FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Tracy Timmons-Gray: What are your recommendations on how to write a character whose sexual or gender identity is different from your own? For instance, there’s isn’t one kind of asexual or gender queer person; authentic representation is often very nuanced. What things do you recommend to try to capture those nuances when writing a character? What do you try to avoid? Join the chat
FOR READERS Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: We focus a lot on the gay and lesbian sides of queer speculative fiction. But how about intersex characters? Spec fic provides a fertile playground to explore all kinds of identities, and intersex characters are no exception. Sometimes they are done really well, and sometimes… Let’s focus on the good portrayals. What are your favorite speculative fiction stories with intersex characters? Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat
FOR WRITERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer John Allenson: Have we ever discussed writting gender past male/female binaries? The Andorians in Star Trek have four genders. Alien Nation had three. The Left Hand of Darkness has androgens. How would we write alternate genders? This is a legacy chat. Join the chat Image by chonastock
When Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling revealed Albus Dumbledore was gay after the publication of Deathly Hallows, there was an uproar. She broke the cardinal rule — often attributed to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov — show, don’t tell. The theory is simple. In storytelling, don’t tell the audience what a character is like, or how a setting feels, show them through senses, actions, and feelings. By telling fans Dumbledore was gay, rather than showing us (even implications of his relationship with Grindelwald in the seventh book are a stretch at best), there’s a robbery of representation. What good does it do queer … Read more
We have a great event today – QSFer Cody Kennedy has put together a great two hour presentation on what being Intersex is and what it isn’t: Cody will share with you what intersex is; what intersex is NOT; how one becomes intersexed; how many types of intersex combinations exist; the difference between organs and glands, and internal and external organs; what it means to live as an intersex person; commentary on surgery; intersex rights and where the law remains gray. The presentation will last approximately two hours and will include a Q&A session. Sign up here: https://www.facebook.com/events/497658957275736/ The discussion … Read more
FOR READERS Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer J. Scott Coatsworth: For Intersex Awareness Day, I thought we’d talk about your favorite intersex characters and books. :) Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks! Join the chat
QSF has a new book out, the latest in our series of flash fiction anthologies: Re.new.al (noun) 1) Resuming an activity after an interruption, or 2) Extending a contract, subscription or license, or 3) Replacing or repairing something that is worn out, run-down, or broken, or 4) Rebirth after death. Four definitions to spark inspiration, a limitless number of stories to be conceived. Only 110 made the cut. Thrilling to hopeful, Renewal features 300-word speculative fiction ficlets about sexual and gender minorities to entice readers. Welcome to Renewal. Mischief Corner Books | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | … Read more
L.M. Pierce has a new genderqueer ace/aro sci fi book out: Andi knows being born an intersex “Transgressor” and then choosing to stay that way can have lethal consequences. After all, surgical assignment is mandated by law. But she ain’t going to spend her life hiding from the Society, hooked on Flow, and wanking tourists just to make a few bucks. She’s a member of the Trans Liberty Riot Brigade, an underground faction of Transgressors resisting the government’s war on their illegal genitalia. But it’s not enough to tag their messages on shithouse walls and sniff down the next high. … Read more
Hi all and Happy Friday! This week is Transgender Awareness Week, November 14-20. Instead of me talking about this, I want to signal boost The Trans Fiction Week blog project that Matthew Metzger spearheaded. The blogs this week focused on inclusion, on non-binary issues as writers, and on getting writers past that “can’t” mentality one often hears from cis-gendered writers. Some of the wonderful and informative blogs include: Beyond Punctuation: Editing Diverse Content Safe Spaces, and Safety Writing from the Closet (a non-binary writer’s view) Gun Control (a cis-gender writer’s view on the importance of inclusion) If it’s Cis, It … Read more
A Chinese man has been arrested for trying to kill his newborn baby three times with the help of the child’s grandfather. According to the Deccan Chronicle, the father has been detained while the grandfather was released pending trial. “We thought we would have a girl. But soon we were told the ‘girl’ is actually a boy, with an atrophic sex organ. We panicked and got concerned,” the child’s mother, Yang Xiaoqing, told the newspaper. She said the father tried to kill the baby because “he is neither a boy nor a girl”, but a “monster.” The man tried to … Read more