Writing Gay Romances: 4 FAQ (Part 1)
By
Author Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone,
My name is Kelli A. Wilkins and I
write romances in every genre and heat level from mild to super-spicy. When
people learn that I write gay romances
they usually ask “Why would you write one of those? You’re not a man or gay.”
I generally respond with “Why
shouldn’t I write gay romances? I wrote a vampire romance, and I’ve never been
a vampire.” (That quiets them down for a while.)
I get a lot of questions about “why”
or “how” I write gay romances. To celebrate Pride month, I’m sharing four FAQ
about writing m/m romances. In the second part of this blog, I’ll share four
more questions from readers and authors.
#1:
You’ve written lots of straight romances. Why write gay romances?
Why not? I’m a writer. And as a
writer, I write whatever romance book comes to me, whether it’s a contemporary,
historical, paranormal, or gay romance. My stories are about people who meet,
fall in love, and overcome obstacles to be with one another.
This basic philosophy applies
whether the characters are same-sex, different sex, or space alien and earth
girl. Love is love and romance is romance. I’m not married to one specific
genre or heat level. I go where the story and the characters take me.
When I wrote Four Days with Jack, A Secret Match, and Killer in Wolf’s Clothing I trusted my instincts and wrote the
story that was in my head. Although all three books are contemporary gay
romances, they’re very different.
In A Secret Match, a big
part of the storyline centers around Everett dealing (or rather, not dealing) with his sexuality, and his
(un)willingness to be open about who he really is. Ev has been in a committed
relationship for years and is afraid that if he doesn’t come out, he’ll lose
the love of his life. He’s also worried about his career. How will the world
view a gay wrestler? Will there be backlash if he comes out?
David from Four Days with Jack has
never come to terms with his sexuality. He’s been lying to himself for years
about his orientation and hiding his true desires. David has always loved
his gay best friend (Jack) and has fantasized about being his lover, but he
lacked the courage to admit his feelings—until now.
The main characters in Killer in Wolf's Clothing are comfortable
with their sexuality, but have other issues to deal with (like shapeshifting
and a serial killer). This erotic paranormal is a fun look at the werewolf
legend and blends romance, mystery, danger, humor, and sizzling love scenes.
#2:
How do you write the gay love scenes in your books?
I approach a same-sex love scene the
same way I would if I was writing about a hetero couple. When I write a
straight romance, about half of the scenes are written from a male point of
view, so I’m used to writing in (and thinking in) a male “voice” anyway.
There’s not much difference in
writing a story from two male points of view. Writing a love scene isn’t only about
the gender or the anatomy of the characters—it’s about creating a believable,
intimate scene where two people express their love for each other.
Each character in each book is
unique, so the love scenes are always approached from different directions. In Four
Days with Jack, David is introduced to a world of new experiences. Everett
and Josh’s first kiss in A Secret Match is a tender and sweet
moment; and the first time readers meet Deke from Killer in Wolf’s Clothing
they realize he’s anything but shy.
#3:
What’s the hardest part about writing a gay romance?
The answer to this might be
surprising, and no, it has nothing to do with bedroom activities. The hardest
part about writing a same-sex romance or m/m love scene is pronouns.
As I’m writing, I’ll dash off
something like: “He ran his hand down his chest and…” Wait, what? He ran his own hand down his own chest? No… I have to pay extra close attention when revising or
editing a same-sex scene. Too many “his” references and the reader doesn’t know
who is doing what. Better to say: “He ran his hand down Kevin’s chest and...”
#4:
Are you concerned about what people will think about you writing gay romances?
Not in the least. People will think
whatever they want. I realize that not everyone wants to read the same type of
romance. Some readers love historicals, others only read contemporaries or
paranormals, and that’s fine. But if readers are turned off to me as an author just
because I write gay romances… well,
that’s too bad, see ya.
When I wrote my first gay romance, I considered “what people would think” about the book and
me writing it—for about three seconds. Then I reminded myself that I’m a
writer, and I create the characters and scenes that make up the book.
I don’t worry about what people
might think of me writing about two male characters kissing, going to bed, or
making dinner. Basically, the story needs to be told,
and I’m the one telling it. As a writer, I’ve made up all sorts of things: an
erotic Bigfoot story, a historical Viking tale, detailed ménage scenes (in all
combinations), and a first-person vampire love story.
Writers need to turn off
their internal editors and forge ahead with the story as it should be (and
needs to be) told. If we constantly worried about what grandma would think
about our writing, or if we were afraid to open up and let the characters (and the
story) take us into the bedroom, we’d never write anything except G-rated
fables.
Now more than ever, I’m just as proud/PRIDEful
of my gay romances as I am of my straight romances. Why? Because I’m a romance writer—and in my books, everyone
deserves to be in love and live happily-ever-after with whatever partner they
choose.
And
that’s the way it should be… in fiction and
in real life. Here’s the book summary to my first gay romance, Four
Days with Jack. I
hope you’ll check it out. I fell in love with the characters, and I hope
readers will too. It’s got a good blend of humor, drama, and plenty of hot love
scenes!
I
hope you enjoyed this FAQ blog. Stay tuned for Part 2, and don’t forget, you
can catch up on all of my blogs on the blog section of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog
Enjoy & Happy Reading!
Kelli
A. Wilkins
FOUR
DAYS WITH JACK
When David invited his best friend on vacation, he
never expected them to fall in love…
Spending four days
in a tropical paradise with Jack is a dream come true. For years, David has lived a lie and denied his romantic feelings for Jack.
Now that they’re together in an isolated Caribbean resort, he finally
admits what he really wants—to be Jack’s lover.
Jack
has been in love with David for years and is encouraged by his desire to
explore a sexual relationship. He’s more than willing to introduce David to the life
he has always fantasized about. Their sizzling nighttime encounters confirm
David’s long-hidden cravings, but what will
happen when they leave the resort?
Will David come
out and start a new life with Jack? Or will he go back to his old ways and risk losing the best friend he ever
had?
Order
Four Days with Jack here:
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins
is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 20
romance novels, 6 non-fiction books, and 2 online writing courses. Her romances
span many genres and heat levels, and she’s also been known to scare readers
with her horror stories.
In
January 2020, Kelli published Love, Lies & Redemption, a
western romance set in 1877 Nebraska. This novel blends a sensual love story
with mystery and danger.
She
released Romance Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love, a
non-fiction guide to romance in 2019. The book features 104 fun and easy ways
you can express your love to that special someone in your life. Perfect for men
or women, it focuses on tender, everyday gestures that let your
partner know how much you love him or her.
Kelli
published Extraterrestrial Encounters, a collection of
18 sci-fi stories, in 2019. If you like horror fiction, don’t
miss her disturbing novella, Nightmare in the North.
Kelli has authored
two online writing courses: Fiction Basics: Finding Ideas and Fiction Writing for Beginners.
These courses are perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to write. Visit: https://kelliwilkins.teachable.com/ for more details.
Not
just an author, Kelli is also an amateur photographer. Visit her pages on Shutterstock
https://www.shutterstock.com/g/kelli+wilkins and iStock https://www.istockphoto.com/portfolio/kelliwilkins to
view her photos.
Kelli posts on her
main Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and she created a
Facebook page for her Gay Romances: https://www.facebook.com/GayRomancesbyKelliAWilkins/
Follow her on
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/KWilkinsauthor and visit her
website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more
about all of her writings.
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