A Question...

[Comicality]

I was talking to someone about this in an email, and I was thinking that it might be a question for the cafe. So feel free to comment.

 

Do you think that the online gay erotic genre would generate as much of an interest on bookshelves? I mean, if authors published their works, with all of the sex included, and even the ages kept the same...do you think it would be the next 'big section' at your local bookstore? There's tons of romance novels for housewives and the like, right? So why not?

 

Just curious. Maybe the publishers out there are missing out on a big market here. Because online, people are reading these stories every single day. Millions of them!

[viv]

Hi Com!!

 

Interesting question you are asking here.... Well, I guess I should tell you that I am a "housewife" but I also do work, but still I am here reading instead of reading romance novels. My husband doesn't really get it, but I think that has more to do with the fact that he doesn't understand 1) why they are gay male stories that I am interested in and 2) why some people are gay at all. Now, I have read romance novels before, but to me anyway, what you write is so much more meaningful and real than some burning loins and a heaving bosom.

 

Now, as far as the age goes, there are teenage story lines, like Sweet Valley High fo example, and in those stories there are people under the age of 18 participating in parts of a sexual relationship, that is not to say that they actually have sex, I don't know, but I think that a bookstore could have an "adult" section or the stories could be sold at an adult bookstore, though I have never actually been to one, so I don't know if that is the type of place you would want your stories to be sold at. To my knowledge, lots of kids under 18 are looking at adult magazines, websites, watching porn on TV or on the net, and actually having sex, so in my opinion, it isn't necesarily an age thing, but a realistic and informative way for people to learn that maybe they aren't the only ones out there feeling the way that they do or to learn how it fels to be in a loving, respectful relationship, and how it feels to be screwed over or outed or teased or bullied because of your sexuality and who you choose to love.

 

That said, you would stand to make more money if you were published and sold, but I guess that depends if you are in it for the money, or because you are an amazing human being who is able to share experiences, information and help teach the world that we are all the same and everyone deserves to be loved no matter their sexuality. I for one, have been a big fan for a while, I think that your stories were the first I read, I have read your sections on your site regarding your sexuality as well, and I do appreciate that you are an amazing person who has some real talent for writing!

 

Keep it up Com, Love ya, Vivian

Edited August 15, 2005 by viv

[JamesSavik]

Do you think that the online gay erotic genre would generate as much of an interest on bookshelves? I mean, if authors published their works, with all of the sex included, and even the ages kept the same...do you think it would be the next 'big section' at your local bookstore? There's tons of romance novels for housewives and the like, right? So why not?

 

Just curious. Maybe the publishers out there are missing out on a big market here. Because online, people are reading these stories every single day. Millions of them!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

Sorry but I think that the answer is clear as mud.

 

Yes and no.

 

Yes- I think that it would sell better than expected.

 

No- part of the appeal of online fiction is that it is free and anonymous. People that would NEVER, EVER buy a copy of the Advocate at their local Barnes&Nobles or Borders can and do access it on the net so that they can read without outing themselves.

 

Another thing that would cause a LOT of contreversy is the age of the characters in some of the stories. The good Reverund Wildmon would pop a gasket. It's not that teenagers NEVER have sex. Our society has been so in denial of it for so long that it might come as a rude but necessary shock.

 

Why is it that every time the teenage pregnancy numbers come out, everyone is so shocked?

[Ender]

Do you think that the online gay erotic genre would generate as much of an interest on bookshelves? I mean, if authors published their works, with all of the sex included, and even the ages kept the same...do you think it would be the next 'big section' at your local bookstore? There's tons of romance novels for housewives and the like, right? So why not?

 

Just curious. Maybe the publishers out there are missing out on a big market here. Because online, people are reading these stories every single day. Millions of them!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Sorry but I think that the answer is clear as mud.

 

Yes and no.

 

Yes- I think that it would sell better than expected.

 

No- part of the appeal of online fiction is that it is free and anonymous. People that would NEVER, EVER buy a copy of the Advocate at their local Barnes&Nobles or Borders can and do access it on the net so that they can read without outing themselves.

 

Another thing that would cause a LOT of contreversy is the age of the characters in some of the stories. The good Reverund Wildmon would pop a gasket. It's not that teenagers NEVER have sex. Our society has been so in denial of it for so long that it might come as a rude but necessary shock.

 

Why is it that every time the teenage pregnancy numbers come out, everyone is so shocked?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I agree with all of your comments except one. The local Borders already has a "Gay literature" section. Donnie boy would have to go to that section, thumb through the selections, and read some of the stories to find out about the ages.

[reapersharvest]

Considering both the anonymity the internet providesfor all the closet cases out there (including myself), and the age limitations that would cut out a good chunk of your base (once again, myself included), I would have to say that it's not a good possibility.

[wildcard]

I can

[Comicality]

You know, while I agree completely with the idea that such stories would probably be met with a huge controversial blockade in terms of getting on shelves and getting bought, I am stuck wondering if it'll always be that way. I mean, I can clearly remember when there was no gay literature section at the bookstores around here. (Not that I can remember) I think I was 18 before seeing it for the first time. Now it's a standard section of any major bookstore. And the previously titled "occult" section used to be two or three shelves hidden in the back of a store, and now it's larger than the religion and philosophy sections put together. (They call it 'new age' now) I wonder if there's a chance to possibly break through the controversy of it all by starting now. Like...the first books, I'm sure, will get attacked and criticized...but what movement hasn't been ridiculed at the beginning?

 

Basically, I guess I would love to see the stigma behind the idea disappear so that it COULD be possible one day.

 

One thing I DIDN'T think about, however, and thanks you guys for bringing this up...is the fact that buying a book like this in public, and reading it in private online, are two completely different things. That's definitely a factor in all this. It would take the support of a huge community to support the idea and actually go out and spend money on the books that make it to publishing. Without that, the whole concept would fall flat. (Or get crushed by whatever groups decide to attack it) But...if the books actually made a lot of money, and it became a 'business' opportunity...I imagine that tons of companies would suddenly jump on the bandwagon whether they agree with the idea or not. Instantly. It's like...unavoidable then. Do you think the companies care that some religious groups are protesting the Harry Potter books for their acceptance of the 'occult'? Psh! Harry Potter books make money! LOTS of money! So those protests can be pretty much ignored. I'd like to think gay erotic fiction could be accepted like that after a while.

 

Just a thought. Man...I remember being 14, and ALL I WANTED was to see pictures and watch movies and read stories about kids like me. And there really weren't any. At least now we have "Wil and Grace" and "Queer As Folk" and the like, but in the late 80's and early 90's, we didn't even have THAT. I'd love to see things get better more quickly.

 

Thanks for the input ladies and gentlemen! You've given me some more to think about.

[peaceofthesouls]

people

are afraid of the word

gay and gay erotic throw them out,

don t asked me why ? i would buy them

but how many would buy them ?

people are stupid don t you know that ?

i figure that out

long time ago ?

[Iorek]

Personally, I want a version of GFD as a book when it's completed.

I guess I could print it off and have it bound...

[Comicality]

That would be awesome! I'd love to have a version of the series printed off myself. Maybe in different chapters! That would be SO cool! Besides, my system doesn't have a page count thing on it. So I'd love to know exactly what the page count is for the entire "Gone From Daylight" story at this point. I'll bet it's HUGE! I'm dying to know!

 

If you decide to print it out, please let me know! K?

[Dezlboi]

Your wish is my command.

 

In single-spaced, 12-pt Arial type, 8.5x11 pages, 1" top & bottom margins, 1.25" side margins, the vital stats come out to:

 

929 pages

508,654 words

2.7 million characters, including spaces

7,574 paragraphs.

 

So yeah, pretty f**king huge.

 

I'd like to know how many pages it would be if I formatted the pages to be standard hardcover or tradeback size, but I don't have that information (paper size, margin size, type size, etc) handy. If anyone knows, or if I get time to google it tomorrow, I'll reformat it and put that up too.

 

Whew, ok, that was waaaay too much cutting and pasting for one night. I need to sleep.

 

-Dezl

[jalaki]

The best part is, it's not even done yet Of course, half the time each "page" of Comsie's chapters are the same size as a regular chapter for other authors...so...lol

 

Would take a lot of reformatting to put it in a 'proper' book format, but it would be VERY neat. And even more freaking huge after it's all done.

 

Good job, Com

 

 

As for the book idea...I'd love to see it. I'd buy probably buy some, but it would largely depend on the author etc. As I'm sure you're all aware, not all the gay erotica out there is of the highet caliber That's another of the huge benefits of having them online...if it turns out to be crap, you haven't lost much except a bit of time.

 

But even having read some of Com's (and other people's) stuff multiple times, I'd probably buy copies. I do love rereading, after all, hehe.

[reapersharvest]

I would ove to design the cover. I see it as some great morocco-bound leather biblical book with gilt edges and a large iron clasp on one end. Maybe there would be red velvet somewhere...

[matthewrmt]

I was talking to someone about this in an email, and I was thinking that it might be a question for the cafe. So feel free to comment.

 

Do you think that the online gay erotic genre would generate as much of an interest on bookshelves? I mean, if authors published their works, with all of the sex included, and even the ages kept the same...do you think it would be the next 'big section' at your local bookstore? There's tons of romance novels for housewives and the like, right? So why not?

 

Just curious. Maybe the publishers out there are missing out on a big market here. Because online, people are reading these stories every single day. Millions of them!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

A different vew:

 

Differences in reading a story online , usually written in chapter form, verses buying a book, is the difference between finite and infinite.

 

Online: chapter posting allows the reader to continue the fantasy of the story, never knowing when the story will end. There are infinite possiblities until the next chapter, as well as the author can continue to develop the story. 'Infinite' is a powerful aphrodisiac.

 

When a book is purchased it is finite--no illusion of eternity to keep the reader coming back for more. Yes, one can read and re-read the book; but it will always be x-mount of pages--finite.

 

Peace, Matthew in NYC

[Comicality]

Oooh...another good point made. So the repeat audience value is pretty much diminished by the fact that once the story is read, it's pretty much complete.

 

Now, I know that there are books that people read over and over again, oth on and offline,but that's definitely something to consider. Thanks Matt!

[Comicality]

WHOAH!!! SHIT! How many pages did you say???? Holy shit! That's cool as hell!!!

 

::Dances::

 

I'm almost at 1000! How big was Stephen King's "The Stand"? Hehehe, damn, that's almost "War And Peace" size!

 

I like the idea of the bound cover, hehehe, that'dwould look so sweet. Especially if it was unneccessarily big. Like in "Lord Of The Rings" or something. A big black grimoire of vampire lore.

 

Of course, I'd have to keep it a secret from the other vampires in the world, who may want to hurt me for exposing their secrets.

[Guest allyboi]

i was thinking about printing up all the stories when they are all done, but i dont have enough paper or ink to do that

 

i would so love to see all of comsies stories in a book that would be so awesome and to see like cool cover pics n stuff

 

ooo maybe i can be on the cover yeah thats it thats the ticket

[Comicality]

Shit....if JUST "GFD" is almost 1000 pages, I'd hate to see what ALL the stories would be together! That might be a bit too much for one book to hold. Hehehe! Damn...I talk too much in these stories, don't I?

 

I know a couple stories you would be a PERFECT model for dude! Hehehe! I swear, we should have a modeling section on the Shack for the cuties that send in pics and all! I think that would be awesome!

 

(Pssst! For those that don't know....Allyboi is EXTREMELY cute!!! Believe me! ::Giggles: