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[Victoria]

In the past few months, most of my stories have begun to include GLBT characters in them. Some try to hide it, some are completely open about it.

What are your GLBTQ characters like?

[Pagan_Elina]

I have four main characters that are either homosexual or bisexual. The Bisexual one's are Aiden, Jarred, Kale. Aiden is open and accepts who he is as does Kale but Jarred is a bit more hesitant. My Favorite character I have ever written is Amis. He is Gay and very proud of it. He'd be proud if he was born a hampster, thats just how sure of himself he is.

[Maria]

Most of my characters end up bi.

I find them to be simply more fun to write -- so many more options! I also think that "forbidden love" is always always always interesting. These days, we don't have class to create "forbidden" love anymore; instead, we end up with supernatural everything dominating the market. But if you don't want to write supernatural, there's still an element of "forbidden"-ness in GLBTQ relationships.

That said? I look forward to the day when it's as ordinary as going out dancing...

[Samantha B]

On the other hand if you do write fantasy, you can write gay characters without having to deal with all the normal reactions.

In my book the one girl is gay, while I guess the other is bi.  I say I guess because the Bi character has so many issues half the time she doesn't know which way is up!

[Maria]

On the other hand if you do write fantasy, you can write gay characters without having to deal with all the normal reactions.

"Normal" reactions from characters within the story, or "normal" reactions from readers/people in the real world? I can see how either would apply, just wondering which you meant!

[BenWhite]

I'll talk a little about Imogen Shroud, since she's the character I'm writing at the moment.  Her sexuality isn't a big part of the story, but it's an important part of who she is.  It's also part of why she begins the book in a state of depression, because of a 'first love' incident that went wrong.  Although Imogen is introverted and apathetic and not outwardly emotional, she's also sensitive and secretly feels things deeply--openly gay but a closet romantic   Part of what I like about her, as a character, is that although she's a girl of few words and on appearance might seem unsure of herself, and although her sense of self-worth and confidence isn't the best, she knows exactly who she is--and this helps to form her 'core' of inner-strength.  It's part of what makes her a survivor.

Well, like most writers I could babble on about my characters all day, but I'll stop myself here.  I'll just share a little snippet of dialogue that I like, between Imogen and Zed--an older, macho, alpha-male cowboy type:

"I can tell you ain't one to talk much about yourself," said Zed.  "Just got this curiosity in me, feel the need to indulge it at times.  Figure this is kind of an opportunity for me to, what would you call it, 'expand my world view'.  So I gotta ask, there ain't no way you'd ever look at a boy?"
"Would you?" Imogen asked.
"Would I what?"
"Ever 'look' at a boy."
"Hell no I wouldn't!"
"Then there's your answer," Imogen said, somewhat wearily.

[Samantha B]

On the other hand if you do write fantasy, you can write gay characters without having to deal with all the normal reactions.

"Normal" reactions from characters within the story, or "normal" reactions from readers/people in the real world? I can see how either would apply, just wondering which you meant!

I meant from the characters in the world. I just feel like every book that takes place in the real world has to take time to show how someone is not happy with the character being gay 

[Maria]

On the other hand if you do write fantasy, you can write gay characters without having to deal with all the normal reactions.

"Normal" reactions from characters within the story, or "normal" reactions from readers/people in the real world? I can see how either would apply, just wondering which you meant!

I meant from the characters in the world. I just feel like every book that takes place in the real world has to take time to show how someone is not happy with the character being gay  

Yes, yes, yes! I love that about fantasy worlds, and yet I feel like that opportunity -- the opportunity to do away with the social conventions of our world -- is almost never fully explored in YA fantasy. Even fantasy worlds seem to have problems with LGBTQ couples.

More disturbingly, the ones that don't (such as Melissa Marr's WL series) are also defined by their sexual promiscuity. Are monogamy & open LGBTQ relationships mutually exclusive? I think not, but the representations are disturbing to me.

[Samantha B]

On the other hand if you do write fantasy, you can write gay characters without having to deal with all the normal reactions.

"Normal" reactions from characters within the story, or "normal" reactions from readers/people in the real world? I can see how either would apply, just wondering which you meant!

I meant from the characters in the world. I just feel like every book that takes place in the real world has to take time to show how someone is not happy with the character being gay 

Yes, yes, yes! I love that about fantasy worlds, and yet I feel like that opportunity -- the opportunity to do away with the social conventions of our world -- is almost never fully explored in YA fantasy. Even fantasy worlds seem to have problems with LGBTQ couples.

More disturbingly, the ones that don't (such as Melissa Marr's WL series) are also defined by their sexual promiscuity. Are monogamy & open LGBTQ relationships mutually exclusive? I think not, but the representations are disturbing to me.

Ha ha yes! Although I will admit that in my book one of the characters is all over the place, but it's not her fault!  I think if they are the main characters you have to have someone straying, or else it's no fun to read! It's called Guardian of Morning, and you can read the beginning here: http://samanthaboyette.com/guardian-of-morning-by-samantha-boyette/ if you are interested=)

[Catherine]

I have a number of gay/bi/lesbian characters in my stories. Some main characters, some secondary and occasionally some on the edges.

One series: gay older brother and his boyfriend plus two bisexual guys (one in teens, one in 40s) and two lesbian girls. That's all so far confirmed - others probably will pop up as characters are introduced/solidify in these details.

One novel: gay MC, bisexual-but-with-heavy-preference-for-guys secondary guy.

Last year's NaNo: bisexual girl MC, lesbian secondary character.

2009 NaNo: gay couple, bisexual polyamorous female.

Those are the main ones, all the rest of the WIPs/ideas have some various ones in there too.


Currently working on a short story about a lesbian vampire hunter-in-training.

[LightningRapunzel]

I have one main couple in my series -  Mikei and Lucian, who are vampires - Mikei is bi and Lucian gay - but in their world labels don't really apply. Lucian fell in love with Mikei, but Mikei hated him for 3 years (because Lucian turned him into a vampire without warning) before beginning to fall for him in return. They have a definite love/hate relationship that's been going on for near-fifty years.

Mikei's father, Samiel, likes both sexes but he's not a romantic (he's a psychopath, he has no emotional attachments)... as this is most likely a PG-13 thread I'll just say that he's a vampire version of Casanova. 

 There are others too, but for these characters it's made highly obvious.

I love writing about LGBTQ characters - they're somewhat more interesting...

[Pagan_Elina]

Question:
When you guys write do you try to make Gay characters or do your character just go where they want to go sexuality wise?

[Samantha B]

Question:
When you guys write do you try to make Gay characters or do your character just go where they want to go sexuality wise?

For me, that goes both ways (Pun not intended lol) Usually if I am writing a main character, I know if they are gay before hand.  But sometimes secondary characters just start getting real gay without me realizing it.  I've had that happen a couple times.  I think that's one of the most fun things in writing, watching what a character does without meaning to have them do that.  In the book I just finished writing, I have an reluctant evil queen character, and when I started out I didn't have much planned for her, it soon became apparent that she had a little bit of OCD, a little eating disorder, and sometimes she liked to cut herself.  Sometimes, things just flow that way.

[Pagan_Elina]

For me it normally just happens. For example I had two characters who were just friends, brothers at the most. Then I was thinking about them one day and I realized that one was in love with the other and the other loved him as well but was afraid to admit it to himself

[Samantha B]

Exactly!