When I asked KZ Snow to write a post for the readers on this site I had no idea, as usual, what was going on in her head and what I would get. 😉 She surprised me with this piece that is on the serious side.
Many writers just pump out what they have been doing for years and hope it will stick because it’s what they’re used to writing. KZ on the other hand writes what she wants and dances to the beat of a different drummer, and if readers like what she writes ….. that’s fine. If they don’t, well that’s what being creative is all about – you win some and you lose some.
Today KZ wants your opinion (s) about whether an author should write what the fans want or expect, or if he/she should follow his/her own capricious personal Muse .
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Yeah, okay, I’ll admit it: I’m a title whore. 😉
Today is a powerfully magical day that precedes yet another powerfully magical day. Today is Yule, the Winter Solstice, complete with a full moon (whoa, that should make for a supercharged sabbat), and Christmas is right around the corner.
Since writers are always on holiday – mentally, anyway — and always dabbling in magic (and readers are too, for that matter, when they’re submerged in stories they love), I decided to talk about two different perceptions of the uniquely magical holiday that fiction provides.
“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds,” claimed Ralph Waldo Emerson in his essay titled “Self Reliance.” In my rebellious youth, I cherished this quote. It was my banner. Now, as a multi-published author, I wonder if consistency is all that foolish. Maybe readers want it. Maybe they find it comforting, like baked macaroni and cheese or beloved traditions or a favorite vacation destination.
An author’s imagination can take one of two routes into a new writing project. She can stay with the tried-and-true, give readers what they’ve come to expect and want, 
or she can veer off into new territory. (Sorry, but I’m not going to dick with pronouns. I’m a “she,” so for the sake of ease, I’m using the feminine. No offense, guys; I’m not trying to exclude you!)
I suppose I fall into the second category. My imagination is very restless. It’s too antsy to keep revisiting the same subgenre. I’ll lose myself in a labyrinth of urban fantasies, then get an itch to travel down a contemporary path, then feel driven to explore some topical or controversial spur of that path, then crave the exotic realm of the paranormal. Sometimes, I’ll come up with a hectic itinerary that combines a few different destinations, like contemporary, historical, and paranormal. Most recently, I ventured into steampunk – but not conventional steampunk. I don’t steer clear of angst and I don’t steer clear of humor. So I’m a genre- and voice-jumper, no two ways about it.
However, I’m not sure I’m doing myself any favors. Readers don’t know what to expect from me. Those who found a serene and satisfying holiday in Electric Melty Tingles might find InDescent jarring. Those who found magic in Mongrel might find The Prayer Waltz pedestrian – a big ol’ yawn. In fact, many readers might not even be willing to take a chance on stories that fall beyond their preferences or outside their comfort zones.
As a reader, I’d always thought I was willing to try anything as long as it was well crafted. But I’ve recently begun to question the extent of my willingness. I’ll use an example from outside m/m romance. I just enjoyed one of my favorite magical holidays in fiction form, Frank Tuttle’s Markhat stories. When the first three came out in print, I was right there. And for one glorious weekend, I was in heaven. Then I discovered that in a subsequent book, the author introduces a love interest for his heretofore lone hero. NO! I cried in protest. I don’t want Markhat saddled with a freakin’ girlfriend and all the sentimentality that’s bound to go along with her! I don’t want Mr. Tuttle to start writing
(*gulp*) m/f romances!
Hm. So much for my flexibility.
So here’s my question to readers. Are you resistant to authors changing it up? Do you cherish your contemporaries or historicals or mysteries, your action/adventure or shifter tales to the exclusion of other subgenres? Do you embrace predictability (for lack of a better term) and find consistency comforting? Or are you open to different kinds of holidays of the mind and capable of finding magic therein? Is your willingness dependent on the author . . . or not?
Fellow writers, what’s your take on this? Are you wary of deviating from whatever norm your fans have come to expect from you? Do you think too much deviation too often can alienate readers?
Before I sign off, I want to thank Wave for inviting me here and wish all of you the happiest and most magical of holidays, both actual and fictional. (And to those who’ve stuck by me throughout my wanderings, I’m more grateful than I can say!)
K.Z Snow’s Contact Information
email: kzsnowflake@gmail.com
blog: http://kzsnow.blogspot.com
As a reader and a writer, I go for whatever suits my fancy. I don’t like being caged in, but I do have (self-imposed) limits. While I can read (and happily, at that) realistic stuff in adult fiction, I shy away from it when it comes to YA. Mind you, I started out reading nothing but realistic fiction (mostly problem novels) in YA, but I no longer do it. Maybe it’s a reaction to the mainstream press mentality of “one single narrative only for LGBT kids” that turns me off (as if LGBT kids aren’t at all capable of appreciating escapist fiction like fantasy or historical, where they take center stage, not turn into more gay sidekicks for straight characters). I’ve also seen this kind of mentality permeating mainstream YA blogs, which probably just compounds my loss of interest in that kind of fiction.
I love being taken to wildly diverging places and times. My particular market, LGBT YA fiction, is frustratingly slow and resistant to that kind of diversity, but we’re starting to see very, very gradual movement in that direction. And it’s about freakin’ time, too.
As a writer, I’m at the mercy of ye olde muses, and I know better than to resist. Creatively, I think I benefit more from experimenting with this sub-genre or that sub-genre than in limiting my scope. At this point, readers pretty much have formed certain expectations about my output, and I’m always excited to show them other possibilities. 🙂
Sorry, Hayden. I meant to reply to you but instead pushed the wrong button and became comment #3. Oopsie.
Well OK you asked for it, you got it.
I like good formula when it is done with style.
Like take any Lora Leigh book and I am talking about the Breed Series she did on Ellora’s Cave and you will find formula in abundance.
But… It’s straight up crack-a-licious formula. My only problem is when she runs out of ideas on what to do with it.
I think Lauren Dane with her Chase series also explored a type of formula but again I loved almost all the books in that series.
So when you do formula or elaborate series it’s in my opinion like using tired old cliches to build a story around… like the whole “gay for you” stuff I recently went off about. It’s a potential gotcha from the beginning.
Like using holiday leftovers you can’t just make turkey sandwiches again. Try turkey soup or turkey loaf or well, something different, you get my analogy.
You have to pull it off as a writer with a style or flare that changes it and makes it unique but also works for the reader.
Which in the end is probably just as hard as coming up with something totally brand new.
Nothing is deader than rehashed leftovers served the same way for the umpteenth time.
I guess that’s the trick of successfully “recycling” material, TeddyP: “a good formula done with style.” That flair you mentioned can be mighty elusive, however. I’ve found that I quickly burn out on authors (in all genres) who keep dishing up the same meal without offering a new creative twist.
I think the magic number is three. That way if it does end up becoming a slog it does not overstay it’s welcome.
Loved the way you put that! 😀
However, the problem for an author is trying to determine the “slog factor” of a series or a string of similar books. (And hell, some writers just don’t seem to *coughLKHcough* give a rip.)
How frustrating it must be, Hayden, to long for more variety and invention in a particular subgenre and know it’s the publishing “establishment” that’s standing in the way. Good to hear that YA is gradually loosening up. Let’s hope the trend continues!
I’m still up-in-the-air about the benefits vs. the drawbacks of experimentation. Sometimes it’s well received; sometimes it comes back to bite me. Not that I’m likely to change, though. I can’t seem to get a grip on the reins. 😉
Best of luck with both your reading and your writing!
I’m totally schizophrenic. Sometimes I know exactly what I want and I seek that out. It may be something that is familiar, like your fave mac and cheese (it’s sacrilege isn’t it that I like mine from a box?). Other times I’m looking for something outside the box.
I know some authors I can count on for mac and cheese. They have a reputation for providing a consistently delicious dish. I don’t have to worry that I will dig in and find chunks of lobster or something gross in there. Other times I want to try the one with more exotic ingredients. I need variety. When I’m looking for variety I know that authors like yourself will provide that for me, and other authors will give me the tried and true. Both are necessary otherwise I think the whole genre (of fiction in general not just m/m) would be blah. If every single author just stuck to the same thing as their first book it would be a pretty limited body of work to choose from.
Financially is that better or worse for an author? Well, if you strike a chord with readers with book #1 and repeat, you’ll sort of have a built in buyer audience, but some will tire of it and seek new blood eventually. I think you have to write what interests you or it will become trite and formulaic and boring as hell. Keep writing what you love hon, don’t start following a formula because I think that kills creativity.
Hiya, Tam! If it weren’t for readers like you, I’d be broker than I already am! 🙂
How wishy washy of me, but I’m going to say I like both reads that take me to comfortably known places and reads that take me to unexpected places. I’ve enjoyed the books of yours I’ve read. I might not read your scifi stuff, for example, because scifi’s not really my thing. But so what? I know others who loved those books. *waves at Jenre* You can’t provide please all readers all of the time… and I hope you don’t try. 🙂
Thanks for stopping, Chris!
I don’t write sci-fi; don’t really feel comfortable with it. O_O (I think I know what you mean, though. You’re referring to the Utopia-X series. I categorize it as futuristic urban fantasy. Potatoes, potahtoes. ;-))
Readers’ tastes are endlessly fascinating as well as mystifying to me — and, I’m sure, to plenty of other authors. Most of us walk a fine line between needing to make money and needing to satisfy our creative impulses. Sad to say, the two needs often clash … and that’s when it’s decision-making time.
I don’t like formulaic books. I like books that are creative and imaginative.
I read all genres, from regular murder/mysteries, horror, fantasies biographies and general fiction. When it comes to romance I read M/M or M/M/M, not M/M/F, M/F/M or M/f even from my favourite authors who are normally autobuys.
Like Teddypig I used to read all of those Laura Leigh Breed series and Lauren Dane’s Chase and Witches Knot series, as well as Jet Mykles’ Dark Elves etc. but eventually I gave them up for the same reason that I no longer read M/f – boredom.
If M/M authors can write books which are imaginative, with characters who are not cardboard cut outs, I will continue to read this genre especially because of the many themes such as steampunk. However, if they don’t evolve as writers and keep churning out the same old tried and true stuff this sub genre will lose me as a reader.
I should add though that I do have a few comfort reads that I go to on those rare occasions when I’m in the mood for ‘the old tried and true.’
Give me adventure, science fiction, paranormals, contemporaries with terrific plots and great characters, series that I look forward to year after year and M/M authors have a fan for life. I don’t think I’m asking for much. 🙂
Wave, you’re another of those readers many authors treasure (except those who like to throw a woman into the mix now and then :-)). But, as Chris said, most readers do honor the boudaries of their preferences. So what are yours? Where won’t you tread?
KZ
Definitely no golden showers, rape (if I know beforehand) or incest. 🙁 I love twincest though 🙂 – strange, is it? No historicals or other books set in the past that use the “n” word (you did ask) – I think most authors can find another word that’s just as appropriate but doesn’t have the racist connotations associated with this one word. I used to love BDSM but am off it temporarily, although if it is lite BDSM I don’t mind.
Other than the above and what I said earlier, I’m pretty open and love to go down new paths with my reading because I feel that’s one way of opening my own mind. Reading to me is like travelling – I love to go to new places whenever I leave on a trip that’s not business related. For example one place I would like to visit before I kick the bucket is Morocco. lol
I must admit, I don’t understand the difference in readers’ minds between incest and twincest. Boinking your brother by any other name is still boinking your brother. {{{shudder}}}
Weird kink and fetishes aren’t too much my bag, either. (Not that I object to people engaging in them; I just don’t particularly want to read about them.) Then again, I used to be put off by zombies too … until a title popped into my head that made me rethink my aversion. 😉
Here’s where the ‘fantasy’ comes in for me – authors tell me all the time that these stories are fantasies so twincest, which is forbidden by society, is MY fantasy, just like seeing two men get it on is another fantasy. In books I can indulge in reading about twincest b/c there is no force or imposing one’s will on someone else (like incest). The guys are equal participants. This is my kink (among many). 🙂
The reason I love M/M is that both protagonists for the most part are relatively equal in the relationship, whereas in M/f there is usually some kind of inequality between the woman and the man in a relationship, not always, but most of the time in books. The women may be TSTL while the hero is a swashbuckling, dashing rake; or they are having a baby and guess who carries it? (In many M/M/F or M/F/M books the women are there mainly as baby machines) or something else that demonstrates the Mars and Venus syndrome. I just love my guys to be with other guys. Is that so WRONG? lol
From my perspective, there’s no clear-cut answer to your questions. What I pick up to read depends largely on my mood. Sometimes I seek out the ‘tried, true and trite’ because it’s like comfort food – easy to take, makes no demands, etc. Other times I choose books that I know (or hope) will be deeply satisfying, with complex plots or new worlds or such.
If an author has a history of producing a certain kind of book, I’ll go after her new ones if I like the old. If I’ve developed an aversion to the old, I’m not going to pick up a new one unless I hear it is different or better.
As for you darling KZ, I like your books because I know they’ll be different and smart and I want to see what you’re up to now!
Thanks for your kind words, Wren. (Honestly, I don’t *try* to be different. Or smart. My imagination is just pulled in a lot of different directions, and I can’t help but write the way I write — something I suspect has been years in the making, for better or worse.)
For me, I guess, it’s the quality of the writing that counts, much more than either uniqueness or constancy. I can be sold on most any theme or or plotline or character if those elements are vividly drawn and richly textured. I recoil from flatness (well, and incest stories too).
An author does start putting me off if s/he keeps riding the same horse over and over again — same situations, same types of characters, same voice, etc. That’s when I begin to find his or her stories predictable to the point of being tiresome.
Very thought-provoking KZ!
I have to admit that I’m not a great fan of formula. I’ll perhaps like it for 2-3 books and then I start getting bored. I can never really understand the ‘you know what you are getting’ feeling with some authors. Why not just re-read a favourite book then instead of spending money on rehashed stuff? Now, there are some authors who always write mysteries or UF or Fantasy and that’s not a bad thing as long as the story and characters are different and not just the same story/characters with different names or title. Once things start becoming too familiar though, I’m likely to switch my attentions to an author who can provide me with something relatively fresh.
I’m glad that you follow your capricious muse, KZ, at least I know I’m guaranteed to get something out of the ordinary with you :).
And, yes, I love the Utopia X series *waves back at Chris*!
Hi there, Jen! Thanks so much for your input.
I feel exactly the way you do about writers who stay within their favored genres or subgenres. For example, I certainly appreciate that H. P. Lovecraft (gah, I adore that dead man!) never wrote inspirational tales of hearth and home. Butyesabsofuckinglutely there must be freshness with each effort.
There’s comfort food … and then there’s stale comfort food.
K.Z., what a great post! I’m new as an author (probably too new to draw any real conclusions yet), but I’m more than happy to offer my opinion as a reviewer.
The impression I get is that the top-selling fiction in our genre is contemporary romance with explicit sex scenes. All the other subgenres like m/m fantasy or m/m historical seem to be less-preferred than that.
Furthermore, our m/m genre is flooded with new releases all the time. And they tend to be reasonably-priced, relatively short fiction. So that means we readers are used to reading tons of stuff all the time.
We’re like diners at a bacchanalia, staggering drunkenly around, trying to sample everything in the buffet. We barely have time to post a star-rating on Goodreads, let alone write an actual review.
I think all that can make us want to stick with the tried-and-true. Because of the sheer volume of new m/m releases, everybody and her grandma are guaranteed to have an endless supply of whatever type of m/m story they specifically consider to be their comfort reads.
So why venture into the unknown? A lot of us don’t. I’ll admit that I almost never read horror.
But when we do venture into the unknown, we readers are so short on time and so overwhelmed with our choices that we tend to pick fiction extremely fast. It becomes almost subliminal. We get weird feeling from this cover art or that title, and we pass it on by. If we can’t understand where a blurb is going within the first sentence, we click out of it.
Along with that, we have so much new fiction to try that we start choosing by theme or story elements. As in, we love or hate road trip stories, closeted rock-star stories, gay marriage stories, amnesia stories, gay-for-you stories, et cetera.
I guess in the end, a writer has to develop the story she’s most interested in. Otherwise, it’s just not rewarding to work that hard on a piece of fiction.
Fortunately, there may be enough readers in the genre (judging by the rate at which the publishers are turning out fiction) that each author might be guaranteed to win a small group of dedicated readers. Wouldn’t THAT be nice?
Yeesh, I did it again! Val, my reply to you is at #14.
KZ
we have this new, very efficent comment plug-in which makes it easy to respond. 🙂
Hi Val, it is sad for me to hear that fantasy and historicals are not selling as well as contemporaries. I can read good contemporary, but fantasy and historicals are probably my preferred read. Actually, now I am thinking, no, hard to choose. As I mentioned before the only subgenre I will ignore is horror, everything else is on case by case basis.
As to sticking to tried and true, well to me there are different kinds of doing that too, if that makes sense.
Like as I said I was thrilled when I saw Josh Lanyon’s doing fantasy for a change, but if he would have continued doing just mysteries I would not have been upset either. Why? Because within subgenre his plots are different enough and what most important to me, his characterizations are different enough, while of course I can spot elements common to his writing now.
But if writer does same characters over and over and over in slightly different setting, that gets really boring after a while. I think actually it is easier to bore me with contemporary, because with historicals you can venture in completely different times and even if characterizations are similar I may be more forgiving if settings are different.
Hi, Sirius! It’s sad for me as well, but seems to be true, especially for new authors. Contemporaries seem to vastly outsell fantasy and futuristic and other m/m genres. 🙁
Hi KZ, interesting post!
As a voracious reader and someone with very eclectic taste, I thrive on the imaginative and the informational as well. I enjoy everything form the “heartstrings” true love contemporary story to the battle filled “forbidden love” historical and age of sail genre stories. So far the only thing I really steer away from is heavy BDSM and stuff that is mostly one sex scene after another.
What I value in an entertainer – and yes, I consider an author of fiction an entertainer just as I do a musician, singer or stage actor – is a definite sense of genuineness. So, if an author being genuine to herself means exploring diverse topics, characters and styles……great – I’m on board. So I may not LOVE every single title she may write, but that’s fine. I dislike seeing a creative mind bend to the will of “their public”, but at the same time think it’s great when they communicate and do show that they value feedback and opinion.
I will also say that I do love a good series, where known characters and locations re-appear and one can fall into a cocoon of familiarity. However, I do want the characters to show growth, and the plotting to remain fresh. I love what you said: “there is comfort food and then there’s stale comfort food”. That is a great analogy 🙂
As an aside, I realize that in the past year I have read only one piece of fiction that was NOT M/M. So, kudos to the M/M authors for providing so much wonderful reading!
Hi, Dianne, and thanks so much for your insightful comments.
I agree — we’re primarily entertainers. That’s why audience satisfaction must always be a consideration.
Your remark about “genuineness” really struck a chord with me. I’d never thought of creative efforts in that way, but it makes a great deal of sense. I suppose genuineness, like honesty, always has its risks, but it’s certainly preferable to pandering or posturing.
As a reader, I read many different things, and sometimes it depends on my mood. I definitely have preferences that are entirely subjective. But if an author I really liked tried something new and waded into a genre I don’t read much of, I’d probably give it a shot. (The strength of the writing and storytelling win out over a lot of other considerations for me, although there are some genres I’d pick up before others.)
I never expected this to be the case, but I’m finding that as I write more, I want to try new things all the time; I definitely don’t want to keep writing the same novel. I’ve been dabbling in speculative fiction lately, though if you’d asked me a year ago, I probably would have told you there was no way I’d ever get near anything that wasn’t completely reality-based. It’s funny the places your imagination takes you sometimes.
Whether this is good or bad for my readers, I don’t know. My first book was only published this year, so I don’t know that I’ve amassed enough fans to alienate yet. 🙂
Creativity does seem to self-sow, Kate. That’s definitely one of its perks. The alienation comes after you’ve dropped so many different seeds that the resulting plants begin to cross-pollinate in strange ways. 😉
(ACK, somebody stop me from wallowing in strained metaphors!)
Oh, as a writer, I’m definitely like you. I can’t stick with any one topic or genre. I like to dabble in a little bit of this, a little bit of that. I’d get really bored if I always wrote the same thing. Plus, I think it help gets your work out to a wider audience. A reader might not like one thing you write, but they have a variety of different subjects to choose from in your other work.
I don’t think I’ve been around long enough yet for readers to expect any one thing from me. There’s certain paths I definitely want to take more than others, but I’m not going to balk if the muse wants to drag me down a different one.
Exposing one’s work to a wider audience is certainly a benefit of genre-hopping, Lydia. The potential downside, of course, is that these diverse audience segments might not be willing to cross the boundaries of their preferences. With her next book, an author could quickly lose whatever ground she’s gained!
It’s a hell of a conundrum.
Excellent, well-thought-out response, Val. All your points are so true! I’ll only take slight issue with this one:
“I guess in the end, a writer has to develop the story she’s most interested in. Otherwise, it’s just not rewarding to work that hard on a piece of fiction.”
Here’s the rub: Often, the personal reward that comes from writing a story you love and are proud of can be negated by that story’s reception. It’s painfully difficult to keep the realities of book publishing in mind when you feel your work is misunderstood, unappreciated or under-appreciated, or just plain ignored. Even the most savvy veteran authors likely suffer in silence when a beloved project seems to get short shrift. Yeah, we suck it up — that’s part of our profession –but we might feel driven to reconsider our approach to writing.
Writers write to be read, after all, and if readers don’t seem too thrilled with what we’re producing, the joy we took in spinning our tales is all but obliterated.
(Did I say that’s the rub? 😉 Yikes, I can be windy!)
It’s painfully difficult … when you feel your work is misunderstood, unappreciated or under-appreciated, or just plain ignored.
You totally have a point, KZ. Especially for the project closest to an author’s heart. I’m not sure which is worse, to be misunderstood or to be ignored. Probably to be ignored. Of course, I say that now. Maybe after I’ve been misunderstood a few times, I’ll feel differently. 😉
And yet, an author must ask herself if she’s the one responsible for any lack of appreciation or understanding. We might cherish our stories, but that doesn’t make them, or us, perfect.
Admitting to fallibility is one of the hardest things about this intensely personal pursuit.
Val
No writer likes to be ignored but this will become more of a reality with the incredible amount of new M/M releases every week.
As you know, we can only review so many books and it’s getting harder to obtain excellent reviewers. Personally I prefer to wait until there’s someone who is a “find” like Cole recently, and what this means is that many books will never be reviewed because all review sites have the same problem.
Welcome to the new world order in M/M.
So true, Wave. But it’s a *harsh* reality nonetheless. A lot of effort, hopes, and dreams are going into those books. If not, they don’t deserve to be noticed.
“Personally I prefer to wait until there’s someone who is a “find” like Cole recently…”
Thanks, Wave. I’ve found that I’ve become a much more conscientious reader since I started reviewing. I never realized how fast I had started to read in order to get through all of the new titles that were coming out. I had been racing through and missing quite a bit of important things. Its nice to slow down and realize that though I hate to feel left behind, I’ll eventually be able to read all of them.
Very true, Wave.
Hi, K.Z. and all. As a reader, I felt a shiver of dread reading K. Z.’s post. What a poorer world it would be if authors shyed away from exploring and experimenting. I love finding a good author who takes me along on unexpected journeys from one book to the next. K. Z., I’ve enjoyed both your contemporary and urban fantasy writing.
I seek out mysteries, scifi, some paranormals, historicals, urban fantasies. I enjoy fine writing in any of the m/m subgenres (except I think I can’t read any more cowboy stuff for a very long time 😉 ). When an author has wowed me with one story, I’ll seek out other stories in any subgenre by that author. It’s the quality of the writing and the quality of the storytelling that hook me or leave me cold.
I find so much of the contemp m/m romance to be erotica tricked out with cardboard characters and generic plots, and not really satisfying as stories. The authors who go the other direction and emphasize character and plot and have something profound or funny to say about the human condition (sure, roll your eyes and groan) are the ones most likely to capture me as a loyal reader.
Some readers come to m/m fiction primarily for the escapist experience of romance and erotica. (Okay, maybe most readers.) They are probably wanting a predictable experience and to be able to turn off their brains for a couple hours and just inhabit the escapist fantasy of sexy romance. I’ve had days like that, and it’s good that there are tons of authors who cater to that.
I pick up books for story and atmosphere and characters, and I usually don’t want a predictable experience, except to read excellent writing. K.Z., I hope you will keep following your muse and write what moves you. I like knowing that when I pick up one of your books it will be a distinct experience, not a generic m/m romance.
Happy Solstice.
Thank you so much, Cary! You’ve given me hope. 🙂
There’s nothing at all groan-worthy about your remark re. “the human condition.” No matter what worlds a writer explores, there must be a strong umbilical connection to our common humanity. Without that, characters do indeed seem like cardboard cutouts, whether they’re interplanetary vampires or earthbound and very ordinary people.
Happy Solstice to you, too!
It’s a good day of the year for cultivating optimism. Here comes the sun.
Re: Being misunderstood or ignored. I imagine every author has those thoughts sometimes, wouldn’t you think so? Even in this little niche of m/m fiction, an astonishing amount of work is epublished each week. A reader gets overwhelmed, as Val’s comments pointed out from a reviewer’s perspective. My TBR pile grows, despite my promises to not buy new stuff until the old stuff is read.
In my own life experience, being misunderstood is worse than being ignored, but it’s a close call. 🙂 Being ignored gives free reign to all the voices inside our own heads and all the attendant insecurities. Being misunderstood, though, *ugh!* Being misunderstood gives free reign to all the voices inside other people’s heads, which is irritating enough, and then those voices trigger the voices inside our heads. Makes a person long for the good old days of being ignored. The best comfort has got to be to congratulate oneself on having the courage of one’s convictions. It’s never an easy choice to put oneself out there and go against the grain. My hat is off to you and to all the authors who put their private imaginings down in print for the rest of us to relish (or ignore or misunderstand 😉 ).
As a reader, my tastes are all over the place. I like anything from good old Regency romance to horror to urban fantasy and mystery-suspense. I’d say if any genre is my “mac ‘n’ cheese,” it would be romance as a whole and nearly any subgenre that falls under that umbrella is fair game for me. There are some authors who I’ve come to expect a certain style and storytelling from and there is some comfort in the familiar. However, if s/he wanted to switch things up and try something new, I’d roll with it, at least until I decided whether or not I liked it. I wouldn’t automatically dismiss anything out of hand, unless it was just something that pushed the boundaries of my comfort zone as a reader. But I don’t have many of those, so that would probably only happen on rare occasions.
I also don’t mind if an author switches up POVs from book-to-book or dabbles with present or past tense. I think, really, my loyalty stays with the author no matter what genre s/he may be writing, and as long as the writing keeps me satisfied, I’ll continue buying the books. And I have to admit that it can be refreshing when an author veers away from a tried-and-true formula and puts a new spin on it. At the same time, sometimes I enjoy it when I can tell where a book is going and how it’ll probably end. Above all, I’m a happy ending fan, and as long as I get that, I’m usually content as long as the writing is good and the story enjoyable.
As an (aspiring) author, I don’t think I could ever stick to just one genre or style. I have ideas for everything from mysteries to paranormals and urban fantasy, straight-up contemporaries, and even historicals. I can see myself going with whatever idea strikes me as opposed to trying to stick to a certain formula. Right now I’m in the middle of writing a short, M/M Christmas story that leans more toward horror than romance and includes a fair amount of violence and zombie mayhem. Not everyone’s cuppa, I’m sure, but the story is a prime example of me and the mishmash of genres that I enjoy. How that might affect sales or reader loyalty when I get published, I’m not sure. I hope there’ll at least be some readers out there who enjoy my writing enough to want to come along for any ride, as long as I’m doing the driving. Keeping my fingers crossed. 🙂
Hi, Harper! I love your sensible approach to flexibility.
I’m glad you mentioned POV. Readers also have very strong views about this element of fiction. For a long time, I was resistant to reading as well as writing anything in first-person present tense. I finally used it in a story (only in a limited way, and for a reason) and was pleased with the outcome. However, first-person present used throughout an entire novel for every character would probably strike me as pretentious and make my nerves twang. And second person? Eek! Still totally out of the question for me … but that might change.
Zombie mayhem in a Christmas story? That’s ballsy. I’m intrigued!
I like to read all kinds of subgenres and I like to be surprised. Formulaic doesn’t interest me and if I find someone always writes the same sort of thing I will lose interest.
What pulls me in is the quality of the prose more than anything else. Someone with a unique voice who can make me laugh and pull me into strange new worlds – or show me the magic in our everyday world – those are the writers I will always read no matter what genre/theme they’ve chosen to experiment in.
As an aspiring author I want to follow my muse wherever he takes me. I know I love to write contemporary, sci-fi and paranormal already, but I’m hoping I’ll be pulled in different directions so that this adventure never gets stale.
All that said, I am a bit wary of high fantasy and vampires… I’ve overdosed on them in the past 🙂
Hi, Josephine!
Quality of prose: yes!
Unique voice: yes!
High fantasy: uh…maybe (I hate to reject any genre offhand).
Vampires: oh, yes! (There are still unusual-enough vampires coming down the pike to keep me interested. And the buggers are just so sexy! ;-))
See, I’m just bored of vampires. Now, if someone could write a sexy romance about hobgoblins I’d be impressed…
BTW – loved the Hobgoblin picture – it brought back many memories as my husband and I met when we both worked in the original Hobgoblin pub, and what you’ve posted is the official artwork for the brand 😀
As a writer, I know what sells (highly erotic contemporary, kink optional but encouraged) and what doesn’t (cyberpunk). But I write as the muses move me. I write the story I need to tell at that time.
As a reader, I am willing to give an author a chance, unless she’s going somewhere I know I won’t be interested. I won’t be much for Revolutionary War piece or a Regency or a contemporary. But there are always exceptions.
A couple of side notes: Sometimes the N word is exactly right for conveying the racism of a character, whether historical, contemporary or even a futuristic.
And twincest is more like masturbation in a lot of people’s minds, because identicals don’t register as two people, but as mirror image of each other or as the same person in two bodies.
Hi, Angelia! I’m so glad you stopped by.
“As a writer, I know what sells (highly erotic contemporary, kink optional but encouraged) and what doesn’t (cyberpunk).”
Yep. And you might want to add steampunk to the latter. 😉
“And twincest is more like masturbation in a lot of people’s minds, because identicals don’t register as two people, but as mirror image of each other or as the same person in two bodies.”
Yeep! That’s even creepier. That’s the myth of Narcissus sexualized. “Two, two, two dicks in one.” Um…no thanks.
Dunno. I’ve had…mixed sales with steampunk. Some of it takes right off, some of it fizzles.
Doesn’t mean I’m not going to write it, though.
KZ
One of my very good friends whoi is gay told me that the reason straight women love M/M romances is because there are two or more dicks in play. Go figure.
As I said before, twincest is a kink that I like to read occasionally but I definitely don’t read it every month. lol Now cowboys … I can read about those suckers every week – throw me a rope, a hat and some cowboy boots. 🙂
Angel
As someone who is personally repelled by this word there is no way that I can accept it in any way, shape or form, regardless how many authors try to “sell” me on the idea that it’s the only way to express a character’s racism. This is something that affects me personally. I don’t want to hijack this post – I only answered KZ’s question. However I will say that I prefer not to read about black characters in romances or any book if they are going to be insulted and denigrated. Choose another race to prove your point – it can’t be that difficult since we’re not the only race that suffered indignities in the past. 🙁
As for twincest, I regard it as a kink which I will probably get over if I read enough of these books. I used to read a lot of BDSM but don’t any more.
Not meaning to hijack here either. I understand and respect your position. For you, it would never be the right word.
No. The reason is that this is the most hateful, foul, denigrating, insulting word about an entire race, and I cannot for the life of me understand why authors use every excuse to keep on using it in their books. As I said before, choose another race to prove your point about bigots. We are done – stick it with a fork. 🙁
Wave, why was it that when I read your last post (which didn’t come with a Reply button, for some reason) I kept hearing Rick James singing, “She’s a very kinky girl… She’s super-freaky”?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYHxGBH6o4M
(Yes, I love that song. I love “Brick House,” too. So shoot me. :-D)
WordPress doesn’t include a “reply” button if there are more than 4 comments between two posters. lol.
Re Rick James and all the rappers or whoever chooses to use this word, I hate it just as much regardless of the source. Even rappers have now almost stopped using this word in their lyrics, the same way they stopped using women as whores (for the most part) in their videos. I don’t care if the person who uses this word is black, white or green it’s still insulting and degrading. However that’s a debate for another day.
Rick James had his day several decades ago and this is another time. He is an anachronism.
I really don’t want to hijack this post and only intended to answer your question about specifics.
There’s a lot of good stuff coming from the readers and the other authors, and I know you’re really interested in their responses to your question. 🙂
While it’s sometimes nice to have an author where you know what you’re getting, I’d rather have an author who writes for herself. Then she’ll have enjoyed writing it and most likely that means I’ll enjoy reading it. Because if she was bored/forced to write it, it seems likely that I’ll be bored/forcing myself to read it.
While I do have authors I follow, I don’t follow them because I like their genre (even if they do only write in one), I follow them because they are good writers and I enjoy their books. There are authors who write one thing, and there are authors who write everything. One may make more money, but who is happier? And if tastes change, who can change with them? While I may follow authors, I look at each of their books individually, because I don’t ever want to expect the same thing.
Of course, as a writer I tend to jump all over the place, so maybe I’m bias!
Alex, I think the boredom factor comes into play, for me at least, when an author has lit on something that “works” for her/him because it’s a comfortable groove with broad appeal. In terms of ego satisfaction and royalties, that groove becomes so seductive, s/he is loath to leave it.
Thanks for commenting, and best of luck with your writing projects!
HiKZ I am a reader without a drop of “writer” in me. In fact I am very intimidated leaving posts with all these gifted people, but you did ask for a reader’s perspective.
I purchase books that look like they will be an engrossing read that will entertain me or be a positive experience somehow. I don’t read many fantasy(world) ebooks. I find I need longer books to build the world and characters in a way I am satisfied with.
In my ebooks I’m looking for the basics done really well. Like fine dining,simple fresh ingredients with bright flavors makes a fabulous meal.
Stories about life, with humor and hope, are standards for me. I’m done with vampires, ghosts, zombies and horror. I don’t like mm historical too much either. I’m like Wave there.
I buy 4-5 books a month so I am very picky and do research before I buy. I don’t buy novellas as a general rule because I read too fast, I want to savor the books I do buy.
I do like books in a series if the characters are strong enough. The author can do more character progression and world building this way. Please no static characters or relationships!
That’s about it for me!
Hi, Reggie! Never be intimidated by scribblers. We’re some of the most insecure people on the planet. 😉
Thanks for taking the time to comment. Reader feedback is always invaluable.
Oh that’s an easy question 🙂 I like every possible subgenre of m/m fiction. I will read historicals, mystery, contemporary, fantasy, science fiction (of course I will read all of it outside m/m as well). Of course there is stuff I will not read, most definitely. I avoid horror stories, no matter how well they are written, I just get scared easily and no matter how good story is I am not willing to give myself nightmares. I also avoid one specific trope no matter how well it is written (tried terrific writing and decided that even well done it is not for me) – ‘I will rape you till you love me”.
Everything else I will pretty much try. Now of course there are writers whose writings I avoid as well (for many different reasons), HOWEVER I definitely prefer writer doing whatever writer desires and I LOVE when I see the author whom I like doing something different (Josh Lanyon doing fantasy instead of mysteries for a change? LOVED, LOVED. When I saw KA Mitchell doing that historical story instead of contemporaries? LOVED).
So to make a long story short, I would want author always write what their imagination dictates to them, NOT fans. They should of course be prepared that fans would not like the change and say so, however I would not want writer to write what fans dictate. Leave some fans behind if needed, but follow what you want to write about IMO. Of course if fans prefer tried and true formula, which sells well, I do see how writer may want to stick with it. But if writer peruses same characterizations over and over again, it bores me.
Now, see? What a difference there is, Sirius, between you and Reggie. The two of you together perfectly illustrate what a wide range there is in readers’ definition of “good fiction.”
I completely agree about the rape or “forcible seduction” trope. Nothing in the least bit romantic or sexy about it. Nothing.
Hi K.Z. I am a reader without a drop of “writer” in me. In fact I am very intimidated leaving posts with all these gifted people, but you did ask for a reader’s perspective.
I purchase books that look like they will be an engrossing read that will entertain me or be a positive experience somehow. I don’t read many fantasy(world) ebooks. I find I need longer books to build the world and characters in a way I am satisfied with.
In my ebooks I’m looking for the basics done really well. Like fine dining,simple fresh ingredients with bright flavors makes a fabulous meal.
Stories about life, with humor and hope, are standards for me. I’m done with vampires, ghosts, zombies and horror. I don’t like mm historical too much either. I’m like Wave there.
I buy 4-5 books a month so I am very picky and do research before I buy. I don’t buy novellas as a general rule because I read too fast, I want to savor the books I do buy.
I do like books in a series if the characters are strong enough. The author can do more character progression and world building this way. Please no static characters or relationships!
That’s about it for me!
An interesting question, KZ 🙂 As a reader, I’ll give almost anything a chance. I prefer some genres over others, naturally, but there’s very little I won’t read at all. And if someone actually makes it onto my “favorite author” list, I’ll try anything they write.
As an author, I’ve learned the hard way that some things sell MUCH better than others, and you can’t always predict which is going to be which. That said, though, I suck at writing what I “ought” to write. If I don’t feel it, I can’t write it.
Example: sales for the Mother Earth series — Dragon’s Kiss and Shenandoah so far — have been pretty pathetic compared to most of my other stuff, but I LOVE playing in that world. LOVE it. And I think Shenandoah in particular is one of the best things I’ve ever written. [btw, thanks to Feliz for the great review here & to Wave for letting me give away a copy!] Therefore, readers are getting at least one more book in that world, because I really, really want to write one *g*
I don’t know if that’s the best way to run a career or not, financially speaking, but I figure I’m never gonna quit the day job by writing gay romance anyway, so why not write what and how I want? Besides, I think readers can tell when a writer is passionate about his or her work, and I couldn’t look at myself in the mirror if I didn’t do my best work, you know?
Hi Ally, what I am going to say right now is my fantasy, so please guys do not jump on me and tell me that writers have to make a living too, believe me I KNOW and understand. I am however allowed to dream that all the writers that I love will have another source of income and would write what they love to write and not just what sells well (if it is both, great). I am allowed to dream that instead of producing five books a year, four of which I find crappy, they would produce one or two since they would not need to worry about money 🙂 Yeah, I know I can dream.
I think we all share that dream, Sirius. However, m/m romance is becoming increasingly packed with offerings, which means the market is increasingly more competitive, which in turn means reader loyalty is harder and harder to come by. That’s something else writers have to take into account when deciding what direction to take in their work.
KZ
There is a series that I wait for every year because the writers release just one book in this series/year and the books are amazing. They will never lose me as a fan and they have an incredible following. Reader loyalty does exist if the product is excellent.
What I hate is when an author pumps out a book every month or two and each book is increasingly less enjoyable because the product is diluted. Even the best authors can’t possibly write a book a month and give the readers a great product every time. They probably feel they have to keep up with the Joneses (the competition) but what they don’t know is that we don’t like what we’re getting from the Joneses.
For me quality is very important. I know that some authors write to supplement their income, but sometimes I feel like saying – oh no, not another book!!!
FWIW I don’t think the main reason most writers write is for the money, supplemental or otherwise. The money is just not that good for most people, no matter how many books you put out. Most of us write because we love it. Which is not to say that just because you love it, you’re any good at it, or that every book you write is going to be good. It doesn’t make it any less frustrating as a reader, I know, but yeah.
Ally
I should have said that “some” authors write to supplement their incomes (I know this because they tell me so), but that doesn’t mean that the majority do. I understand how the creative urge works. Do you think anyone could pay me for the hours I put in on this site? Shit no. 🙂 I do this because I love it and the people. The difference is if I put out a shoddy product most people won’t complain because it’s free. Okay some of them complain. lol
Oh may I just say me too Wave? Completely agree and I think I know the series hehe and am a huge fan too 🙂
There is a writer whom I used to love and who now produces six seven books a year (approximately) and with every book I feel that quality is just slipping away, slipping, slipping. I still buy all her books (I bought ALL of them so far), but I am very close to not doing that anymore. Um,sorry, I guess I am just agreeing with you 🙂
Keep in mind, Wave, that what seems like a book a month, or every two months, is often the result of publisher scheduling and other factors. It doesn’t necessarily mean writers are churning out assembly-line fiction.
Of course, the proof is in the pudding — or between the covers. Slipshod, halfhearted work should be pretty obvious to any discerning reader.
I’m with you there on wishing everyone would write what they love rather than just what sells (or what they THINK is going to sell, because they’re not always right). The book of your heart and the book that sells don’t have to be mutually exclusive. And yeah, it’s frustrating as a reader to pick up a book by an author you love and not be able to get through it (me and Anita Blake in the later books, sigh…)
I like different subjects all within the m/m romance angle. But well written and well edited are musts for me. Nothing turns me off quicker than poor editing.
I tend to find authors I like and devour their works and then bug them for more, like Rhodes and Winters.
Thanks for sharing and Merry Christmas!
Yo, Ally! Something would’ve been missing if you hadn’t checked in!
“…I suck at writing what I ‘ought’ to write. If I don’t feel it, I can’t write it.”
Amen!
I hear you about your Mother Earth series (which I’m going to be looking up when I leave here). I felt the same way about Mongrel. I found the world and its inhabitants incredibly compelling; as a result, I think the book contains some of my most vibrant writing to date.
But it seems readers are shying away from this novel. A negative perception of the subgenre? The Curse of the Non-contemporary? I just don’t know. In either case, a lukewarm reception for any story a writer feels invested in is always disheartening.
Yay you for forging ahead with a series you believe in! That takes real courage and integrity.
Re:Mongrel. Try “waiting on a royalty check to come in”
I SO want that one.
Wow, Angel, maybe it’ll hit ten (readers, that is) by the end of the year! 😀
Thank you for the vote of confidence.
Thanks KZ 🙂 I really do love the world. I keep hoping I can make other people love it too LOL.
I tell you what, I’ve been very intrigued by the blurb (and the gorgeous cover) for Mongrel, and Jenre’s review this morning here just sort of sealed the deal for me. I’ve already decided that it’s going to be my reward to myself for finishing the partial I’m working on now. If there are MORE stories in that world, I have a feeling I’m gonna want to read those too *g*
Anne Cain did a fabulous job on that cover, didn’t she, Ally?
Damn, my magic wand is in the repair shop. Otherwise, I’d gladly help you *make* other people love your Mother Earth world. 😉
Reading the first chapter of Mongrel at the Dreamspinner Press site and the reviews at Goodreads might help you decide whether or not the book is for you. I truly don’t want readers to be disappointed. (I also want them to know this story is definitely a triumphant romance with a big, fat HEA. I’m a sap, so I love giving my boys their happilies! :-))
You’re sweet, thank you 🙂 Yeah, Anne did a beautiful job with Dragon’s Kiss. Kanaxa did Shenandoah and I was every bit as thrilled with that one. Happy Ally LOL
I can already tell by the blurb and the book descriptions in the reviews that Mongrel is exactly the type of book I like to read, so I’d pick it up regardless. I can’t imagine I’d be disappointed, but hey, I’m sort of old-school that way. I used to pick up books in the bookstore based on nothing but cover and back-cover copy. This is no different, really. If I’m disappointed as a reader now and then, so what? Nothing ventured, nothing gained. And ebooks cost less then hardbacks and paperbacks these days, at least from the epresses *g*
Mongrel is awesome, totally awesome. I just chose it as a top pick for the All Romance Ebooks Wildfire newsletter. It’s really not to be missed.
Your review, the first for this book, totally bowled me over, Val. And a Top Pick is just icing on that beautiful cake.
Thank you so much. It’s always an honor to be mentioned in your m/m feature for the Wildfire newsletter.
K.Z., you’re very welcome. Thank you for a perfect escapist experience with Mongrel. I was totally spellbound and didn’t want to see it come to an end. 🙂
KZ
I bet you didn’t think you would be working so damn hard tonight. It’s almost 11.30 EST and they are still going. lol The worst part about such a global following is that the bloggers are around 24/7. 🙂
Don’t forget to check back first thing tomorrow for the European readers. 😉 I’ll send you a few cookies and some hard liquor – forget the milk.
Beer and pretzels will work too, Wave. I’m a cheap date.
(Seriously, I am. :-))
Late to the party as always. Tired and sleepy too! 🙂
I’ll just say I’m usually pretty easy to please. I love mac & cheese but I also like to try new things. Entertain me, make me think, laugh and/or cry and I’ll be happy.
I’ll read pretty much anything although I prefer certain genres. I don’t like rape or incest (although like Wave I do like twincest), hardcore BDSM where the sub has absolutely no control and it’s heavy on pain/punishment isn’t my thing although I do enjoy ‘lite’ BDSM.
I prefer contemporaries, shifter and paranormal stories but also enjoy historical, fantasy and some sci-fi. Today I even read my first mpreg which was a bit weird but overall quite good.
Great post KZ although I’m not sure if I answered your question or just rambled a bit. 🙂
Hi, Lily! I crapped out sometime around 11:00 last night.
Nice to see that you’re open to so many themes. (Of course, I’d deduced that from your blog! ;-)) It’s especially important, I think, that a reviewer not have strong biases — or has as few as possible.
I love historicals as much as sci-fi, smut, or urban fantasy. It’s okay by me to change it up. But readers will pick what they want to read that day, just like you’ll pick what you want to write.
Nobody should be pegged into a box. Let your muse roam free!
“Let your muse roam free!”
Since this is the final comment to this post, Yvette, maybe I should consider it the “last word” on the subject. I could see putting that admonition up in my office. 😉
When I’m doing a “cold” search for a story to read, I’m almost certainly going to go with my favorite type. In this case, that means contemporary M/M romance.
However, once I find an author I like, I’m probably going to follow her into other genres, too. If an author I love writes a paranormal, a historical, a M/F romance, a non-romance, whatever, then I’m probably going to read it. There are some exceptions here and there, genres that I just don’t care for at all, but as a general rule, when I like an author I want to read everything she writes.
I always come down on the side of authors writing what they want to write. There’s always an audience, even if it varies from story to story. 🙂