My friend and her longtime partner are having a marraige ceremony this September. I would really like to write them a short story, but I have no idea how to go about writing something decent with lesbian themes. I shudder at the idea of using the general internet for help, so I'm turning to you, the board for your sound and sensible advice. What should I do?

write it as a love story you like, then make both the leads girls?

i know that sounds flip, but i'm quite serious. If you have trouble putting yourself in one set of shoes, then pick another, and change the details later, once you've got the emotional arc sorted out. There's no situation you can't transpose.

It's just in my experience if you try to put yourself in a position you aren't comfortable with you tend to write about the 'issues' rather than the person.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Murphy (last sane man in the asylum),

As with everything, a decent lesbian love story isn't about lesbian themes...it's about love.

I agree with Murph. Write something about love you are comfortable with. Then see if you need to change anything to make it suitable.

What about a love story between two toothbrushes, or gerbils, or celestial stars? Perhaps something not even human would help. Maybe the two coins in your pocket will find love in a vending machine.

I agree with the Murphy Bear. They're two people, and they're in love. That's what's important. Just come up with your core story and worry about the details once you have that in place.

- Cho

I agree with the others - it's the love story that's important, not the gender of the lovers.

(Did you have anything in mind when you said 'lesbian themes'?)

I imagine you already have betas, but I have, uh, dual nationality, and have been a copy editor in my time, so when you do get something written, if you want anything checked over for anomolies, I'd be glad to help.

I mainly just wanted to point out that that is a great gift. Better than candlesticks or champange glasses, that's for sure.

And I think it's always good to write outside your comfort zone.

Good luck!

It's actually kind of ironic that you write this now. I'm going to give my friends a story for their wedding, albeit it is a different situation from yours. Still, in my case the comfort zone is wondering how much I *should* write about them in the story and how far (after all it is about them).

All I will tell you Phoenix is that everyone else is bang on when they say just write about the characters as people. People who can be serious, and who can joke around and laugh about a situation. Who can love. That's nothing that anything else here did not say.

Good luck, my friend.

HAve you considered the inclusion of giant robots and/or flying monkeys? I haven't had a case of writers block that couldn't be unclogged by their judicious usage.

Don't forget the STORY part! That's why the robots & monkeys: sumpin's gotta happen, whether it be danger, angst, confusion. Or (as I think I've remarked before on these boards, regarding plot): Get your sheroes into hot water & then get 'em out.

I just about finished my first draft last night, and it will be moving to my laptop, likely on tuesday, so if people are still interested in helping me edit, it'll be a second draft this week, hopefully. I have some guests coming into town on Wed, and likely won't get time to write for a week once their plane lands.

I want to see your draft, if you'd like help.

the "novel" i wrote last year for nanowrimo was a kind of an unrequited love story, where the two characters involved were women. though that was more accidental than design, the fact that i just happened to have two strong female characters that i liked that element just fell into place and i didn't fight it. so yeah, what everyone else says, its a love story, the exact nature of the participants is an aside. um, sorry for the me too post