Genderless protagonist = They/Them pronouns?

[BlueWorldComics]

My protagonist is basically an alien blob. No gender. No understanding of the concept of gender.

Also can't hear and can't speak, so there will be no personal introductions or communicating preferences of any kind.

The only text in the comic is a third-person narration that accompanies every panel; this is where pronouns would be used.

Should I go with They/Them or should I go with It?

[TheGentleArtist]

For an alien blob? "It"

[joannekwan]

It's up to you.

For my own work, it depends on how much I want to personify something. Like, is the character sentient? Feel complex emotions? Have meaningful relationships? Then I'd go with they/them.
Otherwise, "it" would be okay.

[Zaboem]

I use "it" as a pronoun for my robotic protagonist. What is the most grammatically correct depends on which grammar guide you are using. For example, the Chicago Style Guide as of 2017 endorses the use of singular "they" in informal writing but rejects ot completely in formal writing.

You might want to write towards whatever your intended audience would prefer. My observation has been that younger audiences like the singular they (fanatically) and older audiences dislike the singular they (fanatically).

[Pommie]

i feel like if the form is sentient and has the ability to have consciousness and thought, it should be they/them because they'd be able to interact and talk with other characters.

if its something that doesn't have much of a train of thought and is just a blob then it can just be referred to it/is.

Not only that but it's better to think of it grammatically as well, so if you were to say it to yourself vocally it will help a lot.

[TAMAnnoying]

Depending on the character personality I may avoid using pronouns all together. I have a god that’s basically a rock, whom would prefer everyone just call them Recel rather then they or it. Recel is not an “it” but Recel is also not a “them” since most humans would first refer to that as sevral people before singular and that’s not how Recel would like to be presented, this can make for akward Communication but if it fits the characters personality then it can work if they have an “alien” brain.

There are also creatures that would prob be willing to have humans call them he or she depending on how lackadaisical they may feel about human pronouns. If whatever humans they’re interacting with that perceive them as male or female it could be beneficial to just allow the humans to see the alien as they wish for better infiltration of the society (I couldn’t think of a better would then infiltration sorry). So they may adopt “he” or “she” or even “they” depending on who they’re interacting with at the time to make individuals “comfortable” or as the alien may perceive a Comfortable human.

You can also just make up a pronoun since it’s an alien.

[UrMom]

Depends on your preference, and how you see your character. I have a genderless-sexless character for a different story I plan on doing someday who is referred to as 'it', the pronoun fits for what the character is, and 'it' is something I never really saw offense with. Many people find the term demeaning, but there are non-binary and agendered people who do use 'it' rather than 'they/them' due to "grammar nazi" retaliation, or personal preference.

[artsylilbastard]

Yeah so I am Non gender conforming and I personally go by they/them but my best friend who is agender (like your character) goes by it. Some people find it insulting but they are mostly gender conforming adn don't understand our points of view. So on behalf of two NGC ppl you can go with either. Personally I would go with it as it is an alien BLOB. Also is this a comic or novel u are making adn where can I read it coz u got me hooked already

[vothnthorvaldson]

I asked myself the same question for an alien character in a story I'm just starting to write.
My alien is sentient and can somewhat communicate with humans, which personally would make me tend to choose 'they', but 'it' would not be out of question either.
I finally chose 'they' for the following reason: my alien character mostly interact with a human character who, due to demographic, lifestyle etc, would likely use 'they'. So I thought, as the main interlocutor, this human character should determine my choice of pronouns for my alien.

[artsylilbastard]

I have faith fro the writing community because of authors like you who pay close attention to detail because those really are important

[vothnthorvaldson]

I'm genderless too, so I know how important (but puzzling) it can be.

[artsylilbastard]

Actually tho, I lowkey hate how ppl don't understand that we don't chose this, it's who we are adn we are very confused without the negativity so it always warms my heart when ppl ask questions like this
One thing that ppl do to me that I personally hate is call me a "trap"
Like okay yes i dress feminine and yes i was born a boy but it's not my fault you automatically assume everyone in pink musy be a girl also the term trap is actually kinda insulting
but what ever sorry for the rambling

[BlairFujin]

Depends how you want your audience to perceive your blob - they suggests a person, while it - an object or animal, leaning slightly more into object... I guess

[uglygirlnextdoor]

Why not use his name instead of a pronoun. and avoid sentences that would use his/her/their

[artsylilbastard]

While this is a creative take i would imagine it would make the writing process a whole new level of hard

[uglygirlnextdoor]

Not really. I dunno his name, so I will call him Bob. Imagine bob discover coffee.

While Bob took the mug on the table, there is the realization of the taste. Bob never felt it and a bitter but nice flavor flow into the mouth of the alien.
- What are you drinking; asks one of the new friends.
Bob protected the mug as a precious treasure which was now discovered.

[artsylilbastard]

Yes that is a good scene. I just meant that if the other characters are talking about him it might seem poorly worded if they say

Hey meet my friend Bob. Bob is an alien. Bob is lazy creature and Bob also happens to like coffee

Versus

Hey meet my friend Bob. It is an alien. Bob is a lazy creature and it also happens to like coffee

[uglygirlnextdoor]

Honestly, I prefer the first dialogue. It sounded much more natural and rather awkward because I am talking about an alien. Is not like I talk about an alien every day.

[BlueWorldComics]

No name, so that wouldn't work out.

Plus there is zero dialogue in the comic; only narration.

[artsylilbastard]

Poor Bob he has been killed... lol