JadedSnow

Isn’t it odd? If you look around the internet, there will be warnings like this on things like artworks, fanarts or original stories.
Why is that?
Is it because we’re so used to society planting this idea in our heads that we should make other people aware of these things, in case it offends them? Or is it a defense mechanism in the sense that if someone is against the theme and chooses to read the story anyway, they can’t start flaming the person who posted it – they were warned in advance.

During the release event for Jaded in December, I naturally got some interest from people who weren’t familiar with my work from before, which is always nice for me. Some would ask me questions, some would buy books, and even if they didn’t, I’ve had nothing but encouraging words from people who thought it was really cool for me at my age to do this on my own. However, there were also a couple of awkward situations where people automatically assumed I wrote fantasy novels. Perhaps because that’s mainly the kind of novels Outland sell, or maybe because that’s what they themselves fancy in literature. I have no problem with this, I*ll laugh and say “This isn’t exactly sci-fi or fantasy”
(Though, truthfully, my works do light a fire under certain fangirl fantasies, after all, this is BL)
Anyway. The problem occurs when people just assume this is what I write, but they don’t say it out loud. For instance, there was one man who came up to me. And no offense, I have readers of all shapes and sizes, but he certainly didn’t look like the kind of person who’d read BL. But judging a book by its cover would certainly be bad for the author to do, so I just smiled politely as he asked me if I also signed the first novel.
I pointed him in the direction of SNOW, thinking that okay, he’ll probably read the back. So when he came back to the table, and asked me to sign the copy, I assumed he knew what he was getting into.
Still, there was still a small urge in me to tentatively ask if he was sure this was the kind of story he was looking for. Though, I decided not to. After the book was signed though,he mentioned that he thought it was important to support young fantasy authors.
And I awkwardly replied that “I…don’t really write fantasy though.”
So I had to explain the basic concept. At this point the novel was already signed. But I wonder what he felt about the novel he’d just bought, knowing what it was about?

Nevertheless, he did say that it was far from his regular tastes, but that he’d give it a try.

What is there to say about this? Perhaps it wasn’t his kind of novel. Perhaps he didn’t read it?
But what if he did. And what if he ended up enjoying it despite the theme?

I don’t think it would sound right if I had to warn all potentially unaware readers before selling them anything. Books are to be enjoyed. Nothing will come to your harm if you read a novel and decide that you didn’t enjoy it. Perhaps it stings a bit in your wallet. But what’s the harm?

Today as well, I showed Jaded to someone. This person is far from into this stuff, moreover, he’s a grown man and the thought of homo eroticism might not exactly entice him. However, he leafed through the book, laughed at the more sexual scenes that popped out at him and mentioned that it was far from his tastes, but that he thought it was really cool still.
My initial thoughts when he asked about it, was to get anxious. Because I didn’t want to risk getting into conflict with someone about my themes.

I actually feel so bad when that happens. Because there’s nothing wrong in enjoying BL, there is nothing wrong in having a sexual preference. There’s nothing wrong in having an opinion as long as you don’t use it to hurt others.
All the same, I always feel awkward when I have to carefully map out the terrain before I talk about my novels with people I don’t know. Because I don’t want to get into discussions (or rather, I don’t want to show my aggressive side to people I don’t know…?). and because people might suck and take my writing as an offense. But honestly, if we do this… If we WARN each other about the content when it’s not harmful at all… What good does that do?

I write my novels for several reasons. One of them is enlightenment. To bring this kind of subject forwards in contemporary literature, as well as to put a twist on the genre itself. But if I have the urge to warn potential readers, won’t that have the opposite effect?
It’s different from putting on a warning label for coarse language and sexual content, but to warn people because of who the main characters fall in love with?
That’s not right.
Moreover, won’t it scare off readers?
What if a person picks up the novel, has no idea what it’s about and ends up liking the characters or the story enough to keep reading. What if they find out that it didn’t offend them?

I want to become more honest.
Honestly, I am very bad at talking about my writing to other people because it’s such a personal thing for me. But I will do my best to keep my head up and proudly recommend that people try from now on. Warning people just because of the main characters sexuality is medieval.

As per usual, I’ve lost my train of thought. I’m just saying that there’s no point in warning someone about something that doesn’t do anyone any harm.
It’s not like anyone warns me “that is a mystery novel you know!”, just because I might not look like someone who enjoys that kind of story.
Books are there to broaden horizons. I think that’s something to consider.

So yeah. That concludes a little bout of loud-thinking on my part. Going to bed now, and hoping that this made sense in some way. I am exhausted.

Ps. If the title confused you and you ARE looking for homosexual content, I suggest you check the drabble/snippet tag on the side here. Something might soothe the urge.

Happy Easter everyone!