[Books: Gay and Having Faith]

I think including a topic on religion in the forums is good and may open some debate on how so many good and decent gay people have suffered over the years since they thought their souls would be sent to the eternal fires of hell for being homosexual.

I am actually an atheist (not an agnostic or skeptic) but a true dyed-in-the-wool atheist. Like many people I was raised in a religion practicing family (Roman Catholic), but started questioning the teachings of my church when I was about 12 years old. As I moved into my teens I quickly moved into the athiest camp.

I'm personally not opposed to what a person believes or if they practice a religion - I just don't happen to practice one or to be a believer.

Different religious sects handle the issue of homosexuality a bit differently, from all out damnation to borderline tolerance. I know many gays who migrated to the Unitarian church since Unitarians seem nonjudgmental in this area.

The Catholic church will accept a gay and even allow them to practice their faith (offering them redemption as long as they remain celibate - how fun!!!). The main stream Christian churches have differing policies, but one only has to look at the controversary stirred up with the election of a gay episcopal bishop to see that toleration in even the mainstream religions has a long way to go.

Of course when we get into serious fundmentalist based Christian religions the gloves come off and there is no bones about their views on homosexuality. (although the "love the sinner hate the sin" has often been one of their "code" phrases). The voters in those 11 states in the last election that voted down gay marriage were lobbied hard by the forces of organized religion - most notably fundmentalist Christians.

But hey gays aren't the only ones that have been knocked around by organized religion. In the pre civil war era when there was still slavery, some Christian doctrine questioned if the black african slaves even had souls - there were some who taught, preached and wrote that they didn't. And of course we can't forget the "Christians" (for that's what they were) who were killed by their own people for being accused of being witches - not only in Salem which is well known in the US but also all across Catholic Europe in the middle ages.

And the Inquisition had lots of fun terrifying and torturing European Jews into converting to Christianity.

Wars have even been fought and many killed over the way they made the sign of the cross (left to right or right to left). And what has been the fuel that has kept the fire burining in the Middle East???

If a gay person wants to believe in something like a god or even a giant stuffed rabbit floating in the heavens directing mankind I say fine, just don't ask me to believe or put a gun to my head and kill me or burn me at the stake if I don't believe (or especially if someone does believe, but don't follow your particular sect - which happens so often). Eg. ONLY the Catholics, or the Christian Fundamentalists or the Muslums will get to heaven because THEY have the "TRUE" religion or the correct "formula" for salvation.

I just feel sorry for the decent gay people out there who do struggle with trying to reconcile their orientation with the faith they try to practice. Too many still feel they are walking a tightrope between salvation and damnation. Is it any wonder why Prosac and Zoloft are making the drug companies even richer???

[The Scrolls of Icaria]

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[What do I say?]

First to Graeme,

Graeme,

Your method of story telling is unique. It?s definitely a talent and I think the more you write and the more you are overtly conscious of it, the more you and your works will evolve. Am I being gratitutiously patronizing here? Yeah you betcha!!! I think talent is like a plant that needs watered and fertilized so consider yourself duly sprinkled and manured for the day!!!

You didn?t have to even tell me you are a reader, I already guessed, because good readers always make the best writers? a singer that never listened to music wouldn?t be much of a singer ? now would they? I?m not asking you to analyze your process? that usually leads to fruitless speculation and the spinning of one?s mental wheels for nothing. Just be aware of it and then jump right in. You definitely tell a tale in a unique and different way ? one that isn?t gimmicky. Too often people want to produce something ?different? just to be different and what ensues is a disaster or a cheesy gimmick, since this hasn?t happened with you I must assume that your ability to do this little trick is a natural talent? so run with it boy? run like the wind? just don?t over analyze it.

BTW, last year I INSISTED to my BF that we visit Shrewsbury. You have to admit Brother Cadfael is a cool guy? exactly my point about taking a standard genre ?the detective novel? and turning it on it?s head by placing it in the middle ages and making a former solder of fortune turned monk and abbey apothecary into Sam Spade? I recommend the Cadfael novels to everyone ? even those who normally don?t read or like detective novels (and if you're too lazy, just rent the PBS Mystery adaptation, but realize the books are soooooo much better!!!).

Now to Blue,

Blue,

Merci, beau bleu gar?on?

First, an apology. I forgot to ?sign-in? ? bad (and lazy) boy that I was? so instead of the usual JamieofIcaria, you just got ?Jamie? as the poster of the message and probably thought it was a different Jamie? sorry it?s just plain little old me. But my name really is JAMIE? anyway?

When I offered Graeme the challenge of writing a story with a gay character(s) I guess I was throwing down the gauntlet to anyone out there who would like to give it a try. I just chose Graeme because the boy?s GOOD!!!

Then you came along and bifurcated my original point? which after reading it had me jumping out of my seat and yelling ?EXCELLENT! WAY TO GO BLUE,? (Causing my roommate to drop his bowl of ice cream and uttering a few unkind words at me).

But you are quite right, there are AT LEAST two ways of attacking this? 1 is write a gay story, with gay characters, but give the poor guys a break and scrub them clean of all the gay stereotypes and clich?s. In addition make the plot line something more exciting then them coming out for the umpteenth million time. 2 just write a story or novel or tale or whatever and have the main character(s) be gay? but that?s it? no gay angst? no screaming or crying because they are gay, and no overt gay bashing by the straights? just story in which a character or characters are gay, but NOT a ?gay? story.

When I started TSOI I swore to myself that while the characters may be gay it definitely wouldn?t be a gay story? In fact in TSOI the word gay will never appear since it takes place in an alternate universe the characters don?t even know that particular meaning of the word.

Graeme is right when he states that most of the works that fall into the above category (#2 that I mention) end up being science fiction/fantasy pieces? for some reason authors seem to be able to write this kinda of thing better in that genre. I think the challenge is to write it in a non Sci-Fi category.

I truly don?t wish to hurt anyone?s feelings, cause mayhem or get myself kicked out of Awesome Dude by appearing arrogant (cause I?m sincere here), but lets raise the bar on gay literature. This site is primarily for young authors and readers (and those young at heart) and I know that while ?coming out?, gay bashing and all the other ?problems? of being gay are real and can be told in honest, genuine, and poignant ways I would truly love to see us raise the standard and have some of these young guys write us some stories in the vein I suggest. Trust me, I?d read them? and applaud your efforts (even if they weren?t the great American gay novel!).

Graeme promised me he?s gonna think about it? but how about the rest of us who are writing? Blue gave 2 great examples of ways to attack the genre (better then I could have). Read what mon bleu gar?on says and give it a shot? the only things you have to lose are the stereotypical chains that bind you. (Remember straights aren?t the only ones who have stereotypical attitudes to gays). Sometimes GULP, we exhibit them ourselves!

Warmest Regards

Jamie

[Angel by Gabriel Duncan]

I like the premise of a truly dark story. A tale that is rather hard edged with characters that are a bit less warm and fuzzy. It is sometimes interesting to see a plot line develop where not everyone gets to live ?happily ever after.?

After reading the first two chapters I found that I prefer the first half of the first chapter, and the entire second chapter. There was something about the death of the boyfriend that seemed abrupt. Not that I?m suggesting you develop ?Scott? any further I don?t think that?s necessary if the whole premise of introducing him is to help launch the story (which I think is a good idea). I guess when someone gets murdered in such a quick and brutal way my personal reaction, as a reader, is to wonder more about the murderer then his victim.

The isolation and abandonment that comes across in the second chapter is powerful and I think taping into those feelings might be interesting. One could go the easy route on this story and let him have the usual problems, then develop the usual friendships and finally end up being happy and fulfilled, but it might be more interesting to see him really go through a long and painful period where these dark feelings and utter loss, do something to his character that eventually (no matter what ultimately happens in the story ? good or bad) leads him to become transcendent to the misery he has been subjected to.

[NWS - New Brother by Graeme]

Changing a POV in a story is a common technique. Some of the points you have to ponder are:

1. Why do I want to change the POV? Is there a good reason? If you can justify it to yourself, then you can probably justify it to a reader.

2. Will the new POV make sense to the reader? A sudden or abrupt change in a POV can sometimes be confusing. (Although in some cases I've seen authors use it to purposely "shake-up" the reader and move the story along in a different direction). Keep in mind, if the change in POV is a smooth transition and seems to make sense the reader will accept it.

3. What effect will it have on the story. A. Will changing the POV add to the telling of the tale? B. Will it make it interesting? C. Is it beneficial to the plot? A YES is, if not necessary, then hightly recommended in all three of these areas.

These are questions that you have to examine and confront.

As the author writing the story, it has to be just as fun, enjoyable, rewarding and interesting for you to write as it is for the reader to read. Ultimately if changing the POV in a story will energize and invigorate you and positively impace the way you tell the story, then it's always worth a try. If you feel that the technique it will work then go for it.

As to which character to choose for the POV change, the best characters to use are going to be your strongest ones and ones you can identify with so that you can successfully write in their voice.

You can also try to make a good guess as to which character the reader may want to hear from... although being able to empathize with the character as a writer is much more important than what any individual reader may think. A poll of 10 readers may give you 3 to 5 different characters that they may like and that's fine, but in the end you will be writing the story not them, so choose a character YOU would like to have fun with.

It may seem a strange way of putting it, but ask the characters themselves. Think about them, and conduct mental interviews. "Ok guys, line up let me know why I should choose you to give you POV in this story?" If the character can give you a good reason to add his voice to the telling of the tale, then chances are you will be comfortable writing for him and all will be well.

A reader will accept almost anything in a story (plot change, death of a major character, new story arch) IF it's handled well and properlly executed.

Your story is both nicely written, and well thought out. If you wish to add to it and part of your expansion of the story involves a new POV try it. Anything worth wondering about is worth at least a try.

I would definately agree with your point that not every loose end has to be tied up. The major ones should be addressed for sure, but if every element of every story were addressed then every book would go on and on and eventually the reader (even though they THINK they would like to know every tiny detail) would be come hopeless lost or completely bored. So choose what you want to tie up and then wrap it up... leave the reast to the reader's imagination as long as it's nothing critical to the tale.

Good luck

Regards

Jamie

[NWS - New Brother by Graeme]

ALL successful characters come from the pen of the author... ALL unsuccessful characters also come from the same place.

I've sometimes been asked about "how", and "why" I developed a certain character and what motivation I had. Part of it is the storyline and the plot other times it may come down to simply needing to do a job in the story (very mundane and utilitarian, but necessary to move things along, explain something or orchestrate a quick and sudden change of gears).

Really good characters that are believable ultimately spring from their authors - even those that are bad, or evil, or have some trait that the author normally doesn't seem have in his real life personality.

We all get angry, cry, lie, fight, exhibit virtue, are kind, are mean etc... it's taping into these parts of our own personality and drawing them into a character that breathes life into the character and ultimately makes them believable.

The old addage of successful authors writing about what they know may be true... but a writer working on a murder mystery may be the mildest mannered person in the world and wouldn't hurt a fly. Does this mean they can't write a successful murder mystery? Of course not, even the mildest manered person in the world had been angry... maybe so angry they could have strangled some one at one time or another.

In real life they didn't actually do it, but in their writing they can mine that feeling and bring it out in a character. The same with all emotions, or traits... there's a bit of angel and devil, god and mortal in all of us. Tapping into those feelings at the appropriate times makes characterization more realistic and believable.

Jamie

[The Scrolls of Icaria]

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