Derp?

[ThisAdamGuy]

Nerp

 

[ConansWitchBaby]

Clearly mention the non smut of it in the synopsis.

 

[Our_Lady_in_Twilight]

You can absolutely do it without smut, I've got one single sex scene across all my three stories, but they're basically just standard character novels featuring a trans protagonist undergoing a magical transformation.

In terms of messaging its not so much about pushing a political agenda so much as being respectful, I'd say. The expectation from readers who seek out trans/gender-bending tales would be that the main character's 'gender identity' would be consistent throughout the tale. This'd likely give you two approaches:

- The character is a repressed trans woman - thus something has always felt 'off' and the transformation makes her feel more right, and she needs to grapple with it (usually how my characters go).
- The character is a man at heart (a cis-man) - the transformation would then be upsetting, everything would feel 'wrong' and the conflict would presumably come from extrenal circumstances forcing them to use magic more and thus fall deeper into a change that's wrong for them.

Playing the transformation for humiliation or making a previously manly dude suddenly act girly would likely be seen as fetishing a serious life experience, so thats the sort of thing to be aware of (at least from the trans side of the fence).

Either way you could definitely make a good story from it, though I'd suggest a bit of reading first to ground yourself. If you want to spare yourself all that and just keep things simple, your male human to male siren modification sounds great as well. :)

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I kind of skirt smut a few times in Strange Awakening but don't think I ever quite go there... It is possible, but difficult as the temptation to explore the character's changing nature can be strong, and can naturally lead to NSFW moments.

 

[MajorKerina]

I've been interested in writing a story about a genderswapped main character for a while, but I've never done it for two reasons: 1. I don't want people to automatically assume it's smut, and 2. I don't want it to come off like I'm "messaging" about anything. This is just a new angle for a character I haven't used before that I think I'd be able to make an interesting story out of. Is that possible, or is everyone going to assume it's one of the things I'm trying to avoid?

A little background: I mentioned the pirate Isekai story I'm thinking about writing yesterday, where the main character gets pulled into another world and finds out he has Siren blood. But Sirens are an all female race, so the longer he stays in that world and the stronger his powers (and thus his Siren side) become, the more he turns into a woman.

It's something I'd be able to edit out easily enough if I choose not to use it. Just make it so there are male and female Sirens. i think I could make a really interesting non-erotic, non-political soapbox story about it, but I won't if it's going to put me in hot water (lol)

I made my entire writing career about delving into the psychological implications of characters slowly transformed like that with nuance and maturity without making it heavily sexualized or smutty.

Feel free to check out my stylings. I love having characters question their existence through that kind of stuff. Siren could lend some interesting challenges depending on the world and how people see them. You don't have to go political but universal themes of "I define myself clearly no matter how others might see me with this change" can be timeless when presented sincerely.

 

[Arkus86]

1. Most of the broad Gender Bender genre I have read is not smut. If people jump into your story assuming it's smut, without it being tagged as such, it's on them, and not something you can actually prevent. Even if you put up a disclaimer about it right on the front page or even the cover, you can be sure there will be those who will not read or just ignore that disclaimer.
2. If you do not lean too much into the "politically correct" in your writing and your characters are not preaching, you should be safe. But again, not something you can exactly prevent, only make less likely to happen.

People are people, and will sometimes ignore clear information you put right in front of their face and jump to the wrong conclusions no matter what you do.

 

[Eldoria]

Actually, mainstream genben stories are not smut. You can see that most Japanese and Korean genben manga/LNs emphasise the focus of the story premise (for example, if the story premise is about action and adventure, the focus is on that) rather than sexual content.

I myself used to quite enjoy reading genben, not because I like the genben genre, but to find alternative stories that emphasize the story premise and avoid romance or emotional relationships between characters (because if the MC's gender is unclear - the MC will be at a loss or end up in a relationship outside the general norm, whether yuri or BL if MC is involved in romance).

Some Chinese genben novels also avoid romance and focus on the story premise. Some of my favourite novels are Game of World Tree, Gospel of Blood (by the same author) and Dorothy's Forbidden Grimoire. These novels do not contain romance and smut.

So, I was a bit surprised when I found out that genben in SH tends to use the romance genre, even smut.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Actually, mainstream genben stories are not smut. You can see that most Japanese and Korean genben manga/LNs emphasise the focus of the story premise (for example, if the story premise is about action and adventure, the focus is on that) rather than sexual content.

Well, one of the quintessential gender bender stories that came from Japan (as manga and anime) focuses on the comedy and "ecchi" aspects, while dancing around romance - Ranma 1/2.

 

[blackcrowcrowd]

This is the first time I've ever heard of genben stories being smut

 

[Eldoria]

Well, one of the quintessential gender bender stories that came from Japan (as manga and anime) focuses on the comedy and "ecchi" aspects, while dancing around romance - Ranma 1/2.

Well, ecchi and comedy are usually story elements that arise due to shock value related to the differences in male and female anatomy, where the MC (usually originally male) is forced to occupy the body of the opposite sex (usually female). This kind of plot is quite organic and doesn't feel forced. It would be strange if someone could immediately adapt to their new body after changing gender (usually through the process of transmigration or reincarnation).

But the romance element is another story. The romance element feels forced, especially if the MC was originally single all his life. In the genben stories I've read, most MCs choose to remain single all their lives; they don't care about romance because they don't want to be seen as weird. For example, if the MC (originally male) with a female body likes a man, it will be a covert BL. Conversely, if the MC likes a female, it will be yuri. In the fantasy genben stories I've read, instead of getting caught up in that gender dilemma, the author often emphasises the story's premise. I like genben stories that emphasise the story's premise, rather than getting caught up in the gender dilemma.

 

[Arkus86]

Well, ecchi and comedy are usually story elements that arise due to shock value related to the differences in male and female anatomy, where the MC (usually originally male) is forced to occupy the body of the opposite sex (usually female). This kind of plot is quite organic and doesn't feel forced. It would be strange if someone could immediately adapt to their new body after changing gender (usually through the process of transmigration or reincarnation).

But the romance element is another story. The romance element feels forced, especially if the MC was originally single all his life. In the genben stories I've read, most MCs choose to remain single all their lives; they don't care about romance because they don't want to be seen as weird. For example, if the MC (originally male) with a female body likes a man, it will be a covert BL. Conversely, if the MC likes a female, it will be yuri. In the fantasy genben stories I've read, instead of getting caught up in that gender dilemma, the author often emphasises the story's premise. I like genben stories that emphasise the story's premise, rather than getting caught up in the gender dilemma.

Most of the ones I read had at least a romantic subplot. This can tie into the characters getting used to their new body, discovering new feelings and such (both their feeling towards others, and others' feelings towards them), or their motivation to change back. if the feeling or even full-on romance started before the transformation.

Even if the MC was single their whole life, it does not exclude believable romance. Being forced to new situations and meeting new people, for example, can have that result, once they get over it feeling weird. Also the option where a love interest was not attracted to their original gender, but is attracted to the new, transformed MC. On SH specifically, I would say this is more the domain of transgender stories as a subcategory of Gender Bender, as the setup of those inherently means the transformation is, if not intentional or desired, then at least accepted after the initial confusion.

 

[Eldoria]

Most of the ones I read had at least a romantic subplot. This can tie into the characters getting used to their new body, discovering new feelings and such (both their feeling towards others, and others' feelings towards them), or their motivation to change back. if the feeling or even full-on romance started before the transformation.

Yes, romance subplots (usually become shoujo ai subplots) are often used as fan service in genben fantasy stories. However, I rarely find a happy ending (because the gender dilemma has major consequences for the MC's morals). At least in the genben fantasy stories I've read. Incidentally, those stories are often dark fantasy. So it's no surprise that the love stories end tragically.

 

[OniKaniki]

Actually, mainstream genben stories are not smut. You can see that most Japanese and Korean genben manga/LNs emphasise the focus of the story premise (for example, if the story premise is about action and adventure, the focus is on that) rather than sexual content.

I myself used to quite enjoy reading genben, not because I like the genben genre, but to find alternative stories that emphasize the story premise and avoid romance or emotional relationships between characters (because if the MC's gender is unclear - the MC will be at a loss or end up in a relationship outside the general norm, whether yuri or BL if MC is involved in romance).

Some Chinese genben novels also avoid romance and focus on the story premise. Some of my favourite novels are Game of World Tree, Gospel of Blood (by the same author) and Dorothy's Forbidden Grimoire. These novels do not contain romance and smut.

So, I was a bit surprised when I found out that genben in SH tends to use the romance genre, even smut.

Oh hey, I also love those stories. Still waiting for the last 70 chapters of Dorothy's Forbidden Grimoire, though. I remember I nearly lost my mind when reading till 745 and realized I couldn't find the rest anywhere... (LoTM is peak fiction, so is DFG)

Also, I'm not much interested in the game of the world tree, but I still enjoy his other work, GoP and the one featuring dragon mama. (I don't remember the name; it's about him becoming a dragon and technically creating the world, element, and culture, then going to sleep, waking up, and replimating her children.)

I also don't like romance in Genben in general; it's quite questionable, but I could read it if it's fun. You would want to read I Want to Be a VTuber, Seoul Object Story,… (Sadly, most of the Korean TL got DMCA because Novelpia went global; they even use MTL).

 

[DireBadger]

boring. No man will ever understand how a woman feels, no woman will ever understand how a man feels. All we can write is how we THINK and IMAGINE it would feel, which is always wrong.

However. writing about how they ACT is entirely doable. just don't confuse the two, it will make your writing suck.

 

[Eldoria]

I also don't like romance in Genben in general; it's quite questionable, but I could read it if it's fun.

Honestly, I quite like genben where the protagonist is forced by his new mother to become a girl and raised to be a real girl. These kinds of stories offer an interesting family premise. Some of my favorites are Knight and Blood Princess and Is It Funny That The Dragon Slayer Failed And Became The Dragon Princess?

You would want to read I Want to Be a VTuber, Seoul Object Story,… (Sadly, most of the Korean TL got DMCA because Novelpia went global; they even use MTL).

Korean novels are pretty good, but since the DMCA came into effect, I've stopped reading them.

 

[ForeverEgg]

I've been interested in writing a story about a genderswapped main character for a while, but I've never done it for two reasons: 1. I don't want people to automatically assume it's smut, and 2. I don't want it to come off like I'm "messaging" about anything. This is just a new angle for a character I haven't used before that I think I'd be able to make an interesting story out of. Is that possible, or is everyone going to assume it's one of the things I'm trying to avoid?

A little background: I mentioned the pirate Isekai story I'm thinking about writing yesterday, where the main character gets pulled into another world and finds out he has Siren blood. But Sirens are an all female race, so the longer he stays in that world and the stronger his powers (and thus his Siren side) become, the more he turns into a woman.

It's something I'd be able to edit out easily enough if I choose not to use it. Just make it so there are male and female Sirens. i think I could make a really interesting non-erotic, non-political soapbox story about it, but I won't if it's going to put me in hot water (lol)

I think siren blood and a progressive change is fine, but I would give up on the non-political angle. I mean, I don't know what you consider to be political but I cant see a gender swap story being compelling without there being a distinct difference in the experiences of men and women. If you write the universe to have no difference, then its going to be very difficult to not miss some subconscious bias, and if you write the universe where there are social expectations of different sexes and genders then bam. you're political.

I don't think there is anything wrong with gender politics in fiction, but from what I understand of the scenario you have in mind there's a spectrum of ways it can go. if you research the hell out of the experience trans women have with HRT you will a: be called an egg a lot, and b: have a compelling description of what it feels like to change sex.

then its your choice how the main character reacts to the change. is losing masculinity stressful? do people treat him different? does he take steps to present himself in ways that counter the changes? (binding the chest, trying to maintain a deep voice, or otherwise just being assertive and insisting on masculine pronouns and treatment?) do they even perhaps have a way out? if they can voluntarily leave the world at any time do they justify staying based on the powers they gain from siren blood? if they can't leave, how do they come to terms with their reality? what avenues do they have to find comfort in an uncomfortable situation. do they surround themselves with people who are understanding and accommodating? do they search out ways to stand out or conform to expectations? do they meet anyone who has been through the same thing?

personally, i think plenty of people go for the "femininity is a curse" angle of these compulsory transformation stories, and just as many if not more may be tired of reading a story about a dude hating being a woman and then being forced or broken into accepting it. on the flipside, having them secretly have wanted to be a girl all along and the siren blood being a manifestation of their subconscious desires is a comfort trope for a lot of trans women.

aside from all of those you can have the protagonist be generally ambivalent about their gender expression and spend time trying to feel one way or the other on pronouns, expression etc. before deciding to be themselves whatever that may be. becoming aware of gender stereotypes and then embracing or regecting them can be a very nice character development arc, but I personally would want the narrative to pick a lane on that particular issue. having the character regect feminine things outright and then somehow embrace it later because of "hormones" and such is a rather tired trope. if they find femininity comforting then they can struggle with denial and acceptance in satisfying ways, and if femininity isn't for them then they can fight back and ideally prevail rather than being another story about being brow-beaten by society into conforming.

whatever you do, I personally am only interested in the concept so long as this doesn't become a story about conforming to a reality and sacrificing all personal expression and agency for comfort. I'll read a story about a guy having gender dysphoria thrust upon him and seeing how he fights for identity and respect, and I'll read a story about a girl being dragged kicking and screaming out of the closet she didn't know she was in, but I wont read another story that breaks a characters spirit to cram them into a sanitized role for society.

(and for that matter, I'll read a story about a non-binary person finding that their sense of self has little to do with their primary and secondary sex characteristics (genitals, breasts, voice, hair patterns, bone structure etc.) and has everything to do with their lived experiences and personal values.)