I’ve recently joined Kiki Funch, an alternative lesbian, bi and queer blog for bad bitches like you and us as a blogger. You can check out the website here. Kiki Funch is also on Facebook, so like our page if you’re interested, and follow us on Twitter. We’re just stating out, so stay tuned for some alternative (and funny and sassy and sexy) musings, images and videos on lesbian and queer culture.
I have just started watching the first season of Outlander, a British-American drama series where an ex-Army nurse from the late 1940s travels through time and finds herself in the Scottish highlands in 1743 and in the middle of tensions between Scottish clans men and the British redcoats. So far I am enjoying it. But there are certain elements that don’t sit well with me. But none the less, the lovely costumes and landscapes have given me inspiration to work on my own story ideas – a story I have had for years set in colonial India in the 1790s (I’ve blogged about it before). And yes, like many historical novels, involves a romance, but mine is between two women. Of course I have to have it. I love historic lesbian romances and there is something delicatable about forbidden passions and ladies wearing men’s riding breaches and boots. So with this inspiration I will make sure (setting myself reminders, setting aside a certain evening to write, even jotting thoughts down) that I write something on my story.
Image courtesy of eonline.com
I have been extremely inactive on my blog since October last year. Writing for an online Feminist magazine, making my first forays into learning and performing burlesque, and finally studying science communication at university took my away from my blogs. I’m a bad blogger.
Having been set a blogging assignment as part of my sci com studies has inspired me to write a post after so many inactive months. We have to create a blog and post regularly on a controversial science topic or issue. I have my thinking cap on and have started reading blogs again (I have been rather slack in this department too). Perhaps I will share my newly minted blog here, if permitted. This assignment has got me excited and inspired again!
For the last four months I have been very quiet on the blogging front. Life, work and other projects seemed to take up all my time. But I haven’t stopped writing (even if I have haven’t been blogging). In November I started writing a column – “Queer Perspectives” for the online version of Lip Magazine, an Australian feminist magazine based in Melbourne, Victoria. This has been a wonderful opportunity to hone my writing skills and style. And hopefully my perspective on the world and my experiences have contributed in some way to the body of feminist, female oriented, and queer discourse.
In my first article Talking Sexuality and Relationships with the Golden Oldies, I wrote the positive experiences I have had when discussing sexual orientation and same sex relationships with older people.
Perhaps you can check out Lip Magazine for yourself.
The glimpse of a girl
Glamorous
Sensual
Risqué
On the cover of a men’s magazine
From that moment
My interest stirred
For the Pin-up Girl
Forbidden territory
For a girl like me
If I spied a magazine
Under the arm of a passerby
Or in a newsagent
I would feel a sudden rush
Anticipation
I’d sneak a look
Flick through the pages
Lingering, admiring these women
Something igniting inside me
Changing
One day I found one by accident
I picked it up, kept it
In my room that night
I finally looked at my prize
My heart pounding
Such beauty
I found between the pages
Feminine glory
Dripping with glamour
A feast for the eyes
I began to dream of these women
Their clothes
Their flowing hair
Their sensuous lips
The curves of their bodies
I felt a longing, a desire
I wanted to kiss those lips
And caress those curves
I had an epiphany
Forbidden fruit
Of which I wanted to be a lover
Inspired by my previous post – Archaeology, I was thinking, “should I write a story of archaeological adventure, romance and bygone eras?” Perhaps I will. I started doodling with a drawing of sand dunes and some prose popped into my head – “She came to me from across the sand dunes. A lone figure amongst the vast desert. My heart beat faster. I longed to hold her and show her my finds…….”
I am currently in the planning stages of a lesbian romance novel set in the 18th century. One of the two main female characters is a soldier and a republican that had fought for the French Revolutionary forces and had championed the rights of women during the revolution. My character pretends to be a male soldier to remain in the army and a few years later while employed as a guard instructor she wears male attire (breeches and riding boots). She wears a tight fitting jacket that does not hide her bosom and wears her hair long. In doing so she presents herself as a woman wearing male attire in a male profession.
During the research for my novel / story, I have read about women actively involved in the French Revolution, campaigners for the rights of women (in addition to the Declaration of the Rights of Man, a key Revolutionary document), female writers who wrote about the Revolution (including English women writers such as Mary Wollenstencraft) and female soldiers who fought in the French Revolutionary forces in the Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars and also on the Royalist side against the Revolutionary government.
From early in the Revolution, women were involved in various activities protesting regarding essential items such as food, storming the Bastille, supporting the Revolutionary cause through writings, revolutionary clubs and subtle ways such as incorporating symbols and colours of the Revolution in their dress (such as Tri-colour cockades and ribbons). More radical Revolutionary women advocated for the rights of women in conjunction with the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the ability of women to bear arms and fight for the Republic.
I was also inspired by the stories I have read of women over the centuries cross dressing as men to enter the armed forces and experience a life of freedom and adventure not able to be experienced by women from pervious centuries. What an inspiration. I wonder what young women in the 18th century, with an enlightened mind / sense of adventure / feminist leanings thought of these women? Through my reading I discovered that there were some novels written in the 18th and 19th centuries with female revolutionaries and / or soldiers who wear male attire. These include Ormond / The Secret Witness written by the American author Charles Brockden Brown and published in 1799, and The Wanderer by Fanny Burney, published in 1814. I find it hugely fascinating that novels in this period included such inspirational and unconventional female characters. I have a real interest in this period, and am using this period (late 1700’s to early 1800’s) as a setting for my novel, so I am so inspired and reassured of the existence (even if in fiction) of such women during this time.
For me Mary Wollstonecraft is also a great source of inspiration. Her writings and belief in the rights of women, especially to education, equality, her passionate friendship / speculated love for her female friend Fanny Blood, her desire to set up house and share a life with another woman (even if this was in the context of a romantic friendship), her unconventional relationships with men and baring children out of wedlock fascinate me. Such a powerful image and symbol of a woman advocating equality and choice in one’s own love affairs and life in a time when a woman’s role was perceived and “enforced” as being a wife, mother and daughter with little rights (including legal rights) over their lives.
I also must admit that some elements (determination, Republican sympathies, gorgeous gowns, active involvement in adventures) of the character of Marguerite St. Just / Lady Marguerite Blakeney from the Scarlet Pimpernel novels by Baroness Orcy were influential. When I first saw the Scarlet Pimpernel (one of my favourite period / adventure series) I was struck by this strong, French, revolutionary woman. She sets off on adventures, confronts Revolutionary officials, holds to her political beliefs and loves her husband passionately. What a woman! And consequently I also really like the actress Elizabeth McGovern who played Marguerite.
I was inspired by these strong, tough, fighting, revolutionary and feminist women when creating my character.
Issue 9 of Wom*news from the UQ Women’s Collective. Great local feminist writing and self publishing.
You heard right, folks! The UQ Women’s Collective is so very proud to present to you our ninth issue of our zine Wom*news: Myths!
In addition to #9’s release, we’ve got a special announcement! Wom*news is now honoured to be hosted in the UQ Library Catalogue. You can even search for us – go on, try it! Our reference looks so puuuurty.
We’ll be sure to post details of a little “myths” release party, and to update you on our potential showing of Wom*news at the South Side Tea Room’s zine and cartoon fair in June.
Happy reading – and don’t forget to tell us what you think, at uqwnews@gmail.com or in the comments!
~ Emma
