If you’ve read m/m, you’ve likely read at least one of these stories. There’s this guy who thinks he’s straight, been living as straight, then he meets Mr. Right and lo, the angels of buttsecks visit and–aaaaahhhhhhh!–he’s no longer straight. There are variations to the theme. Sometimes he continues to see himself as not gay and only sleeps with Mr. Right because… well, he’s Mr. Right. More often he embraces his new found sexuality and wonders what he ever saw in the penis-less sex. Many times, especially these days, there’s a paranormal reason to the story. See, our hero doesn’t know he’s a witch/wereanimal/demonspawn but when he meets Mr. Right, all that changes. He’s still not gay, you see (well, sometimes), but now that he’s met his mate… well, what can you do?
I’ve heard lately that many people don’t like the “gay for you” stories. It’s completely understandable. It is kind of hard to believe when you look at things from a logical real life perspective. How many grown men just suddenly find out that they’re gay because they meet the right guy? How many are happy about it? Realistically speaking, a guy should have an inkling that he’s gay, even if he’s in denial. And if he is in denial, suddenly having it thrust in his face probably isn’t going to turn out pretty.
Well, I’m guilty of writing gay for you and I have to say that I like it. I’ve got 5 GFY heros: Tyler from Heaven, Darien from Faith, Kyle from Snagged, Aaron from Tech Support and now Scott from Unicorn. (and what is it with me and 1 word titles anyway?). I, personally, like the dynamic. I think it’s the sappy romantic in me. Or maybe it’s the yaoi fan. I like the meeting of Mr. Right and BLAM, an attraction that can’t be denied. Of course, look at the Mr. Rights: Johnnie, Chris, Seth, Ki and Jack? Dang, I’d go gay for them if I was a guy. And I will fully admit that I rarely deal with all the implications. All of my guys go through their period of angst then end up pretty happy with their Mr. Rights. But then, I write fantasy. An idealized world, a world that I can control. A world where even if someone is messed up, love and lots and lots of hot sex can conquer all.
As with all my writing, I write about what CAN be, not necessarily about what is.
Written by Jet Mykles
Jet is a writer of sexual fantasy with a firm belief that all men are at least partially gay, that vampires are just people with a liquid diet and shapeshifters live on every block.
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Sarah wrote,
the angels of buttsecks visit ?? bwahahaha. You’re too funny.
I don’t mind it. It just have to work for me I guess. I like my fantasy, love and much sex. Is all good! ;p
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 2:41 am
Kris wrote,
I’m with Sarah on this one. When GFY works, it can be totally steamy.
Being a believer of HEAs, wouldn’t another way of looking at GFY be that we’re all really bi and attracted to the person not the sex… umm, I just stole that from someone, didn’t I… please tell me that it wasn’t you, Jet. *to self-you are about to die of total embarrassment*
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 2:56 am
lisabea wrote,
Jet. I think we all have our little persnickety reader issues, or life issues, or in some cases lately, maybe just insanity rules… What was I saying?
For me, a well told story by a wonderful author can make me throw aside my misgivings.
Have you read Victor’s SCANDALOUS book about GOLD MINING. Oh MERCY! I thought I drew the line at Gold Mining, but that Lola, she rocked the house.
:)
I have gone on record to say that the ’suddenly gay’ story line is one I usually don’t go for. HOWEVER, if it’s like BFF’s and there’s a cop thing involved…maybe some wolf stuff…like ‘mates’ (withcaution)…or perhaps a video game playing rockstar in super tight pants…holy moly…I say again: a great story told well? I love them.
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 7:09 am
Tam wrote,
I’m just a reader and I don’t mind GFY in general. But sometimes I like how its done and sometimes not. I prefer they at least have an inkling that maybe they were attracted to men in someways, if they are totally freaking out and denying it to the bitter end I get a bit frustrated. And hey, I read to escape. Sometimes I don’t want to read about all the crap that can come from proclaiming yourself gay to the world and your family, I want a HEA and fantasy is good.
“A world where even if someone is messed up, love and lots and lots of hot sex can conquer all.” That’s the world I want to live in. ;-)
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 7:12 am
Heather Shea wrote,
Jet-
I love the GFY story line… I often call it the “Didn’t know I was gay until you came along and convinced me” story line in my reviews ;) I think that’s part of the fantasy of it all. I think sometimes that if the books I read were always just as simple as everyday life… would I even like them?
I love your books! Keep up the fantastic work ;)
xo
Heather
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 8:03 am
Jet Mykles wrote,
Thanks all!!
Sarah: I aim’s to please :D
Kris: I’ve been known to say that I believe we’re all bi at heart. If that was my quote, I don’t recall but you’re more than welcome to it
LB: I agree. A well told story can make it good and there are plenty of not-so-well told stories out there that can turn the avid reader off. I understand that. As for the rocker in hot pants…? Yeah, I’d go gay too LOL
Tam: You hit it right on the head. I write to escape too. I know there are issues out there and I know not all stories are HEAs but I like for MY stories to be HEAs without necessarily having to deal with all the issues.
Heather: Yeah, that’s the fun of it. Love bringing out something in a character that he was not aware of previously. In this case, buttsecks :D
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 11:11 am
Katie wrote,
Generally the synopsis of the story states when a character is straight and then is GFY. So I would advise for ppl who dont like it to make sure to really read the back of a book before buying .
I think the theme has more lovers than haters for it. I think its in the taboo of it. I certainly think that it is possible to happen in real life. Noone really knows why the heart works the way it does, but ultimately we just love who we love.
Man Jet you sure do crack me up with your “But Im not gay either” line I swear its been in every book I’ve read by you. Also the line “You want to have 2.5 kids”. I find it endearing though cause its so you. On a different note Jet your book “Unicorn” is still on the 2nd spot for bestsellers on allromanceebooks. You go girl.
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 11:22 am
Rosemary wrote,
Darien from Faith, Kyle from Snagged, Aaron from Tech Support and now Scott from Unicorn. I have read these stories, and each guy was searching for their place, straight was a turn off and they all suspected they were gay, otherwise they would not have been attracted to the men in the first place, but how do you know til you try it ?? As a kid, I didn’t know I liked cheeseburgers til I tried them, now its like that thick juicy beef calls out my name and I can’t resist. Keep doing your thing, works for me !!!
Ro
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 11:54 am
Jet Mykles wrote,
Katie: **wince** Yeah, I’ve tried to stay away from the “I’m not gay either” line in the last few GFY stories I’ve written. It didn’t dawn on me that I’d used it in both Snagged and Heaven until both were already out. Jack kind of had the same line. I guess I just like “flexible” tops LOL I did see the ARe thing. Go me! :D
Ro: True, they were all just waiting for the light to shine. Tyler too, actually. Strange how life seems fine but then you see something new and you realize that it wasn’t. **chuckle** I do like your “thick juicy beef” line though. Appropriate for this conversation, I think
Thanks!!
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Ozakie wrote,
Jet,
What a good post. Now Im the first to say as a gay male, that I dont normally like Gay for You, but that type of story really have to suspend my disbelief. But Im goign to be honest after reading Heaven Sent series, I have to amend my belief because I just love those Heaven Sent guys (gosh that darn Luc he rocks my Underroos…lol) Now, its all about how the author writes that theme. I must say you write it well ;-)
Link | November 22nd, 2008 at 11:16 pm
Jet Mykles wrote,
Ozakie, thank you! I’m glad you enjoy the boys. Underoos, LOL! I love it
Link | November 23rd, 2008 at 12:24 am
BevQB wrote,
Jet, even though I’ve been told that the “But I didn’t even know I was Gay” storylines are not realistic, they are STILL my favorite. Whether the guy was bi-curious before he met “The One” (Darien) or whether he’s surprised at his reaction to “The One” (Tyler), as long as the writer can make the reader understand how this supposedly straight guy could end up with another guy, then I’ll be enjoying the ride.
I read somewhere that these kinds of stories are the equivalent of the Regency virgin deflowering. And, yeah, I can see that. LOL
Link | November 23rd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Jet Mykles wrote,
O_O I never thought of that but you’re right about the Regency thing. Oh I much prefer this version though lol
Link | November 23rd, 2008 at 7:32 pm
Heather Shea wrote,
I agree about the Regency thing… I never thought of it til right now! Like Jet said however… I much prefer the m/m “deflowering”! ;D
H
Link | November 23rd, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Kaitlin wrote,
As a total romantic, i love GFY, shows the love for the person not just the sex.(tho the sex is good) Like i tell my male friends they are built the same way gay or straight. So a straight guy can get off on it to, physically, as long as they can get over it is another man putting it to them. So to me GFY is just that, for that one man he can get over the fact that well it is a man. lol, and the “deflowering” is sexy as all get out.
Link | November 25th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Mountie wrote,
Excellent topic, great discussion and wonderful comments. I too like the GFY dynamic. The other thing I find extremely interesting is the tendency of the “new” gay man being the bottom. I would have thought it would work the other way, with the comfort level already established, on the most part, with them doing the penetrating.
And the Regency debauching idea? Priceless… *VBG*
Link | November 29th, 2008 at 9:48 am
Belinda wrote,
I recently read that studies now indicate that up to 95% of people…ALL people have a tendency toward bisexuality. That includes people who identify themselves as gay. To me, that means Gay for You is a viable option in life as well as in fiction. I’ve had a couple straight friends fall like a brick for the “right” same sex partner.
I mostly write m/m in the context of menage; in the Imperative series, Con and Duncan don’t perceive of themselves as gay. They consider themselves Imperative mated. In Always You, Neil is gay, has always been gay, and when he’s Imperative mated with a woman, has some major issues to grapple with. (Straight for you?)His former lover tells him the same thing that Duncan and Con learned…there’s no gay or straight, there’s only the Imperative. Elsewhere, I don’t mess with the magic too much, I just like my guys to be open-minded.
Its fiction. Its fantasy. I think it works.
Link | December 3rd, 2008 at 7:30 pm
Jet Mykles wrote,
See, the bisexual thing makes total sense to me. And more romantic, imho, because then you’re not excluding half of the possibilities
Link | December 4th, 2008 at 12:16 am
Belinda McBride wrote,
It makes sense to me too.
For example…sports fans. I was in the mall once, listening to a couple older guys gushing about their favorite football team, one player in particular. It struck me then…Man Crush! They were infatuated!
It was so cute.
Link | December 14th, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Jet Mykles wrote,
LOL! Totally
Link | December 15th, 2008 at 12:47 am