How To Write A Bisexual Short Story ...?

[Stella_Omega]

I wonder whether however, there might be a SPECIFIC BISEXUAL erotic motif that is appealing to actual bisexuals themselves, as opposed to the erotic triggers that apply to other orientations - gay, lesbian, hetero...? And I wonder what that might be. I have some ideas myself, but I'm interested in what others may also think.

I dunno, dude, I don't think there's a specific trigger for gay or het sexual interest either.

 

[master_chay]

Master Chay - I think I agree with you that this subject is a bit more complicated that people are making it sound.

I think there have been a few too quick and easy answers given to something that deserves maybe deeper consideration.

It sounds to me that what you are asking is more along the lines of 'hey, how do you convey BISEXUALITY itself...?' And not just 'first one/then the other.'

The androgeny solution is one way but it is also a narrow defining of 'potential' or 'possible' bisexuality, and doesn't necessarily cover the range of personalities.

I suppose some people could say that true 'BI-sexuality' is when someone finds they are sexually attracted to both sexes more or less equally in spite of the gender stereotype separations. So that: a guy finds a big rough male with a lot of facial hair sexually attractive, while the same individual finds a fine-boned, high cheekboned, almond-eyed porcelain doll-type though also big-breasted woman, also sexually attractive...

This thing is a LOT more complicated than a superficial inquiry will suggest! Is he/she going to penetrate, or be penetrated - or both...

But at the same time, if you consider ALL the possible variations, you actually have a very rich field of characteristics and personality-types and attitudes from which to draw some kind of erotic story out of. I wonder whether however, there might be a SPECIFIC BISEXUAL erotic motif that is appealing to actual bisexuals themselves, as opposed to the erotic triggers that apply to other orientations - gay, lesbian, hetero...? And I wonder what that might be. I have some ideas myself, but I'm interested in what others may also think.

Dear Desire,

That's exactly right - all of it.

I do think/feel/know that bisexuality is inherently different from a single sexual orientation, whatever it may be. It works differently and has a different vibe about it.

It's a huge challenge to the establishment, and these days, that includes the homosexual establishment as well which is sad even though it's understandable.

Just by pointing at someone at a party and whispering to the friends, "That guy is bisexual ..." the whole atmosphere shifts.

If people were dogs you could see ears being raised, tails curling over the back, tucking in, or starting to wag, respectively.

It's an interesting position to be in on the receiving end as well.

Everyone has this, "Are you going to make a pass at me?" moment, followed by their individual responses to that, from yes please to I'll rip your fucking head off if you so much as look at me.

It's the *potential* of the situation/s which shifts off the usual TV soaps when bisexuals are around. Or just one of them.

Speaking for myself, it's like I'm more interested in the whole package. Not just body but soul as well. Or perhaps its fairer to say it's the soul that's the turn on and the container is secondary.

Sexy souls ...

Now that might be a title of a bi-erotic story ...

Keep talking Desire.

 

[TimothyM]

As a writer of bisexual stories (though none yet published at Lit) I can emphasize with all the points made here. From the frustration at the lack of a Bisexual category on Lit, to the need to warn of either m/f sex in the Gay category or m/m sex in Erotic couplings or Group sex and the angry comments you risk from such category boundary crossing (and I've seen quite a few, especially if the author forgets or omits the warnings) but most of all challenge of conveying bisexuality properly.

I agree that it is different to writing about straight het or gay sex, but I'm not able to pinpoint why. I'm hoping for more inputs on this subject, and I apologize for not being able to contribute any great insights myself. But thanks for starting the discussion, Chay.

One gay friend said to me: "Guys who say they are bisexual are just men who won't admit that they are actually gay. Pathetic really." I was like Ohh - and didn't know what to say. Anyone have any opinions about that ?

 

[master_chay]

As a writer of bisexual stories (though none yet published at Lit) I can emphasize with all the points made here. [] but most of all challenge of conveying bisexuality properly.

I agree that it is different to writing about straight or gay sex, but I'm not able to pinpoint why. I'm hoping for more inputs on this subject, and I apologize for not being able to contribute any great insights myself. But thanks for starting the discussion, Chay.

My partners, normally straight females and gay males, tend to comment that sleeping with me is a different experience and often say "I see myself with new eyes" or words to that effect.

Which must be a reflection of that difference.

Bisexuals looking at people in a different way. Applying different filters?

One gay friend said to me: "Guys who say they are bisexual are just men who won't admit that they are actually gay. Pathetic really." I was like Ohh - and didn't know what to say. Anyone have any opinions about that ?

Sigh. That's the usual red rag to the bisexual bull. I'd say that there are very likely people about who don't want to cut their ties to the whole idea of one day having grandchildren/"normal" type of life and make an effort.

The way I cut through it is to ask a person, when you're asleep and you dream, do you dream of men or women?

Haha. You can make a statistic. 99% woman and 1% man sex dreams = 99% straight (or 99% gay if you're a woman).

People think all kinds of strange things.

I dream of men and women in equal measure. And sometimes things with tentacles but that's another story hahahaa ...

 

[Stella_Omega]

One gay friend said to me: "Guys who say they are bisexual are just men who won't admit that they are actually gay. Pathetic really." I was like Ohh - and didn't know what to say. Anyone have any opinions about that ?

It depends on whether he's one of those people who actually wants to know, or if he can't listen to more than a soundbite.

If he's curious there is a fuckton of information available out there about bisexuality and google can help you find a lot of it. What it boils down to however, is that-- it depends on the person. One type of bisexual does change over time, being almost exclusively interested in one sex or the other at different points in their life-- and at some points, are attracted to both. It makes sense that a gay man would mostly meet bidudes that are mostly into men. Other bisexuals are monogamous anyway, so whatever sex their partner is, that's how they identify.

If he thinks a snappy answer equals wisdom, just say "In your dreams, dude" and laugh.

Also if you want to get really confused, http://forqueersbyqueers.tumblr.com/post/14383259756

(edit) I mostly dream about houses, and big crowds. So whatever that's about...

 

[master_chay]

I've chickened out :-(

I've just realised I've chickened out.

Must have been that whole "brokeback mountain" trauma ... ;-/ with my straight friend ...

I wrote:

Richmond was closing his eyes and beginning to feel dangerously aroused as he remembered the last encounter with one of those, an androgynous creature who had worked hard to create a public persona of purity and mystery, sucking him off in the car park by the garbage bins behind the venue just so that he would go away ...

This was a boy. Obviously. But I went for "androgynous creature" as not to upset the straight male readers.

Ah well ...

Next time ...


[fried egg smilie]

 

[yourassormine]

In The Sweet Bi And Bi

to a large extent it depends on who we're "bi-ing" and when.

 

[Stella_Omega]

NY magazine has an article featuring five interviews;
http://nymag.com/news/features/sex/2012/bisexual-testimonials/

 

[susurrus]

I know there are readers out there who complain about authors who include notes at the beginnings of their stories, but there are times where it's absolutely necessary. I think this may be one. If you craft it correctly, you may be able to use the same note as a header for each installment.

If you decide to make each encounter a separate story, you might want to put each chapter in the more-or-less appropriate category, if you have a header that explains that the character is bisexual, and has no limits as far as which gender he decides to play with...

It's always difficult. I've included such explanations in a few of my stories, to try and ward off the trolls who seem to deliberately go out of their way to read stuff they don't like so they can go off on you regarding your content...