#writing nonbinary characters

[thenitpick]

Please, for the love of whatever, if your only non-binary rep in a story is a non-human being, please reconsider. I'm not saying you have to change that or force another character for rep, but please be aware of that.

Also shapeshifting. I get that it's what like over 90% of us want, but it also feels overdone and one-dimensional, especially if it's a power a character is born with rather than learned, and if it's their main power.

For me, a trans character becomes a lot less relatable or realistic when they've never had the experience of being trans.

However, on that note, if your enby/trans character's story focuses mostly on their experience of being trans, that's also pretty one dimensional. You wouldn't focus on a cisgender character's experience of being cis. Some* of the best rep I've seen is when a character's queerness simply exists, and is only delved into for plot or character reasons.

Rule of thumb: treat your trans characters like the rest—whole people with full lives and layers.

[written-among-stars]

When writing a character who uses multiple pronouns, how would you implement the use of those pronouns without confusing the reader?

Does it make the most sense to only switch pronouns when the chapter changes? Or should a pronoun change be sort of flagged with the use of a characters name as well? Something else?

[dianneking]

Do I think Larissa is nonbinary in canon? No, no I don't. Do I still enjoy writing Nonbinary!Larissa as a form of self care? You betcha.

Also she can shift her body as she prefers. If that's not the nonbinary dream I don't know what is.

That's the beauty of fanfiction, folks.

Go do your thing.

[transwarlock]

okay, I know literally no one asked, but. I feel like there’s this trend of cis people following a stark binary when they write canon nonbinary representation.

either the nonbinary character is:

1) completely androgynous and doesn’t have much of a personality outside of whatever they need to be/say/do in order to move the plot forward, e.g. Frisk (undertale), Oz (monster prom), Taylor Mason (billions)

or 2) they’re hyperfeminine and portrayed as extremely selfish or at least self-absorbed, e.g. Milo (monster camp), Ash Harjo (TS4: HSY EP), Loki (MCU), Mo (ZEP)

the only exception I can think of is something both stereotypes have in common—they’re almost always young, sometimes the youngest character in whatever franchise they’re part of.

it’s like when we tell them forcing gender and gender roles on us isn’t acceptable, they fall back on hobbies and stereotypes to fill the gap. and honestly? that’s not exclusive to nonbinary characters, but seeing them represented like this just makes the underlying problem with a lot of modern media way clearer—that so many fictional characters nowadays are too shallow to even symbolize anything meaningful.

in this essay, I will

[indigo-stay]

Writing Nonbinary Characters in Fiction

A compilation that represents things nonbinary people go through. Slice of life examples etc

I made this for writers who are maybe not nonbinary themselves but want to learn to write someone who is, or nonbinary folks looking for fics that include them. Send me your recs too!

OT8

How Rare and Beautiful it is to Even Exist by @lieslab

Bang Chan

Coming Out

Someone Misgenders You

Minho

Your Binder Starts Hurting You During Sex

Changbin

Asking to be Their Partner

Binnie Being a Green Flag

Felix

You Start Dressing Differently

[blueberry-sleight]

hey not to plug but 100% to plug, you can read my new fic here if you feel like it. I think troy should be in it too, but I got inspired based off something I wrote a year ago when I was younger and less wise.

[inmywill]

question for everyone!

I am a cis woman that uses she/her pronouns and I’m writing a will/mc fic that I started before will’s canon they/them/he/him pronouns were released, so I refer to will as he/him entirely at the beginning of my fic. I began to edit but in the episode where he tells everyone he does actually say “I’ve been vibing more with he/him recently”.

so my question is: is it appropriate to change the pronouns to ‘they’ if at that point he’s identifying more with ‘him’? I know non-binary identities are fluid so therefore I’m not sure if it would be presumptuous or overstepping to change it when there’s a preference towards one rather than the other? or should I still use a mix of both? I’ve realised I’m not as educated on this as I thought so if anyone could share some insight I’d be very thankful! it’s important to represent correctly ❤️❤️

[caffeinated-mouse]

Tumblr! I have questions and I need answers.

For non-binary characters what works as a gender neutral term for royalty/nobles? Like- would I use sir, lord, emperor, king, councilman in a gender neutral way like when saying “guys”, in a broad gender neutral umbrella kinda way? Or would I use the word often associated with those terms like monarch, noble, knight, etc. Like instead of King/Queen (Name) it would be Monarch/Royal (Name)? Or have we made gender neutral terms for these things already and I’m just uncultured? Please tell me 🥲