What do you do if you're thinking about writing a story focused around a transgender character, in 2025 America where institutionalized transphobia seems to be ubiquitous?
Every so often, my mind wanders over to my stack of unwritten stories, but when I think about putting them into words, I'm not sure how to deal with the situation where it seems to become more illegal to be trans every day.
I see sort of four ways to go:
- Set it in the recent past, when society was more accepting of transfolk. (Fortunately, the continuing stories I've left hanging just fall naturally into this category, so I should really just deal with those and ignore the unwritten ones.)
- Set it in an assumed future where we've become more accepted again.
- Set it in a fictionalized version of the present, an alternate timeline where the transphobes didn't win.
- Or deal with reality and make the current tensions part of the focus of the story.
Comments
write one of each!
more stories of yours for us to read, win!
Fully Understand
I wrote Suddenly Royal when things were pretty stable and the pandemic even made it seem a little easier for people to be themselves and even come out with a mask on their face hiding their identity. Everything else then happened in the state the book was initially set in now has some of the harshest anti-trans laws for teens, and it put me off writing the sequel a bit. Even now I'm not sure how someone can write a work in any but a few states with plausibility and not discuss the utter hate that's ongoing.
I try to take solace that things come in cycles, but I hate the fact it'll likely be 15-20 years before another cycle replaces this one, and then another 40 year climb probably to get to where things seemed hopeful in the early 2010s.
I think any of the four options you mention are valid, but the 4th might be more appropriate and a way to deal with these horrible feelings we all have now.
More options
Any of those are possible. I am actually writing one now that has chosen your option 4, which I hope to finish while it is still relevant. More options:
5. Set it in one of the more liberal areas of the US where the transphobia isn't so ubiquitous.
6. Set it in another country where what is happening now in the US is irrelevant.
Good ideas
I'm not sure I could do another country justice without having to do a ton of research, but picking a liberal area of the US could be doable, although it could easily run up against the hate, like if my protagonist wanted to apply for a passport or use a restroom in a federal building.
Good question. Hard question.
Judging by the usual metrics, most of our readers seem to be drawn more to escapism at the moment, and honestly, who can blame them? But you need to write what is in your heart to write.
If you want to write a real-world story about a trans character set in the United States in 2025, though, it’s tough to be “real” while avoiding the politics of this particular moment. Rachel Moore drew a rant from a long-time community member for her recent (and quite exceptional!) novel Nothing Is Routine because her characters occasionally referenced current politics in a way that the member found offensive. Since it’s a story about a transwoman dating a guy whose ex has custody over their teenage daughter, set in late 2024, it simply wouldn’t be “real” if no-one in the story ever mentioned current political trends involving the trans community.
I have a couple stories set in the recent past that I don’t have the heart to continue. They are all “done” as they are, but there’s no way I can write a happy new story about how crusading Cami Campbell had to leave the Civil Rights Division of DOJ, or how Governor Sam Hobson dealt with the present federal administration. And I’ve grown very fond of the characters; I hate to beat them up, as it were.
— Emma
Funny you should post this
I've been thinking about this a lot as I've watched the news grow darker and darker and decided to get some anger out of my system by creating a story. I posted it five minutes ago and hope it's not too dark. It's definitely option #4 on your list and based in not-so-subtle worst case alternative United States of the near future. I'm not sure if it's a fun read but once I came up with the concept, I had to finish it.
Thinking About Writing
I "feel like" writing a TG story could be limiting in some way if the protagonist is a TG person. I'm not sure that I have ever written one where intimate love occurs. Not that there is anything wrong with it. They could be siblings or close relatives. I just find an intimate relationship unappealing. As a post op MtF I could imagine a relationship with another woman as a friend but to me one with a man is just icky. I have relationships with gay men but there is no intimacy so far.
Fact or Fiction
There are many reasons so many different kind of stories are written. Some are to share information. Some are to share entertainment, enjoyment. Some are written for money and fame. Some are written for escapism for the author as they become the actress or actor in their tale. The reasons are as endless as there are individuals and every writer or even those who only make believe in their own mind are uniquely one of a kind.
If one has a story to tell and even if those outside looking on don't approve it's not the writer's problem. Stories like speech, in this nation are protected by the First Amendment. Might get a little testy if one is writing about how to over throw the government or if one publishes how to murder and not get caught. Free speech falls into a gray area and one could find themselves before an over zealous prosecutor and judge.
Despite Trump and exec orders, he can not abolish free speech. Writing or speaking about transgender anything is allowed. Keep in mind I am not an attorney, I can't protect anyone for what they may or may not say or write. For myself, yes it would be a cat fight but legal fights are always enormously expensive no matter how right one may be. I've spent enough time in courts I should be a lawyer by osmosis but it has cost me dearly.
If one has stories about transgender they wish to write and publish there isn't any real reason not to go ahead and express one's feelings. I for one would love to read your story.
Hugs Jennifer
Barb
Life is a gift and too damn short to hide from a world of bigots who refuse to understand, God gave me a gift.
Oklahoma born and raised cowgirl
It's not just the US
I've been making notes for a third story I want to write after book 2 of Toni (happy fictionalised world) and book 2 of Allison (sci-fi.) With one of my stories being the happy fictionalised world I wanted to write another that leans into politics, etc. a little more. Not getting into the actual mud of political campaigning and policy, but someone being put in a position where they are somewhat public and are forced to face up to their responsibilities as a figure people see.
This story wasn't to be set in the US but in England, in a near future where certain things happening at the moment (sort of) play out and are reckoned with. This, unfortunately, despite all my work, has had the kibosh put on it. And that's not just related to trans issues specifically but to the entire geopolitical instability that's kicked off in the past two months. I was going to write a European focused story set in the UK and dealing with the UK's media class's transphobia and Brexit. I can barely imagine what's going to happen in Europe next week let alone begin writing an entire novel on it. That's over six months of work down the swanny.
Personally... I prefer to
Personally... I prefer to just ignore the concept of the current government, I wouldn't dare to legitimize their propaganda. Transphobic characters? Timeless and useful antagonists, but fuck the idiots... this will change, it will pass, just like reminders of COVID during lockdown were... depressing... choose to ignore this in fiction unless you specifically WANT to target that subject. If your goal is to highlight that darkness, go ahead. Otherwise? We could do with some light.
Admittedly I write this with a story set 20 years ago, 85 years ago, 11 years ago :D
Though I did specifically write the short; "Regrets," to target the sports ban subject... it's worth doing in shorts, in punchy looks at the absurdity of the topic, but I think novels set in it? Too depressing.
I like Turtles.