medusasdaughterwrites

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Writing Queer Characters

              As a queer writer and enjoyer of media, I tend to be very critical of queer characters. Many of them just aren’t done well, and carry that sort of ‘written by a straight person’ vibe, similar to the ‘female protagonist written by a man’ vibe. When queer characters are written wrong it can feel so alienating to the queer audience, and at that point, is it really representation?

While this isn’t an exhaustive guide on how to write queer people, it’s a good place to start to avoid some of the more common pitfalls and create queer characters that queer people can feel seen by.

1. Queerness is a pillar of identity, not a definition

By this I mean that when you’re creating a queer character, you’re just creating a human being that happens to be into the same sex (or not into sex or whatever, etc. etc.). In the same way that your straight characters don’t constantly talk about their straightness, aren’t built around the fact that they like the opposite gender, and don’t flirt with every other straight person they meet—queer characters shouldn’t either. It lands as flat, stereotypical, and a bit offensive.

              I’ll reiterate to make it clear: we’re human beings, just like anyone else.

              So you aren’t creating a queer character, you’re creating a character. One that still has a background, hobbies, interests, fears, personality, etc. And some of those things may connect to the fact that they are queer (maybe they go to queer clubs as one of their hobbies, or their background includes a queer relationship), but not all of them should. And speaking of background, not every queer character needs some deep queer-related trauma to form them as human beings. Some of us just have regular trauma.

2. People are still queer even when they aren’t in relationships

You’re probably reading this post because you want to or are currently writing a queer romance/subplot. Which is great. But I’d like to throw out this point as well—queer people exist outside of and beyond their relations to other people, and I’d personally love to see more queer characters that aren’t in relationships and don’t get into one by the end of the story. Who just exist—as many of us just exist. A queer person is not defined by who they date or have sex with. You do not need to create a romantic interest for every queer character you make.

3. Queer people have intersections

By this, I mean that a lesbian can also be disabled and black. A gay man can also be trans. A bisexual person can also be gender fluid and neurodivergent. This is another example of how queer people aren’t defined by their queerness, just like straight people aren’t defined by their straightness. When there’s a character who is “the lesbian” and she’s white and able-bodied and her personality is ‘lesbian’, we tend to see them as obvious diversity checks—a way to say that technically this piece of media has queer representation.

But queer people are people, and there’s so much more that goes into a person than just their sexuality. Don’t be afraid to include intersections in your queer characters—it takes more research, but it makes them more alive.

4. We don’t always come out—or need to

Queer narratives often have this underlying motif of making the queer characters constantly justify their own existences or explain their identities. While yes, using labels (especially bisexuality, as it’s often erased) is powerful, it’s also just as powerful and revolutionary to have queer characters just exist as they are without needing to explain themselves. In real life, many of us (especially when you’re a bit older and are already established among family and friends) don’t really continue to officially come out to every person we meet—we just exist and eventually new people who maybe don’t know will figure it out eventually.

The coming out story is probably the most common across queer media, but it leaves out so many different aspects of queerness. If you’re looking to tell a queer narrative, consider writing one beyond the coming out—when your characters are already certain of themselves and their places within their families/friends/community. When they’re allowed to just be.

Speaking of…

5. Beware stereotypes

By following the steps above you should be able to avoid most stereotypes, but just in case, here’s a small (not exhaustive!) list of some common stereotypes you should actively avoid:

- Queer people are pedophiles/dangerous/are trying to corrupt straight people - “Queer trauma”-inspired murderer - Killing off your gays (especially when they finally find happiness) - The flamboyant “gay best friend” (almost always male) - The homophobic, closeted jock - Lesbian couples have one femme and one butch, always - The transgender prostitute - The transgender surprise reveal - Bisexuals who just need to realize their ‘true’ preference/are confused - Bisexuals who are promiscuous - Lesbians are kidnappers - The over sexualized lesbian and the ‘innocent/pure’ lesbian (where’s the in between?)

I know that facing down a list of characters you can’t make often makes it feel like you can’t write any type of queer character, and so I’m here to reassure you. I know flamboyant gay guys and butch/femme lesbian couples in real life, but they’re also people with complexities and contradictions and they aren’t always consistent. If you build a person from the ground up, you may have a little bit of one of these stereotypes, but there will also be so much more that makes them special and unique.

But to be clear, let’s not keep portraying queer people as pedophiles, murderers, or serial kidnappers, alright?

6. Do your research and try your best

This post is a good start, but if you want to write a queer character, do your best to research their identities, what stereotypes that identity has, and how people in the community feel about representation on that identity.

Lastly, here’s some good vs bad examples of queer characters in media:

Any more examples you can think of?

[medusasdaughterwrites]

One of the best writing advice I have gotten in all the months I have been writing is "if you can't go anywhere from a sentence, the problem isn't in you, it's in the last sentence." and I'm mad because it works so well and barely anyone talks about it. If you're stuck at a line, go back. Backspace those last two lines and write it from another angle or take it to some other route. You're stuck because you thought up to that exact sentence and nothing after that. Well, delete that sentence, make your brain think because the dead end is gone. It has worked wonders for me for so long it's unreal

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Omg yes the minute I saw that article about who they're considering for Snape my heart sunk like they're gonna have a black man creepily hug a dead white woman's body while her baby cries in the crib like they really said "not enough racism with the only canon black man named shacklebolt let us add a black man so obsessed with a white woman he bullies her child for 7 years and also let's make him uphold racist ideology"

HBO Harry Potter reboot this, diverse cast that, LGBT rep this, marauders that... Guys, JKR is an executive producer, she's gonna keep it exactly like her books. As much as I would love a black Hermione and a Desi bisexual Harry and canon wolfstar and an explicitly gay Dumbledore and everything, this is JKR we're talking about. Let's all face the truth, she's pushing for this reboot because she's mad the original cast is pro trans rights and wants to erase them from hp pop culture. The biggest difference might be Peeves being included.

[medusasdaughterwrites]

And if I said that I'm writing a Tomione x Made For Love AU with Lord Voldemort/Tom Riddle as Byron Gogol and Hermione Granger as Hazel Green/Hazel Gogol

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Tomione stuck in a Prison World together where time stands still

[medusasdaughterwrites]

words for when your characters ______

Agree

accede, acceptance, accord, acknowledgment, acquiescence, align, avowal, bear, cohere, compromise, consent, contract, draft, enlist, give in/give up, go along/go along with, grant, negotiate, unanimous, yield

Deny

abjure, abuse, affront, attack, backstab, bad-mouth, belie, blacken, blemish, confront, curse, darn, defamation, defile, demur, denigrate, detract, dig, disclaim, discountenance, disgrace, disown, disparagement, downplay, explode, flout, fulminate, gainsay, gird, invective, jeer, lament, lecture, malign, minimize, mouth, needle, oppose, protest, put down, put-down, rebuff, refute, remonstrate, renunciation, run down, satirize, scold, show up, sit-in, slander, smear, snap, snub, squeal, sully, swearing, taunt, tirade, turn, underestimate, vituperation, write off, yammer

Explain

account for, admit, apprise, cite, clarify, come clean, concede, confirm, corroborate, defense, demonstrate, dilate, elucidate, enlighten, evidence, expand, explicate, gloss, illustrate, itemize, let on, palliate, plea, prove, recite, simplify, speak out/speak up, spell out, translator, warrant

Fabricate

aspersion, belie, disprove, profane

Inform

acknowledge, address, advertise, allow, allusion, apprise, bare, betrayal, blab, breathe, briefing, broadcast, chronicle, clue, come out with, confession, convey, debunk, define, detail, dictate, divulge, expose, feature, furnish, give, gossip, hint, intimate, issue, lecture, newscaster, orate, out of the closet, pass, post, proclaim, promulgate, publication, publish, release, reveal, show up, speak, spill, squeal, talk, tip, uncover, unveil, weatherperson, whisper

Instruct

bar, educate, prescribe

Persuade

advance, argument, bend, budge, carry, coerce, convince, discourage, draw, drum up, elicit, entice, forward, goad, hammer away/hammer into, induce, influence, invite, lobby, motivate, negotiation, pitch, prevail upon/prevail on, prompt, reason, spur, sway, urge, win/win over

Promise

assurance, avow, commitment, ensure, go back/go back on, oath, portend, vouch, warrant, word

Suggest

advice, advocate, ask, come up with, connote, drum into, exhort, fish for, get at, guide, imply, insinuate, moralize, move, nomination, pontificate, preach, propose, recommend, urge

Praise

accent, acclamation, accredit, adulation, apotheosis, applause, benediction, bless, champion, citation, commend, compliment, congratulations, credit, dedicate, deify, elevate, endorse, eulogize, exalt, extol, flatter, flattery, glorify, homage, laud, lionize, obsequy, plaudits, puff, salute, thanks, tribute, worship

Warn

admonish, alert, caution, caveat, defy, enjoin, exhortation, foreboding, foretell, page, remind, warning

NOTE

The above are concepts classified according to subject and usage. It not only helps writers and thinkers to organize their ideas but leads them from those very ideas to the words that can best express them.

It was, in part, created to turn an idea into a specific word. By linking together the main entries that share similar concepts, the index makes possible creative semantic connections between words in our language, stimulating thought and broadening vocabulary.

Source ⚜ Writing Basics & Refreshers ⚜ On Vocabulary

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Writing Notes: Character Traits (Virtues)

When describing someone, we often describe the virtues or values they exhibit, which are aligned to their character.

Virtues - positive personal strengths and behaviors that demonstrate an individual’s moral standards.

Can be considered the foundation of character and can be categorized as moral virtues, civic virtues, intellectual virtues, or performance virtues.

Types of Virtues

INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES

Can be considered habits of mind, enabling individuals to become critical thinkers who ask the right questions and seek answers from evidence-based resources.

These virtues support discernment, right action and the pursuit of knowledge while enabling problem-solving.

MORAL VIRTUES

Can be considered habits of the heart.

Moral character guides decision making from multiple perspectives allowing individuals to evaluate situations and respond in a meaningful and responsible manner that keeps the betterment of society and all stakeholders in the forefront.

These virtues guide social connections and ethical decision making.

CIVIC VIRTUES

Can be considered habits of service.

Civic character supports a collaborative approach to solving systemic problems to contribute to the well-being of others and serve the public good.

These virtues ultimately support citizenship and community.

PERFORMANCE VIRTUES

Can be considered habits of action and will, enabling us to marry the quality of our actions to the strength of our convictions.

These virtues equip and enable one to navigate life and uncertainty for success.

Performance virtues are informed by intellectual, moral, and civic virtues.

In collaboration, the virtue types allow individuals space to develop a deeper sense of virtuous behavior and growth through personal experiences and reflection when the virtues collide, known as practical wisdom, furthering our good sense.

Practical wisdom

Also known as phronesis, is the meta-virtue that guides individuals in making decisions when two or more virtues collide.

This helps us determine what is morally right in a given situation so we can discern which virtue to put into action.

Intellectual Virtues: Are my actions in pursuit of knowledge, truth and understanding?

Examples

Reflection

Resourcefulness

Communication

Critical Thinking

Curiosity

Reasoning

Moral Virtues: Do I respond ethically and with heart?

Examples

Honesty

Humility

Compassion

Integrity

Kindness

Empathy

Civic Virtues: Do I engage in responsible citizenship?

Examples

Service

Citizenship

Community Awareness

Neighborliness

Civility

Performance Virtues: Do I have the tools to navigate life and uncertainty?

Examples

Resilience

Determination

Perseverance

Leadership

Self-discipline

Motivation

Source ⚜ More: Writing Notes & References ⚜ +600 Personality Traits

[medusasdaughterwrites]

I loveee fantasy settings doing magical exhaustion:

burnt out pyromancers emitting steam and smoke

tired cryomancers shivering with visible foggy breath

weary necromancers looking ill and hearing voices

frazzled healers receiving the same cuts, bruises, and injuries of their patients

[medusasdaughterwrites]

10 Non-Lethal Injuries to Add Pain to Your Writing

If you need a simple way to make your characters feel pain, here are some ideas: 

1. Sprained Ankle

A common injury that can severely limit mobility. This is useful because your characters will have to experience a mild struggle and adapt their plans to their new lack of mobiliy. Perfect to add tension to a chase scene.

2. Rib Contusion

A painful bruise on the ribs can make breathing difficult, helping you sneak in those ragged wheezes during a fight scene. Could also be used for something sport-related! It's impactful enough to leave a lingering pain but not enough to hinder their overall movement.

3. Concussions

This common brain injury can lead to confusion, dizziness, and mood swings, affecting a character’s judgment heavily. It can also cause mild amnesia.

I enjoy using concussions when you need another character to subtly take over the fight/scene, it's an easy way to switch POVs. You could also use it if you need a 'cute' recovery moment with A and B.

4. Fractured Finger

A broken finger can complicate tasks that require fine motor skills. This would be perfect for characters like artists, writers, etc. Or, a fighter who brushes it off as nothing till they try to throw a punch and are hit with pain.

5. Road Rash

Road rash is an abrasion caused by friction. Aka scraping skin. The raw, painful sting resulting from a fall can be a quick but effective way to add pain to your writing. Tip: it's great if you need a mild injury for a child.

6. Shoulder Dislocation

This injury can be excruciating and often leads to an inability to use one arm, forcing characters to confront their limitations while adding urgency to their situation. Good for torture scenes.

7. Deep Laceration

A deep laceration is a cut that requires stitches. As someone who got stitches as a kid, they really aren't that bad! A 2-3 inch wound (in length) provides just enough pain and blood to add that dramatic flair to your writing while not severely deterring your character.

This is also a great wound to look back on since it often scars. Note: the deeper and wider the cut the worse your character's condition. Don't give them a 5 inch deep gash and call that mild.

8. Burns

Whether from fire, chemicals, or hot surfaces, burns can cause intense suffering and lingering trauma. Like the previous injury, the lasting physical and emotional trauma of a burn is a great wound for characters to look back on.

If you want to explore writing burns, read here.

9. Pulled Muscle

This can create ongoing pain and restrict movement, offering a window to force your character to lean on another. Note: I personally use muscle related injuries when I want to focus more on the pain and sprains to focus on a lack of mobility.

10. Tendonitis

Inflammation of a tendon can cause chronic pain and limit a character's ability to perform tasks they usually take for granted. When exploring tendonitis make sure you research well as this can easily turn into a more severe injury.

This is a quick, brief list of ideas to provide writers inspiration. Since it is a shorter blog, I have not covered the injuries in detail. This is inspiration, not a thorough guide. Happy writing! :)

Looking For More Writing Tips And Tricks? 

Check out the rest of Quillology with Haya; a blog dedicated to writing and publishing tips for authors!

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[medusasdaughterwrites]

words for your fight scenes

Breathe

draw, expire, heave, inhale, puff, suffocate

Catch

intercept, tackle

Climb

arise, ascension, mount, scale, surface

Cut

amputate, ax/axe, bisect, chisel, cleave, crop, cut up, dent, dissect, engrave, etch, fell, hack, lacerate, mangle, molt, mutilate, notch, peel, scar, scratch, shave, shred, slash, slit, trim, whittle

Dispose

boot, chuck, disposal, dispose of, do away with, elimination, kick out, rejection, scrap, throw away, void

Drop

alight, crash, decline, descent, dive, droop, duck, fall, flop, fumble, go under, keel over, light, percolate, plumb, plunge, sag, settle, sink, slump, stoop, submerge, suspend, thud/thump, tumble, wilt

Hide

ambush, bury, camouflage, conceal, cover, cover-up, cringe, disguise, dissimulate, embed, ensconce, envelop, isolation, lurk, masquerade, palliate, screen, seclusion, sequester, shrink, shut off/shut out, sneak, withhold

Hit

applaud, bang, baste, batter, beat, blindside, boot, buffet, bunt, chip, clash, clip, clout, collide, concussion, crash, cuff, deflect, drive, flail, glance, hammer, jab, jostle, knock, lick, nail, peck, plaudits, pound, punch, rap, scourge, slap, smack, sock, strike, swipe, tap, thud/thump, tip, whack, whip

Hold forcefully

apprehend, cage, clasp, clinch, confinement, constriction, cramp, detain, embrace, enslave, fetters, grasp, gripe, hold, incarcerate, overpower, press, shackle, snatch, strangle, throttle, wrestle

NOTE

The above are concepts classified according to subject and usage. It not only helps writers and thinkers to organize their ideas but leads them from those very ideas to the words that can best express them.

It was, in part, created to turn an idea into a specific word. By linking together the main entries that share similar concepts, the index makes possible creative semantic connections between words in our language, stimulating thought and broadening vocabulary.

Source ⚜ Writing Basics & Refreshers ⚜ On Vocabulary Notes: Fight Scenes (pt. 1) (pt. 2) Word Lists: Fight ⚜ Pain

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Dialogue Responses

"I could ruin you."

"Do it!"

"You wish."

"Yes, please."

"You could try."

"Empty promises."

"I'm already ruined."

"Let's ruin each other."

"And I want you to do it."

"Ruin? You're so dramatic."

"In a kinky way or a bad way?"

Bonus: "So, we're skipping the fixing and dive right into ruining?"

All the Dialogue Responses can be found here.

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! 🥰

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Okay, so...

Writing sometimes doesn't feel like writing. It's sounds crazy but when you're so into it, it can feel like the couple you're writing about is talking right in front you. It can feel like you're siting in the middle of chaos and you can almost smell the smoke and feel the heat from burning rubble.

It can feel like you're directing a movie sometimes or it can feel as if you're engulfed in this vivid, make believe world.

Writing isn't just writing and sometimes it feels otherworldly...Either way, I wouldn't trade in the hardships of block and rare inspiration for anything else.

[medusasdaughterwrites]

sirius: he has the looks of a depressed english teacher and the soul of a whore.

james: *narrating* for context - remus just walked downstairs in a suit and tie.

[medusasdaughterwrites]

poetry is sirius black being my favourite marauder and getting remus lupin on every single "which marauder are you?" quiz i've ever taken

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Cuddling Dialogue

"Have you always been this cuddly?"

"Come here, I'll warm you up."

"You're so warm and soft."

"Let's just stay in bed and cuddle some more."

"Nothing feels better than your body."

"You actually do give amazing hugs."

"I think someone needs a good cuddle."

"Hmm, you fit so well in my arms."

"You're like my personal teddy bear."

"Need a cuddle?"

"Come on, bring it in."

"You can't escape my cuddles."

"I'm not letting go, so you can stop fighting it."

"Today is one of those stay in bed and cuddle days."

"I want to stay in your arms forever."

If you like my blog and want to support me, you can buy me a coffee or become a member! And check out my Instagram! 🥰

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Denied by Death

I tried to bargain with Death, with all my life to show. “What a pity,” he laughs. And shakes his head ever so slow.

“There’s no price I could take, nada you could suggest… even if you brought all your manners, your trinkets and dressed your best. It still wouldn’t be enough! Not a soul would mourn your death!”

My shoulders drooped, my head fell down, disappointment weighing heavy on me. But his claws lifted my face that frowned, An’ his eyes glowed as he said with glee:

"Now what is a deal if I am not pleased? I do a deed for you and your life does nothing for me? You, of no fame or fortune,  you’re not even happy.”

And with 1,000 mouths he laughs til I cry out, “how more humiliating can this be?! Death, face to face, laughing at me!!”

On an’ on he prances the floor, his mocking steps, a cruel show. With a dramatic huff, he spins ‘round and looks me over from head to toe.

“Ohhh they’ll whisper how low I’ve gotten, how desperate I must be! Just to fill my tombs. No, no, you’re not coming with me.”

With one last shove, he pushes me forth out into the cold harsh air. His door swung, then slammed with force, “Good luck, pitiful thing,” was all I could hear.

[medusasdaughterwrites]

Good stuff.