Creative writing, reading, and queer belonging: Gender insubordination in the American deep south

Edited book (chapter)


Baker, Dallas. 2023. "Creative writing, reading, and queer belonging: Gender insubordination in the American deep south." Elzen, Katrin Den and Lengelle, Reinekke (ed.) Writing for Wellbeing: Theory, Research, and Practice. United States. Routledge . pp. 201-218
Chapter Title

Creative writing, reading, and queer belonging: Gender insubordination in the American deep south

Book Chapter CategoryEdited book (chapter)
Book TitleWriting for Wellbeing: Theory, Research, and Practice
AuthorsBaker, Dallas
EditorsElzen, Katrin Den and Lengelle, Reinekke
Page Range201-218
Chapter Number11
Number of Pages18
Year2023
PublisherRoutledge
Place of PublicationUnited States
ISBN9781000886696
9781032163161
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003248026-16
Web Address (URL)https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003248026-16/creative-writing-reading-queer-belonging-dallas-baker
AbstractFor Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, and Asexual (LGBTIQA+) authors, writing is a way of inscribing ourselves into the culture in which we live as well as exploring our personal and social identities in ways that increase understanding and agency, and thus wellbeing. Likewise, reading of queer writing is a way for LGBTIQA+ readers to see themselves reflected in culture as well as to gain a sense of belonging to a larger, global community. That sense of belonging is fundamental to wellbeing. So too is an engagement with literature that reflects or represents them, which helps LGBTIQA+ people to shape, re-shape, and express their identities. Southern Gothic texts, as they emphasize gender and sexual variance and the significance of belonging, are ideal for rewritings of gender and sexual identity that better represent LGBTIQA+ people and contribute to the creation of a global community of queer readers. Certainly, the research and writing of my own Southern Gothic screenplay, The Tree, was part of my queer self-making in that it helped me to understand and express my own gender and sexual difference. The writing and publication of the screenplay was also significant to my sense of belonging to a globalized queer community, which facilitated a greater sense of wellbeing.
KeywordsCreative writing; queer ; Gender
ANZSRC Field of Research 20203699. Other creative arts and writing
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Byline AffiliationsUniversity of Southern Queensland
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