back to writing a story. I determined after the story is complete I can clean up any confusing sentences or odd references.
Again thank you,