tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post7796948759657996107..comments2024-01-12T02:52:06.482-06:00Comments on what women write: What Women Read - A Guest Post by Vaughn RoycroftUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-9020623706072420112013-07-03T10:05:59.028-05:002013-07-03T10:05:59.028-05:00Thanks, Pamela! Thanks to you all for having me! I...Thanks, Pamela! Thanks to you all for having me! It was my pleasure, and I'd love to come back someday. vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-50760104687805482842013-07-02T18:38:57.025-05:002013-07-02T18:38:57.025-05:00Vaughn--
Thanks for guest posting with us and bri...Vaughn--<br /><br />Thanks for guest posting with us and bringing such a lively dialog to the blog! You're welcome back anytime. Pamela Hammondshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18267333699680840984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-79428304349157580732013-06-29T07:49:26.339-05:002013-06-29T07:49:26.339-05:00I didn't want to dwell, but you've exactly...I didn't want to dwell, but you've exactly nailed what I went through. When I actually thought about, it became even funnier that I was troubled. Stephen King calls the person you image as your first reader--the person you hope will laugh at the funny parts and cry at the sad parts--your Ideal Reader. That person for me is Mo, so, yeah--I was composing for a female Ideal Reader. Go figure. :-P<br /><br />Thanks for better 'slaining that aspect of the post, Jan! Here's to abandoning genre-related hang-ups (and all others, to the best of our abilities ;-) )! Thanks for pointing out the market's upside, too! Have a great weekend, Boss!vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-31792087169544914092013-06-28T22:04:05.215-05:002013-06-28T22:04:05.215-05:00Re your wondering why it troubled you to learn you...Re your wondering why it troubled you to learn your writing appealed more to women: I say that I write romance, but it's probably more true that I write romantic elements. (In different genres, which is going to be problematic, but there you are.) As this realization dawned, I almost went through a mourning process. I'd had one idea about how my writing "career" should go, and this was both unfamiliar and unanticipated. It meant I'd have to target different agents and publishers, I'd probably have a different kind of cover, etc. Quite simply, it changed my self-concept and dissolved one of the few things in writing that I thought was certain. <br /><br />Anyway, I'm over that now. My hang-ups are non-genre related. ;)<br /><br />Long way of saying, I get the distress. But if you had to pick a gender to appeal to, given that women purchase and read most fiction, you probably chose the right one. Jan O'Hara (Tartitude)https://www.blogger.com/profile/04930129153455367820noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-67826014528769631232013-06-28T17:38:46.585-05:002013-06-28T17:38:46.585-05:00I was right there with you, Karen! It wasn't l...I was right there with you, Karen! It wasn't long ago that I was clueless about how many women read fantasy. But I've noticed the trend is only getting stronger. My Goddaughter--age 25--and many of her friends all read epic fantasy, probably because of the mentioned trend toward strong, independent female characters in fantasy. I feel very fortunate, and not least of all because you still dig me. The feeling's mutual. :-) Thanks for reading and weighing in, Karen! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-66208580452614182232013-06-28T17:32:41.833-05:002013-06-28T17:32:41.833-05:00"Chicks dig me." Too funny! Enjoyable po..."Chicks dig me." Too funny! Enjoyable post, Vaughn! I'm not a fantasy reader (much), but I have read a few. Honestly, I'm a little surprised that women are your Right Readers. Having kick-ass warrior girl types in the books helps. I didn't know gals liked the fantasy/sci fi stuff. I'm not being gender biased, I just didn't think chicks would dig it because I don't much dig it. But I'm an old chick. And I still dig YOU! Karenhttp://www.karenselliott.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-43922788629512325302013-06-28T15:03:49.220-05:002013-06-28T15:03:49.220-05:00:-D Thanks, Diana! And you are so right. Strong an...:-D Thanks, Diana! And you are so right. Strong and intelligent women make me the lucky dude I am. I am very fortunate to have them in my life! Cheers! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-17082429135902898712013-06-28T14:53:50.704-05:002013-06-28T14:53:50.704-05:00Men with boobs & a deflated air mattress. What...Men with boobs & a deflated air mattress. What twisted erotica is this genre! Great post and my guess would be you have strong intelligent women in your life you lucky lucky dude.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01369355489989880546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-62549563204364890072013-06-28T14:09:53.758-05:002013-06-28T14:09:53.758-05:00I didn't like the whiny, helpless ones either....I didn't like the whiny, helpless ones either. One of the myriad reasons I stopped reading The Wheel of I Stopped Caring Five Books Ago, was because the women were either whiny and helpless or men with boobs. That's like writing all male characters as either towering infernos of testosterone or milquetoast. *People* aren't only one thing. And characters that are are not good characters.Lisa Threadgillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-58039560293802182152013-06-28T13:56:28.664-05:002013-06-28T13:56:28.664-05:00Lisa, to demonstrate the depths of my geekiness, t...Lisa, to demonstrate the depths of my geekiness, the T-shirt I'm wearing has a picture of a Balrog sitting looking sad, with swords, a bow, and an axe laying around him, and it says: "No one left to play with." <br /><br />I'm loving the women of recent epic fantasy, as well. It's a big improvement over the days when they were helpless and annoying (I'm thinking Wheel of Time, Egwene-annoying here), or basically men with boobs (God, I love that!). <br /><br />Thanks for your insight, encouragement, and for giving me a new T-shirt to order, my friend! Here's to strong, independant, uppity Irish-American women! You rock! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-25084769411691762122013-06-28T13:32:08.552-05:002013-06-28T13:32:08.552-05:00Great post, Vaughn. I may or may not be wearing my...Great post, Vaughn. I may or may not be wearing my X-Files Fight The Future T-shirt as I write this. I love seeing all the conversation regarding the (erroneous IMHO) "conventional wisdom" that women don't read epic fantasy. I've always been drawn to strong, independent, uppity heroines. Possibly because my mother was a strong, independent, uppity Irish-American woman. In recent years, more and more of these heroines are showing up in epic fantasy, and I couldn't imagine a better match. What I really like about the heroines from the last decade or so is that they aren't just essentially men with boobs. They're women, with all the emotional complexity, strength, ferocity, desires and fears that we have in our natures. You're not wrong, dude. Good job.Lisa Threadgillnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-18355187565623071732013-06-28T13:31:50.370-05:002013-06-28T13:31:50.370-05:00I feel so honored to have you as one of my Right R...I feel so honored to have you as one of my Right Readers, B! Thanks for all of your encouragement, and for helping me stay true to my vision. (Clearly I'd better start looking into tee-shirt design, hadn't I? I think I want a Skolani shirt, too! :-) vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-5944298582270569692013-06-28T13:18:21.768-05:002013-06-28T13:18:21.768-05:00I agree with what Denise said. Your "right re...I agree with what Denise said. Your "right readers" will be the advocates for your work. Skolani kick-ass. And that appeals across the board. I may not wear a Frodo shirt, but I'd rock a "Skolani kick-ass" shirt any day. :)Bernadette Phipps-Linckenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-18687571644690197142013-06-28T11:35:11.579-05:002013-06-28T11:35:11.579-05:00Love them both! lol. But I want "Four-hooved ...Love them both! lol. But I want "Four-hooved friends--my aim is true" :P<br /><br />No worries--you've got that 1st now. :DAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18331283437980529293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-68118170206236093132013-06-28T09:58:17.898-05:002013-06-28T09:58:17.898-05:00Thanks for all of your support and encouragement, ...Thanks for all of your support and encouragement, D! I can't wait to send you that Skolani tee-shirt. Which do you prefer: "Protect your hair--Hug a Blade-Wielder!"; or "Save a Friend, ride a Rekkr!" ;-)<br /><br />You bring up a valuable point, about not wanting epics to end. It's another great thing about our genre--when you find a series that connects in that authentic way, there is a possibility your literary love can last a good long time. I have this going on with Robin Hobb at this moment. Thanks again, for everything! <br /><br />P.S. I can't wait to continue the series. Just have this minor pesky problem of getting the first one just right (and sold).vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-20215371027144643142013-06-28T09:47:14.812-05:002013-06-28T09:47:14.812-05:00Worst thing about those bubble-baths: No socks!
Gl...Worst thing about those bubble-baths: No socks!<br />Glad to hear you're all set for summer. Float on, Dee! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-13182431010561060412013-06-28T09:45:12.195-05:002013-06-28T09:45:12.195-05:00Thanks, Julie! Although I'm not so sure about ...Thanks, Julie! Although I'm not so sure about the universal appeal. I've had some male readers who connected, and a few who've said the literary equivalent of "Meh." I guess I'm just very happy to find the epic fantasy market to be such a broad one, demographically. It reminds me of a great essay fantasy novelist Jacqueline Carey wrote about fantasy readers. She'd polled her facebook fans to ask them why they love the genre, and she summarized the results wonderfully, ala The Breakfast Club. Here's a link, if anyone's interested (you have to scroll down to the July '11 entry): http://www.jacquelinecarey.com/archive11.htmlvaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-86046405864250458482013-06-28T09:26:58.341-05:002013-06-28T09:26:58.341-05:00You're very welcome, Vaughn!You're very welcome, Vaughn!Kim Bullockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06100854132576647442noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-38735636441840501892013-06-28T09:20:15.229-05:002013-06-28T09:20:15.229-05:00Advice that bears repeating again and again: "...Advice that bears repeating again and again: "your Right Readers aren’t going to be your only readers. But they will be your advocates."<br /><br />Haha! re: the "Frodo lives" t-shirt. (tucks "Evenstar" necklace inside shirt and looks around) I love your Skolani--there's a t-shirt I would wear, and I don't wear t-shirts. :D<br /><br />Well, T is right, it's all about the connections we make--even the ones that up our ire. If we aren't moved by the story, we aren't engaged. The most authentic way to create that engagement is writing with honesty, which you do. It's a strength the reader relates to and appreciates.<br /><br />As far as presumptions go, you're not making one. Your beta readers have proven, to you, what they want, you've been measured, you've been weighed, and the only thing you're found wanting is adding more to your epic--because we don't want it to end.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18331283437980529293noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-45170006956443352282013-06-28T09:14:03.522-05:002013-06-28T09:14:03.522-05:00Dear Bubbles,
Air-mattress inflated, check. Dear Bubbles,<br />Air-mattress inflated, check. Dee DeTarsiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14614978375232163228noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-5161537494183907082013-06-28T09:06:10.804-05:002013-06-28T09:06:10.804-05:00Great article. I like a wide variety of lit, so it...Great article. I like a wide variety of lit, so it doesn't surprise me that your book has universal appeal. I agree completely with Theresa's assessment, "For me, women’s fiction makes you reflect on your life in a meaningful way." Glad you're writing, Vaughn!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00741349796538313075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-9774608580222757132013-06-28T08:38:28.492-05:002013-06-28T08:38:28.492-05:00I so agree, Nicole, that if it has that connection...I so agree, Nicole, that if it has that connection, it doesn't matter what kind of story. But having said that, I am still a geek at heart, too. Give me both geeky and emotionally connecting, and I'll probably buy your catalog. Back at you, on being excited to read! Thanks for weighing in! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-77325353691100031162013-06-28T08:21:04.913-05:002013-06-28T08:21:04.913-05:00Brilliant, Vaughn! "I not only want to feel s...Brilliant, Vaughn! "I not only want to feel something while I read, I want to be left feeling something afterward." is my absolute favorite line and I think I'm going to have to steal it and post it somewhere. This perfectly sums up how I decide if I really love a story. It has to make me engage emotionally, and it doesn't really matter what that emotion is,or what type of story it is, if there's an emotional connection, I'll remember it. Being aware of this as a writer is so important and you clearly have a knack for connecting with your audience. (I also love epic fantasy and strong female characters- I can't wait to read yours!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13945316987978329603noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967179224372520114.post-70772502447558334072013-06-28T08:18:14.581-05:002013-06-28T08:18:14.581-05:00Thanks for inviting me and for your kind introduct...Thanks for inviting me and for your kind introduction, Kim! vaughnroycrofthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01548482765292623807noreply@blogger.com