It's a long time since I've been interested in doing a monthly column, but a column on what's happening in the world of mystery writing and publishing -- specifically writing and publishing Male/Male and Gay Mystery -- seems to perfectly dovetail with my work on Writing Killer M/M Suspense and Mystery due out Winter/Spring 2018.
In the interests of finding any potentially-under-served* audience, a lot of male/male authors have turned to writing "mysteries." In what has become a brutally competitive market, writers are desperate to find any foothold (in fact, let's face it, that's how a lot of them came to be writing M/M in the first place). And that's okay. Since the first poet starved to death in his garret, authors have always scrabbled for a foothold in the publishing market. What is NOT okay is putting out any kind of schmaltzy, vaguely suspense-ish crap and calling it a Gay or M/M Mystery. Mystery readers are a bit more difficult -- let's call it discerning -- than some other audience segments. They really do expect a decent mystery to be served with their romance.
And with so many aspiring (perspiring?) authors relying almost solely on output, advertising and promo to get the results they need, the author who comes along and knows her genre and can actually write will have a huge advantage. I'm not exaggerating when I say that consistently writing well is soon going to be the new secret weapon in the author arsenal.
To that end--and because I've pretty much devoted my life to the mystery genre, in particular the gay mystery genre--I want to help both writers and readers get the best books possible. I want Male/Male Mystery to be where you find the best books and the best authors.
Anyway, the column is called KILLING IT - WRITING THE M/M MYSTERY, and it's running August through December. Stop by and leave a comment as to what you'd like to read about and discuss over the coming months!
I have been searching for a good gay mystery for what seems like forever. It MUST be well written and it must hold my interest. I returned a book the other day, for the first time in my life. I talked myself out of the sample and just bought the book. I've learned my lesson. Not having the slightest inclination to write, I am hoping at least some authors take advantage of your knowledge and put a book out there that I can stand to read.
ReplyDeleteYou can't ignore the sample, as I too have learned the hard way. The samples are going to be the first part of the book, which means that's the part that's had the most revising and editing and thought. So if the sample doesn't cut it...
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ReplyDeleteSince you happen to have all that extra amount of time in your hands... :-D I say "Yay!" to this idea. :-)
ReplyDeleteYou always so generously share your knowledge of the art of writing, and I always find it highly fascinating to be able to take a peek at all the things that have to be taken into account when writing mystery. So, yeah, I'm really excited about this and looking forward to all the upcoming posts—and the Writing Killer M/M Suspense and Mystery book.
I could talk books and writing forever -- as you know only too well. ;-D
DeleteThis is such good news! I welcome anything that you write and your opinion and generosity hold great value to me.
ReplyDeleteThank you!
That's very sweet. Thank you.
DeleteJosh wrote: "the author who comes along and knows her genre and can actually write will have a huge advantage"
ReplyDeleteI wasn't quite sure if that line should make me laugh or cry. But, yes, so very true.
It's crazy out there. I've seen discussions where writers insist that their writing sells better when they DON'T bother to revise and edit.
DeleteI just...can't.
Totally awesome! I definitely love a good mystery served with some romance on the side...or in between! LOL Thanks so much :)
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