Tell me what’s new with graphic noiz

I was working on the graphic noiz manga 2 (which I still have 30 pages of lineart to draw) and I got this spark of inspiration all of a sudden and had to put that aside for a moment and start writing the novella series again. Well, I have been writing for the last 2 days and we are already at a 65 page manuscript for graphic noiz 4. The story with Shiro and Noiz deepens and even after Katsuhiro does all kind of crazy in book 3 we find that things can still be at a fever pitch.

graphic noiz 4 lets me explore a little bit more of Shiro’s sexuality and the boy’s love relationship between the two men. Where most of the hanky panky was in the background and behind closed doors for the first three book and there was really only kissing and some hugging, we explore the more intimate side of Shiro and Noiz’ relationship in book 4.

Why did we do that? Because I wanted to see if I could actually tastefully write about Shiro’s love for Noiz. Again I have said in the past that I will never write a romance story and I still stand by that premise. Shiro would not say he is in a relationship or that Noiz is his boyfriend. We do change the dynamic slightly and for the first time I think in book 4 we have Shiro call Noiz his lover. That is new.

Also class is mentioned more in this book than it was before. We knew that Noiz was a starving artist but the disrespect that Shiro has for him because of it plays out more in this book. Where Shiro was aloof and more standoffish when it came to class, this really gets brought front and center into their dynamic.

At one point in the book there is a reversal but it seems that Shiro is the one that allows it if only a little otherwise the action on Noiz’ part would not occur. This change is short lived and Shiro once more goes back to his “rich kid” ways and takes advantage of Noiz. I think Noiz really didn’t know what he was in for and we see some of that in this book. This dynamic leaves it open for a more drastic exchange in the case that Noiz embraces the fact that with Shiro he has access to more “things” that he could never afford before.

This change may play out in later books as well. For now we hint at it in book 4.

When I wrote book 3 which focuses on Shiro mostly, where the previous books focused more on Noiz, I wanted book 4 to be equally distributed. Characters like Megumi the editor and Shawn who is Noiz’ best friend still have their part even though they are minor. The manga process takes a back seat in this volume which is more about exploring the relationship between the two men. That aspect of the main plot will come back I think in book 5 but for now we are enjoying Shiro and Noiz “getting it on” a little bit.

What is it like writing about gay sex

Well, to answer that question, I think you have to know what you are talking about before you can write something. This is not a problem I have since I have experienced it. Though I can count my partners on one hand and my relationships on two hands, and I can say that I have been in love only once in college, I use my experiences to actually drive some of the story.

Since I want to try to keep this tame and not erotica which I know yaoi can get into, we toned down some of the potential smut level which could have happened because I didn’t want the scenes between Shiro and Noiz to be crass. We also have to think about the audience. The previous graphic noiz books were YA, this one does have sex in it this time. There is another experience that I want Noiz and Shiro to go through so I have at least one more scene that I can write for this volume.

Again I think personally that you have to know what you are talking about to be able to write it properly. Some people would tell me that you can do research only and get it right. Well, I won’t fight that but I go by my own experiences.

Back to the topic. What is it like writing about gay sex? Well, I have written it violent, commanding, sensual, and maybe even playful. I don’t “grab a cock” or try to make it too sweet, or give you smutty talk or purple prose. I am writing a boy’s love story between a 19 year old artist and a 26 year old writer. The dynamic changes at times between them and graphic noiz lets me explore both character’s emotions more deeply.

The graphic noiz manga 2 I get to also explore this dynamic. Now I am not going to draw sex, really because I have never drawn that and I don’t think I could execute it well if I tried, but this volume of the manga gets into the dynamic between Shiro and Noiz a little more than the first.

How have Shiro and Noiz matured since you started writing them

Well, Shiro has some emotions that we might not have seen in the earlier books and there is also some level of manipulation going on that was not possible in the earlier books. Noiz has also grown up a little bit and he is starting to exert himself and define his boundaries with Shiro. By being able to have Shiro and Noiz express themselves in a more sensual manner, I can strengthen the tie between the two of them that was not possible before. In book 4 Shiro calls Noiz his lover for the first time, if I remember correctly. It also changes the dynamic a little bit and gives Noiz more power.

I do draw the line at Shiro calling Noiz his boyfriend. Noiz makes note of that reminding the reader that he feels inferior to Shiro in multiple ways including in class, and money. This line in the sand gets exacerbated in this book with some of the actions in the story. It plays out more in the “Scarsdale” chapter where we see Noiz and Shiro go on vacation.

What else

But enough of me. I think I got my point across. Maybe too much information but it provided some background for these two characters. So I hope you can tolerate it. Work on the manuscript continues. We should have the new graphic noiz: book 4 published in the next week or so in ebook with a paperback to follow. Thanks for listening.