If u want an example of how internalized the hetero narrative is in fiction
I started working on a story five years ago (largely it’s been on the back burner) and every time I came back to it it just didn’t feel quite right or ready and what I figured out was really bothering me was the romance.
The romance definitely wasn’t critical to the plot but I did want to have it as an underlying thing and I did love the male love interest as a character but it still wasn’t right
And finally my sister was like “why is he even in the story? Why isn’t the main character ending up with her [female] best friend who is way more plot important and whom she clearly loves?”
And I was like…..incredible.
I was so focused on the YA/new adult romance formula it never even occurred to me.
I’m a whole entire lesbian.