How To Write A Gay Character

All About LGBT Characters

Desire to write LGBT characters? You've come to the right place! As writers, we all want to tell stories that reflect the rich, diverse world nosotros live in. However, writing characters with unlike life experiences to your ain tin can come up with pitfalls. It is important to avoid these to prevent writing stereotypes or unbelievable characters.

I've outlined 5 top tips for creating LGBT characters which I promise will help you avoid these pitfalls. I'd love to hear whatever other advice you can share!

one) Don't make being gay a gimmick

We all know that producers want diverseness in scripts, and that's fantastic. Only crow-disallowment a 'gay best friend' or 'camp instructor' into your script simply to score points isn't going to cut information technology.

Stereotypes have been done to death. Make your characters three-dimensional people who simply happen to be gay too.

Height Tip! Question why each character has to exist heterosexual, or cis-gendered (identifying as the gender they were assigned at nascence, aka 'non transgender'). Could you lot heighten your story past changing their sexuality or gender identity? More than: How To Write Better Various Characters

two)Don't just brand it about 'LGBT Bug'

When you are writing LGBT characters it is very easy to focus in on the dramatic … ie. the 'coming out story' or the 'Transition story'. And while these can have real value, there are lots of LGBT people in the globe living their lives. They even go on adventures that have naught to practice with who they sleep with or which gender they identify as!

Russell T Davies has said that he deliberately avoided writing about HIV when he wrote Queer as Folk because it was what everyone was expecting. He wanted to go in a unlike direction and focus on the many positive aspects of gay life.

Top Tip! If you want to tell an LGBT story, find a new angle. Brand your script stand out.

3)Practise your research

If yous are not already a fellow member of this community – do your research! Want to write well-nigh prohibition? Talk to people who were around before homosexuality was legalised. Want to write about transitioning? Go and talk to trans people. Make your language, experiences and stories resonate with a wide audience.

Top Tip! Talk through your ideas with LGBT friends or colleagues – make your story authentic. More: Top v Multifariousness Mistakes Writers Brand

four)LGBT in ALL genres

LGBT people have been around since the dawn of humanity. Even if y'all are writing a catamenia drama, could you include an LGBT character? There are then many fantastic stories to be told of life before decriminalisation … Or life as a trans person earlier transgender was recognised. That's just for starters.

As well, LGBT people don't but emerge fully formed into the world aged xviii. Writing for children or a family audience, could you use this opportunity? Normalise LGBT lifestyles by including gay parents or a trans kid.

Top Tip! Recollect about how the inclusion of LGBT characters may impact your audience in a positive way. More than: 11 Experts Share What They'd Similar To Meet Next From Trans Characters

5)Trans is an umbrella term

If you want to include trans characters in your writing, retrieve it's non always a example of 'Male becomes female' or 'female becomes male'. Trans encompasses a whole spectrum of people … from those who experience they don't fit into any given gender, to those who experience that they are a beautiful amalgam of both, to people who fit anywhere in between. Because Trans* characters in your writing opens upwards many more opportunities for fresh, interesting stories to be told.

Top Tip! Recollect exterior the box. Does your character need to be male person or female, or would it accept your story to another level if they didn't fit in to either category?

And Finally …

If y'all have written an LGBT character or storyline and are worried y'all oasis't got it correct, ask for feedback! It'south e'er better to right a character at the development stage rather than submit information technology and find out the difficult way. If yous accept no LGBT friends corking to read for you lot, check in at a page that champions diversity like Bang2write and enquire away!

Good Luck!

BIO:  Jodie Crossman is a freelance screenwriter from West Sussex. A nurse past day, writer past night, single mum and caffeine addict, she has been writing for the last 5 years, completing scripts for both movie and tv. Her comedy airplane pilot 'The Matriarchy' was shortlisted for the 2016 BBC writers room scheme, and her get-go completed characteristic script 'Fortysomething' has just been optioned by Seahorse Films, and volition hopefully soon be coming to a movie house near you! Follow her on Twitter as @daisy_and_me.

Source: https://bang2write.com/2017/05/how-to-write-better-lgbt-characters.html

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