Not that I’m looking for any new plot bunnies lately – that list is incredibly long, thanks – but I was wondering, what does everyone else want to see in MM? Or what is everyone fed up with?
Here are a few things I’m tired of:
The Evil Woman. Often, she’s the ex-girlfriend, jilted when the MC comes out. And she’s usually painted as shrill and bitter and vindictive. Which is fine, the second she finds out she’s been cheated on – but how often does she stay that way?
What I dislike so much about this scenario is the utter lack of sympathy for the Evil Woman. Turning her into a cartoon villain with only revenge on her mind feels a little lazy to me. It reduces what could be a fascinating character to a plot point. And by making her evil, it feels like the author is choosing the easy way out. Because if it turns out she was a villain the whole time, she totally deserved to get cheated on, right?
I’d like to see more women as positive characters in MM. And the next jilted girlfriend I read? I want her to be more than a cardboard cut-out.
Perfect MCs. You know the one. He’s rich. He’s clever. He has perfect hair. A six pack? Pfft This guy has an eight pack. Or a twelve pack. Or a six-hundred-and-forty-eight pack. Why the hell not? And I get that romance is in the business of selling a fantasy. It turns out, though, that a perfect MC is not my fantasy. I find him a little bit boring…
Shifters. I love a good shifter story. I’ve just read way too many average-to-bad shifter stories lately. The quality stories are still there – it’s just harder to find them in the glut. So I’m steering clear for a while.
And here’s what I want more of:
Tentacles. I know, I know. I just said I’m sick of shifter stories because so many are awful, and here I am wanting more tentacle stories. When so many of them are so far beyond awful that they can’t even see awful from where they are. What can I say? Guilty as charged. I love the tentacles.
Twists in the Tale. I may be in the minority here, but I love it when a writer doesn’t give you the whole picture straight away. Whether it’s a revelation that suddenly flips the entire story on its head, or just a narrator who spends all his time deluding himself (and me!) I enjoy a story that goes somewhere unexpected. I like to be surprised.
And this: More cops. More crims. More nerds. More awkward shy boys. More boys who need attitude adjustments. More kink. More power games. More head games. More fun. But also, more angst. More of everything.
How about you? What do you want to see more of, or less of, in MM?
Macho men who act like women. I can’t stand supposedly studly, macho men who are constantly referring to their lover/boyfriend as sweetheart, honey, baby, etc. Some terms of endearment here or there is perfectly believable, but not when the men act like chicks with dicks.
I’m not a huge fan of endearments either, Rod. In fiction or in real life! 🙂
I’m glad I’m not the only one. I just finished a book that has been at the top of the m/m best seller list for the past few months and I’m shaking my head in disbelief at how absurd the dialogue between the men was. Ugh!! And these guys were supposed to be bad-ass cops (I think you know which book I’m referring to!)
I think that I do. To me, this isn’t about gender or sexuality. I mean, I don’t know any gay couples who talk that all of the time, but I don’t know any straight couples who do either.
In my world, sarcasm equals affection. And I think that’s the way I like it!
Um, I pepper my speech with baby, babe, honey and hon, but maybe I’m the exception. Only to my mate of course, I rarely say his name… I say stuff like: “I don’t know hon, where did you put it?” On the other hand, he tends to call me Lex, when he addresses me with affection, which sounds like hon or babe to me. Just saying… : )
Whatever works for you and your partner, Alex! I’m just too jaded and cynical. Someone starts calling me babe or hon, and I’m all, “What? What do you want?” *suspicious narrow eyes*
And you’re probably not the exception at all. I’ve just surrounded myself with people as suspicious and sarcastic as myself. We probably not a great control group!
I’ve seen it done well a few times, but my least favorite plot in any story is when one person can’t handle having their heart broken again. I struggle to wrap my mind around that one.
I love a story where one MC is so damaged it takes a lot to let him trust again. But I agree it has to be well done. Of course, as long as a story is well done, I don’t care if it contains things I said I’m tired of!
I don’t much like kink and I hate stories that might as well be Harlequin romances with the pronouns changed. I like cop stories, shy/nerd stories and stories where the dominant alpha personality is a bottom in the bedroom. I also like it when the protagonists are equals. I have no problem with larger than life heroes, because aren’t heroes supposed to be extraordinary? I simply like it when both MC are 10 feet tall and bulletproof
One of the main reasons I don’t write het is because I find myself worry too much about gender roles and what it means if my heroine needs a man to rescue her. Sometimes romance and feminism aren’t the easiest bedfellows. But writing MM (and I guess FF as well!) means that you’re free to make one character need saving without any inherent judgements. I like that!
I agree that heroes are allowed to be larger than life. I’m just tired of them all being billionaire centrefolds! Give me a hero with a few imperfections, and then show me how great he is 🙂
I completely agree of the evil woman and perfect MCs. Been way to many of them. What I’d love to see more of is the damaged hero, power plays and some MM’s featuring magic or warlocks. I’m a big fan of the witch, warlock and mages but I haven’t yet seen any in MM.
Ooh! Magic and warlocks! Very nice!
More rent boys, more heavy pain that’s part of the story like Tribute, more suspense, angst and good shifter/vamp stories. I want less of shiny polished characters. I don’t think I’ve read but one tentacle story that was worth reading but I’d love to read more.
Weird I don’t think I’ve written a rent boy. Well, I have a kind of a rent boy in a WIP, so we’ll see how that turns out! And definitely more tentacle stories!
One thing to add – less novellas, more novels!
Yes! *does hasty word count on upcoming stuff. * Phew!
Awww man, yeah, #1 and #2! I am tired to death of the “evil ex” trope, but what I really crave most of all are stories about flawed, complicated people who don’t look like they spend all their waking hours in a gym. It’s so nice to know I’m not the only one …
You are definitely not the only one!
Definitely need more length in the stories.
Tentacles are good 🙂
Love the nerds and damaged heros.
The best kind of hero is the damaged kind!
Lisa & Andrea, for Vamps & Warlocks check out “Supernatural Bounty Hunters” series or for Vamps, Demons, Sirens & a very unusual PI try “End Street Detective Agency” series both by RJ Scott & available from Amazon.
Thanks for the recs, BJ! I’ll add them to the never-ending TBR pile. 🙂
I am tired of the predictable. Definitely would love to see more novels with twists in the Tale. Your book The Island is one my favs.
Thanks, Hannah! I wrote that mostly to have fun with an unreliable narrator 🙂
How about historical (if paranormal then tentacles please, big yes to tentacles!) set in USA, with heavy kink and a cop?
Lol, Ali! Something for everyone! I’ve got a historical coming out later in the year, and it’s set in the USA. Some kink…no cop. And no tentacles either, unfortunately. But at least I ticked some of the boxes!
More vamps! And rock stars. Oooh how about rock star vampires? More SciFi and aliens. I love Scifi. What I don’t like are men who are weepy, clingy or needy. I love the damaged hero or a really good twink, but I don’t want to read about men behaving like women. I’m a little unsure of the whole tentacle thing. I have no squick factor at all but that seems like a little much even for me.
There’s a lot of terrible tentacle stuff out there, Jennifer. But I’d recommend starting with The Tentacle Monster Everyone Wanted. It’s surprisingly sweet 🙂
For me, I’m tired of the instant slut. Like the book I just read, an 18 year old virgin all of a sudden is a master at rimming and blow jobs. Really? And I’d also love more suspense and mystery stories as well as those with a twist.
That’s a good one, Laurie! In books, not only is first time sex ALWAYS fantastic, it also makes you an automatic expert!
Most MM military books seem to end with someone invalided out or retiring, don’t they? I agree that I’d like to see more older kids and teens in families too. And anything that gets an emotional reaction out of me is always a favourite.
I love books that make me laugh and/or cry. It means they have got me totally invested in the story and characters. I hate stories that make me feel like the book started in the middle. I would love more stories about family. How they became a family, struggle to make a go of staying a family. And not just family with little kids. How about families with teenagers as well. I like military M/M books but would like to read more about them staying in the service and having the relationship.