tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post6294628702032375165..comments2023-11-21T03:24:50.235-05:00Comments on Here be Magic: On writing "queer" fictionJody W. and Meankittyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13733607365443126784noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-84008112155607944522013-02-01T22:22:26.677-05:002013-02-01T22:22:26.677-05:00I don't think about a character's orientat...I don't think about a character's orientation when I'm writing. Their personal preferences present themselves in the course of the story and I go with it. I was a little surprised the first time a love interest for one of my heroines turned out to be a woman, but it felt right for the character and worked well. My characters and story cultures rarely struggle with who loves whom. Such is the advantage of writing spec fic : )<br /><br />As for labelling, I'm of two minds. I don't think it should matter what the pairings are. Love is love, as you said, Evey. But, Wendy and Jane make a good point about reader expectation. I want a reader to enjoy every aspect of my story. As much as I'd love to have someone who has never read f/f pick up my books and be wowed, I also don't want them to expect one thing and get something else that they may not appreciate.Cathy in AKhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08667978358875270260noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-19110549347301024332013-02-01T13:23:41.261-05:002013-02-01T13:23:41.261-05:00Great topic, Evey. I think the label is important ...Great topic, Evey. I think the label is important if the book is for a particular audience, such as erotica and romance, where the reader is looking for something to their taste, as Wendy said. If the audience's sexual orientation or interest isn't the main draw, then it's not really relevant.<br /><br />I write epic fantasy that happens to feature LGBTQ characters as well as straight ones. I wouldn't label it queer fantasy. But I also write f/f erotica, which is decidedly queer erotica.<br /><br />I also happen to be bisexual, which is relevant in the way that my being female is relevant. If someone is looking to read women writers or bisexual writers specifically, they'd be interested in that detail. So yes, I am a bisexual/queer author. And I'm a female author. And I'm an American author. All of those labels are fine with me.Jane Kindredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14620651445338259619noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5858828969874855814.post-36292347819468871042013-02-01T12:42:40.619-05:002013-02-01T12:42:40.619-05:00I think the label is important, if only because re...I think the label is important, if only because readers will get something out of sex scenes that turn them on in a way they don't get out of sex scenes that don't hit those specific biological buttons. We can all appreciate the emotional aspects, but I like to be able to include "will I find this sexy?" in my consideration of whether I will buy/read a book - just like I'd want to know "Will these characters be evangelizing their religion?" or "Will this be a thriller or a sweet romance?"<br /><br />I've read some M/M and F/F erotica and erotic romances which really "worked" for me (straight married woman) - but they've mostly been the ones where the focus is on the characters' feelings more than the physical acrobatics required. I also realize that different people have different tastes, no matter what their orientation might be.Wendy Quallshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09738672242498685175noreply@blogger.com