Affirmations for Queer Writers

Encouragement for any queer writer who needs it.

The original form of this article appeared in Queersletter Issue #4.

1. mspec characters are still mspec if they end up with an “opposite” gender character.
2. mspec characters are still mspec if they end up with a same gender character.
3. mspec characters are still mspec if they end up with a man, a woman, or a nonbinary person.
4. trans people should be allowed, encouraged, and supported to write YA literature.
5. trans children deserve access to literature written by people like them, for them.
6. literature does not need same gender sex to be queer.
7. literature does not need sex to be queer.
8. aspec literature is queer literature.
9. arospec literature is queer literature.
10. trans literature is queer literature.
11. nonbinary literature is queer literature.
12. mspec literature is queer literature.
13. polyamorous literature is queer literature, if the creator(s) decide that it is.
14. intersex literature is queer literature, if the creator(s) decide that it is.
15. cultural genders literature is queer literature, if the creator(s) decide that it is.
16. queer literature is still queer even when it doesn’t conform to western standards of queerness.
17. literature that might be queer according to western standards does not have to be queer literature if the creator(s) don’t want it to be.
18. literature by queer people of color ought to be sought out and cherished.
19. literature by disabled queer people, including neurodivergent and mentally ill queer people, ought to be sought out and cherished.
20. literature by poor queer people ought to be sought out and cherished.
21. literature by religious queer people out to be sought out and cherished, especially literature by queer people who ascribe to marginalized religions.
22. if a writer says they are queer, they are queer, period.
23. evolving gender and orientations can make determining Own Voices complicated for queer writers, and that’s okay.
24. queer writers ought to be allowed to remain closeted, period, even while writing queer literature.
25. queer writers shouldn’t have to out themselves to write queer literature.

These next affirmations aren’t specific to queer writers, but I hope they help you.

idk what writers need to hear this, but deleting things is progress!

progress isn't always upping your word count!

art is very qualitative; that means quantitative measurements don't tell the whole story—both literally and figuratively.#WritingCommunity #TwitchWriters.

— King Hale of the Spooky Fae ✿ ❀ (@hfeproductions) September 7, 2021

Remember that while other people may want or need your writing, the most important person in your audience is you.

Your writing might not form exactly as you intend it to, especially when you’re just starting a project, but sometimes waylaid plans are better than one’s original intentions. Allow yourself to explore your writing. Follow whatever path makes you feel something.

Good luck in all your writing endeavors. May you find the audience that you and your writing deserve—if you intend this to be a public project. If you’re writing a private project, I hope it helps you, and that it becomes whatever you need it to be.