Favorite Story Type

[Empathy]

There are a lot of different stories out there and the same is true just as true among our own authors. Romance/love, Sci-fi, Drama, erotica, highschool, adults. And there are as many different combinations as there are authors to write about them. My question is what's your favorite? I'm sure we could all take a look at a number of each authors stories and get a feel for what they like to write about. Though this might be a little simpler than reading a half dozen stories.

 

Me, Sci-Fi, I like my stories, like I like my books and movies. I've been planning to write a bit of a Romance/Drama and every time I even think of it I just know it will be a challenge for me. Romance and drama has it's place of course but as far as I'm concerned that's nestled between the jowls of a nice Science fictions. haha. j/k Not sure I have the write "stuff" for a romance story.

 

So...what's your type?

[Dio]

Fantasy, sci-fi, mystery... in no particular order. Of course, combining several sub-genres is a must into any of those three!

[Empathy]

I agree, sci-fi offers a wider range for the author to explore. I've thought of trying to write a mystery story. Though I'd probably end up writing a sci-fi mystery which might not work out to well.

[Boy In Doubt]

I read a lot of different types but my favorites are romance, sci-fi and fantasy. But when it comes to writing I sort of stick to the last two because romance alone is difficult to write. I'd rather have sci-fi and/or fantasy as the main genre while adding romance and humor for the subplots.

[Umbathri]

I prefer Drama, with or without romance. Reading (or trying to write) a good heart-wrenching gay story is what I

[DomLuka]

Weird. Romance/ coming of age/out is really easy for me to write because it deals with experiences or emotions that are easy to feel or at the very least, imagine. Like, angst is easy for me to write. But when I

[Empathy]

I think it's the fact that I don't really let myself experience those emotions that make it even more difficult to write about it.

[Krista]

Well what I like to read is different from what I like to write as well. When I got to buy a book or read a story on Nifty or here I look for the Sci-fi or fantasy type stories. I am picky when it comes to those though. Character development is extremely important to me as well so when the world around the characters overpower them in the story then it doesn't interest me. I could never write either of those, but I am a huge fan of them.

 

I write Romance, coming of age, coming out dramas. They're based on realism and detailed accounts of a character's life. To me those are easier to write and are easier for writers as well as readers to connect to. So that's why I write them. If I ever really wrote a sci-fi or fantasy I probably would love the unrestricted feeling. I just don't think I could create a whole different world or universe.

[DomLuka]

I think it's the fact that I don't really let myself experience those emotions that make it even more difficult to write about it.

 

Hmm. Yep, that could hinder a story of that sort. Personally, I think when dealing with a story based on feelings or emotion, it comes out best (and most inspiring for the author) if you can connect yourself to what your characters are going through. That is, unless you

[Empathy]

Hmm. Yep, that could hinder a story of that sort. Personally, I think when dealing with a story based on feelings or emotion, it comes out best (and most inspiring for the author) if you can connect yourself to what your characters are going through. That is, unless you

[TalonRider]

I find as a reader, I tend to read stories with a plot, or at least tend to go somewhere. Over the past couple of years, I've read, or have been reading, more sci/fan involving magic, Angels, Vampires, Boy with wings and space. This includes stories such as The Boys Of Lady Lex, The Angel, Gone From Daylight, and The Scrolls Of Icaria.

 

Some of the stories mentioned don't have explicit sex in them but maybe a hint to keep it interesting. In TSOI, the main characters go off at one point in Book One to be alone and the author, Jamie, leave's it at that. The Icarians are boys with wings and not angels. They are not gay, there just happens not to be any females of the species which is explained. Jamie and Nic are a mated pair, which is also explained. The main point of the story is to promote tolerance to anything different.

[Graeme]

What I read and what I write are completely different. The vast majority of the novels in my print collection are Science Fiction or Fantasy, with the odd mystery (Ellis Peters's Brother Cadfael) and drama/action (Tom Clancy).

 

What I write tends to be emotional drama, if I try to put an name to it. I've tried for romance a couple of times but the story drifts off that genre a bit. I've tried my hand at a comedy in a couple of short stories, but humour is one of those things that either flows freely or it doesn't happen... and most of the time it doesn't happen.

[TalonRider]

But what you do write, Graeme is very good, as I've told you in the past.

[x Trevor x]

I really am not much of a fan of sci-fi or fantasy I usually write action stories and horror though I like to write horror I dont read it because everyone who writes horror make the main characters vampires or something and thats not what I think a horror is suppose to be..typically I think a horror is suppose to be a bad guy and a bunch of victims that are fighting for their lives I like romance aswell but without the drama or action theres nothing but a boring story where everything goes the main characters way and it's all la la land for them which is unrealistic and I always love a sad ending though I do write happy endings to please some readers I love to read sad endings. Right now I havent got much publicity on any of my stories which for me is a bit discourageing but right now I am working on a story that I think will hit it big. If any of you know what the chat room role playing is well it's where you create a character and basically play pretend in the chat rooms with many other people and you all work together to create a story and that is what I am baseing my next story on is from what I have roleplayed and seeing as many other people were involved and I basically know how to write my story by copying what I have role played I think it will work out because it hasnt come from my brain alone but from many others minds and created characters though in role play it was fantasy the story wont be fantasy

[Lugh]

hum..

 

what I read: speculative fiction with nearly any sub-genres, dime-a-dozen romances (yes even the het ones!), military drama, pretty much anything with gay boys, fluff.

 

what I write: speculative fiction with many different sub-genres, modern drama with or without gay sub-themes(mainly short stories)

 

what I detest: 98% of fan fiction (DK's Rider's Pride being one exception), 99.9% of HP fan fiction (no offense Myr), f**K stories

 

what I require: a solid plot, characters I can connect with (no matter their race/gender/species of origin), believable settings (no matter where in the known/unknown universe(s) it might be)

 

does this help?

 

Lugh

 

P.S.

 

Trevor,

 

Horror is a sub-genre of speculative fiction. There are many types of horror though, including the slash/bash that you like to write. Other types include 'monsters' which could be anything from frankenstien type creatures to aliens to vampires to... well use your imaginiation. 'Psychological' horror is another one that is wildly popular. It gets really fun when sub-genres are combined and you have aliens who inflict unsuspecting vampires with psychological horror while chasing down humans with a quasarbeam...

 

hugs,

 

Lugh

[zapthestarz]

I'm a sucker for teenage romances...

 

The darker and more twisted, the better! Mysteries, dark dramas, and anything that can make me cry are also a plus.

 

I'm starting to more and more skip over the erotic scenes though....

Edited April 9, 2007 by zapthestarz

[Razor]

Hardcore scifi makes me want to vomit 99% of the time. In recent times, the only sci fi I've found that I could stomach was Dio's stuff, and that's only because he has a delightfully twisted sense of humor.

 

Horror is okay, but it has to have a certain feel to it. I'm not into blood and guts, I wanna be terrified. So far the only book I've ever actually been terrified of was The Shining, but maybe that was because I was a little young to be reading it... five years old is a bit early.

 

The prevailing quality of writing that stands out to me is the almost splatterpunk style of it. It has to be edgy, so much so that it slaps me in the face and makes me pay attention. I want to read about insanity, debauchery, the most harsh, drastic... just the MOST. I have to have that element of extremity, that sort of desperate need written into the story, to make me really go nuts over it. Good example: Poppy Z. Brite's earlier works, before she went soft, lol. Lost Souls is officially my favorite book ever, bar none.

 

I write... strangely. I try to sort of show just how insane someone can be, while looking perfectly normal on the outside. We all, especially teens, have those moments and stretches where we've gone completely nutso on the inside, close to snapping, but nobody notices through the fake smiles and routines. It's kind of fun to show what's underneath a calm exterior. Takes a certain kind of person to appreciate it though, lol.

 

And of course, there just has to be a bit of romantic/sexual interest in there somewhere... no one can truthfully say that a day goes by during which they don't think about their gender of interest at least once.

[Dusk]

What I write: Fantasy, historical fantasy, contemporary leather fiction, friendship fiction, gay fiction, gay erotic fiction, and various genres of nonfiction.

 

What age groups I write for: Ages ten to fourteen (if you count my nonfiction), young adult, and adult.

 

What I read: Um . . . everything?

 

Well, okay, I'm especially likely to steer toward stories that have hierarchy or power dynamics of some sort in them, such as historical fiction or spy novels. And most of my online reading is of original slash.

[Ieshwar]

I like to read stories about fantasy, romance and a bit of historical touch. Of course, stories which have all this -like Lugh's Question of Tine and Jamie's TSOI, are just wonderful. But of course, I do read other genres too like romance or coming out and they are good. I do read some fanfictions and I must say that they're good.

 

About writing, I haven't written much, apart a few short stories and I want to try a bit of everything. Fantasy is quite difficult to write since it involves writing about something present just in your mind. But I would like to try it. Wonder if it will turn out to be good. Otherwise, I like writing about romance and cuddling moments too!

 

Ieshwar

[BeaStKid]

i like sci-fics...fantasy...action...adventure...mystery...romance...drama...stories having combined genres i mentioned...basically i read what i find is good....it doesn't have to be of a particular genre...

 

but i definitely do not like to read stories which have cross generational relationships...i don't know why, but it is not my type.

 

For writing, i like fantasy...gives a lot of open space for creativity.... i also like to write about coming of age/out...loving relationships..etc...I'm currently working on a fantasy which has a bit of romance in it..so, i like a bit of both.

[JamesSavik]

What is your favorite type of story?

 

Why a good one, of course.

 

Genre doesn't matter much as long as the elements of the story are solid and well done.

 

It doesn't matter if its a western, sci-fi, romance or vampire story as long as the reader can connect with the characters, the plot is interesting and the dialogue works.

 

In fact, a lot of very successful stories have elements of several genres. Think about the movie Star Wars and consider how many different genre lines are crossed.

 

 

JS

[Kanaye]

Online I only read gay fiction and it usually involves teens getting through. Wiether it's by coming out or getting away from an abusive "someone" or thoughts of suicide, I like when teenagers get through something hard. I love angsty stuff, if I'm cryin half way through I'm gunna probably read it again.

 

I do read erotica but it has to be at a certin time. I don't think I could spend all day reading erotica, it'd probably just get boring, and then what would I do at 2am?! I dont mind fiction with some sex scenes in them, some times I read em, sometimes I don't. The sex scenes that is.

 

I do like fiction with a bit of romance in it (such as in Dom's stories) as long as it isn't mushy. I don't really like mushy-mushy, stories, nor do I like mysteries. A small bit of romance is great but when the story goes too lovey dovey I kinda wanna barf, ya know.

 

I used to be into fan fiction a whole lot, thats actually what got me into reading original gay fiction but now I bearly ever read fan fiction unless I dig one out of my closet from 3 years ago. Such fun!

 

With my books I mostly prefer fantasy, dragons, magic, wizards, swords, knights and so on and so forth. I also read alot of books with the whole teen'sangst thing as well, such as Cut, which I finished last night.

 

Now, my writing is ... Well, I usually try to write fantasy stuff usually involving a teenage female main charecter or 2. Someone mention earlier that they didn't think they could create an entire new world, well I do. The thing is, my mind keeps going about the people, the places, the religions, the history that I get overwhelmed and I just drop it. There has been a few that Ive kept on with but the hard part is remembering what religion, culture, ect. goes with what story. I don't know how some people do it but they have my respect and admiration.

 

 

Just recently, (yesterday) I've decided to try something different and I've started on my own gay fiction, I'm on page 2! Wish me luck! Lol!

Edited July 3, 2007 by Kanaye