As promised, some short (1:23min) phone video impressions from Sunday's varied hike in the beautiful Ester Mountains[1] (mainly filmed during descent only, since the steep way up was mostly without any grand views)
So, today, short before lunch, this story idea / character materialized in my brain and I had to write it down.
It is a very rough #WiP and right now a lot of things are pretty vague, but this character and, while writing, the second one are "there", so I wanted to share the idea to hear what you think about it.
"[I am not sure] I can still make an MC compelling without the reader being able to tell if they are man, woman or non-binary."
I think it can be done, but it might mean that your gut reaction about where the plot needs to go will have to be carefully examined. Writers have reflexes, too! Go for it.
I think the key is to never put the MC in a position where they must admit this information unless it's climactic or necessary for the denouement, in which case foreshadowing is necessary. Remember, the best part of 1st person is the POV is under no obligation to report anything they don't want to report (unlike 3rd). They are telling /their/ story. We all self-censor. Of course, as the author you can report things the self-censoring I-POV might not think important as foreshadowing. Sneaky author, right? I write I-POV and I very much enjoy the flamboyant dance of the unreliable narrator.
Thinking about this, I did modify my /Mask/ Writever story to give the reader a choice of whether they think it has M/F or M/M "romance" element. It did this by changing,
"You're tall, plain, gawky, lacking any curves, almost flat."
to
"You're tall, plain, gawky, not even wild looking."
Like that, absolutely no mention of the I-POV's gender whatsoever. It absolutely works M/M. Hints exist for either choice. If readers at the end suddenly wonder, I'll have made them think and I will be very pleased. I like this change, so thank you for letting me think it through.