Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Writing Questions for Josh
how do i find the ugly cover contest... i like to see them.
On the whole, I like to think that I'm immune to bookcovers, but I know I'm not. I have a great positive example. When I was new to the genre, I was fishing around somewhere, looking for published m/m to read, not having any real good sense for who was good and who wasn't (don't think I'd even discovered Josh yet) and a bookcover popped up. It was this one:
"I was aware of my thought process, and knew that I might be making a really naive mistake, but I thought, if a m/m book has a cover like that, it simply must be more than a stupid bodice ripper. So I bought it, and damn, but I nailed it. I still think that is in the running for one of the best m/m covers of all time (for me, personally), and the book (and author) remains one of my favorite m/m of all time. No person, a gun and pills, it pretty much summed up the story perfectly.
I gather that even then, Jordan really pushed her ability to create her own covers (she has a strong background in graphics design, is that right?).
Mod
Yes. I love Jordan's eye for design. I've been happy with all our covers.
Covers are a definite consideration in picking a publisher. Covers do absolutely help or hurt in the sales of books -- as do book titles.
Right I almost didn't get
because i don't like whores but that book is great and worth the read but i put it off for a long time becasue of the titleOn the other hand i bought
for the title and was very disappointed
oh god
was the winner and yeah thats bad IMO and
wow
Huh. Seems to me that the first place winner doesn't belong there. It's not m/m romance, but a collection of political/social essays on shame in the gay community. In that context, I don't find the cover ugly, but in fact, compelling and even beautiful, for what it is saying.ETA: In fact, I'd say there's a supreme irony in this, and one that I would be embarassed about if I'd voted for the book. It's as if the (largely straight female) m/m reading community has said, 'ewww yes, be ashamed, please, that is UGLY." Kind of interesting, if I'm right about the theme of the book.
I only looked at the cover didn't even look to see what the book was about
Heh. I'm always looking for a good new author -- 's why I noticed. :)
Mod
That second cover...dear God. Ugly and heavy-handed. Pretty much in keeping with that particular author's approach to self-promotion, if I might be blunt.
Ocotillo wrote: "I thought, if a m/m book has a cover like that, it simply must be more than a stupid bodice ripper. So I bought it, and damn, but I nailed it."AW, that is so sweet of you to say! I did design the gun/drug/logo image. The book was re-typeset after a year and I was allowed to design the whole wraparound cover at that point. I see now that it's extremely rare for a publisher to allow a writer to submit cover art, which seems wrongheaded to me. I have never been paid for doing any of my own covers, and they're all very popular. I always looked at it as an investment that would ensure I didn't get a terrible cover. I think getting a terrible cover is brutally hard for me because I am an artist and designer.
Jordan wrote: "extremely rare for a publisher to allow a writer to submit cover art"Yes, you are very lucky you were allowed to. And I love that cover - you are damn good at all you do.
Josh wrote: "But if I'm writing heterosexual fiction, I'm going to use a different pen name. My feeling is the two genres are going to be too different and I think it's going to lead to frustration and disappointment on the part of readers."Day two of my decision to make writing my primary focus, and this is just what I'm thinking about, amongst other things, and part of the reason for my question.
In the late nineties, I started writing online under my real name. (I was rather naive). I have made up a pen name since then, but a search for either name leads you to the same person. Anita is Cayendi and Cayendi is Anita. I've grown not to care about being so exposed and have taken the stance that if people don't care for what I write it is their problem. (I know, still rather naive). Which is one of the reasons I decided I would like to be published under my real name.
My problem is this, and I can't believe I've barely been able to think about anything else all day:
One of my three finished first drafts is not an m/m story, but involves a heterosexual romance with a secondary m/m pairing. And I'm also trying to work out whether or not it classifies as a YA novel. (all three are a combination of fantasy/sf, romance and mystery)
I've been working on this story for a long time and I love the idea of seeing it in print or ebook, but ... in light of my decision to become a professional writer, should I put effort in getting this story submission ready right now, knowing that there is little chance of me writing another heterosexual pairing (at least not in the near future), so won't have any follow up material to submit? Or should I postpone working on it until ... well, until I've established myself enough to venture outside my chosen genre and try and get this published?
And what about short stories? I have some rough drafts of stories that don't fit the m/m genre either. Do I use a different pen name for those when submitting to magazines or competitions or are there different guidelines to adhere to?
Josh,I think you should start a series about clowns. Why well because the most obvious reason is those big shoes they wear, you know what they say about a guy in big shoes.
Ya know what scratch that; make it a circus series because I like lion tamers too. You could do a murder at the circus or something fun like that.
There are no m/m books out there (that I know of) with a big hunk of man clown.
Thanks,
B
P.S I will be your best friend forever if you do it, even if it is an 8 page joke book. That has to be a huge incentive there ;)
Sounds like Kari would read it also! ;)
Bubbles (Dane) wrote: "Josh,I think you should start a series about clowns."
I'm wondering what happened to make you want a book like this ;)
And I'd read it, of course!
EM if you really want to know you can read Marisa's profile. She had me post a bunch of old drunk blogs. There is one about clowns and porn and tacos ;)
I really wanted to know, lol :D
Bubbles (Dane) wrote: "Josh, I think you should start a series about clowns. Why well because the most obvious reason is those big shoes they wear, you know what they say about a guy in big shoes..."LMAO Oh, Bubbles... That's hilarious, but now you've got me thinking about clowns and lion-tamers and a murder mystery involving a hit-and-run by a really tiny car...
Lots of circus to go around I am sure you could both come up with some fun stuff. I like my clowns with blue hair and red shoes just FYI
Ewww, I hate clowns... I mean doesn't anyone think it's scary how they paint their faces to look like they are always smiling??I'd totally read it, though, if Josh (or Missy) wrote something about them ^_^
P.S. Has anyone seen that commercial from USPS for returning gifts?? Omg, it's hilarious. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwXdSH...
not all clowns paint their face creepy like 
To be honest, at first the clown theme freaked me out a bit, but now I'm interested! Bring it!
Mod
Anita, the thing about the pen names -- the reason (aside for security and privacy) that I advocate not starting out using your own name is that -- assuming you have any desire to eventually write for a NY publisher -- often deals and print runs are based on the sales figures attached to your name, so if your sales are not that impressive...well, it would be ironic to be unable to use your own name for your best work because your own name isn't considered commercial enough.
Mod
Is it viable to boost the secondary m/m pairing so that it's a bit more prominent in the story?
If that's possible than I think you could go ahead and publish under your chosen pen name.
Actually, you can still go ahead and publish under that pen name, even though it wouldn't be my choice (I'm big into compartments and channels). A number of authors do both -- the only real theme being, for example, erotic romance or maybe paranormal romance. Bonnie Dee, for example. I'm sure there are tons of them out there.
You can also use a different pen name for the het stories, but make it clear in your promo that it's Jayne Starr writing as Judie West.
A number of writers have done that quite successfully to pick up crossover readers.
Mod
."
It's true that incentive like that doesn't come along every day.
Mod
Oh dear.
Mod
Well, yeah. Naturally! ;-P
Mod
I'm anticipating a whole wave of clown pron in the coming months.
That would be awesome, like epic in its awesomeness
Mod
I'd totally read it, though, if Josh (or Missy) wrote something abou..."
Or the Fizzbo episode on Modern Family?
Josh wrote: "Anita, the thing about the pen names -- the reason (aside for security and privacy) that I advocate not starting out using your own name is that -- ..."You gave me plenty to think about. My brain's already throwing out names *sigh* Wouldn't it be nice if brains could be turned off for a couple of minutes every day?
And of course I'm dreaming of becoming a hot shot author ;), but right now, I think I first need to find out the specifics of getting published as a foreign author ... since they, unfortunately, don't publish English novels in the Netherlands ...
B, you really don't see anything weird about that picture?? I mean, come on!! That face is creepy with the painted on mouth and expression!Josh wrote: "Or the Fizzbo episode on Modern Family? "
Omg, the clown was funny but scary! Lol
Looksi how have you not seen Firefly but you have seen Modern Family? I don't know what Modern Family is but shame on you Looksi
Lol. Well, Bambi, I didn't have the channel it was played on or Netflix that's why I couldn't watch Firefly but I have it now! :D I have the channel Modern Family is played on, though :P
Firefly was sadly on Fox. :( but you should watch it now! and then read Contact again and then our friendship will be okay again.
Mod
My sister got the first season of Modern Family for Christmas and forced us all to watch a few episodes on New Year's Eve.
I say "forced" but actually the show is very funny. Or at least the four episodes I saw.
Mod
Yes. And in particular it would be nice if our brains didn't rev into high gear when we lie down to sleep at night.
Mod
"
I can't see why this would be a problem, Anita. I know a number of English authors who publish with US publishers. You just fill out the right tax forms once your work is accepted for publication and you're good to go.
Just put together a proposal and submit to the publisher of your choice.
Bubbles (Dane) wrote: "Firefly was sadly on Fox. :( but you should watch it now! and then read Contact again and then our friendship will be okay again."Lmao. Then our friendship will be okay? *snort*
I'll be watching it tonight, Bambi. Or at least the first episode ^_^
First episode is like an hour and a helf and wasnt the best but after episode two you'll love it. Then we can get you started on Buffy
Lol. I've seen the first few seasons of Buffy, silly. Up until the first couple of episodes with her sister Dawn (was it Dawn? I can't remember)
Mod
http://www.reviewsbyjessewave.com/
Hope some of you will drop by and comment. (It's my first day at my new school, Mom!)
Josh wrote: "Yes. And in particular it would be nice if our brains didn't rev into high gear when we lie down to sleep at night. "I agree. That would be really nice.
Josh wrote: "Just put together a proposal and submit to the publisher of your choice. "You make that sound really easy
Anita wrote: "You make that sound really easy""If it was easy, it wouldn't be baseball." <--- vague League of Their Own reference
If it was easy, we wouldn't love it.
Josh:
I'm reading Man Oh Man, and just read this commen from Sasha Knight of Samhain Publishing:
"I'd love to never see a submission again where one of the men in the relationship might as well be a woman with a penis. Men are different from women. I don't want to read a book marked as M/M when it seems like the author just took a het romance and changed one of the names and the subsequent body parts. That doesn't work for me, or for readers."
I have actually read this sort of comment before, from editors/publishers, reviewers and readers alike: They don't like a man acting like a woman in the M/M relationship. I'm wondering if I could get your take on this? What does a man, in an M/M romance context, acting like a woman look like? I'm currently writing 2 M/M romances (one sci/fi, one paranormal), and this is a definite struggle for me. I'm almost paranoid about my protag's NOT coming across as women.
But in any relationship, whether M/M, M/F, F/F, etc. aren't there always going to be roles that mimic a het relationship to some degree? I don't know, maybe I'm stressing just to be stressing. I suddenly feel like Kit!
Your thoughts are appreciated :)
I'm reading Man Oh Man, and just read this commen from Sasha Knight of Samhain Publishing:
"I'd love to never see a submission again where one of the men in the relationship might as well be a woman with a penis. Men are different from women. I don't want to read a book marked as M/M when it seems like the author just took a het romance and changed one of the names and the subsequent body parts. That doesn't work for me, or for readers."
I have actually read this sort of comment before, from editors/publishers, reviewers and readers alike: They don't like a man acting like a woman in the M/M relationship. I'm wondering if I could get your take on this? What does a man, in an M/M romance context, acting like a woman look like? I'm currently writing 2 M/M romances (one sci/fi, one paranormal), and this is a definite struggle for me. I'm almost paranoid about my protag's NOT coming across as women.
But in any relationship, whether M/M, M/F, F/F, etc. aren't there always going to be roles that mimic a het relationship to some degree? I don't know, maybe I'm stressing just to be stressing. I suddenly feel like Kit!
Your thoughts are appreciated :)
Leah, I always wonder the same thing. I think most people, when they say "acting like a woman" mean "acting like a woman in a traditional m/f romance." Because otherwise, I don't get it. What does a woman act like?
Mod
Well, it's easy to over-think. Basically, you're writing romance so you want your male characters to react like normal men -- only better. Romance is best when it's grounded in a believable reality -- meaning the characters and their relationship seem real, seem like they could really happen.
Even if it's a fantasy.
If you can't picture any man you know behaving a certain way -- even given how complex and contradictory all humans are -- then your character is probably not believable.
I will say this -- m/m fiction has expanded quite a bit even in the short amount of time since I wrote MOM. There are more campy and queeny male characters than there used to be, so you've got a little more leeway. Still...femme characters don't tend to be the heroes readers fall in love with.
Why? Because gay or straight, male or female, culturally we value certain traits and behaviors in the heroes and heroines of our romantic fiction. Someone else can better analyze why this is, I simply observe that it *is.*
But in any relationship, whether M/M, M/F, F/F, etc. aren't there always going to be roles that mimic a het relationship to some degree? I don't know, maybe I'm stressing just to be stressing. I suddenly feel like Kit!
What's that psychology theory about how in every love relationship there is a lover and a lovee. Maybe that's what people confuse with a het dynamic?
Two men in a relationship are still going to be two men, and their unique characters will define their roles. I think what you have to examine is what you think the "roles" of a relationship would be. In every relationship there is a division of responsibilities and duties.
I guess the simple answer is to make sure your characters have a realistic balance of strengths and weaknesses and contradictions. Like the tough guy cop who lives with his mom or the femme guy who's a master mechanic.
Hopefully some of that makes sense!
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Q&A with Josh Lanyon
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All I can say is WOW