Casually inserting sexual orientation












6















My main character, Eris, in my post-apocalyptic novel is queer. Her first love interest, Caspian, is male, but further on in the story I'm going to introduce a secondary love interest, Marina. As far as the reader knows, Eris is straight, because the only person she has expressed romantic interest in is Caspian, a guy. So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways without the reader being confused by the time she, Marina, and Caspian are in a love triangle?



I want to make clear: this is not sexual. Eris is 16, Caspian is 17, and Marina is either 16 or 17. I will not portray explicit sexual content to show Eris' completely innocent and newly blooming romantic feelings.






creative-writing characters character-development







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

    – bruglesco
    3 hours ago











  • @bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

    – Cyn
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago
















6















My main character, Eris, in my post-apocalyptic novel is queer. Her first love interest, Caspian, is male, but further on in the story I'm going to introduce a secondary love interest, Marina. As far as the reader knows, Eris is straight, because the only person she has expressed romantic interest in is Caspian, a guy. So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways without the reader being confused by the time she, Marina, and Caspian are in a love triangle?



I want to make clear: this is not sexual. Eris is 16, Caspian is 17, and Marina is either 16 or 17. I will not portray explicit sexual content to show Eris' completely innocent and newly blooming romantic feelings.






creative-writing characters character-development







share|improve this question




















  • 1





    if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

    – bruglesco
    3 hours ago











  • @bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

    – Cyn
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago














6












6








6








My main character, Eris, in my post-apocalyptic novel is queer. Her first love interest, Caspian, is male, but further on in the story I'm going to introduce a secondary love interest, Marina. As far as the reader knows, Eris is straight, because the only person she has expressed romantic interest in is Caspian, a guy. So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways without the reader being confused by the time she, Marina, and Caspian are in a love triangle?



I want to make clear: this is not sexual. Eris is 16, Caspian is 17, and Marina is either 16 or 17. I will not portray explicit sexual content to show Eris' completely innocent and newly blooming romantic feelings.






creative-writing characters character-development







share|improve this question
















My main character, Eris, in my post-apocalyptic novel is queer. Her first love interest, Caspian, is male, but further on in the story I'm going to introduce a secondary love interest, Marina. As far as the reader knows, Eris is straight, because the only person she has expressed romantic interest in is Caspian, a guy. So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways without the reader being confused by the time she, Marina, and Caspian are in a love triangle?



I want to make clear: this is not sexual. Eris is 16, Caspian is 17, and Marina is either 16 or 17. I will not portray explicit sexual content to show Eris' completely innocent and newly blooming romantic feelings.






creative-writing characters character-development




creative-writing characters character-development






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 34 mins ago







weakdna

















asked 4 hours ago









weakdnaweakdna

2,94931854




2,94931854








  • 1





    if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

    – bruglesco
    3 hours ago











  • @bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

    – Cyn
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago














  • 1





    if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

    – bruglesco
    3 hours ago











  • @bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

    – BKlassen
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    @BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

    – Cyn
    3 hours ago






  • 1





    I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago








1




1





if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

– BKlassen
3 hours ago





if you were yourself is such a situation I imagine you wouldn't immediately understand your feelings as your sexuality shifts. Writing the characters own confusion during the transition seems a straight forward solution

– BKlassen
3 hours ago




1




1





@BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

– bruglesco
3 hours ago





@BKlassen bisexuality isn't necessarily confusion.

– bruglesco
3 hours ago













@bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

– BKlassen
3 hours ago





@bruglesco no, and my comment refers to the transitory confusion between one sexuality and another not that a sexual preference is confused

– BKlassen
3 hours ago




1




1





@BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

– Cyn
3 hours ago





@BKlassen The reader perhaps being confused is not the same as the character being confused. Sexuality is not binary! Bisexuality (and pansexuality) is not a fringe state of being. It's common and mainstream. The only confusion is from people who don't understand what bisexuality means!

– Cyn
3 hours ago




1




1





I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

– Alexander
2 hours ago





I assume Eris is your POV character. So this is becoming just your choice of how subtle or explicit you want to be in revealing her sexuality.

– Alexander
2 hours ago










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















5














So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways ...



Casually! Have a conversation between Eris and Caspian, perhaps in bed, talking about sex.



An Example:




Caspian asked, "When was your first time? Like, full on?"



"With a girl, I guess full on means oral, so I was fifteen, I had this thing with a friend at school. Then she got religion and dumped me. Not with a guy until I was seventeen. I mean, I was willing, but no good candidates. And you?"



"When I was eighteen, with Elly. You know her?"



"Know her?" Eris laughed. "I would totally fuck that girl. Was she any good?"



"Yeah, I mean, we didn't know anything, but yeah. Very ... energetic."



Eris saw him grinning, and laughed again.




The conversation is casual pillow talk, Caspian is not surprised Eris is bisexual, Eris doesn't hesitate to reveal it.






share|improve this answer
























  • This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

    – weakdna
    2 hours ago






  • 2





    @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago



















4














I don't think you need to show anything special at all.



Lots of people have multiple love interests (or hookups) over the course of a novel. In some novels, it's the premise.



If a character's first relationship in the novel was to a tall blond German runner, you wouldn't think your readers would be confused when the next relationship is with a short bald Nigerian physics professor.



Let your reader be confused. Most readers will figure it out pretty quickly. The few that don't, well, they're the readers that wouldn't really get it after you explained it either.






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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

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    2 Answers
    2






    active

    oldest

    votes









    active

    oldest

    votes






    active

    oldest

    votes









    5














    So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways ...



    Casually! Have a conversation between Eris and Caspian, perhaps in bed, talking about sex.



    An Example:




    Caspian asked, "When was your first time? Like, full on?"



    "With a girl, I guess full on means oral, so I was fifteen, I had this thing with a friend at school. Then she got religion and dumped me. Not with a guy until I was seventeen. I mean, I was willing, but no good candidates. And you?"



    "When I was eighteen, with Elly. You know her?"



    "Know her?" Eris laughed. "I would totally fuck that girl. Was she any good?"



    "Yeah, I mean, we didn't know anything, but yeah. Very ... energetic."



    Eris saw him grinning, and laughed again.




    The conversation is casual pillow talk, Caspian is not surprised Eris is bisexual, Eris doesn't hesitate to reveal it.






    share|improve this answer
























    • This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

      – weakdna
      2 hours ago






    • 2





      @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

      – Alexander
      2 hours ago
















    5














    So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways ...



    Casually! Have a conversation between Eris and Caspian, perhaps in bed, talking about sex.



    An Example:




    Caspian asked, "When was your first time? Like, full on?"



    "With a girl, I guess full on means oral, so I was fifteen, I had this thing with a friend at school. Then she got religion and dumped me. Not with a guy until I was seventeen. I mean, I was willing, but no good candidates. And you?"



    "When I was eighteen, with Elly. You know her?"



    "Know her?" Eris laughed. "I would totally fuck that girl. Was she any good?"



    "Yeah, I mean, we didn't know anything, but yeah. Very ... energetic."



    Eris saw him grinning, and laughed again.




    The conversation is casual pillow talk, Caspian is not surprised Eris is bisexual, Eris doesn't hesitate to reveal it.






    share|improve this answer
























    • This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

      – weakdna
      2 hours ago






    • 2





      @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

      – Alexander
      2 hours ago














    5












    5








    5







    So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways ...



    Casually! Have a conversation between Eris and Caspian, perhaps in bed, talking about sex.



    An Example:




    Caspian asked, "When was your first time? Like, full on?"



    "With a girl, I guess full on means oral, so I was fifteen, I had this thing with a friend at school. Then she got religion and dumped me. Not with a guy until I was seventeen. I mean, I was willing, but no good candidates. And you?"



    "When I was eighteen, with Elly. You know her?"



    "Know her?" Eris laughed. "I would totally fuck that girl. Was she any good?"



    "Yeah, I mean, we didn't know anything, but yeah. Very ... energetic."



    Eris saw him grinning, and laughed again.




    The conversation is casual pillow talk, Caspian is not surprised Eris is bisexual, Eris doesn't hesitate to reveal it.






    share|improve this answer













    So how can I believably and casually show that Eris swings both ways ...



    Casually! Have a conversation between Eris and Caspian, perhaps in bed, talking about sex.



    An Example:




    Caspian asked, "When was your first time? Like, full on?"



    "With a girl, I guess full on means oral, so I was fifteen, I had this thing with a friend at school. Then she got religion and dumped me. Not with a guy until I was seventeen. I mean, I was willing, but no good candidates. And you?"



    "When I was eighteen, with Elly. You know her?"



    "Know her?" Eris laughed. "I would totally fuck that girl. Was she any good?"



    "Yeah, I mean, we didn't know anything, but yeah. Very ... energetic."



    Eris saw him grinning, and laughed again.




    The conversation is casual pillow talk, Caspian is not surprised Eris is bisexual, Eris doesn't hesitate to reveal it.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered 3 hours ago









    AmadeusAmadeus

    53k467172




    53k467172













    • This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

      – weakdna
      2 hours ago






    • 2





      @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

      – Alexander
      2 hours ago



















    • This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

      – weakdna
      2 hours ago






    • 2





      @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

      – Alexander
      2 hours ago

















    This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

    – weakdna
    2 hours ago





    This is a book for teenagers and Eris has been isolated her whole life, she hasn't had any romantic experience besides her crush on Caspian. Eris is sixteen.

    – weakdna
    2 hours ago




    2




    2





    @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago





    @weakdna "This is a book for teenagers" - I'm afraid we are misinterpreting the meaning of "casually" in your question :)

    – Alexander
    2 hours ago











    4














    I don't think you need to show anything special at all.



    Lots of people have multiple love interests (or hookups) over the course of a novel. In some novels, it's the premise.



    If a character's first relationship in the novel was to a tall blond German runner, you wouldn't think your readers would be confused when the next relationship is with a short bald Nigerian physics professor.



    Let your reader be confused. Most readers will figure it out pretty quickly. The few that don't, well, they're the readers that wouldn't really get it after you explained it either.






    share|improve this answer




























      4














      I don't think you need to show anything special at all.



      Lots of people have multiple love interests (or hookups) over the course of a novel. In some novels, it's the premise.



      If a character's first relationship in the novel was to a tall blond German runner, you wouldn't think your readers would be confused when the next relationship is with a short bald Nigerian physics professor.



      Let your reader be confused. Most readers will figure it out pretty quickly. The few that don't, well, they're the readers that wouldn't really get it after you explained it either.






      share|improve this answer


























        4












        4








        4







        I don't think you need to show anything special at all.



        Lots of people have multiple love interests (or hookups) over the course of a novel. In some novels, it's the premise.



        If a character's first relationship in the novel was to a tall blond German runner, you wouldn't think your readers would be confused when the next relationship is with a short bald Nigerian physics professor.



        Let your reader be confused. Most readers will figure it out pretty quickly. The few that don't, well, they're the readers that wouldn't really get it after you explained it either.






        share|improve this answer













        I don't think you need to show anything special at all.



        Lots of people have multiple love interests (or hookups) over the course of a novel. In some novels, it's the premise.



        If a character's first relationship in the novel was to a tall blond German runner, you wouldn't think your readers would be confused when the next relationship is with a short bald Nigerian physics professor.



        Let your reader be confused. Most readers will figure it out pretty quickly. The few that don't, well, they're the readers that wouldn't really get it after you explained it either.







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered 2 hours ago









        CynCyn

        12.9k12763




        12.9k12763






























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