Complaint Department discussion
What I really hate about...
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What I really hate in m/m romance stories
As a man *cough* an explosive orgasm (even one self-inflicted) usually makes you sleepy. The immediate black out might be some recourse of this author to imply something else. Or maybe I'm just trying to read too much into a situation that is clear as water, we come we explode we vanish.I'll recommend you to figure out if it is always the same author or if it's several what are their similarities because I've read a lot of M/M and I've never seen guys falling sleep right away.
What, women don't do the same? See how little I know. Glad I write from and for the male perspective. Sorry, nodding off again.
Goesta wrote: "What, women don't do the same? See how little I know. Glad I write from and for the male perspective. Sorry, nodding off again."Its not always inevitable for a woman G. We do fake them good though!
Well, being an extremely lazy writer I might use this as a plot device to end a scene. Otherwise you've got to think up some other thing for them to get on with, which seems like quite a lot of unnecessary hassle ;)Ummm, just out of interest, are the other females in this group not likely to fall asleep straight after? In which case, what else do you do?
Danni wrote: "Well, being an extremely lazy writer I might use this as a plot device to end a scene. Otherwise you've got to think up some other thing for them to get on with, which seems like quite a lot of un..."Read a hot book!!! ;D
Danni wrote: "Well, being an extremely lazy writer I might use this as a plot device to end a scene. Otherwise you've got to think up some other thing for them to get on with, which seems like quite a lot of un..."I totally go to sleep... faster than my husband, usually. I know. I'm awesome. :P
Danni wrote: "Ummm, just out of interest, are the other females in this group not likely to fall asleep straight after? In which case, what else do you do?..."I was going to say, but felt a bit shy, that I also use it as an occasional insomnia cure. Because I fall asleep quite quickly after, every time. Actually, it's more likely my hubby might not be able to drop off and he ends up turning on the TV, while I blissfully sleep beside him.
That's one of my objections to middle-of-the-day sex. Gotta have time for at least a nap afterwards.
If I don't fall asleep, then I'll cuddle and talk. It's a great time to tackle sensitive topics, stuff my DH might get defensive or feel uncomfortable about at other times. ;-D
Ok. I'm not saying people can't go to sleep afterwards, you crazy loons! But at least let the evidence dry or get cleaned up or whatever, or maybe at least give a kiss or say goodnight, thanks, or whatever before just blacking out, unless the orgasm was so intense it caused the blackout, which was not the case I'm speaking of. And, that's a good question about the different authors. While I cannot recall which specific authors it was (I read an insane amount of books in a year), I have seen it more than once by different authors, which is what made me question it. :)
JustJen wrote: "Ok. I'm not saying people can't go to sleep afterwards, you crazy loons! But at least let the evidence dry or get cleaned up or whatever, or maybe at least give a kiss or say goodnight, thanks, o..."Lol, and we were thinking you got up and just started doing your tax return or something! Best to let the evidence dry rather than cleaning up - then you can just scrape it off in the morning. That's my top tip - I got it from Martha Stewart.
It all depends on the time of day. At night, it's clean up then get back into pajamas (with 3 young kids in the house I don't want to have to get dressed if one of them wakes up crying). But during the day, it's like getting a small shot of caffeine and I am ready to face the day :-)
Danni wrote: "JustJen wrote: "Ok. I'm not saying people can't go to sleep afterwards, you crazy loons! But at least let the evidence dry or get cleaned up or whatever, or maybe at least give a kiss or say good..."That freaking Martha has tips for everything! Like she'd ever let anyone get that stuffs on her. :) lol
As a single woman with only memories to fall back on at the moment and little hope of tapping any in the near future, I'm off to tumblr!!!!! ;D
Justin wrote: "Major English (Laura) wrote: "I sort of cant stand how in young adult or coming of age or coming out m/m stories the gay character's parents are either one of two extremes: extremely, extremely wel..."I'd should've posted this earlier when the discussion was fresher, but I thought you might find this book interesting and somewhat helpful: Oddly Normal: One Family's Struggle to Help Their Teenage Son Come to Terms with His Sexuality. It's an interesting view from the parental side of the story.
Martha is crazy. Dried cum in pubes do not make one feel glad about waking up. Especially if you are stick together. Ouch!Sleep after sex is not immediate for us, but it does happen pretty fast. We do clean up first and kiss and snuggle. However after morning sex, we don't feel sleepy, lethargic yes, but not sleepy.
Lori wrote: "Justin wrote: "Major English (Laura) wrote: "I sort of cant stand how in young adult or coming of age or coming out m/m stories the gay character's parents are either one of two extremes: extremely..."
Major English has disappeared from our membership list. Sadly it appears she decided to leave the Complaint Department without saying goodbye. :-(
Major English has disappeared from our membership list. Sadly it appears she decided to leave the Complaint Department without saying goodbye. :-(
Holy god, I cannot believe I just read this:... his a**hole gasping as the finger tickled it into an excited frenzy.
I've read about lots and lots of things these fascinating holes can do, but 'gasping' has never ever been one of those things. Until now. It actually took several more reads before the 'tickling into an excited frenzy' part even registered in my dumbstruck brain.
lmao, I wonder exactly what a hole in an excited frenzy looks like.
Kim wrote: "Holy god, I cannot believe I just read this:... his a**hole gasping as the finger tickled it into an excited frenzy.
I've read about lots and lots of things these fascinating holes can do, but '..."
Honestly Kim, when l send you stories to beta for me you're not supposed to quote them on here! Sheesh, you need to be a bit more professional ;-)
Kim wrote: "Holy god, I cannot believe I just read this:... his a**hole gasping as the finger tickled it into an excited frenzy.
I've read about lots and lots of things these fascinating holes can do, but '..."
Eeek!!!! Gasping holes?! Makes me never want to have GBS ever again! Ever!
Perhaps gasping was because he'd had baked beans for dinner and the author was just being polite about the noise.... mind you I'd have let them settle before giving in to sexual urges!
Macky wrote: "Perhaps gasping was because he'd had baked beans for dinner and the author was just being polite about the noise.... mind you I'd have let them settle before giving in to sexual urges!"Remember the rule, ten hours minimum, after eating anything Thai, Mexican and I should now add, gas-ey.
Things I hate in m/m. *Guy in closet. Closet guy meets out guy. Closet guy comes out. Something "shocking" happens. Guy goes back in closet. Manages to sleep with men still. Comes back out when ex comes back.*Maybe it's just me that gets whiplash from that? Then the widower (with or without kids) find out he's not straight, or that he never loved the wife and enters a gay relationship. I find it hard to believe most of the time.
Then we have the flamboyant gay best friend or the loud mouthed girl best friend who poses as a girlfriend.
Aves wrote: "Kim wrote: "Holy god, I cannot believe I just read this:... his a**hole gasping as the finger tickled it into an excited frenzy.
I've read about lots and lots of things these fascinating holes c..."
You Aves? No GBS? *snortlaugh*
Shannon wrote: "Aves wrote: "Kim wrote: "Holy god, I cannot believe I just read this:... his a**hole gasping as the finger tickled it into an excited frenzy.
I've read about lots and lots of things these fascin..."
Unless the guy in question is jim Carrey, this is rather unbuyable. Then again, it's fantasy, I wouldn't mind a verbally talented orifice to express my thrilledness in case my mouth is currently full.
"Beginners" was a pretty good, believable movie about an older man coming out after his wife died. So it can be done. I realize Trisha wrote "most of the time" it's hard to believe and I admit, I tend to stay away from those themes in my reading, not so interested. And there are too many closets in "gay fiction" already.
I hate that as a newbie writer, I'm discovering that keeping the sex fun, fresh and interesting is the hardest part. There's a knack and flow to writing those scenes that's as elusive as painting fluidly.
I'm pretty sure any sex scene I wrote would read like this..."then they did it". So really, I have to room to complain. :)
Shannon wrote: "I'm pretty sure any sex scene I wrote would read like this..."then they did it". So really, I have to room to complain. :)"*gasp* Fade to black sex scenes? Bite your tongue, woman! lol
Goesta wrote: "I hate that as a newbie writer, I'm discovering that keeping the sex fun, fresh and interesting is the hardest part. There's a knack and flow to writing those scenes that's as elusive as painting fluidly..."Master G, don't feel bad. One of my favorite authors, Zathyn Priest, abhors writing sex scenes. He'll whine, and protest, and procrastinate as much as he can. It'll take him days, even weeks, and when he's done, it's like he has given birth.
If I may be so bold as to make a suggestion, use plenty of sensual imagery, describe input to the senses, rather than the mechanics. Those are, for the most part, the same regardless of genders involved.
Fangtasia wrote: "Goesta wrote: "I hate that as a newbie writer, I'm discovering that keeping the sex fun, fresh and interesting is the hardest part. There's a knack and flow to writing those scenes that's as elusiv..."Thanks for the comment and advice. Noted! The sensuality is indeed the actual turn-on, apart from the occasional out-of-control, impassioned plunge-and-thrust.
Goesta wrote: "Fangtasia wrote: "Goesta wrote: "I hate that as a newbie writer, I'm discovering that keeping the sex fun, fresh and interesting is the hardest part. There's a knack and flow to writing those scene..."I will second (and third) the plunging and thrusting. lol
Speaking purely as a reader, I prefer the sensuality and emotions between the characters to the actual act. Sell the love and I can buy the rest. Just saying.
Shannon wrote: "I'm pretty sure any sex scene I wrote would read like this..."then they did it". So really, I have to room to complain. :)"That would be really cute. Disappointing, but still cute :)
Lori wrote: "Speaking purely as a reader, I prefer the sensuality and emotions between the characters to the actual act. Sell the love and I can buy the rest. Just saying."
Obviously it helps if there's the odd 'bunghole' thrown in too, to make it really sexy.
Goesta wrote: "Thanks for the comment and advice. Noted! The sensuality is indeed the actual turn-on, apart from the occasional out-of-control, impassioned plunge-and-thrust."
Goesta, just from reading that sentence, I wonder if the important aspect there is 'out-of-control'? - most of my favourite sex scenes I think have some form of out of control-ness to them.
Danni wrote: "most of my favourite sex scenes I think have some form of out of control-ness to them. "As do, I am appalled to say, my favourite nude underwater macrame creations. I am all tangled up in one of them now...
Goesta wrote: "As do, I am appalled to say, my favourite nude underwater macrame creations. I am all tangled up in one of them now... "That's kind of turning me on. You are such a tease.
Nude underwater macramé... I think they advertise that class at our local Womens Institute alongside nude jam making ( be careful of hot jam ) and nude cucumber cultivation ( Wellies must be worn at all times ).
I like the sound of the WI doing nude cucumber cultivation and then being hauled off to the local cop shop for indecent exposure, floppy bits flying and then a spot in the local gazette and maybe The Sun. :)
I know this has come up before but too lazy to try to find the references. What is the objection to using (not, obviously, overusing) the term "his lover" again? It's just a fairly neutral descriptive, isn't it? Better than "the other guy," no? Actually, we wouldn't need "guy," so, the "other hot bod under/over/in/around him."Just wondering, since frequently, half the page in those scenes seems to be filled with the names of the participants. What other alternatives do you hate/not hate so much?
I personally hate 'his lover' - it just sounds so cheesy to me. I'm not keen on any of those soppy ways to describe someone: the younger man, his lover, the blond, his little wuvvy woo, I prefer their actual names myself.
I don't mind it here and there, but not on every page or repitively throughout. Same goes for honey or babe. :)
I don't really like the term "lover" or "his lover". I prefer boyfriend or partner or husband. But I'm not a fan of the term in general. :)
Huh, interesting. To me, boyfriend, husband, partner are factual (i.e. rather dry, but fine, when appropriate) descriptives like lover, and mean different things. A lover being simply someone who is engaged in an act (physical or emotional) of loving with s/o at this moment, but probably isn't (yet or else ever) a permanent long-term partner (but could be, if they saw each other that way).Must be a language gap thing.
I really hate it when you're really into a story and drooling over the MC and the author suddenly decides to tell you that the hero looks exactly like some actor or film star who you think is pretty naff so for the rest of the book all you can see is the face of this guy who doesn't do a thing for you!! Complete turn off...... I'd much rather use my own imagination.
I totally agree with that, G, and enjoy seeing it for those very reasons, just not excessively.
Goesta wrote: "Huh, interesting. To me, boyfriend, husband, partner are factual (i.e. rather dry, but fine, when appropriate) descriptives like lover, and mean different things. A lover being simply someone who i..."That makes sense for that. To me it sounds... I don't know. I don't mind it for a casual thing, maybe that's why I'm not a fan of it for longer term.
Did I mention I hate to use "boyfriend" unless the guy involved is around six- to eighteen? To me, sounds so belittling (as in immature) of the relationship. I guess everyone grown up with different meanings ringing in their ears. "Boyfriends" were for high school. On the other hand, I'm still, at my age, getting used to "husband," which is some patriarch raising animals or tilling the fields. And "partner" is someone you share a law firm with. We have no good terms!!
But then you have people who just don't like it at all, i.e. the Danni's, et al. :D I always find it interesting how differently we all read things and the likes and dislikes of everyone. Can't please everyone all the time, so my advice is to just not use any one thing/description too much.
I'm with Jen on the ' his lover ' debate. I don't mind it every now and again but what I do hate is when the author keeps using monikers like ' the blond", "the brunette", " the Jock" etc... They have proper names, so use them.
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If it's both guys, they'll both fall asleep immediately after. And it's not that unusual at all for it to happen, regardless of whether it's their first time together or not.
Actually, if their first time was incendiary, it might be inevitable. ;-D