Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
ARCHIVE (General Topics)
>
Writing Questions for Josh
message 3401:
by
Kim
(new)
Feb 15, 2013 10:47AM
Sorry, I should have made my question more precise, i.e.: Did a gay man notice or comment on different things than a woman did? Apparently not, in your case.
reply
|
flag
Lou wrote: "If there's any difference I see between male and female crit partners, is that females are more likely to remind to use lube and condoms. ..."That's interesting! I have to say I notice when it's left out.
Lou wrote: "My experience is that when I have a handful of people commenting they all point out something different."Yes. This. Every cp or beta brings something different to a story, different strengths & weaknesses.
Mod
I definitely like a variety of betas.
Mod
I started out thinking it was funny, but having had a brush with a stalker personality lately, I'm now leaning more toward creeped out.
I was checking out a book by an author who recently started following me on Twitter when I happened to notice his tag line.
A distinct voice in gay fiction, XXXXX is being labeled by readers and reviewers...etc.
It's my decade old tag line lifted right down to the all-caps name. And the more I'm looking, the more it appears some uncomfortable and yes, a bit creepy, not-coincidence.
Although I won't deny the funny possibilities, and I'm tempted to change my tagline to THE MOST distinct voice in gay fiction or The MORE DISTINCT THAN YOU! voice in gay fiction.
:-D :-D :-D
I think my main worry is that readers are liable to think this is an alias of me. And no. Absolutely not.
Mod
Well, that, and having someone show up on my Goodreads doorstep and kill me and take my place here.
We need to create a code word that only WE know.
They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, but that is creepy. I agree.And I have no idea what could be done about it.
So I guess pseudonyms are still a good idea? I find that a sad comment on the way things are.
Mod
And I have no idea what could be done about it.
So I guess pseudonyms are still a good idea? I find that a sad c..."
Yeah. I want to keep my sense of humor...or at least put it down to staggering inexperience.
Yes, recent experiences have confirmed my belief that the bigger the firewall, the better.
That sounds horrible and creepy but maybe he just couldn't think of an original tag line? If it were me I'd want to get someone to check out his books just to make sure it isn't just your tag line he's borrowed. Don't you do it though - get someone else on the case. If you PM me details I'll do it.
Josh wrote: "Although I won't deny the funny possibilities, and I'm tempted to change my tagline to THE MOST distinct voice in gay fiction"It would be ok for most of us ;-).
That's upsetting, but there is nothing to do.
BTW I read some positive review of his books and I thought I might buy one. I reconsidered this now.
Sorry to hear about the stalker experience!
Wow. You've used that tag line for as long as I've known you, and that's going on 6 or 7 years. Funny how we're both still 29...How 'distinct' is this 'voice' if they're using someone else's tag line? That's my question!
;-)
Josh wrote: "So this is a writing question that I can't answer. I started out thinking it was funny, but having had a brush with a stalker personality lately, I'm now leaning more toward creeped out.
I was c..."
If they used the exact same tag line, isn't this a copyright infringement in itself? I mean, your creativity went in that lines and who knows how long you labored about it. Aren't those lines protected too and can't you get them at least stop using them if need be? Just asking...
And I agree, this is creepy. :(
Mod
Thank you, Caroline. I'm just going to assume it's someone really new to...the planet.
It's not like I have copyright on the phrase, after all. It's just weird to suddenly see it right down the capitalized author name. But as you say, he probably couldn't think of how else to describe, um, himself.
Mod
How 'distinct' is this 'voice' if they're using someone else's tag..."
Heh. Good point.
Mod
..."
Well, legally there's nothing. It's bad manners, I guess. Gauche. And as LB pointed out, not very distinct. But beyond that...no. I can't picture saying anything. I'd feel like a goof.
Hey, Mr. X. You know that thing you say about being a distinct voice...well, I'M the OTHER distinct voice and...and....
:-D :-D :-D
GET YOUR OWN DISTINCT VOICE, DAMN YOU!!!
It's just not going to be very dignified, you know. And I am ALL about the dignity.
Mod
..."
Stalker is probably too harsh. More...unnervingly overenthusiastic.
Mod
How 'distinct' is this 'voice' if they're using someone else's tag..."
And by the way, we both look FABULOUS for our never-budging age.
Josh wrote: "Heh. Good point. "Well, they do say I'm 'frank' among some other thing that begin with the letter 'f'...
Seriously, though. That's just not done.
The joys of a small business owner. <3As the mm e-book market gets crazier, your company is probably going to need a lawyer on retainer to write official looking nasty notes. The mainstream pubs all have lawyers to help preserve their territories.
But yeah, if that is as creative as he can be, he's not long for the market. ;-D
eta:The lawyer can write dignified notes too! Ha.
Mod
*SNORT*
No. You're not the other distinct voice here. You're the FIRST distinct voice.
I like the idea of changing yours up just a tad to say "more distinct". I'd be all for that. ;-)
Mod
Josh wrote: "Calathea wrote: "If they used the exact same tag line, isn't this a copyright infringement in itself? I mean, your creativity went in that lines and who knows how long you labored about it. Aren't ..."Well, dang the differeces in our legal systems... ;)
Mod
Well, they do say I'm 'frank' among some other thing that begin with the letter 'f'...
Seriously, though. That's just not done."
See, if I saw the frank, funny, fresh...that's you. I don't care how they mixed up those three words, it's LB Gregg. Jo Myles is lashings of English sauce. If someone else was lashing sauce, even French sauce, I'd be heyyyyyyyyy
He probably thought it's a huge genre with a million writers and no one would notice. And after all, it did take ME to make the connection.
Mod
Mod
He probably totally forgot where he lifted it from.
Mod
As the mm e-book market gets crazier, your company is probably going to need a lawyer on retainer to write official looking nasty notes. The mainstream pubs ..."
There's a sad thought.
Mod
:-D
Mod
Reggie has a point. As it gets more and more crowded, we'll probably see more and more of similar tag lines, author names...you think similar titles are confusing!
Mod
:-D
Na wrote: "Well, it is surely frustrating and bothering but overall, your readers know where the tag line is coming from and who is worth it. ;)"EVERYBODY knows it's Josh's tag line. That's the thing. It's not like Josh is some nobody half the market's never heard of or read.
My vote is the dude's a so-green-he-glows newbie, a complete dumbass, or both.
Mod
R..."
lol, I think I'm just weird. I always wonder what other people are going to think if I have something similar to them. Heck, I used to worry that Josh and I had similar initials! Then I realized how crazy that was and got over it. lol. Like, really. Initials? That's a lame thing to worry about.
But I did email JCP when I picked Jordan as my first name just to set her mind at ease since we'd known each other awhile. It is my real middle name, which is where I got it from. And a specific television show got my my middle and last name.
The weird things I worry about. *shakes head at self*
Mod
EVERYBODY knows it's Josh's tag line. That's the t..."
I think so. Meaning the complete newbie thing.
Hey, what's Nora Roberts' tag line? Maybe I could use that? At least it's a different sub-genre. :-D
Mod
EVERYBODY knows it's Josh's tag line. That's the t..."
That is the thing, for sure, Kari.
And now I'm really curious to know who this writer is and if he's any good. But I know no one's gonna tell me. Which is fine. I DO have better things to do, after all. lol.
Josh wrote: "Hey, what's Nora Roberts' tag line? Maybe I could use that? At least it's a different sub-genre. :-D ...."LOL now there's an idea. But somehow I don't think Nora plays on the internets very much.
Jordan wrote: "Kari wrote: "Na wrote: "Well, it is surely frustrating and bothering but overall, your readers know where the tag line is coming from and who is worth it. ;)"EVERYBODY knows it's Josh's tag line...."
DM'd you. 'Cos clearly I have nothing better to do ;)
Mod
...."
Only because I do know that it was not done to offend or anger or out of malice or anything. It's just someone who doesn't know better. I would hate to have my dumbness spread wide and far.
Not that it isn't. :-P
Mod
The name thing is getting more and more confusing -- but that's inevitable. There are only so many letters in the alphabet and all these combinations of initials.
Mod
LOL now there's an idea. But somehow I don't think Nora plays on the interne..."
Damn straight. She's too busy writing a book a day.
:-D
Mod
Edit : Is it the first time someone copy your tagline, Josh ?"
Well, it's certainly the first time I stumbled over it.
Now that you mention it, maybe a dozen writers are out there. After all, I did say A distinct voice not THE distinct voice. :-D
Mod
EVERYBODY knows it's J..."
:-P
Mod
I'm also thinking about how hard it is to write a bio. What does one put into a bio when you're new to being published? How do you sound professional and not give too much personal stuff away, if that's what you're aiming for? What's the best way to figure these questions out? See how the seasoned pros have done it! It seems to me, that's all he was trying to do, and he had no other guidance than to see examples. So in this case, your bio would be a sort of template.
From there, it's too easy to rearrange some words, and get confused about how much you're stealing, and how much you're making things your own. The only thing that really stands out, would be that one distinct word usage.
You guys are Way too nice. I like the official letter form the lawyer. Even if you can't enforce it, threatens to cost the idiot $$. But yeah, vent away...
Water balloons, anyone? Voodoo? I know Josh you can write him in the next Kit/J.X. novel and then....squish!
Mod
..."
He does a variation on it in several places. The worst is Amazon where for a split second I thought my page had merged with his.
Yes, blurbs, bios, taglines are all difficult. You don't want to sound like you just fell out of the library van, you want to stand out, to be distinct, to sound like you're worth a reader investing time in.
It's a sales pitch, in essence.
Which is why even if Pepsi is the Real Thing too, Pepsi doesn't use The Real Thing in their tag line.
And because we're writers and this is what we do, there's a higher expectation that we'll be able to craft nifty tag lines and bios and blurbs.
And we're all multi-award winning authors here, right? Who the heck hasn't won some kind of award at this point or spent a few hours on somebody's bestseller list? We've all received our share of lavish praise. We're all putting the same things in our blurbs, bios, tags...but trying to make them sound not so generic.
Starting with the exact same phrase is to be avoided, though.
"Josh wrote: "Hey, what's Nora Roberts' tag line?I don't think Josh "The Nora" Lanyon has the same ring. ;-)
Susinok wrote: But somehow I don't think Nora plays on the internets very much."
I wouldn't be so sure. Her publicist was speaking at a promo workshop last summer at RWA12 and said NR's new refrigerator has a twitter account. No idea if The Nora is active on social media, but her major appliances? Apparently a distinct possibility.
Na wrote: "Don't you try to negociate the nice way first. Then, call your lawyer ? :)"If this was personal then sure.
This isn't personal, it is business. Businesses protect their property. Businesses talk through lawyers.
But hey- put it in a story and get revenge. =D
Mod
I don't think Josh "The Nora" Lanyon has the same ring. ;-)
Susinok wrote: But somehow I don't think Nora plays on the internets very much."
I w..."
I would not want to get on the bad side of Nora's fridge. Let alone Nora! I am a total fan. Of both. :-D
Kari wrote: "I wouldn't be so sure. Her publicist was speaking at a promo workshop last summer at RWA12 and said NR's new refrigerator has a twitter account. No idea if The Nora is active on social media, but her major appliances? Apparently a distinct possibility. ..."Maybe Nora's fridge is lonely. I bet a woman writing a book a day doesn't have much time to spend in the kitchen.
Kari and I have the same last name, but we're family.
Mod
True. ;-D
Mod
This isn't personal, it is business. Businesses protect their property. Busin..."
(Just deleted that post you mentionned Reggie by error.)
If it wa..."
No. And really, there's no way I would threaten someone over something like that. If they took my name, well, that would be kind of hard to overlook.
And my name is legally registered, so yes, I would point out that maybe two Josh Lanyons was a little much for any genre.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Q&A with Josh Lanyon
Books mentioned in this topic
Alphabears: An ABC Book (other topics)Rag and Bone (other topics)
As Meat Loves Salt (other topics)
The Well of Loneliness (other topics)
The Selfish Gene (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Julie Smith (other topics)Bernard Cornwell (other topics)
Robin McKinley (other topics)
Tove Jansson (other topics)
Astrid Lindgren (other topics)
More...
