Day 1, #LGBTWIP
I'm Remy, just an average, middle-aged gay guy.
I write MM erotic fiction, probably best aligned with the paranormal subgenre.
Book Fave: What Belongs to You
@Tehrakians
A gay MM mashup of A Christmas Carol (minus the Christmas) with the movie Ghost.
#LGBT #LGBTQ #amwriting #gayerotica
Your MC in 5 objects:
- high school locker room
- old, broken watch
- bottle of Scotch, top-shelf
- tattered, frayed map
- run-down house in a decrepit neighborhood
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A line capturing your WIP's atmosphere:
"...without money, nothing happened. Without money, nothing ever did."
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Does your WIP focus on the "queer experience"?
Yes. I'm exploring the snarls of internalized homophobia and what impact the recent, rapid increase in LGBT acceptance has on those still uncomfortable with themselves.
#LGBT #LGBTQ #amwriting #gayerotica
What inspired this WIP?
Two years ago, I wrote a bit of flash fiction for @nycmidnight that turned out pretty well, but it left too many unanswered questions. This WIP expands the MC's story.
tinyurl.com/yaep7uve
#LGBTbooks #LGBTQ #amwriting
Is the protagonist based on you?
Not really. We share similar ages and some elements of childhood, but Thom is not a happy guy. He's rich but miserly, choosing to give up love for money, something I'd like to think I wouldn't do.
#LGBTbooks #LGBTQ #amwriting
Why do you love this WIP?
In addition to being unhappy, Thom is not a nice guy. He's rude and reductive, mowing down anything in his way. But, he's also in pain and has a lot to learn. I love the idea of witnessing his redemption.
#LGBTBooks #LGBT #amwriting
Do you consider your WIP to be #OwnVoices?
Yes, insofar as I am a gay cis-man writing a character who is gay and cis-male. I look forward to writing diverse characters who identify differently than me.
#LGBTbooks #LGBTQ #amwriting #LGBTQIA
A line where a character talks about their identity:
"He was supposed to be thinking about girls, right?"
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What could tempt your character to the dark side?
Thom is already deep in the dark side. What's worse, because he feels safe, he thinks he likes it there.
#amwriting #loveislove #LGBTBooks #lgbtq #lgbt
Talk about your antagonist!
Wow, that's a lot of energy for an antagonist!
My antagonist is also my protagonist, Thom, well kindof. His father is dead but was an asshole. These days Thom hears his dad's judging voice in his head.
#amwriting #LGBTbooks #LGBT
Who is your protagonist's soulmate?
Thom met his soulmate, Chance, while in high school in the 90s, but tragically lost him before they could truly and honestly connect. Now, it's 20 years later, and Thom is still desperately lost.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTbooks
What are you most excited to write?
I've had a great time writing the first half (or so) of the work so far, and can't wait to write the climax scene. I might even write it next, out of sequence and all!
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTbooks #gayerotica #mmromance #mm
What's your ideal cover?
Probably a black and white palette with minor bits of muted color. Symbolic iconography-- map, broken watch, glass of scotch. Half face, bright green eye down to male half-torso.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTbooks #mmromance #MM #gayerotica
What scares you about this WIP?
(1) The ending isn't an HEA and everyone's hackles seem to rise at the mere possibility.
(2) No one ever reads AND connects with it.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTbooks #mm #gayerotica
Post the protagonist's theme song!
I'm thinking Amy Winehouse's Back to Black album would work nicely for Thom's narrative.
#amwriting #loveislove #LGBT #LGBTQ #mm #gayerotica
Weirdest thing you've researched?
Hands down, the inner floorplans of construction group trailers. Even went to the trouble of designing (most of) one (pictured) as the setting for some scenes!
#amwriting #loveislove #LGBT #LGBTQ #MM #mmromance #GayErotica
A line that shocked you:
Faggot. It was a word his father often used to describe anyone, anywhere, doing anything of which he didn't approve.
#amwriting #loveislove #LGBT #LGBTQ #MM #mmromance #GayErotica #SouthernCharm
Are you jealous of your MC?
Haha, this is such a great question. At first, I was like "Hell no, he's a complete jerk!" But if I'm honest, I do envy Thom's wealth and his willingness to do anything to get what he wants.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTQ #MM #gayerotica
Has working on this WIP changed you?
Yes. This WIP oozes with self-discovery and is part of a bigger project that explores masculinity, internalized homophobia, and religious indoctrination.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTQ #MM #gayerotica
How does your WIP's setting handle queerphobia?
My WIP takes place in the American South from ~1960 to ~2020, a region that appears to genuinely savor its stigmatization of any Other it finds, queer community included.
#amwriting #LGBT #LGBTQ #MM #gayerotica
Post your character's pride flags!
Thom's flag is the standard, current pride flag...
#amwriting #lgbt #lgbtq #mm #gayerotica
Post the scariest/darkest line.
"Who knew you'd turn into your father?
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Who should play the MC in a movie?
Somewhere between Adam Scott & Bryan Cranston circa Malcolm in the Middle. In either case, Thom is serious, lean/lithe, clean-cut, well-dressed, and stuck up.
#amwriting #lgbt #lgbtq #mm #gayerotica #LGBTbooks
Queerest moment in your WIP?
Karl was squarely identifiable as an aging power bottom. Effeminate, sculpted hair, carefully manicured eyebrows, and an absurd obsession with boy bands both 15 years out of date and 30 years his junior.
#LGBT #amwriting #MMRomance
Advice for your protagonist.
Lighten up, Tommy. Your brand of masculinity doesn't have to be the same as your father's, or your commanding officer's, or your ex's. Roll your own, baby, and love freely.
#LGBT #LGBTQ #amwriting #gayerotica
Post some sexy lines ;)
"Tight jeans hugged his ass, but not so tight they told Thom everything he wanted to know."
#LGBT #LGBTQIA #LGBTBooks #amwriting #gayerotica
Is this WIP breaking ground?
Probably not in the global sense, but definitely in the personal sphere, borne from my desire to express what's been trapped within me for a very long time.
#LGBT #LGBTQ #amwriting #gayerotica
What's your FAVORITE line?
"He'd looked over the property's metadata so many times he'd memorized the MLS number, savoring the digits like a mantra that survived on the very whispers of his speech."
#LGBT #LGBTQ #amwriting #gayerotica #mm #LGBTBooks
Wrap-up day!
I had a great time participating in #LGBTWIP this month, marking my first success sticking with such an event! I followed many wonderful ppl in the community and most followed me back!
Thank you @KMWhite18 for hosting!
Onward. #amwriting #LGBT