IR's that are "Undercooked" & Not "Well Done"

[A.C.]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "That's why I started writing. Because I wanted to see more stories I wanted to read. I like a good variety of stories, which is why I read between genres on a regular basis. I just hope that IRR ..."

Vixenne wrote: "You're talking to someone who considers Princess Leia one of her favourite heroes, LOL. I like it when authors subvert standard tropes and rescue the prince instead of the other way around. Like ..."

My own work is IR or MC Mainstream with subgenres of Fantasy, Paranormal, and Urban Fantasy, and Erotic Romance with subgenres Historical Paranormal, Contemporary, and Paranormal. Some of the perceptions (Publishers/Authors) are that there isn't a market for other stories. Straight contemporary interracial romance has the bigger sales numbers. The IR/MC books that launch mainstream often aren't packaged as IR/MC. These are all things that I've faced. Pigeonholing is twofold publishers and authors want to make money and until someone has breakout novel the industry plays it safe. I don't want to bore everyone with some of the industry politics.

[The FountainPenDiva, Old school geek chick and lover of teddy bears]

a.c. wrote: "Given everything that has been going on with IR books, myself and a few others are trying to start an RWA chapter for interracial, multicultural, and cultural romance to have place where aspiring a..."

Count me in and I'll be certain to pass the word along as well. I'd love to network with like-minded authors.

[A.C.]

Vixenne wrote: "Count me in and I'll be certain to pass the word along as well. I'd love to network with like-minded authors.."
Sorry I don't seem able to message Vixenne directly.

I hope it's okay if I post the email address here.

Email us at diversehues@gmail.com and we'll send you the details.

Feel free to forward the email addy as the more voices we have the better.


Mason
a.c. Mason

[Chaeya]

I'm rather late to this party.

I write IR/MC sci-fi/fantasy. All of my stories have a variety of different races, including aliens. I simply tell people I write sci-fi/fantasy with romantic elements. My stories are more for people who love heroine-driven, adventure epics, and they don't follow the rules of Romance, but I do deliver a HEA.

I think hiring an editor is a must - and one who knows grammar a bit better than the author. And I'm with Ros, a writer never stops learning. I spend a great deal of my time researching grammar and have a slew of writing books nearby. I'm a total pantser when I write; most of my plotting is done in my head (around 5 a.m. when I like to work out difficult scenes or rework plot holes).

I'm getting ready to release my first book in a few weeks and I've been knee-deep in finishing edits from my editor, plus my own. It's stressful as heck rushing around at the last minute, but when you feel like your MS is done, it's a great feeling.

All I can say is it pays to have other people look at it--from CPs to beta readers to hiring an editor. If you are selling your work, it really shows you care about your readers and getting them quality product.

I'm pretty understanding towards little errors here and there. Even with professional editing, it's impossible to catch everything, and yes, there are blatant errors even in NY pubbed works. But it's like going to France, if you attempt at least to speak the language, people are far nicer than if you didn't attempt at all.

I'd be interested in an IR RWA chapter, although I've skirted joining them for years. They get a little too snooty and too high on their horse at times for me. If there's a So Cal chapter, I might, but still not sure I want to take the plunge and actually join.

Chaeya

[A.C.]

Hi Chaeya,

I've had very positive experience with RWA. I'm sorry it hasn't been the same for you. I joined them in 2008 and became member of the online chapter.

Since I've attended amazing workshops and gone to nationals twice. I'm no longer member of the online chapter but I'm member of the following chapters FF&P, Toronto Romance Writers, and Passionate Ink. FF&P critique group taught me a lot. I'll be teaching my first workshop for Passionate Ink.

The support and encouragement from like-minded writers has been wonderful. This is the reasons I want to start a chapters for writers of interracial, multicultural, and cultural romance. I believe in giving back and creating a support network for us too. I hope that you'll join us. If not now later.

Mason
a.c. Mason

[Nana]

I've been a member of RWA for years now and I was just thinking about not renewing. But if we had an IR chapter that gave us some access to avenues for promotion and writing classes, I'd be down.

[A.C.]

Nana wrote: "I've been a member of RWA for years now and I was just thinking about not renewing. But if we had an IR chapter that gave us some access to avenues for promotion and writing classes, I'd be down."

That's the plan for the chapter. Send us an email and will send you back what we see for the chapter. We are always open to input.

Mason
a.c. Mason

[Nana]

Great Mason, will do.

Nana

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Thanks for the kind words, Arch! You should add yourself in that category because I've so enjoyed your suspenseful works as well. :-) Looks like the beef is in the stories right here in this group!

Lady Danielle "I honestly believe that poor quality writing in this genre is hurting it. I hope that this changes, because I want to see IRR become mainstream, like it should be, and not some fetish-type genre, like it seems to be right now. "

I'm so glad I'm not the only one to notice this, Danielle! Much of my IR reading has dwindled down to non-existent or strictly YA. I've found some awesome YA works with great stories in different genres that have simply got me hooked. Adult IRs have simply become just that: adult fetish fiction which seems to have regressed from it's romantic origins. I would love to see more beefier ones but until I do, I'm happy reading YA and writing what I would like to see aside from reading yours and Arch's stories. Those have really quenched my thirst in the past for great IRs!

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Just saw the second page of this thread!

Mason, I may drop you an email. I've been skirting RWA myself for reasons Chaeya mentioned but if there's a push for getting an IR chapter to promote and strengthen books and writing in the genre, I'd love to help out!

[A.C.]

Please do.

Mason
a.c. Mason

[Chaeya]

Yeah, feel free to hit me up. The RWA will be in Anaheim this year, in my neck of the woods, so I plan on crashing where I can, or at least hooking up with some authors I know.

Chaeya

[Arch , Mod]

Rae wrote: "Thanks for the kind words, Arch! You should add yourself in that category because I've so enjoyed your suspenseful works as well. :-) Looks like the beef is in the stories right here in this group!..."

Awww, thanks Rae. Sometimes, I get hungry for a good interracial bw/wm story and I can't find any that I can easy get to, aside from your story and Danielle's story.

Away from the writing challenge stories, I like to read printed stories. I want to read contemporary interracial stories. I want dangerous bad boys.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

I'm reading an ARC for a really sweet friends to lovers IR story. Not over the top and contemporary. I really wanted to rec it to you but it's only e format for now. :-( It's pretty good too. Hero is not too dangerous but I think you will still like him. :-)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Which book is that, Rae? I'm definitely interested.

[Arch , Mod]

Rae wrote: "I'm reading an ARC for a really sweet friends to lovers IR story. Not over the top and contemporary. I really wanted to rec it to you but it's only e format for now. :-( It's pretty good too. Hero ..."

That sucks. Maybe one day it will be in print.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

Hey Danielle! It's by Cecilia Robert. I sooo love their covers and this is the second book I've read from the company. Definitely looking forward to more. Btw, since you like HPs, I think you would enjoy . I had some minor problems with it mechanics wise and techniques but above it all, it's very HP. :-) I'll be posting a double review soon with more info.

That's true Arch. I'm hoping once it's been out awhile, they eventually make a print version. I want it on my bookshelf. :-D

[Arch , Mod]

I wish Anne Stuart would write a bw/wm story. She's a great writer. A writer after my own heart. Linda Howard needs to write a bw/wm story.

I want a dangerous bad boy interracial story. Hopefully, later on today, I will post another installment to my story. Cop is always bad in my head.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I'm looking for more installments, Arch!

[Arch , Mod]

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I'm looking for more installments, Arch!"

Thanks Danielle.

[Robin]

I know this topic is slight old but I still wanted to comment if I could. I'll try to answer as many things as I could remember. I'm not sure how much that will be. LOL. And I apologize before hand if the train of thought of this just goes out of the window. I'm basically thinking this off of the top of my head.

And just let me say right off of the bat, I mean all of what I say in the least non-offending way possible.

--

As far as the quality of the work goes, like stated earlier, there are two types of writers out there: the ones who write and like write versus the ones out to make a quick buck. And depending on the mentality, that can determine how you will look at your work/novel/short story/what have you. Someone who is serious about their writing will do multiple drafts or know that this piece was just for practice or "play"; I don't intend to publish it and other things like that. Someone who just out for money may not feel the same way about it.

Also nowadays, there are multiple ways to become published: there's the traditional, "Big Six" publishers, the ePublishers, and finally self-publishing. Note, I am not saying anything bad about people who take any or all of these paths. At all. Just wanted to make that clear. Each route has their own flaws and advantages. Some are harder to use or go through but they might have better editing services. Some are easier to publish through but your work may suffer for it. And again, depending on the type of writer you are, depends on the drawback you're okay with.

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not excusing putting bad work out there. I'm just kind of thinking out loud a little bit.

As far as the question, I believe it was Stacy, asked earlier why do people keep reading them if they are so bad? Speaking as someone who kind of formerly read I/R because they were I/R, to be honest, I don't know. The simplest answer I can give is that it felt good to read I/R. Even if the story was bad, I didn't like the plot, etc. I have nothing against non-IR Romance. There are some non-IR Romance writers I do like. However, I got into reading IR about two or three years ago, and it was still new to me then obviously. It was just a classic case of "the right thing at the right moment" and I just went with it. I needed/wanted to read it more so for a personal reason(more than enjoying the story; it was more reassurance) than for personal enjoyment of a book. And I/R Romance gave me that reassurance that I couldn't address or didn't really know how to address, if that makes sense.

Now, thankfully, I'm basically over what happened back then, and now I really am focusing on the story and all of that. So,....yeah.

Just wanted to give my two cents on that.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

I can understand where you're coming from, Robin. I was initially in a honeymoon phase where I read every IR I could get my hands on. I am now more discerning because I know what my own personal tastes are and what my personal reading standards are. I am glad to see this genre grow so large that I can pick and choose what IR books I read.

[Anino]

RobinRaven wrote: "I know this topic is slight old but I still wanted to comment if I could. I'll try to answer as many things as I could remember. I'm not sure how much that will be. LOL. And I apologize before hand..."

Thank you for saying "Someone who is serious about their writing will do multiple drafts or know that this piece was just for practice or "play"; I don't intend to publish it and other things like that. Someone who just out for money may not feel the same way about it."

I totally agree with you.. It's all about passion for the craft, not just for the dollar...

[Robin]

@Lady Danielle: I'm the same way now. Now, truthfully, Romance, in general, isn't all I read. I read other genres as well. And while I do enjoy reading I/R or having black main characters in the books I read, don't get me wrong, the characters' races have become a lot less important me to now. Not that they were important in the first place, but now, I'm a lot less likely to read a book only because/just because it is I/R or has a black main character in it.

I want IR Romance(and all of its sub genres) to become as good and as polished as all of the other types of romance out there. I want to do as well and become as popular as other types of non-IR Romance. I even want for there to be as much IR Romance in paperback as there is for non-IR Romance. Because it is a genre I am fond of. But at the same time, I'm not going to put up with a bad/poorly-done book, especially one I paid money for. Haha.

@Anino: It's no problem. Trust me, I know. There are some people who write because they like and there are some who see a "quick buck".

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Sees Love in All Colors]

Robin, I agree. I like to see diversity in all the medias, and it is important to see characters who are black and to see IRR as a normal thing, but honestly, I don't care much about the color of the people in the books so long as it's a good story. I just don't like the idea that a monochromatic society is the norm, because it certainly is not. I tend to stick with authors/writers who I know can write good stories over reading a book just because it's IR, because I've been burned falling for that pitfall.

[Fiona]

Here is a link to a discussion on Dear Author of the kinds of issues you are talking about. Read the post then the comments below. This is a serious issue and the more notice it receives, the quicker it can be resolved!

http://dearauthor.com/features/letter...

FYI, I write mostly IR romances because I find them more realistic and interesting. And since my Dad was from Scotland there won't EVER be a kilt-wearing laddie in my books! Grin.

[CaliGirlRae, Mod Squad]

I read the last time IR/MC books were brought up at DA there and I left that thread cringing the whole time. I'm not sure much has changed but I love Jeannie's post and I hope the discussion turns into a civil one thereafter.

Girding myself and going in to read lol.

[Andrea]

There are going to be errors, true. But it's up to the consumer to set the standard. Don't accept shoddy work.

[Robin]

@Lady Danielle: Completely agree.