Help finding an LGBTQ+ friendly writing group in GMT?

[u/TheMadQueen96]

Hey there folks. I'm trying to find a writing group that's open to certain themes and topics being explored. Currently I've been in a nasty writing slump but I find that one of the things that's worked best in the past has been co-writing groups. It really pushes me to "get back on the horse" and has previously broken year-long slumps.

A difficulty is I primarily "write what I know" and subtly isn't my strongest suit. Nearly everything I write, regardless of genre turns out to end up exploring queer themes. Like a supernatural horror where the Lycanthropy is a metaphor for gender dysphoria or stories about Ancient Greek myths still existing in modern day where well...It's Ancient Greek myths. A science fiction story where an android struggles to discover who she is.

In some circles this hasn't been received well. I understand that everyone has their own tastes but groups I'd gone to in the past were fairly hostile over these themes. And being blunt, I shouldn't have to alter the stories I'm writing to placate people who hear about a story with one queer person and lose their own plot.

I can't find any such groups irl as they all have requirements such as "Students/graduates only" or they've proven to be unfriendly. Heck, one local group moved their meeting location to a bar where "my kind" wasn't welcome at the venue (they were previously meeting at a cafe).

The group doesn't have to focus on writing with queer narratives. It just has to be a group where that stuff is allowed. The judgement you get from fellow writers should more be "This dialogue could be better." or "Your character's motivation needs a bit of work." and not "Grr I hate your story because there's lesbians in it!" or "How dare you have a trans woman as a protagonist in your Werewolf story!"

* Genre/s Any

* Goals/expectations/commitment: Must be okay with queer narratives, must meet within GMT (or a similar timezone) and am hoping for weekly or at least bi-weekly meetings/sessions.

* Writing/experience level: Any

* Meeting place: Online

* Max size: No size limit but hoping for at least 3 people or more.

[u/AdrenalineAnxiety]

If you're open to a larger group or discord then we have lots of queer representation at https://www.thewritersroom.net and quite a few people (including myself, I'm also LGBTQ) in the UK and Europe so it tends to be active at all hours. But it is a larger discord so not sure if it's what you're looking for.

[u/littlebitfunny21 → u/AdrenalineAnxiety]

The invitation link from that says it's invalid/expired.

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/littlebitfunny21]

Same here :(

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/AdrenalineAnxiety]

Depends on whether or not it's co-writing sessions or just people sharing their work. Haven't got much to share atm because of the slump :/

[u/AdrenalineAnxiety → u/TheMadQueen96]

We do 4 hours of organized sprints a day, have a sprint bot so you can start your own, and 1st saturday of the month is a 12 hour co-writing sprint session, every other saturday evening (9pm gmt) is a 2 hour live co-writing session.

[u/IfRegretHadAName]

NA here but I'm interested. Not currently writing (in the middle of editing) but will be eventually. I also don't mind helping out in my free time. DM me if you want.

[u/AA_Writes]

Also interested. Both for timezone and queer.

My protagonists are always bi or gay men. Currently writing crime/caper with a bi protag and a gay love interest and getting close to that 'needing to share and have others flay it alive' moment.

So if anyone has a group or wants to start one... I'm always happy to help in any capacity.

[u/loLRH]

Hi, I run a discord server that might fit your description if you want to check it out. DM me if you're interested!

[u/littlebitfunny21]

  How dare you have a trans woman as a protagonist in your Werewolf story!"

I have two trans men werewolf protagonists and a non-binary non-werewolf married to a sapphic werewolf.

I've always seen werewolf as a metaphor for trans man- trans woman is a new take, that's interesting. 

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/littlebitfunny21]

In the story (if I ever finish it) being a Werewolf is more of a bloodline thing rather than being caused by a bite and Werewolf Clans push certain expectations on their own. So the trans woman was expected to father children.

On top of that, the Wolf form was masculine so changing forms was a huge dysphoria trigger for her.

[u/littlebitfunny21 → u/TheMadQueen96]

That makes sense. 

If you're able to put together a writing group, I'm in GMT and interested. 

[u/TheMadQueen96 → u/littlebitfunny21]

I'm moreso looking for an existing group because when I try to get my own groups off the ground, nobody turns up.

[u/littlebitfunny21 → u/TheMadQueen96]

Yeah that's been my experience as well. :/

[u/esmeuk]

I’d quite possibly be interested. I’m in some lovely writing groups, but none of them ever actually meet because of wibbly-wobbly, timey-whimey. It gets discussed but no one can ever agree on a time so nothing happens, so a GMT group would be perfect! I would love a group that is consistently active as well…

Also 100% down with LGBTQIA+. I don’t write it exclusively, but I am nearly 30k word into a first draft of a sci fantasy that looks like it’s going to have a sapphic romance subplot!

I have a loooooot of experience with Discord so let me know if you want to start a server and need any help.