Who's who?

[ChromedOutCortex]

So I was on Reddit a little while ago and saw a post by someone saying that so much of the MM romance on Amazon (I assume) is drivel, they also mentioned that so much of it is written by women.

I'm wondering if a survey was ever done here to breakdown authors/readers? Who's writing - is it predominately men? What genres are most popular and who is writing in those genres.

What about readers? Mostly men? Are there women reading anything here?

I'm curious because after watching some short documentaries, I came to learn that a lot of BL manga was written by women. I did not know this.

Maybe something like this was done and I should just try searching. 😉 

 

[wildone]

This has been talked about and usually ends up with hurt feelings on both sides of the topic of people with strong opinions, and ends up being closed. We are a community of both female, male and other members on the rainbow . 

If you want to start a poll, feel free! I do suggest you do moderate it yourself so people are not attacking others based on if they are male, female, gay, straight, etc. It takes a lot to make a community and the diversity of GA is what makes it work too. I'd hate to see people stop contributing because they felt they were not appreciated. 

Good Luck!

If it starts to go sideways, it will be moved to the Pit or just closed though.  

[ChromedOutCortex]

Thanks... yeah, I don't want to start any drama; just curious to know the mix between male/female and the type of writing each is doing. 

[Sherye Story Reader]

I don't write on here but have written stories on another site, but on here I have read both female and male author stories which are really good. And yes, some may may get offended on if they write gay stories. I am female and bisexual so have done those stories as well. But let's hear how others take your question and hope they aren't offended by the question.

Edited December 29, 2025 by Sherye Story Reader

[ChromedOutCortex]

23 minutes ago, Sherye Story Reader said:

I don't write on here but have written stories on another site, but on here I have read both female and male author stories which are really good. And yes, some may may get offended on if they write gay stories. I am female and bisexual so have done those stories as well. But let's hear how others take your question and hope they aren't offended by the question.

Thanks for the reply! It's always interesting to learn who reads/writes and what they write about but also what they are reading, and what types of stories they enjoy. I know we're all a little different in what we enjoy reading/watching, but it's nice to see the diversity in action. 

[Jason Rimbaud]

I only care if the story is good and written in the correct tense.  

Male or female, doesn't matter to me. I only want interesting fun stories. And I am neither male or female, I am a Chef. . 

[ReaderPaul]

I have read stories by both male and female writers.  One of the best M/M romance stories I have read was by a female author on a website beginning with "N" and the author used the first name of Priscilla.  But many stories depicting M/M romance are not up to the level of Priscilla's writing.  On the other hand many males are not the best writers, in all fairness.  Priscilla's story was reasonable in plot, progressed at a rate easily believed, used good grammar and punctuation, and also had touches of humor throughout.  ( @Sherye Story Reader -- did you ever write under the name Priscilla something or other?  If so, please send me a PM.)

I agree with @Jason Rimbaud -- the story is more important than the gender of the author.

Edited December 30, 2025 by ReaderPaul

[Sherye Story Reader]

Just now, ReaderPaul said:

I have read stories by both male and female writers.  One of the best M/M romance stories I have read was by a female author on a website beginning with "N" and the author used the first name of Pricilla.  But many stories depicting M/M romance are not up to the level of Priscilla's writing.  On the other hand many males are not the best writers, in all fairness.  Priscilla's story was reasonable in plot, progressed at a rate easily believed, used good grammar and punctuation, and also had touches of humor throughout.  ( @Sherye Story Reader -- did you ever write under the name Priscilla something or other?  If so, please send me a PM.)

I agree with @Jason Rimbaud -- the story is more important than the gender of the author.

No, I didn't

[Jason Rimbaud]

I actually have so much to say about this topic. But I know my love of debate and picking things apart to the smallest level pisses people off. And most of my opinion would be esoteric, many do not like to engage in that fashion. 

I will say I can usually tell if it is a male or female writer by the prose. Each gender writes distinctively. Neither is better than the other and comes down to reader preference.

On this site, Krista is one of my favorites, follow closely behind by Cassie. One writes predominately coming of age and one offers a variety of stories with Sci-Fi themes. I wouldn't go to Krista for sci-fi. By the way, these two writers are some of my favorites on this site period. 

Then you have Thirdly, fun, cheeky stories with some supernatural elements and amazing fun dialogue. 

On the other side, you have Jack Poigant (I always misspell his name and always feel bad), his story Big Paws was hysterical and had one of the most intense chase scenes I've read in a long time. 

You can't forget about Lee Wilson, who wrote a story about a sentient room that I couldn't stop thinking about for days. All his stories are unique and written from different point of view that I could never emulate. 

Jeff Burton is hard to describe, but he wrote a saterical story about Nifty stories that is so much fun that I wish he'd hurry up and finish it. 

I'm sure there are many authors who write romance but since I don't usually enjoy those stories, I don't even try. 

I think what I'm alluding too, there are many great writers of either sex and one could find their interest from any of them. 

If I'm misrepresented anyone, that was not my intention, I was attempting to show that many authors write different things so it all comes down to talent in the end. 

[Krista]

I wouldn't come to me for Sci-Fi either. Not even with a map and compass combo in hand.  

--

I let this topic sit for over twenty-four hours. The reason why I left it sitting is because, at word value it seemed like it was going to go the way of the handful of discussions that crop up here from time to time. 

I will say this: When you go into a restaurant and your steak is dry and you wish to complain and they send for the chef - and if that chef is female and your response is: Well that's why.

You are the problem. Period.

Attack the words written on the pages, not the name on the front cover. If the author sucks - to you/a reader, it is more than likely due to their storytelling and writing ability, choices in plot not being to your/the reader's taste, or a myriad of reasons other than whether or not the author has dangly bits between their legs. Race, religion, gender, age, background, lifestyle, tax bracket, etc needs to stay out of the discussion when you're/the reader making blanket all encompassing untrue statements such as that. There is no excuse for it, it is a weak argument made by self-serving people who just like to hear themselves talk down and express their own bias. It is 2025 - soon to be 2026. I'm over it. 

Do those things matter? They can. My background helps me paint convincing rural pictures. I am a former athlete so writing characters with athletic backgrounds is helped along by that as well. I'm female, so my female characters should read authentically. I work in the medical field, if I ever wished to write a character that is based generally within a few fields I could do it. All because those are lived experiences. We all have them. The rest can be overcome by research, the drive to be correct, editing, reading, putting words to paper over years to hone your writing in general so that all the writing you do comes out better for it. Being observant helps. I study trends in language, style, mannerisms, and how people relate to one another. 

If the entire first comment was left out of the discussion, then there wouldn't have been an issue. Reddit is a real bastion of common sense, decency, and data backed discussion as well, I put a lot of weight to the opinions I find on that platform. For sure. --- With that said, I genuinely don't think that was the true intention with the birth of this topic. So, although this whole ramble I've done will read rather blunt/pushy in tone, I am not placing blame or a heavy opinion on the original post, just the parroted comment made within it. 

Anyway, I am female. I've been writing M/M fiction since I was in my early teens back in the early 2000s. I write mostly coming of age Romances, they're slow-burn. Typically written in first person. I like rural settings and for my characters to have an athletic/athlete character/plot element to them. Not always, but most usually there is something there. I will dabble in fantasy, I think I've done it three times with very little success, as far as my opinion goes. Most of my stories have a coming of age element. A lot of them are in high school. I feel I'm too told to write such things now, as I have children who are currently in high school and they scare me, truly. So I will like to branch out to other themes and away from Coming of Age stories, but yes, it is what I'm known for as others have said. I recently dabbled in Werewolves, might do that again, who knows. I hear Demons are popular, I'm sure I can slow-burn romance the hell out of that genre if I put my mind to it. 

As far as being a reader here: I am an old-school sort of reader that broke myself in on CJames, Dom, Viv, Shadowgod, and others. One of my top stories that I've ever read here was written by @CassieQ. Generally though when I look for stories I wish to read stories similar to what I write myself. I am stuck in my ways. I don't care if they are in first or third. I like for a more slow paced story, or slow-burn set-up within the writing. I like character driven narratives for the most part as well. 

I made it a point recently to be more active as a reader here. I don't have a lot of time for reading, but I've been able to cross a few short stories off my to-read list and I'm following a few more highly entertaining stories. I want to do more. Maybe I'll take a tiny break from writing after my latest project has a complete tag next to it and focus on just being a reader for a bit. 

As a general member, I really can't say how I'm perceived mostly. I think it is a mix of blunt/unapologetic and playful/cheeky. I'll take that, probably as good as I can hope for really. Oh, can't believe I forgot this, but I've been told by a few people that I'm rather scary. I personally don't see it, but sometimes the cards just fall where they do. 

 

Edited December 30, 2025 by Krista

[CassieQ]

On 12/28/2025 at 2:13 PM, ChromedOutCortex said:

So I was on Reddit a little while ago and saw a post by someone saying that so much of the MM romance on Amazon (I assume) is drivel, they also mentioned that so much of it is written by women.

Oh well, if it's Reddit...  

[ChromedOutCortex]

10 hours ago, ReaderPaul said:

I have read stories by both male and female writers.  One of the best M/M romance stories I have read was by a female author on a website beginning with "N" and the author used the first name of Priscilla.  But many stories depicting M/M romance are not up to the level of Priscilla's writing.  On the other hand many males are not the best writers, in all fairness.  Priscilla's story was reasonable in plot, progressed at a rate easily believed, used good grammar and punctuation, and also had touches of humor throughout.  ( @Sherye Story Reader -- did you ever write under the name Priscilla something or other?  If so, please send me a PM.)

I agree with @Jason Rimbaud -- the story is more important than the gender of the author.

Totally! That was actually one of the comments - that when female authors write M/M romance/sex they don't get it right.

I've never ready any, so am not sure what the complaint really is - but I mean, if you're trying to understand M/M romance it would be different for everyone and sex... well, won't go there.

 

[ChromedOutCortex]

10 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I actually have so much to say about this topic. But I know my love of debate and picking things apart to the smallest level pisses people off. And most of my opinion would be esoteric, many do not like to engage in that fashion. 

I will say I can usually tell if it is a male or female writer by the prose. Each gender writes distinctively. Neither is better than the other and comes down to reader preference.

On this site, Krista is one of my favorites, follow closely behind by Cassie. One writes predominately coming of age and one offers a variety of stories with Sci-Fi themes. I wouldn't go to Krista for sci-fi. By the way, these two writers are some of my favorites on this site period. 

Then you have Thirdly, fun, cheeky stories with some supernatural elements and amazing fun dialogue. 

On the other side, you have Jack Poigant (I always misspell his name and always feel bad), his story Big Paws was hysterical and had one of the most intense chase scenes I've read in a long time. 

You can't forget about Lee Wilson, who wrote a story about a sentient room that I couldn't stop thinking about for days. All his stories are unique and written from different point of view that I could never emulate. 

Jeff Burton is hard to describe, but he wrote a saterical story about Nifty stories that is so much fun that I wish he'd hurry up and finish it. 

I'm sure there are many authors who write romance but since I don't usually enjoy those stories, I don't even try. 

I think what I'm alluding too, there are many great writers of either sex and one could find their interest from any of them. 

If I'm misrepresented anyone, that was not my intention, I was attempting to show that many authors write different things so it all comes down to talent in the end. 

Thanks for spilling names... I'm going to hunt some of these stories/authors down.  

[ChromedOutCortex]

6 hours ago, Krista said:

I wouldn't come to me for Sci-Fi either. Not even with a map and compass combo in hand.  

--

I let this topic sit for over twenty-four hours. The reason why I left it sitting is because, at word value it seemed like it was going to go the way of the handful of discussions that crop up here from time to time. 

I will say this: When you go into a restaurant and your steak is dry and you wish to complain and they send for the chef - and if that chef is female and your response is: Well that's why.

You are the problem. Period.

Attack the words written on the pages, not the name on the front cover. If the author sucks - to you/a reader, it is more than likely due to their storytelling and writing ability, choices in plot not being to your/the reader's taste, or a myriad of reasons other than whether or not the author has dangly bits between their legs. Race, religion, gender, age, background, lifestyle, tax bracket, etc needs to stay out of the discussion when you're/the reader making blanket all encompassing untrue statements such as that. There is no excuse for it, it is a weak argument made by self-serving people who just like to hear themselves talk down and express their own bias. It is 2025 - soon to be 2026. I'm over it. 

Do those things matter? They can. My background helps me paint convincing rural pictures. I am a former athlete so writing characters with athletic backgrounds is helped along by that as well. I'm female, so my female characters should read authentically. I work in the medical field, if I ever wished to write a character that is based generally within a few fields I could do it. All because those are lived experiences. We all have them. The rest can be overcome by research, the drive to be correct, editing, reading, putting words to paper over years to hone your writing in general so that all the writing you do comes out better for it. Being observant helps. I study trends in language, style, mannerisms, and how people relate to one another. 

If the entire first comment was left out of the discussion, then there wouldn't have been an issue. Reddit is a real bastion of common sense, decency, and data backed discussion as well, I put a lot of weight to the opinions I find on that platform. For sure. --- With that said, I genuinely don't think that was the true intention with the birth of this topic. So, although this whole ramble I've done will read rather blunt/pushy in tone, I am not placing blame or a heavy opinion on the original post, just the parroted comment made within it. 

Anyway, I am female. I've been writing M/M fiction since I was in my early teens back in the early 2000s. I write mostly coming of age Romances, they're slow-burn. Typically written in first person. I like rural settings and for my characters to have an athletic/athlete character/plot element to them. Not always, but most usually there is something there. I will dabble in fantasy, I think I've done it three times with very little success, as far as my opinion goes. Most of my stories have a coming of age element. A lot of them are in high school. I feel I'm too told to write such things now, as I have children who are currently in high school and they scare me, truly. So I will like to branch out to other themes and away from Coming of Age stories, but yes, it is what I'm known for as others have said. I recently dabbled in Werewolves, might do that again, who knows. I hear Demons are popular, I'm sure I can slow-burn romance the hell out of that genre if I put my mind to it. 

As far as being a reader here: I am an old-school sort of reader that broke myself in on CJames, Dom, Viv, Shadowgod, and others. One of my top stories that I've ever read here was written by @CassieQ. Generally though when I look for stories I wish to read stories similar to what I write myself. I am stuck in my ways. I don't care if they are in first or third. I like for a more slow paced story, or slow-burn set-up within the writing. I like character driven narratives for the most part as well. 

I made it a point recently to be more active as a reader here. I don't have a lot of time for reading, but I've been able to cross a few short stories off my to-read list and I'm following a few more highly entertaining stories. I want to do more. Maybe I'll take a tiny break from writing after my latest project has a complete tag next to it and focus on just being a reader for a bit. 

As a general member, I really can't say how I'm perceived mostly. I think it is a mix of blunt/unapologetic and playful/cheeky. I'll take that, probably as good as I can hope for really. Oh, can't believe I forgot this, but I've been told by a few people that I'm rather scary. I personally don't see it, but sometimes the cards just fall where they do. 

 

Hey @Krista - thank you for that. I agree with you 100%. 

Reddit can be pretty toxic, but sometimes there’s a interesting post and thoughtful discussion. When I saw that post, about someone complaining that certain authors “get M/M relationships all wrong,” and it made me curious.

For example, there are certain characters or experiences I personally haven’t lived, like specific aspects of LGBTQ+ identity, and while I deeply respect those stories and could do research, I’d worry about missing nuances or unintentionally misrepresenting something important. Bringing reality into my stories and characters really matters to me, so I tend to write what I know or what I can approach with the care and lived insight it deserves.

The writing I’ve read here has been amazing! So many talented storytellers! That’s why I try to plug this site whenever those conversations pop up. It feels like a lot of readers go straight to Amazon looking for LGBTQ stories, only to end up disappointed.

Honestly, in all my time here, I don’t think I’ve read a single bad story. Everything feels intentional, well-crafted, and emotionally resonant.

I might take a closer look at the titles people are complaining about just to see whether it’s nitpicking or if there’s substance to the critique. But ultimately, bad stories can be written by anyone - regardless of gender, background, or identity. What matters is respect for the characters, authenticity, and the willingness to do the work.

[CassieQ]

Most of the criticism of my work is either somone not liking the type of story I'm telling (that's fine, go find something you like) or telling me something doesn't read quite right and needs to be changed/rewritten.  This is usually from an editor or beta reader and is appreciated.   I can't recall anyone criticizing my work because I'm a woman who can't write about gay/bi men.  I don't see much of that anywhere,  to be honest.  Must be sticking to the right corners of the internet.   

[Jeff Burton]

On 12/29/2025 at 2:20 PM, Jason Rimbaud said:

Jeff Burton is hard to describe, but he wrote a saterical story about Nifty stories that is so much fun that I wish he'd hurry up and finish it. 

Boy is this ever accurate.  I'm just everywhere trying to figure out which niche fits me best, so expect a little of every genre in 2026 until I figure it out.  Or until someone flat out tells me "yo stop writing this trash and go back to (something)" 😂

Edited January 2 by Jeff Burton

[Topher Lydon]

I like authenticity in the writers I read.
I have moral issues with certain demographics writing AT other demographics. But that is a me issue, not a critique of them. I'm a bit of a Vegan when it comes to what I read/watch, I like a certain amount of honesty in it.

That said, when an author crosses the divide and actually writes FOR another demographic, that's when it blows the socks off. I want more of it, I want to be able to enjoy a story that speaks to me in a voice I know rings true. 

I think the intentions of the author shows in their writing. And those writers that understand their characters and the motivations, those are the best ones.

[lawfulneutralmage]

I love strong female characters. When I once wrote stuff for one of mine and gave it to a female friend to read, she said, that was not how a woman would think. Intrigued, I asked her to explain it to me, and we went through the situation the character faced.

My learing can be summarized as follows: I have the emotional range of a teaspoon.

I will never dare again describing a woman's train of thought w/o talking to one!

[mastershakeme]

Haha, super late, but.... 

I’m a woman writing gay fiction, but I don’t write it because it’s “safe” or “romantic.” I write it because I’m drawn to people who live on the edges, characters who don’t fit neatly, who carry damage, who are trying to build family out of what’s left.

That kind of alienation isn’t owned by any one gender. It’s just human.

For me, that’s what gay fiction does best when it’s written honestly. It gives space to complicated people. That’s the kind of story I want to tell.