Is it a law that you have to be lesbian to write Femslash?

[runetraverse]

Okay, I know it's a weird title / subject / whatever, but it's something currently bugging me, so I figured I'd post and see what people thought.  Not that I haven't wondered something to this effect for a while, but it came to a head as I read yet another rant on YouTube about "all you queers watching queers" in a Bad Girls vid commentary.  (this

Comments

[insanedeity]

From my friend's journal on that very topic...

http://antiochbitch.livejournal.com/112231.html

[runetraverse]

*reads and laughs* Oh, that's beautiful! I oughta fave that and stick it somewhere for reference. xDDD

[ralst]

If there is a rule, no-one's ever told me about it. It all just depends on a person's skill as a writer and their empathy and understanding of the characters. And that's hardly dependant on gender or sexual orientation.

[newbie_2u]

A well written story is just that, a well written story. Good writing expresses a clear point, is tightly structured, grammatically and syntactically correct, substantive, and interesting. Nowhere in that description does it state that the gender or sexual orientation of the writer mattered.

As for the "queers watching queers" rant, that can only be categorized as bigotry: Irrational suspicion or hatred of a particular group, race, or religion.

As to your question, you've seen the answer in these comments - gender and sexual orientation matter not to those who write femslash.

[cabenson]

Like most everyone else, I don't care who, or what writes a story or edits a vid as long as it is well written or well-edited.

[shatterpath]

See, you are the kind of bendy straight person I like! And, I agree with your sorta-rant. While straight pairing squick me, that doesn't at all meant that there isn't plenty of talent out there. Writing is a way to liveout things that one couldn't do in real life. I learned to write well by being involved for years in table-top role playing games. I write about things that I would never, ever do in real life. As long as the characters are grown-ups and consentual, who the hell cares what they do? It always makes me wonder abou the people spazzing out. What are they hiding, eh?

[runetraverse]

*grins* Here here! I learned to write well by reading through most of my childhood - you couldn't pry the books out of my hand from age of four to about, well, now. xD Though tabletop RP is a good training ground, too. And as for living out things, you're right on. I mean, come on, it is fiction.

[shatterpath]

Yeah, I once ate books up like candy. Couldn't remember squat about them, but that's the dyslexia talking! Fiction is such a powerful tool and should be taken seriously in some contexts. But, really, can't people just lighten up sometimes? who the hell has the energy to get bent up over fanvids? Wish they'd grow up, y'know?