I know that everyone is already off the topic (sorry, I was overtired and skipped checking this last night), but I just wanted to leave my two cents while I could. Keep in mind I don't mean any of this offensively, just want to share my thoughts.
First off, I'm sorry that my comment caused all this and all the bad tastes in your mouths. I honestly didn't mean for it to happen. Forgive me.
Second, the only reason I put BL/ GL (I've been wondering if maybe I should just put 'lgbtq' instead) on my cover is to let others who enjoy lgbtq relationships know that my novel includes it and also to let those who don't, avoid it. I originally warned about it in my first blurb, but I just now realized I forgot it when I rewrote it. It's basically just to say there is a same-sex relationship going on in the story. Enter at your own risk.
As for how I write, I'm not purposely trying to highlight my characters sexualities (if I do at all, I'd love to rewrite that part). I'm just thinking of each one as a character in love (or falling in love in some cases), completely ignoring their gender. Just two people in love. Of course, I have to take into account their personalities. That was the whole reason I started the story, to have fun writing certain personalities together. I hope that makes sense. I don't plan on ever having a character in any of my novels rape for love. Just thinking about it gives me the chills. I'm all about cuddling and sweetness, with a slight perviness since I myself am one. I haven't had any of my characters touch the other's junk at all, and if I ever do, then there will of course be consent. I never planned on writing without it.
My first paragraph even says so: "Look at her. If only she knew the possibilities racing through my mind. What I could do to her, what I want to do... Charli's eyes scanned the body before her. She sighed in defeat, But I could never do any of them, not without your permission. Her eyes skipped to the clock beside her."
I realize that someone will have something to say about this, but I wrote it thinking of a girl trying to wake up her childhood friend and finding it difficult. She's struggling to keep her feelings under wraps because her friend hasn't realized them at all. Even though she wants to scream from the rooftops how much she loves her friend, show her friend just how much she loves her, she can't, not until her friend has discovered her own feelings and gives her consent (if she ever will). Charli doesn't have any urge at all to rape her best friend!
I'm not sure if you were hinting that I was a straight woman. If you were, that is not the case. I am a pansexual fluidflux (if you've never heard the term, I'm basically genderfluid) person, and if you were wondering, I've been swamped in my guy days since Octoberish. And for those of you who want to comment negatively on my gender, please don't. I won't reply back, although I'm hoping that wouldn't happen on here.
I realize that the BL thing started with straight woman for straight woman sort of as a fetish, but I really think it's moved on from there to include everyone and away from being a fetish (at least some). Yes, there are some terrible cliches such as the whole rape thing, but not everyone enjoys that. I, for one, cringe every time I read a novel or comic like that and have to drop it.
Basically, I'm writing a romance that just happens to have lgbtq characters in it, but I'm not, at least purposely, focusing on that aspect. It doesn't even come to mind when I'm writing each chapter. I realize that some people may be put off by my story, but I just want to have fun creating relatable characters and relationships (both romantic and platonic) and love planning fun dates.
If you still think my story is offputting or a disgrace (I don't know if someone actually said that), give it a try, and only sub if you really, truly like it.
Sorry to have brought this up again! I just really didn't want anyone to think negatively about my story because I put BL on the cover or in the description, or any other BL for that matter. There are a lot of good ones on Tapas that don't involve all the horrificness of other BLs like in manga. You guys should definitely give them a try before lumping them with others (not that you did with mine).
Okay, I'll stop now. Thanks for listening.