Tips on writing a transgender character?

Question

I have a transgender oc, Rocky, born Rochelle. He's like eight. He doesn't know anything about LGBTQ+ people or that his twin sister Rosamie (Rosie) is a lesbian and has her own struggles and will totally accept him or that his father figure/random manipulative guy who raised them and some other random kids because of their shape-shifting abilities is homophobic and transphobic. However, a very important scene is when Rocky tells Rosie that he thinks he's a boy. Any tips from trans people on how to go about that?

Just to clarify Rocky is female to male. Thank you!

Answer 1

I would suggest you create a scene, an unusual first time scene for the twins, in which they are alone and happen to reveal such preferences.

For eight year olds, this might be watching a kid's movie, and when they play act, Roxanne wants to be the male lead, the prince, the swashbuckler, that saves the princess.

But this is the third time Rocky always wants to be the male lead, and Rosie notices that, and says so.

"Why do you always want to be the man?"

Rocky looks confused. "When I grow up, I'll be the man."

Rosie looks concerned. "Okay. But don't ever tell Daddy that."

"Why?"

"He is very mean to girls that don't want to be girls. He will hit you."

Use your own words, make up your own scene. But this way the information comes out "organically", it isn't a big reveal, it is just Rosie's powers of observation, and no communication barriers between 8 year old twins.

Good luck.