Collaborating across new media and gender

Co-writing f2m: the boy within social media online & the case (study) of a controversial YA novel

Abstract

Gender transitioning, with a punk music setting was always going to be controversial. Especially in this internationally ‘first’ YA novel with a trans co-author Ryan who had transitioned from female to male (ftm). However we did not expect the speed of social media which made ‘f2m: the boy within’ a fascinating case study in online collaboration techniques. These included Skype plotting, webchats, guest blogs, book trailer and Twitter, by the co-writers in different countries, and the YA readers and reviewers. Authors are not solo creators. Professionally, they may work at home, but are linked internationally, by new social media.