Melody,

I would recommend reading stories of many of the wonderful authors on this site. Then start with a short story. You may want to submit one for this year's Christmas contest. Make sure to have someone proofread your work and edit it for you. Many of the authors will offer to act as your editor. Generally the people who read and comment are supportive. It will be a learning process - just don't get discouraged.

Good luck.

As always,

Dru

Hi,

First off, I applaud your determination to write. Once you get into the swing of things and find your own voice, you will find it is a wonderful way to explore both the world you live in as well as your dreams. It's strange, but true. I wish I could explain it better, but for me, it's one of those feelings that defy my ability to articulate in words without sounding cliched.

As to writing, first off, I really do not like the idea of writing TG fiction. Rather, you should take the approach straight out of the gate of writing fiction in which the character just happens the be TG. There is a subtle difference. TG fiction, as I define it, often follows a set path littered with conventions and predicable plot lines. It is possible, in my mind at least, to side step many of the traditional conventions and, instead, concentrate on the character and his/her interplay with others as they deal with a challenge or events they are faced with. My last three works involved very different characters dealing with a war they did not ask for but none the less had to deal with. In this way, you can write a conventional story, (mystery, suspense, love), with the character having one more complication, i.e. he and/or she is TG.

As to how to get started, well that varies greatly. Since I was very much into studying Shakespeare, I followed his approach to story telling.

Act I - Set the stage and introduce your characters. This is what I did in Chapter One of 'Annoying Facts'

Act II - Introduce the issue/problems facing the characters and how they view them, avoiding the problem or seeking a solution. (Chapter 2 and 3 of Annoying Facts)

ACt III - The crisis, the part of the story where the characters come face to face with an issue/event/problem that cannot be avoided

Act IV - Reaction to the Crisis, What does everyone do, either alone or together to overcome or resolve the crisis

Act V - Resolution; how all the characters manage to survive or over come the crisis and move on with their lives.

The above has always worked for me. When I started, I used an outline to organize my thoughts. After the first two books, I simple gave that up because I was wasting too much time updating the outline as I hit upon new ideas as I went along. Now I simple 'screen compose,' which means you make it up as you type. If you have done a good job of developing your characters and their setting early on, this should not be a problem.

Recommendations;

1. Stay with a subject/area of expertise you are familiar with. For example, what is it like being a nursing student who is TG?

2. Decide right off if you want to write in the first person or the third person. By writing in the first person, you are restricted to telling the story only from one person's point of view, (POV), which is the 'I' person. Using third person, you have the freedom to get into the heads of other characters and write whole scenes that do not involve the primary character but will impact him/her.

3. When trying to figure out how to depict a scene or conversation, go back and read how your favorite writers dealt with a similar scene. At first, you will find yourself aping their approach. Very quickly, however, you will develop a a style of your own.

4. Finally, don't push it. When you try to force something, it usually comes out bad. When I experience a blockage, I take a break, walk the dog, go to the store or fix dinner. Some of my best scenes have popped into my head while following Arnold, my dog or in the shower.

Well, all that is left is wishing you luck. Writing is both fun and illuminating.

Nancy Cole
www.nancycole.org