Hey all, We’re looking for some bloggers for this site – folks who want to do any of the following: Writing tips for LGBT sci fi, fantasy, supernatural writers Trendspotting Reviews of LGBT sci fi, fantasy, supernatural books Announcements of forthcoming or just released works in these areas If you’re interested in participating in our community, please let me know at scott@queerscifi.com. :) –Scott
Note: this post crossposted with permission – original post appeared at Rainbow Romance Writers. Anyone who tells you that sex in space would be cool is not a true science fiction fan, or at least doesn’t have a good grasp of actual science. Issues with sex in zero or low gravity environments are, perhaps, not insurmountable, but they are considerable. Low gravity interferes with certain blood flow functions – erections are just less reliable. Sweat tends to layer on the body making it slippery. Every action leads to an opposite and highly exaggerated reaction. So – you’re trying to get … Read more
i’m working on a new story, this one for the end-of-year-holiday anthology for Dreamspinner. I have a great concept, but as I’m writing it, something just isn’t right. What do y’all do when a story just isn’t flowing the way you thought it would? What are your tips and tricks for getting things back on track?
It’s been a big week for my nascent writing career. I’ve been making contact with some great gay writers on FB, making plans to put together an online writing group and queer writers’ community, and just submitted my next story, Translation, to Dreamspinner for consideration for an anthology they are doing. It’s always a bit nerve-wracking to wrap up and submit a story – is it ready? Is it in the right format? Did I miss any errors? Will they like it? But it’s done. And two and a half months before the deadline! Now I can move on to … Read more
I’ve just about completed my next short story – “Translation”. It’s the first story I’ve written in a long time that has no paranormal or sci fi twist – just a fairly straightforward gay romance. Well, there is a twist, but not my usual Faery or alien sort of thing – instead it’s more of a plot twist – or two. It was a bit strange writing something like this without my usual seasoning of sci fi. I haven’t yet decided if I liked it, though I’m fairly happy with the story itself. “Translation” is for submission to a forthcoming … Read more
Just submitted The Bear at the Bar – the first story I’ve written specifically for an anthology. It’s adifferent experience for me to write something to order – not good, not bad – just different. Normally, I start off with a sentence and see where it goes. This time I started off with a whole concept. Now the waiting begins. I’m trying to get enough short stories going that I can submit them one after the other out there – once one comes back, another goes out to the same source. And eventually I will get one published. It’s working … Read more
My husband Mark just finished reading my new story The Bear in the Bar and he loved it. Doing a happy dance – Mark reads a lot of gay fiction, so if he likes it, it’s good! While it ‘s not, strictly speaking, sci fi, there is a supernatural Freaky Friday element to it. I’ll get it off to B.g. Thomas for consideration for his Bear anthology for Dreamspinner. In other news, I got my 15th story rejection – this one for Seedling, the first part of the Aurora cycle of novellas – the precursor to my novel rewrite. Don’t … Read more
I’m coming back to writing after a long pause – and I’m wondering if I’ve still got it. I picked up some old story fragments – ideas I started but never completed – and one was pretty damn good – I can say that as I was reading it with fresh eyes after something like 15 years. But for me, it’s not as straightforward as sitting down and banging out 1,000 words. Instead, the creativity takes a bit of a circuitous path. Over the last few months, I’ve found out I work best having 2 or 3 stories going at … Read more
My name is J. Scott Coatsworth, and I’ve been a writer since birth. I’ve never published much (yet) but have always had a passion for reading and writing sic fi. I’m also gay, and happily married to my husband after 21 years together. Now it’s time to bring those two halves of my life together. I am actively writing again for the first time in fifteen years, and I’m diving deep into the intersection of fantasy-sci fi and being gay. Not sure where all this will lead me just yet, but here goes. Hope you enjoy the journey with me.