Let’s see: Wanda and Hal in Sandman are both trans, Desire is Trans (and in the Big Universe there are versions of the Endless that include all genders — we got to see a female Dream in Sandman Overture). There are trans characters in Miracleman, but that’s a plot point that’s been waiting 25 years to be told, and you’ve met a trans character in Neverwhere, and although that’s not apparent in Neverwhere itself it will be if I ever finish the Seven Sisters. Kalanu in American Gods is trans, everyone pretty much in the short story “Changes”…
And I just got the call saying it’s time to go back to the house and start cooking for Thanksgiving, and I don’t know how to save these as drafts, so I will post it now, and expand further on it later.
…
Hey Neil, so I’m 16 and highly terrified that I will never accomplish my dream of becoming a writer (especially because everyone around me seems to be doing things that are more practical.) Advice?
Well, somebody has to accomplish your dream of becoming a writer.
And it might as well be you.
Now, read everything you can. Write a lot. (You’re 16. You don’t have to finish everything you start. Just write.) Get all the living in you need. Meet all the people you can. (Life is useful for plots. People are useful for characters.) And have fun with it.
Everything I Have To Tell You About Love by Neil Gaiman
I wrote this to read at my friends Sxip and Coco’s wedding, a little over a year ago. I love that it’s now flown out into the world. And Chris drawing things is such a delight.
I wrote the first 5,000 words of William the Antichrist. It had a demon named Crawleigh. He drove a Citroen 2CV, and was ineffectual. Proper demons like Hastur and Ligur loathed him. It had a baby swap. I sent it to a few friends for feedback. Then my graphic novel Sandman happened, and it was almost a year later that the phone rang.
“It’s Terry,” said Terry. “‘Ere. That thing you sent me. Are you doing anything with it?“
“Not really.”
“Well, I think I know what happens next. Do you want to sell it to me? Or write it together?”
“Write it together,” I said, because I was not stupid, and because that was the nearest I was ever going to get to Michaelangelo phoning to ask if I wanted to paint a ceiling with him.
Neil Gaiman
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-30512620
(via duod)
A writing partner who makes your imagination and spirit soar is more precious than gold.
(via kryptaria)
Life Goals! THIS RIGHT HERE!!!
(via theactualcluegirl)
Be kind to yourself in the year ahead.
Remember to forgive yourself, and to forgive others. It’s too easy to be outraged these days, so much harder to change things, to reach out, to understand.
Try to make your time matter: minutes and hours and days and weeks can blow away like dead leaves, with nothing to show but time you spent not quite ever doing things, or time you spent waiting to begin.
Meet new people and talk to them. Make new things and show them to people who might enjoy them.
Hug too much. Smile too much. And, when you can, love.
http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2014/12/new-years-wishes-and-gifts.html
This is from Last Year. It’s the one that doesn’t get passed around as much.
Grown-ups don’t look like grown-ups on the inside either. Outside, they’re big and thoughtless and they always know what they’re doing. Inside, they look just like they always have. Like they did when they were your age. The truthis, there aren’t any grown-ups. Not one, in the whole wide world.’
Writing tips
Writing tips
As long as your words survive, then you lived and you mattered and you changed the world and I cannot remember your name.
Neil Gaiman (via quotemadness)
