Starting in early June a new series debuts on the website which will be geared to helping newbie M/M authors, or authors who have moved from other romance genres and to whom M/M romance themes are unfamiliar.
Yesterday I invited several experienced and highly respected M/M authors such as Ally Blue, Josh Lanyon, Laura Baumbach, Rick R. Reed and Victor J. Banis to participate in this series and they immediately said ‘yes’ when I approached them. Josh Lanyon has already agreed to do more than one post and you know that I will follow up with him on his promise. 🙂
I’ll be sending out invitations to other well known and respected M/M authors shortly and will announce the participants and their topics in my regular weekly updates.
I’m pretty excited about this initiative for several reasons. With the exponential growth and popularity of Male/Male romance which is outstripping that of other romance genres, especially over the past two years, and it doesn’t seem to be stopping any time soon, more and more new authors and publishers are moving into this genre and rushing to publish, sometimes with disastrous results because of a lack of proper resources such as editing. As a reader and reviewer I know that new M/M authors have a more difficult job than het authors because they are writing about gay men in love, something about which some of them may be unfamiliar. This leads to mistakes in characterizations. I hope that this series will give these new authors writing advice about all areas of M/M romances and ultimately provide readers with a better product. For me there’s nothing better than curling up with a good M/M book after a hard day’s work or on the weekend.
Thanks to Eden Winters, a new M/M author who gave me the germ for this idea when she asked whether I could publish a post with advice from veteran M/M authors on topics such as
What one thing do you think new writers should know? and
What one thing did you have to learn the hard way?
I thought that expanding this theme into a continuing series would be even better in terms of providing ongoing help to new M/M authors or aspiring authors.
My heartfelt thanks to Ally, Josh, Laura, Rick and Victor for agreeing without hesitation to participate in this series that I know will benefit the authors and ultimately readers of the genre.
I haven’t decided what to call the new series except something as bland as “Advice to New Authors” or “Advice from the Experts.” Maybe one of you could come up with a much more profound or catchy title and I would be happy to donate a $10 US gift certificate to the person with the winning name. 🙂 The GC could be for amazon.com or any publisher or book re-seller of the winner’s choice.
Update: Two new participants have joined Ally, Laura, Victor, Laura, Rick and Josh. I’m very pleased to announce that Jordan Castillo Price and J.P Bowie have just accepted my invitation to be members of the team. I have one holdout who I’m hoping to hear from soon. 🙂
Super idea. You got some great authors on board. Ummm. Don’t look at me for good ideas. I don’t haz them.
This sounds like an outstanding idea, Wave! I can’t wait to see this!
Hi Val
It was amazing how pleased the authors were to be asked. I think this will be a wonderful resource for new and aspiring M/M authors like yourself. Although I will be approaching other authors I hope that the initial five will come back again and again. Josh has already promised and I’m holding him to that. 🙂
I think this will be a wonderful resource for new and aspiring M/M authors like yourself.
Totally! 🙂
Hi Tam
I was so pleased that the authors said ‘yes’ right away. What do you mean you don’t have any good ideas? You’re my idea person. 🙂
YIPEE! This is a great idea! I’ve always enjoyed the author interviews here on the site, so this should be a lot of fun, and informative to boot! I’m looking forward to it. 🙂
Hi Will
I’m so glad you approve. Hopefully the peer advice will help many new or struggling M/M authors and this should translate into better M/M books.
This is a great idea and sounds like fun, Wave! I tried to think of something clever for a title, but am apparently brain-dead at the moment!
Hi Wren
You have until May 30 to come up with a title. Glad you approve of the idea.
Sounds like a very good idea indeed – as long as it doesn’t become a list of rules all authors must follow. I’m all for the wild card approach and some (well, more than some) individual pzzazz in books and authors. I fear the “acceptable novel” more than anything! 🙂
Axxx
Anne
The only list will be the list of well respected and experienced M/M authors who will be offering advice to those authors who are new to the genre including authors from other genres who may need information about the characterization of gay protagonists.
As someone who reads at least 300 books a year, some of which I review, I think this is absolutely necessary for the reasons outlined in the post.
I get emails all the time from new M/M authors asking for advice and I refer them frequently to some of the authors who comprise the initial list of advisers.
This is a fabulous idea and I’m honored that you asked me to be a part of it, thank you!!
**hugs**
Ally
It was my pleasure and I can’t wait for your post. Thanks again for your ongoing advice when I use you as a sounding board and “go to” M/M expert. You should charge me for this service. 🙂
The title for the new series? It has to have “hands-on” in it. XD
Great idea and it will be very interesting to read.
Lady M
I’ll remember to include “hands on” in the title. 🙂
Wooohoooo! Great idea!!! 🙂
Hi Larissa
I knew you would like it. 🙂
Great idea!
Hmm.
Advice from the Trenches
My Secrets, Let Me Tell You Them
What I Wish I’d Known
To Help You Boldly Go
You’re smart. 😀
Chris
As a trekkie I think I like “To Help you Boldly Go” 🙂 although I’m not sure the authors would like it as much.
But the double meaning of that one makes it fun! 😉
To quote a favorite comedian, “When they finally gonna go to Bodlygo?”
A few suggestions of my own; take the puns as they cu… uh come. ^_^
Ins and Outs of M/M Romance
Surviving the End Over End of M/M
Thanks for asking me to take part, Wave. I think it’s a great idea and should be a lot of fun for everyone.
Actually, I’d like to hear what topics folks are most interested in — ‘coz God knows I can blether on for hours on just about anything.
“Josh has already promised and I’m holding him to that.”
Hey, have I EVER let you down?
Hi Josh
Thanks again for agreeing to do this. I’m honoured that you would visit our little site from time to time to give us the benefit of your knowledge and expertise. 🙂 [Have I grovelled enough?] And no, you have never let me down.
Personally I would like to know how you make your books with 1st person POV so interesting and sometimes riveting. Many authors, including experienced writers, are not very successful with their books that are written from this POV. Maybe you could share this secret with other authors.
I’m with Josh. When I do appearances, lectures, etc., I try to get my part out of the way as quickly and briefly as possible and focus on question-and-answer, which gives the audience the opportunity to tell me what they want to hear about. So, I would love to hear suggestions from your readers as to what particular topics or angles most interest them. Yes, I could natter on for days, but I might not even think of what is special to them. Readers, any feedback?
Victor
Victor
I think this will be fun as well as learning experience on the part of new M/M authors. Since I already posed a question to Josh I’ll let a real author suggest a topic for you.
Thanks again Victor and I’m looking forward to the release of Deadly Silence. 🙂
Oh, my! That list is like my who’s who of author’s I’m impressed by. Laura Baumbach’s A Bit of Rough was the first m/m book I ever read, and Josh, I still have your reply to the fan letter I wrote three years ago, AND YOU AIN’T GETTIN’ IT BACK!!!. Victor and Rick. Wow. Just wow. Read some great advice already. Ally Blue? Unless she shows up at my door and smacks me, I’ll always consider her good people.
What comes to my mind with the advice post is being taken under a more experienced writer’s wing, so my suggestions are “Under Wing” or “Mentor.” “The Learning Curve” is another title that popped into my head.
Thanks, Wave, for doing this, and to all who have/will participate. I have pen and paper ready to take notes.
Hi Erin
Thank YOU for giving me the germ of an idea that I took and asked my “go to’ authors what they thought of being major contributors to a much larger project. Of course they all said ‘yes’ and here we are. June 1 can’t come soon enough – that’s when the series debuts with Ally, followed by Victor the following Tuesday.
I’ll have the readers and authors vote on the name. 🙂
As a newbie m/m author myself all I can say is “woohoo!” (I haven’t been on here much lately because I’ve been busy finishing the editing of a novel I’m going to submit soon.) Can’t wait for this series.
Hi JFM
I wondered why I hadn’t seen you for a while. I’m very happy that you’re now an author. You must send your book to me when it’s released (or before if you can) so that we can review it.
Isn’t this a great project? If I were a newbie M/M author (or any author for that matter) I would be thrilled to have such mentors as these guys. 🙂
Hi Wave, this sounds like the best idea in months. Not that I would write a book myself (lacking of English grammar and idiom) but still. Reading the do’s and don’t, avoid like mad etc might be useful to readers as well. So they can recognise were things have gone wrong.
Hi Ingrid
You do very well for someone whose first language is not English. 🙂
I’m really hoping that this project will eventually result in much better written M/M books and we readers will all be the beneficiaries.
Very excited about this! I’ve been reading Josh’s how-to book and loving every minute of that, so getting the inside scoop from him and all the other wonderful authors will be an even bigger treat. I have a story off with an editor who is promising to throw “requests” my way soon. Any help I can get in meeting her needs would seriously ease my mind!
Hi Missy
I think the beauty of something like this is that it’s interactive and you get instant (or almost instant) responses.
Here’s wishing you lots of success as a writer.
Wave, Fantastic idea. Thank you.
Title; Between the Covers with the Best
This sounds like a great series, Wave, and many thanks to the authors who will be participating!
As for post titles, I’m sadly uncreative. All I can think of is “Metriculating with the M/M Masters” LOL
Yes, I do have an unhealthy fascination with alliteration. It’s a gift… and a curse. (Monk… another M word. *hee*)
Looking forward to reading the posts, and thanks Wave (and Eden) for them, in advance. *hee*
~Tis
Tis
“Metriculating with the M/M Masters” Seriously??? and you call yourself a writer. 🙂
I’m very happy you approve of the idea – I get these flashes of brilliance in between fantasies. 🙂
Wow, this is amazing! Thanks for the wonderful idea, Wave, and many thanks to the authors. I agree with Eden, these people are likely among the authors who impress me the most. I’m really looking forward to reading what advice those great authors will have to give. Awesome!
As for the title:
Mentoring by the Masters?
or what about:
Get M/M Straight 101?
😉
Feliz
Hi Feliz
>>Get M/M Straight 101<< I personally like this one but maybe without the '101' since most of these writers are already published and they may object to being regarded as 'learners'. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion.
OMG!!!! So exciting! I can’t wait for this. Such a great idea Wave. *Pats on the back*
You could call the series:
‘Everything You Always Wanted to Know About M/M Writing But Were Too Afraid to Ask’.
‘Adventures with M/M Authors’
‘M/M Authors Reveal All’
Those are quite feeble, sorry. I just wanted to join in!
Alexi
I’m glad you approve. 🙂 I’m not sure that your titles will win the $10 GC but I’ll leave that up to Tam (who doesn’t know that she’s been volunteered again) 🙂
It’s an honor to be asked to participate in this, Wave. I don’t think it’s an issue of straight women writing about something they are unfamiliar with, though, you listed several of us who are very successful at it who will blog about. It’s about being good at your craft and knowing about how it feels to fall in love and work at a relationship. As a publisher and an author, I’m looking forward to sharing my POV on successfully writing m/m romance. Thanks for the opportunity!
Hi Laura
Thank you again for agreeing to participate in this initiative which I think will be helpful to all M/M writers, not just those who are new. And you’re quite right, the issue is about knowing your craft and you Ally, M.L. Rhodes, Jordan Castillo Price, and J.L. Langley to name just a few, are definitely experts in this field.
I look forward to your post and I hope you can give us additional time by posting more than once. I know your schedule is murder but this series should help not only the authors and the publishers but the readers as well, who will be the ultimate beneficiaries.
Thanks, Wave. I;m looking forward to it!
I’ve changed the post to be more generic. 🙂
Just wanted to chime in and say that I’m really looking forward to the posts. What a great idea! 🙂 Not that I’m anywhere close to being an aspiring writer *lol* but I’m convinced this can be as interesting for readers, too!
Sorry, no title suggestions from me but I read some really good ones already, imo. I’m curious which one will be the winner. Good luck to the participants!
Hi Lilli
>>I’m convinced this can be as interesting for readers, too!<< You nailed it - this is what I hope will happen. I hope that readers become just as nvested in this series and can't stay away and maybe some of them will decide to take that old ms out of mothballs, rewrite it and submit it to a publisher.
Omg, this is such a awesome idea, it’s amazing not to mention the authors who will participate!
I don’t even write but I found it endlessly interesting. 😀
I have to tell fic writer friends about this!
Vivia
I appreciate you spreading the word. As I mentioned earlier, this series starts June 1 and I hope it will continue for a long time, certainly as long as people like Laura, Ally, Victor, Rick and Josh have the time to participate.
How about:
Hot Stuff
or
Coming Out
I’ll be sure to read these articles. I look forward to them.
Hi Ashley
Good suggestions. I hope that Tam is monitioring all of them to collect the votes.
Sounds like a great series.
What if our advice is not specific to m/m writers, but to writers across the board?
1) Write.
2) Submit
3) Repeat 1&2
Don’t go on about “I’d write this if I had time.” You make time or not. Don’t tell me your book. Write it. To quote Amadeus: It does no one any good in your head.
Hi Angelia
Great suggestions for all writers. This will be helpful for all of those aspiring authors who never seem to get off the mark.
As for the title I thought of Getting it straight: m/m writing.
I know it sounds a bit like the one Feliz brought up but it does not have the “101”which might be trademarked.
Hi Ingrid
Here’s what I said to Feliz
>>Get M/M Straight 101< < >>I personally like this one but maybe without the ‘101? since most of these writers are already published and they may object to being regarded as ‘learners’ << So we're thinking along the same lines. 🙂