Next Year, we go to Moscow

[erastes]

Bit of a thaw today—just about all gone from my area – Dad’s garden is still quite snowy though.

Making potato, saffron and seafood soup/stew for lunch.  Nom. A complete experiment, so fingers crossed. ETA: It was absolutely delicious! Probably far too much saffron, but I like saffron!

I won’t say that I’m worried about I Knew Him, but I have to come to terms with the fact that it’s not a category romance, and that’s probably the direction I’m going to be heading in the future. I think I’m a little trepidatious (not a real word?) about making that step outside because female written gay fiction isn’t as accepted as female written gay romance, not in the gay fiction world yet, at least. Band of Thebes posted today about the winner of the Green Carnation Award (gay male written fiction) and while I’m thrilled that there’s a gay fiction award in the UK, it’s depressing that (like the Orange prize, as Thebes rightly points out) it’s limited to sex, and therefore honours the writers and not the BOOK – and as far as I’m concerned, it’s the book that’s the more important part of the equation. I know this is a contentious issue, and many people do – and have – disagreed with me in the past, and now – but, well, that’s my opinion. It’s nothing to do with "entitlement” – as a GLBT female author I could probably enter more writing competitions than men, should I wish to do so – I don’t think for one moment I’d win, but I think in a world where everyone is scrabbling for equality, segregation in this way is a step backwards. However, a writer of gay historical fiction is what I’ve always tagged myself, rather than a gay romance writer, so I should stop navel gazing.

Anyway, I digress. Didn’t mean to go down that particular route. I think it’s the snow, turns me into Old Auntie Vanya and her gloomy trousers. What I meant to wibble about was the fact that I feel as nervous about not being a romance writer (in the main, I think I’ll always write a romance a year, perhaps novella length) as i was when I stepped away from fandom. It feels like walking a rope without a net, or something. Daft I know. I’ve been pretty close mouthed about I Knew Him because if I were to talk about it even a bit it would spoil what it’s about. GOD KNOWS how I’m going to do a book cover blurb for this one.

I know that there are loyal fans who will read it anyway, and some loyal readers of mine who won’t because it won’t have that guaranteed happy ending (can’t even say anything about that, either!) and that’s fine, absolutely fine. I don’t write for the readers, you know that, (however grateful I am that I have some!!) I write stories that I’d like to read—just hope others want to read it too. What can I say about it?  Well, I’ve already said it’s set in 1921, I can say it’s almost all set in one house, in Somerset, a house like this one.

It borrows a theme only from a Shakespeare play (I’m sure you can guess which one) but doesn’t, other than the set up, follow the plot of it, because that would be 1.dull 2. cheating. 3. lazy. It’s a first person narration and I think you’ll like Harry, the narrator as he’s a little bit wicked, sarcastic, and rather camp. I’m enjoying having the freedom that the time gives me, that some men at this stage were not exactly OUT, but that a certain campness was tolerated and didn’t necessarily mean you were a “sissy” – you could just be one of those artistic types…yes. Well. And the proliferation of psychiatric theories meant that the educated had—what they thought at least—an understanding of homosexuality even if they were still just as prejudiced and phobic about it.

Also. Scrivener tutorial is mind numbingly dull and not very user friendly. Bored Erastes is baffled. Off home a bit early, as there’s freezing fog and I’d rather drive in the light. But I’m doing six days with dad this week, so it evens out.

Now - Where’s that cherry orchard?

- - -

Comments

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Our snow's nearly gone too, although I drove the five miles to the stables only to discover the entire hill down to them was still sheet-ice (as was the pub car park where I left my car to walk down, but at least that was flat).

I'm very intrigued by I Knew Him, but then I'll read anything if it has that whatever that appeals to me.

On the subject of stuff what's not romance, shall I switch my working title to Finding Julia or Searching for Julia? Now I've got past 30,000 words I feel like the thing needs a name rather than just a category for its title.

Scrivener scares me, and I haven't even seen the User Guide.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Thanks dear, I vacillate wildly from "I'm enjoying writing this" to "omg i want to hide under the sofa and burn the manuscript"

I like "Searching for..." but keep your options open. I now want to call Junction X "Postcards of Alex" but I don't know if I should.

:)

[stevie-carroll.livejournal.com]

Mostly I'm doing the 'this is fun!' but occasionally there's the 'what if I've failed to research something really obvious?' and the 'what if this bit based on real life is too unbelievable for persons-not-me to accept in fiction?' and the 'have I been clear enough that my dotty aristocrats aren't based on anyone in particular?'

'Searching for...' will probably be better, especially as it doesn't raise any reader expectations about whether Julia will actually be found, or not. Thank you!

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

I'm finding that I want to launch out and do other things than romance (though still with gay characters) too. So I know what you mean about the trepidation. It feels very scary and possibly not at all wise. But I would read any book that was by you, because I know I like your style, and I'm sure I can't be alone in that.

I'm less enthused about Scrivener than I was too, largely because it's so slow and it hung on me once and then I couldn't get into the Scrivener forums to report the bug.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, definitely. I can't see any future that includes me writing non-gay themed books. I feel that...well I've managed to create a little niche for myself so what the hell am I doing moving off that niche and wandering into another territory?

[alex-beecroft.livejournal.com]

But on the other hand that's what change and growth are all about, and those are good things :) (Refers you to icon.)

[anderyn.livejournal.com]

Well, if it's NOT a romance, then I, for one, won't be disappointed (very, anyway) by a non-happy ending, even if that's my favorite kind of ending. For me, if the genre doesn't dictate an ending (ie, romance = HEA. mystery= solved and bad guy caught, etc.) then whatever serves the characters and the story is fine by me.

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Heh - good to know!Thank you my dear!

[josephine-myles.livejournal.com]

I think in a world where everyone is scrabbling for equality, segregation in this way is a step backwards.

Agreed, but then again there are plenty of awards that are only open to writers of one gender and that's usually female...

The Scrivener tutorial is dull as dishwater - I'd suggest just trying to use the thing and figuring it out as you go along. It's brilliant once you get the hang of it :)

[erastes.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was my point - I simply don't agree with any award that segregates, whether it's women, men, glbt, poc - whatever. Being female probably (as I said) leaves me open to open many many awards, but I am still not happy about it. I would - of course, I won't be a liar about it - thrilled if I won any award - but if I were to win a Lambda for example, I would feel a LOT happier about it if I beat all the books in the genre, rather than the ones written by glbt writers, or if I (ha ha) won an Orange, I would prefer to compete with men and women.

I think perhaps it's becase all my life I've competed in equestrian events and there's NEVER been (other than racing and that's been sorted now) this sexual prejudice there. Despite many sports denouncing women as "not being strong enough" or "not having the stamina" to compete equally with men - in show jumping, dressage, eventing etc etc, they compete side by side. So it was a bit of a shock to find this segregation in something that doesn't require any strength or stamina at all.