Hello!! I am Mod Nagi, owner/creator of DOKN Au! Here is what I do for the blog

- Create/Help with story line

- Create canon for the au

- add in characters or remove characters

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I have a novel in which one of the character is newly introduced into a group of already close characters. One of the group is trans ftm. I want this to be an important part of the book so people know they are trans but their arc doesn’t revolve around them struggling because they are trans or anything like that. How can I introduce them so it’s clear that they are trans without being disrespectful or making it the character’s only trait?

Edit: Apologies, I didn’t realize I’d published this! 

Above are 2 similar questions, so here’s the actual answer:

I'm gonna steal some advice from Mod Noah from this post  just because I really love it and mention her picking a name, or talking about what her name means to some extent and commenting on how she was glad she chose it.

-Mod Nagi

(2/2) … Right now I’m using “borlfriends,” like a mashup of boy/girlfriends, which is meant to be a sort of inside joke with the trio, especially since they’re all (to varying degrees) jokesters. Would using the term “borlfriends” or something along those lines be offensive in any way, in this case? If so, what should I do instead? Thank you for your help!!

Short answer’s that I don’t find anything offensive about “borlfriends” and actually find it really cute. Just make sure to adequately explain it in the story and you’re good.

The whole thing hinges on how she’s portrayed in combat. I’d recommend studying fighting styles employed by women for reference, but there is a clear distinction between male and female combat. Not sure what Talla’s personality is, but if she’s aggressive in combat just because that’s who she is, offset it with her portrayal outside of combat. Give her a personality that refuses to listen to nonsense, make her state her mind, make her be the voice of reason; make that aggression part of her personality, instead of just pure masculinity.

Mod Ziva: i’d say it depends on circumstances. Is he defending her from like, transphobia aimed at him and dies from it? Not Cool. Is he the only rep & it’s heavily emphasized? Probably Not Cool 

Mod Nagi: I’m gonna pick up with what Z said and say it’s mostly about who he is to her during his life. If his identity is underdeveloped prior to his death, then it runs the risk of seeming kinda tactless? The best way to avoid that is to have his experiences as a transdude play into how he and she relate to each other. Like, incorporate his understanding of the world from his experiences with people and transitioning into how he talks to, acts around, and understand her. That way, you have a more complete character and that aspect of his identity isn’t wasted. 

Mod Noah: A lot of it depends on his character and how he’s developed. If he’s there for a purpose and isn’t just the token trans character thrown into the story because it’s in need of diversity. His death has to mean something especially in the case that he’s known this other character and views her as a sister If he’s dying only so she has some spirit guide through the rest of the story or if he’s dying protecting her from something targeting him than no I would say it isn’t ok and needs reworking but if they’re fighting for survival or fighting something that affects them both equally then I’d say it’s fine if he dies. Basically it comes down to: Is he trans because you need diversity or because it adds something to the story and maybe the sibling-like relationship he has with this young girl character? Is his death at the hands of something greater/affecting both characters? And lastly Is his death only happening so that she gets a spirit guide? In essence, ask yourself the question of why the character is trans. If the character feels token or unneeded, make him fleshed out and necessary. 

Ask yourself why the character dies, for the sake being the spirit guide, or because of a genuine connection between the two characters, culminating in a show of devotion?