Non-Binary Characters
2 tips for writing them
It's great that more and more writers are including non-binary (enby) characters in their stories. As an authenticity reader, I've seen quite a few, and also during my push to read more lgbtq+ books.
However, a couple of things have stood out to me, that are not wrong as such, but certainly should be considered if you want to be more authentic with your enby characters.
The first thing I've noticed, is quite often, writers don't give any description to their enby characters.
Now, if you're the type of writer who doesn't describe any character at all, then this isn't aimed at you.
I think it boils down to most people not really knowing what non-binary really is. Which is completely fair.
At the last UK Census, 0.06% identified as non-binary.
You might be non-binary, or know someone who is, or be aware of what it means, but that leaves billions of people who probably have never even heard of it. So it's fair to say the majority of your audience possibly won't know either.
I don't think writers help themselves by not describing their non-binary characters, as though being of no fixed gender is a specific and wildly known thing.
It is not.
When I read stories where all the cis characters and other queer characters get described, but the enbies don't, I feel sorry for that character.
Just so you know, there is no one way to be non-binary. If you are writing a non-binary character, you can and should give them some description.
They are your character, so don't waste the opportunity to help your audience get to know them.
Whilst some non-binary people are quite androgynous, there are non-binary people who lean in a particular direction. Some enbies are quite masculine presenting, wear “male” clothing, maybe have facial hair and short head hair. Some are quite feminine presenting, wear “female” clothing, have long hair and wear makeup.
Some enbies are completely outside of masc/femme, some fluctuate between masc and femme in a fluid way, some sit firmly in the middle, and others who straddle being non-binary along with a more defined gender.
Basically there is no set way to be an enby, so let your audience understand your non-binary character more by describing them. You don't have to tell the audience what gender they were born as, but do feel free to describe their aesthetic, sense of style, or general vibe.
This way, any reader, whether they have never even heard of being an enby, or they are fully aware of what it means, can get to know your character. You can help your audience picture them.
As writers, and readers, we all know that readers will picture your characters how they want anyway, regardless of how you describe them. But remember, some people literally cannot picture images in their head, so help them out.
The other thing I've noticed is a lot of writers tend to give their enbies gender neutral names, which I find to be a massive coincidence if I'm honest.
Whilst in the UK at least, it is relatively easy to change your name via deed poll (I've done it), it is quite a faff. Of course your character may be using an unofficial name which is gender neutral, or trying different names out, but you do not have to give your enbies gender neutral names.
Most enbies I know, have the name they were born with. So whilst you can give them a gender neutral name, you can also have an enby called Dave, or Pearl, or Asif or Juliette or even Karen.
Of course, we know how hard names can be as writers, I just find it very convenient that all enbies have gender neutral names when that is not a requirement to be non-binary.
This of course might vary depending on if you're writing a story set in the real world, or a fantasy world. In the past or the future.