Categorization question

[Senor_Smut]

Hi all,

I'm working on a long story/novel about a man whose consciousness is transferred into a female body by means of magic -- so, you know, it goes in the Transgender category, right?

The thing is, the magic isn't just a one-off event, it plays a crucial part in the story all the way through...well, not quite all the way, because the beginning of the story is focused on mental health and the body swap, and then magic is slowly introduced, and by the end it's mostly focused on the magic, although the mental health issues and the problems experienced by a male consciousness in a female body never go away. My objective is to have the story balance roughly 50/50 between these two issues.

So, is this a Magic/Sci Fi story or a Transgender story? Which category would be more open to this kind of thing? I don't care about views or likes per se, but I do want the story to find a home where the most people who might like it have a chance to see it. I'm writing because these are stories I want to tell, but I figure, if someone else can get some enjoyment out of it too, why not?

 

[AlinaX]

Sounds like the sort of thing I put in SciFi.

 

[anthrodisiac]

I agree with Alina, Sci-Fi & Fantasy. If it were a one-off, maybe it could go in Transgender, but the ongoing use of magic in the story makes me think it'd be much more at home in SF&F.

 

[Mastered_again]

Yeah, SF/F, but tag it with transgender if that's not in the title or one line summary. Might attract some haters, but maybe others who don't ordinarily read Sci-fi.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Tags are very much your friend in niche stories like this.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Yep, Sci-Fi and Fantasy. Sounds like you're leaning into the magical aspects more, rather than the real-life aspects of the transgender theme, which is what that category is increasingly more about.

 

[Senor_Smut]

Excellent advice. Many thanks.

 

[PennyThompson]

rather than the real-life aspects of the transgender theme, which is what that category is increasingly more about.

Yes this , but I might add that there's nothing wrong with some magic or scifi/fantasy metaphor in the Trans category!

For example, @anthrodisiac 's beautiful Her Forest Bloom is about woodland spirits and forest goddesses and magical transformation, it it's ALSO about a very emotionally genuine-feeling trans experience.

It's my personal opinion that stories about futanari or magical gender/body swapping as a sexual fetish (not that there is anything at all wrong with that) should usually go into a different category. But that hasn't been the common take here, historically

 

[anthrodisiac]

Yes this , but I might add that there's nothing wrong with some magic or scifi/fantasy metaphor in the Trans category!

For example, @anthrodisiac 's beautiful Her Forest Bloom is about woodland spirits and forest goddesses and magical transformation, it it's ALSO about a very emotionally genuine-feeling trans experience.

It's my personal opinion that stories about futanari or magical gender/body swapping as a sexual fetish (not that there is anything at all wrong with that) should usually go into a different category. But that hasn't been the common take here, historically

I thought I could feel my earholes burning Shucks, thanks *kicks the dirt sheepishly*

 

[TarnishedPenny]

The standard answer to your question involves the most-cited thread on that: Love Your Readers.

That said, it could certainly be Trans; boy-to-girl is almost by definition trans. Having said that, there's really none of the transition a normal trans individual goes through (and which often makes up much of the story).

It could certainly be Sci-Fi & Fantasy, 'cause Magic. Pretty solid choice.

It could also be a lot of other things. Once you get past the Change, it could easily be any sort of story involving a young woman.

Her first sexual encounter would be a legit First Time story, even if approaching the dance floor through the back door.

I guess Gay Male is out, as is How To, but I can see it working as Lesbian, Romance, EC, etc. It's pretty much a question of how you yourself see it.

Good luck, however it goes.

 

[ElectricBlue]

It's my personal opinion that stories about futanari or magical gender/body swapping as a sexual fetish (not that there is anything at all wrong with that) should usually go into a different category. But that hasn't been the common take here, historically

That's my point, the Transgender category is shifting, becoming more real world, I think, as the trans experience broadens. Ten years ago the category was much more cross-dressing and men wearing stockings, these days it's more about the heart and soul of a person's identity.

As such, the more frivolous magical stuff, I agree, sorta belongs somewhere else.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

That's my point, the Transgender category is shifting, becoming more real world, I think, as the trans experience broadens. Ten years ago the category was much more cross-dressing and men wearing stockings, these days it's more about the heart and soul of a person's identity.

As such, the more frivolous magical stuff, I agree, sorta belongs somewhere else.

The category got split into two last year - Crossdressing is now separate from Transgender.

 

[ElectricBlue]

The category got split into two last year - Crossdressing is now separate from Transgender.

Which illustrates my point, 100%

 

[Britva415]

Is the "trans sex" played up, is "trans smut" a major theme and major portion of the content? Or are they just regular sex scenes which don't lean hard into the "I'm with a trans!" novelty thrill?

Asking because that's probably what most readers of the Trans category will appreciate. So I would only put it there if the entire point of the magic is to get a genderbend going as a MacGuffin for hot trans sex scenes.

I also would point out that the MC doesn't exactly wind up with a transwoman body, she winds up with an AFAB body. Which is another thing that might subvert expectations of the trans category readers.

 

[TheLobster]

(…) the mental health issues and the problems experienced by a male consciousness in a female body never go away. My objective is to have the story balance roughly 50/50 between these two issues.

Based particularly on this bit, but also on the whole, it doesn’t look to me like there’s a lot of fantastical elements and sci-fi/fantasy worldbuilding that SF&F readers usually expect. And if the issue of gender-misplaced consciousness is interwoven throughout the entire story, then the categorization question seems obvious to me.

It should go in Transgender.

 

[Senor_Smut]

Based particularly on this bit, but also on the whole, it doesn’t look to me like there’s a lot of fantastical elements and sci-fi/fantasy worldbuilding that SF&F readers usually expect. And if the issue of gender-misplaced consciousness is interwoven throughout the entire story, then the categorization question seems obvious to me.

It should go in Transgender.

There are no fantastical elements or world-building in the beginning of the story, but as the story goes on, and as the MC meets certain characters, there will be much more. It will all remain somewhat mysterious (the MC won't get anything like the full story) but by the end it will be leaning very hard into fantasy.