I started writing this today and don't really know where I can save it, so I'm just going to keep it on here... Maybe I'll get back to it later (I think I know where it's going after this, despite the concept itself being something of a mindfuck to write), but I'm at work right now, so I really need to not start writing a novel...

As Michael sat down to begin working on his new novel, intended as a way of dealing with his gender issues, he hit a brick wall.

“Wow. One sentence in and already stuck. Fuck.”

The brick wall is the boundary between thought processes and experiences and Michael had naively thought he could stroll right through it. To some extent, it made sense that a man who grew up in a female body would be able to write about the opposite scenario, if only because the experience of growing up in a male body holds so much appeal. It is a fantasy for the author, which should make it prime material for a novel.

“Precisely. This is how writers deal with the things they can’t change in reality. So, why can’t I do this?”

Michael couldn’t do it for several reasons, only partially owing to his largest initial concern, that he would not be able to think like a woman, despite being perceived as one all his life. The factor that was actually weighing most heavily, however, was the detail of this alter-ego’s life. If he were the Maya who grew up as Michael, what changes would have occurred in his life? Who would his friends have been, what would he have done, and what kind of relationships would he have had?

Of course, the solution was somewhat in the very concept of the novel itself. You see, while Michael attempted to write the story of Maya, Maya was in turn trying to write the story of Michael. Hence, as the writer of Michael's story, Maya was free to provide the real details of her own life at will, as long as she didn't mind breaking the fourth wall.

"I don't mind breaking the fourth wall, dear Michael, but the story I'm trying to write is about you. I don't think it will help me fill in any details about your activities to list my own."

"On the contrary, I think it's the only way to get the ball rolling. Why don't you tell me about what it's like to be you and then, in return, I'll tell you about what it's like to be me and we'll each be on our way."

"And you don't think this is just going to get too convoluted and head nowhere?"