When I signed up for this course, I had no experience in writing about transgendered characters and had not given any thought to that possibility. But when I saw the course title, I knew it would help me to give depth to my other characters, at the very least. I feared it might be a course taught by someone who decided to take up this genre and after a couple of books, etc., deemed themselves an expert. This course was the mother lode in that Terri Main's background experience was solid: she has transitioned, she's a teacher, and she's a counselor. Three in one! And she opened the course teaching about empathy. I knew I could try then. Her lessons were well crafted and easy to follow (good for the oldster in me). She got me to actually write from the mindset of one undergoing this process. This opened me to so much emotion. I am reading her book "Still Standing", and my heart is both weeping and rejoicing at the same time. Terri was patient with my questions and kind when delivering her critiques. I now have two characters in mind for future writing. What saddened me about the course was the lack of input from other classmates. I realize people are busy, etc., but this denied Terri the opportunity for offering extra tips. I'm glad she is here at Savvy. I'm in another class of hers. But this one will be the one by which I remember her. Thanks, Terri. And Savvy, too.
