Writerly Ways

[cornerofmadness]

You can find my writing news here THere's a bit of it.

I wanted to talk a little about writing what you want vs what you think will sell. I'm learning more and more that these may not be the same thing. Let's be honest, Soldiers of the Sun was me writing what I want. I knew going in it wasn't tremendously marketable. M/M/M, historical urban fantasy with a philandering character. And yes, it's not been a big seller. Sadly. Sigh.

I don’t know why I did it but yesterday I looked at a thread I had never seen before on m/m romance group, which is probably the largest group for the genre I’m writing in (even though, if you look at the above link, I’m thinking of tossing in the towel as far as romance is concerned). The thread was something along the things that’ll make you not finish and/or be annoyed with a book.

I don’t usually read forums like that. You just know you’ll see someone bagging on what you like personally. Of course the comments were about bad grammar or characters acting stupid. No, even in a theoretically pro-LGBT group, there was a ton of vitriol against various sections of that group. Heaven help the transsexuals, bisexuals and polyamorous.

Now I DO know that there are rifts in the community with feminine men being picked on by other gay men, a complete misunderstanding about bisexuality and transsexuals. Of course the comments here were more like ‘eewwww those things are so gross. I just want to see two men fucking.’ And no, I’m not even making that up. That was there more than once (points back to a writerly way from a few weeks back when I said it feels like the audience is more about watching two men fucking than getting an actual story).

M/M/M and bisexuality was definitely hated on. Open relationships are a big no. Cheating too.

At least I can understand cheating but that’s a bit sad too. There can be interesting, traumatic etc.

I really wanted to do one where a character does cheat. He has reasons. I want to deal with that breach of trust and how, and if, it can be regained. Of course that book will probably end up 1 starred all over the damn place.

Maybe I could just write mindless man sex. I’d sell better. Forget plot. Forget realism. Forget acknowledging transsexuals, bisexuals, effeminate men, cheating and polyamory exists. I’d probably make it into audiobooks (which is based on sales).

But I can’t. I can’t write what I don’t like. And again I’m feeling more and more like my audience makes me feel like I need a shower. I KNOW not everyone is like that. Probably not even half of them are. But man, the ones that are, are so vocal.

Of course there’s the whole write what you want and you THINK you’re doing good and then your first readers deflate that bubble with a cat o’nine tails. I know more than one of us can identify with that feeling. It makes you rethink this whole thing. Sigh.

On the plus side, I did get a chapter done for Blood Red Roulette so that’s something.


yearly word count

82629 / 110000
(75.12%)

Comments

You absolutely...

[idic-writer.livejournal.com]

...should not write what you don't like! If you did it would feel forced, or at the very least, hollow.

I know writers that won't even look at how to market because they think it somehow cheapens their art. :: rolls eyes :: So I'm not suggesting that either. But you do have to have deep feeling for what you create.

Perhaps it's time to challenge yourself by trying something completely different, with an eye to curiosity, freshness.

But don't ever force it.

Re: You absolutely...

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I don't plan to ever force it. I would like people to be less skeevy about their reading habits but that is not under my control either.

I like what I write. I DO think it's marketed wrong. I need to speak to my publisher about moving me out of the romance side of it

[tinhutlady.livejournal.com]

Keep writing what interests you, what you would want to read. But I agree with another comment here to try something new and completely different, just for fun. I also agree that you need to speak with your publisher - might make a difference if the reader knows what to expect and sees your work in its proper category.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more.

Honestly I DO change it up often. Steampunk, mystery, horror, urban fantasty SF.

but yes I think i DO need to have that talk with them

[amai-kaminari.livejournal.com]

I think you should write what you feel good about writing.

Even if the mass market is looking for something more generic, that doesn't mean there isn't a place for niche works.

I actually started reading M/M romance because I found M/F romance to be too predictable and cookie cutter. It's sad to see that M/M romance has gone in that direction, too. Nowadays, I don't read a lot of yaoi manga anymore either because only certain kinds of stories and character archetypes are popular and available.

Hopefully, as more people tire of the predictable, they will look for new avenues, and your books will be that new avenue?

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

Oh absolutely. That's why I have a nearly unmarketable book right now between it being a happy polyamorous threesome and one of them liking, gasp, girls too.

I've never been much of a romance reader which is probably problem #1 with what I'm doing right now (I'd rather write urban fantasy for instance gay or otherwise).

But yes to the yaoi thing. A lot of my author compatriots in these publishing houses are shocked I don't like yaoi knowing I like manga. Too many rapes turning into I love yous and nonsense like that.

I think just by bumping me from romance to their non-romance imprint would help because I think people will be disappointed by the fact that in most of my stories romance is the subplot and not the main thrust, no pun intended

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

If you feel more comfortable writing in another genre, then don't bother with romance. I think being remarketed is a good idea too. The stupid yaoi fangirls, who only want the sex will find someone else who'll give it to them, & you'll be a lot happier not HATING every word you're writing trying to satisfy them, while remaining true to yourself. Even though I write fanficcage & original stuff, I still write what I like. Yes, it would have been nice to have been known as a BIG NAME FAN, but I still get the odd kudos from Ao3 & faves from FF.net. What makes that even sweeter, I haven't posted to ff.net in YEARS, so that's old work that being loved. And maybe if they move your work to a different "shelf" & remarket it, it'll get that love too!Peeps who wouldn't touch a romance book with a 10 foot pole, will, find they love your urban fantasy with a touch of romance. You'll be exposed to a different audience, who'll find you're just what they wanted & you won't have to deal with Moe-Rons who just want 200 pages of pure sex. Which to me is just "eww... gross! now, give me some story!" ;p

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

I definitely already do and will continue to write what makes me happy. Even if I know it won't be a big seller (seriously, witness ALL of the Soldiers of the Sun series).

I think I do need rebranding. That's a conversation I need to have.

[kiramaru7.livejournal.com]

Good. :D Awe... *huggles*

Yeah. :D