It's all in the name

[elingregory]

So initial reactions to the idea of having a group on Goodreads to promote books according to their actual content rather than the suppositions aroused by the M/M, or F/F, tag seems to be fairly promising.

So I'll start a group, set up some admins, if there are any volunteers, and begin to invite people to it. I just need an idea of what to call it?

charliecochrane suggested "Keep Cool and Carry On Reading", and kirby_crow used the phrase "The Right Reader for the Right Book", which is exactly what the group is designed to do. But do we need something to make it clear that we're specifically addressing the problems of writers of LBGTTQ fiction, across all those fabulous genres?

It's worth reiterating that nobody is slagging off, dissing, disapproving of, sneering at etc authors of erotica or their works. I've tried writing erotica [it was hard :( and it wasn't particularly successful so I probably won't do it again] and I enjoy reading it, though I normally choose less bonkage and more action. I'm hoping that the group will be useful for everyone as a means of getting the right books to the right readers. Authors who normally write 'sweet', for want of a better word, and who try something a bit more robust run the risk of losing fans who have auto-bought. Likewise if an established erotica writer publishes something with little or no sex scenes, they too run the risk of disappointing readers. And we really don't want to do that, do we?

PLEASE let me have some feedback and please tell anyone you think might like to participate. The more the merrier.

Comments

[irish-horse.livejournal.com]

I failed to give you feedback before. I think the idea of the group is a great one. You might want to make it clear that this is specifically for/about writers of LGBTQ fiction, though - "The Right Reader for the Right Book" is a bit too ambiguous, I think. That being said, I unhelpfully have no alternative suggestions.

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think we need to get the LGBTQ bit in there. Thanks for responding.

[kcwarwick.livejournal.com]

What about something along the lines of 'Slightly Gay' or even 'S-Lightly Gay'? I know that doesn't cover LBT&Q.

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

That's a fun name and might be great if we were solely doing M/M books, but I'd like the LBTQ to be there too, if possible. :) thanks for the feedback.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

I was thinking much about this last night. I like to get to know the people in a story pretty well before they get to the sex. How long this takes depends on the story. Erotica is not built that way-- it is a different thing. Much of it is very good, and it is super hard to write, but more in the way that poetry is brief and difficult.

As for the group, splendid idea. I would like to be involved somehow, if you can use me for anything.

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Oh you are kind, we'll need all the help we can get. :) Thank you for commenting.

[suemont.livejournal.com]

I'll give you a hand, Elin. As for a name how about simply: LGBTQ Literary Fiction?

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I dunno that I aspire to being literary. Genre all the way for me. But if we did LGBTQ Genre fiction that might seem to exclude books like Perfect Score.

Am I over-thinking this?

[suemont.livejournal.com]

No probs, Elin. It's difficult to think of a name (I'll scroll down and see if there are any other suggestions in the comments). Nooooo...can't have Perfect Score excluded! :-)

[kcwarwick.livejournal.com]

Or, 'Not Too Lewd'. I'm getting silly now...

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

XD that's terrific. You carry on being silly.

[jessie-lansdel.livejournal.com]

Yes, LGBTTQ Literary Fiction sounds about right to me. Count me in for anything I can do. Great idea, Elin. 👍

[sandra-lindsey.livejournal.com]

I liked "The Shallow End of the Nooky Pool"

...but that may be just me :-D

EDIT (having read other comments): Not sure I'd go for something with the word "Literary" in it... pretty sure most of my stuff (both what I write and what I read) wouldn't be classed as "literary" by most people...

[choccy-grl.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like that one.

I don't think I'm ever getting a literary award either. Makes us sound a bit highbrow.

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

I'm genre all the way :) quite happily so, too, because that means I can write about people who are cheerful. 'Literary' = 'serious, worthy and a bit miserable" in most cases.

[suemont.livejournal.com]

what? what? *looks over shoulder to see who Elin's talking about* :-). I do agree about literary sounding like an old man's pipe ('scuse the expression), but it was all I could come up with at the time :-)

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Anything with Nooky Pool in it would require too much explanation for the 'most important part of the market', as my publisher likes to describe American readers. A pity though because it sort of acknowledges that the Nooky Pool is quit a nice place to be while pointing out that some of us are happier paddling around the edges rather than diving right in and only coming up when our lungs are bursting.

Titles are a pain. They have to do the job but it's so hard to come up with a good one.

[sandra-lindsey.livejournal.com]

"nooky pool" might not be understood across the pond?

There are so many words & phrases that I don't realise are Britishisms...

[adam-fitzroy.livejournal.com]

Happy to participate, but I wouldn't have time to help much with the organising, I'm afraid. (I'd love to do it, but my schedule is insane.) Also - without wanting to be too negative - I'm not a big fan of any of the suggested titles so far, but then titles are notoriously difficult anyway. I'd personally be looking to emphasise the plot aspects of the books in question, so something like 'Plot First' or 'Plots Before Porn' would work for me!

[elin-gregory.livejournal.com]

Pleased to meet you, Adam, and I've friended you if that's okay?

I'm a rubbish organiser because I try to please everyone. I think one needs to be more assertive to be effective, but if I get the ball rolling maybe someone will come along and say "Look, you're getting nowhere. THIS is what you need to do ...." and I'll happily take their advice.

Titles are a complete pain. I like your 'plots first' suggestion but the other seems to me as though it could be misconstrued as being judgemental.

How about "LGTBTQ Fiction: All About the Plot" or something along those lines?

[adam-fitzroy.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, delighted to be LJ friends with you!

Yes, 'All About The Plot' is good, or 'Putting The Plot First' maybe??? I agree about not wanting to give even the appearance of decrying erotica/porn, but I'm sure we can emphasise the importance of story without doing that!

[choccy-grl.livejournal.com]

Hmm, I was thinking 'Plot over Porn'. However it's probably not the message we're looking to send, although it gets the point of what we're about it does sound like we're decrying the erotica element of our genre. Plus having porn in the title will get us all sorts of hits we don't want!

How about 'SOS - Story over Smut'?