Write for YOURSELF

Today, I read a post on one of the forums I frequent. It was written by a fellow lesbian who, frustrated at having to sift through terrible lesbian fiction written by dudes who stole everything from the last porno they rented, declared that guys can't write lesbian fiction.

First off, she has a point. Lots of guys who try to write lesbian fiction suck at it. Horribly. But you should never make generalizations about what one should and should not write based on their gender, their race, their age, or any other factor about them. Even if most guys write horrible lesbian fiction, what about the small percentage that do it well? Shouldn't we give them a chance?

Does that mean that, because I'm white, I can't write a story with black characters in it because I don't understand what it's like to be black?

Now, the first thing to do in a situation like this is recognize: hey, this is outside my personal experience, and I should be very careful writing this. I would certainly be cautious while trying to write a story with an all-black cast because I grew up in white/asian/indian suburbia. My interaction with black people was extremely limited until I got older, not because of any restraint on my parents' part, but simply because of my geographic location.

The same goes for a guy writing lesbian fiction. He must be very careful and do his research. No, that does not include watching porn. Doing research means reading lesbian fiction and, if you have any lesbian friends, talking to them about their experiences. Then, try and remember experiences in your own past that can relate to theirs, even if it's only on a small scale.

For example, I cannot imagine the horrors that Irish immigrants faced at the beginning of the twentieth century. They were denied jobs, cursed at, beaten, mocked, spit on... probably raped and murdered in some cases if the perpetrators got too rowdy. However, as a lesbian woman, I do know what it's like to be rejected - even by my own parents. I can tap in to that feeling and use it to identify with other minority groups.

We all have our differences, but the human experience is shared. We all feel the same emotions and dream the same dreams. Yes, it is difficult for us to relate to each other, and as writers, it is difficult to write about characters that seem alien to us, but that should never stop you from writing what you feel called to write... and as readers, we should judge each work based on its merits, not its author's race, gender, ethnicity, social class, or sexual orientation.

Instead of looking at it as an impediment, view it as a challenge and a way to expand your worldview. You never know, you might end up with a masterpiece.


Edit: the "ranter" is actually a very sweet person who admits that while it is rare, it is not entirely impossible for a dude to write lesbian fiction. We're all friendly-like now. n__n I'm only keeping this post up because someone someday might need the encouragement to write something outside of their comfort zone.