Q&A with Josh Lanyon discussion
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Writing Questions for Josh
Kari wrote: "Not enough keeling going on in this business. Not by half. LOL."keelhauling you mean :p
I've had suggestions for extra scenes... but I'd never even think of asking my editor to write them for me. Seems strange to do that, even if I'd be dropping dead from fatigue.Though... I think that might be a control-issue ;)
Blaine wrote: "Kari wrote: "Not enough keeling going on in this business. Not by half. LOL."keelhauling you mean :p"
Oh, there's lots and lots of that. Great heaving buckets of it.
K.J. wrote: "K.Z. wrote: "and she keeled over."I feel an overwhelming urge to work that into the MS that I'm rewriting for the author..."
Double dog dare ya! (Oops. If you're British, that will make no sense to you whatsoever.)
Blaine wrote: "Kari wrote: "Not enough keeling going on in this business. Not by half. LOL."keelhauling you mean :p"
Ha! That, too. Judging by my Updates page, it's going on in the YA Sea as we speak.
Forget proving the existence of God. The YA market proves there is a devil and his names are...uh...the nut squad that comprises the YA market. Those people are farkin SCARY.Any time the ruckuses in M/M wings up an eyebrow, I remind myself of YA. And more recently, scifi.
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Why do you as an author allow lending on your ebooks? (B&N, Amazon etc.) I looked up a few of the mainstre..."
Mainstream authors don't have a choice in the matter. That decision is made by publishers.
I allow it because I do believe in libraries. I do believe that there are some readers who just cannot afford to buy books. Maybe that's a temporary situation, maybe they would buy books if they could -- and maybe some day they even *will* buy books if they love them enough.
And I much prefer the idea of controlled and organized lending over piracy which encourages readers to tell themselves convenient lies. I think there is an important difference between a reader who borrows a book for a limited time and a reader who gets in the habit of justifying theft.
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Yes, it does.
But I would suggest that the challenge for many of us -- and one reason I gave up the whole "manuscript evaluation" idea -- is the difficulty of not rewriting other authors. Especially weaker authors (which is who we generally see). Imposing our voice and style and muscular prose on someone who basically just needs a bit of guidance.
I see this so often with junior editors who are in love with a particular writing book and try to insist that there is some kind of universal rule or style or voice for writing.
Oh my God. Why not just brand your shoulder with an A for Amateur and have done?
I don't care who the opinion comes from -- Stephen King, Elmore Leonard, Raymond Chandler... it's just an opinion. There is no single right way to write. And it is the height of both arrogance and ignorance to try and tell another writer that there is.
I digress. Because that comment has absolutely nothing to do with Nicole's editing (everything I learned about Spec Fic I learned from Nicole and the BEB gang). I just get so *tired* when I see writers quoting the stupid things "editors" (particularly baby editors) say.
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This is so true. And of course this is why an experienced and skilled editor (because editing is a delicate and difficult art) is to be valued and cherished and PAID.
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That's pretty awesome."
Best laugh of the day.
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That's pretty awesome."
Isn't it? My mother (who'd be over 100 were she still alive) used the phrase keel over. It makes me think of..."
LOL
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And she wrote back "Getting warm just reading this."
:-D :-D :-D
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I feel an overwhelming urge to work that into the MS that I'm rewriting for the author..."
A real author doesn't want to be rewritten. The only way I can see that is a kind of passive-resistance to changes the author doesn't believe in and doesn't want to make. Yes. There I can see an author, feeling powerless, digging in her heels and saying, "Fine. Then you make the changes."
Because there is some hellishly intrusive "editing" going on in these ebook houses. And so often the editors are authors who can't make money writing and hope to supplement their income by becoming "editors." Which is such a disastrous convergence of conflicting needs and abilities and aims.
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Any time the ruckuses..."
I don't think we can afford to feel too smug. The fact that we aren't the only lunatics in the universe isn't grounds for rejoicing. :-D
Josh wrote: "Denise wrote: "Hi Josh, I'm not sure if this question has been asked or if it belongs here but anyway. Why do you as an author allow lending on your ebooks? (B&N, Amazon etc.) I looked up a few ..."
i liked what you said Josh , for example here in Algeria am not able to find your books ANYWHERE!! imagine! so am obliged to persuade a friend in the US or Canada to buy me the book online & send it to me if it's paperback or just buy me the Ebook on Amazon or wherever because in my country these online purchase methods are not popular therefor not used & we don't have this credit card systems!!!! i am actually waiting for my new book to arrive The Selfish Gene (i've been waiting for 5 months!)
thank you for believing in sharing knowledge & books :)
Kari wrote: "And more recently, scifi. "Fucking John Ringo ...
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Lou, thanks for posting that list! I'll have to remember to copy it when I get home. I especially like the second to last and the last one.
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This is exactly right. I mean, insisting on one style of writing means you're insisting on one style of reading. And how the hell could there be a wrong way to read? Are readers who love Georgette Heyer WRONG for loving her since she didn't follow Chandler's rules. Is Chandler wrong -- are his devotees wrong -- because he didn't follow Stephen King's rules?
It's such silliness.
The very idea that there would be a single, universal, approved "style" for writing fiction is ludicrous.
This is a rather long shot for this group but no harm in asking. I have a friend who is PhD-ing and looking for well documented author/editor links. So far he has Carver/Lish, Barnes/Cavanagh William Golding/Charles Montrieth, William Maxwell and Sylvia Townsend Warner and William Faulkner/Malcolm Cowley. All mainstream literary fiction but I did wonder if there are any examples from gay fiction that you know of? By well documented he means with information/letters in the public domain so he can read it and quote from it.
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Interesting. I doubt it, given the "transgressive" perception of gay literature for most of the 20th Century. Much of the early work was done in the pulps, by definition a quick and dirty process.
It's likely that writers like Vidal, Capote, et al had lengthy (fascinating) relationships and correspondence with their editors -- and much of that probably still exists -- but their work was essentially mainstream.
I don't know his editor but Somerset Maugham? He seems the chatty type. Or Langston Hughes. Rumor has it that T. H. White was gay. Although Josh is right, none of these wrote explicitly gay fiction. There's always Radclyffe Hall, a lesbian writer who wrote perhaps the most depressing (but beautifully written and quite well known) lesbian love story ever - The Well of Loneliness.
I found this tab open (I really need to find a better way to keep track of what I still wanted to read, instead of keeping a gazillion tabs open at any point), and realised I'd never reacted to it...Lou wrote: "Neil Gaiman was the only one whose advice made sense"
Brilliant advice! I'm going to have to print that one out, I think
Josh wrote: "A boy and his editor..."I did suggest Sassoon/Owen to Tom but he's only looking at fiction writers and not poets. I'm sure Josh is right that there won't be any documentary evidence of author/editor relationships for most gay literature. I agree Dev about The Well of Loneliness - Radclyffe Hall was published by Jonathan Cape of course who was put on trial for publishing it.
Which boy and which editor Josh?
Caroline wrote: "Radclyffe Hall was published by Jonathan Cape of course who was put on trial for publishing it. "Huh, I didn't know that. Thanks.
Blaine wrote: "I found this tab open (I really need to find a better way to keep track of what I still wanted to read, instead of keeping a gazillion tabs open at any point), and realised I'd never reacted to it."Lol, I do that too :D
Hambel wrote: "Lol, I do that too :D "I'm so glad I'm not the only one!
I've got enough friends making fun of me because of it.
I just keep thinking I'll leave them until I have time to read them... and then never find the time (not to mention the amount of interesting articles being thrown my way a day is just ridiculous... and I never know when to pick and choose)
Blaine wrote: "Hambel wrote: "Lol, I do that too :D "I'm so glad I'm not the only one!
I've got enough friends making fun of me because of it.
I just keep thinking I'll leave them until I have time to read the..."
Exactly! And then I'll go through the zillions of tabs that are open and read some, close some because I can't remember why I wanted to read them, and bookmark others so I can close them. There's so much internet and only one of me :D
Hambel wrote: "Exactly! And then I'll go through the zillions of tabs that are open and read some, close some because I can't remember why I wanted to read them, and bookmark others so I can close them. There's so much internet and only one of me :D "I've got so many dated bookmark folders, it's scary... and I rarely look into them (until I'm searching for something, and then it's like a needle in a haystack)
And, yes, too much internet, too few of me ;)
I've been absent from Goodreads for far too long, but I have a head cold and tonight I'm lounging around and catching up. I'm really enjoying reading the last month or so of this thread. (One of the comments in my unread post summaries caught my eye.) I may have to go back to read even further.
Pender wrote: "I've been absent from Goodreads for far too long, but I have a head cold and tonight I'm lounging around and catching up. I'm really enjoying reading the last month or so of this thread. (One of th..."Hi, nice to see you back here :)
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Pender wrote: "I've been absent from Goodreads for far too long..."Hiya, Pender!
*waves to Pender* Hiya :) and welcome back
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Josh wrote: "Hey there, Pender! What are you up to these days?"Wow, thanks for the warm welcome back, guys. Right now I'm sucking down chicken noodle soup, okay, chicken flavored ramen, every chance I get, because I'm sick so hey, I get to eat what I want, right? I'm trying to catch up on my reading too.
Let's see, I spent the first half of the year writing Single Use Only and July and August editing, but the book's finally done, it's out of my hands so now I can come out to play again.
I also went to the Gay Romance Northwest Meet-Up in September where I got to meet Anne Tenino, Lou Harper and L.C. Chase among others. It was lots of fun and I'm planning to go again next year and take L.C. up on her invitation to go clubbing.
Pender wrote: "Josh wrote: "Hey there, Pender! What are you up to these days?"Wow, thanks for the warm welcome back, guys. Right now I'm sucking down chicken noodle soup, okay, chicken flavored ramen, every cha..."
Congratulations on your book and get well soon!
Welcome back also from me and congratulations on the book! Take care of yourself!
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Wow, thanks for the warm welcome back, guys. Right now I'm sucking down chicken noodle soup, okay, chicken flavored ramen, every cha..."
Wow, you've been busy. Congratulations on your new book! And welcome back. :-)
Pender wrote: "Josh wrote: "Hey there, Pender! What are you up to these days?"Wow, thanks for the warm welcome back, guys. Right now I'm sucking down chicken noodle soup, okay, chicken flavored ramen, every cha..."
Congrats on the new book! And I hope you're feeling much better today.
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Johanna wrote: "By the way, Anne Y., how is it going with As Meat Loves Salt? If I remember correctly Pender is the next one in line for that traveling book... ;-)"She is. The book resides peacefully on my nightstand. To tell the truth, I haven't started it yet. If Pender is eagerly awaiting, I can start on it and then make sure it gets on its way soon-ish. :)
Anne wrote: "Johanna wrote: "By the way, Anne Y., how is it going with As Meat Loves Salt? If I remember correctly Pender is the next one in line for that traveling book... ;-)"She is. The book resides peacef..."
Take your time. I have soooo many books to read, especially since I went on a bit of a buying frenzy after meeting all those authors at the Northwest meet up. I'm still kicking myself for not taking my copy of Irregulars. I could have asked Nicole Kimberling, Ginn Hale and Astrid Amara to sign it, but there's always next year.
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..."
I have been a mystery writer too long. First image in my head was of, yes, a blood-spattered club.
Yeesh!
Sorry to hear you're under the weather, Pender!
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I'll start.
Before the end of the year I have:
The Parting Glass
Kick Start
Christmas Codas Collected
The AE Christmas surprise
And -- I hope (but this may depend on my wrists) -- The Boy With the Painful Tattoo.
Josh wrote: "So...speaking to the writers in our group (but on behalf of the readers) why don't you all give us a little quick update on what you have coming out before the end of the year?I'll start.
Before..."
An exiting list to be sure. But, we, your readers won't forgive you if you hurt yourself, so take care.
Josh wrote: "So...speaking to the writers in our group (but on behalf of the readers) why don't you all give us a little quick update on what you have coming out before the end of the year?I'll start.
Before..."
Wow, Josh, that's a lot! Wonderful for all the rest of us, but do be good to your wrists.
Me, I have a novel coming in December from Amber Allure called Nobody's Home.
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I'll s..."
Yeah, what Anne says. We don't want you to turn into The Boy With the Painful Wrists...
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She is. The book resides peacef..."
That book takes awhile to get through, at least it did for me, so keep that in mind. Take breaks and read some fluff every few chapters or something.
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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)
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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)
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I feel an overwhelming urge to work that into the MS that I'm rewriting for the author...