Interview: Paul Burston

Gay literature has come a long way since the involuntarily posthumous publication of EM Forster’s Maurice and a thriving underground subculture. Indeed, it’s come such a way that authors such as Alan Hollinghurst and Sarah Waters who made their name through breaking down barriers have jumped ship to recently writing heterosexual material. But where does this leave solely gay expression in print; as a form of outdated self-ghettoisation or crucial self-identity? Renowned gay author Paul Burston strongly believes that gay authors writing about themes relevant to their lives deserve recognition the publishing industry is reluctant to give them, to the extent that he’s spearheaded the UK’s newest gay literature award – the Polari Prize. He talks to So So Gay about his motivation and hopes for this landmark occasion in British literature.

SSG: Tell us how the Polari Prize was first developed?

Paul Burston: Polari’s been running for 4 years and very early on in its development I decided to use it to help showcase up-and-coming and new authors. It’s very difficult for young LGBT writers at the moment because the publishing industry isn’t very open to that kind of writing. The idea for the prize came naturally from that ethos.

Rachel Holmes who is the head of Literature and Spoken Word at the South Bank Centre (my boss!) and one of my fellow judges was very committed to launching a prize so we decided to do it. The submissions were far greater in number and varied than what I was expecting, we had about 35-40 initially which we had to bring down to a long-list of 10.  And they all reflected the changing shape of publishing in the sense that some that were traditional – some were a book which had gone through an agent to a mainstream or independent publishing house – and then there were books which had been self-published which doesn’t have the same stigma attached to it that it used to.  It used to be seen as vanity publishing whereas now it’s seen as a means to an end as it’s so difficult to get published today.  There were e-book submissions including the shortlisted Autofellatio which was really interesting because I think that reflects the way in which the world is changing. Authors get a larger percentage of profit from any e-book sale than any printed book and as an author one can own the means to production, which is a really powerful thing.

How did you reach the shortlist of 5?

All of the 10 long-listed books were extremely strong so narrowing them down took a lot of discussion and disagreement. The 5 judges all bring something different to the table; Rachel, Suzi Feay (a well-respected literary critic), Joe Storey-Scott (the book buyer for Prowler so he knows what sells) and Fiona McMorrough, CEO of FMCM Associates, a PR agency specialising in books, the arts and culture. They’ve also all got very different tastes which makes narrowing it down to 5 involve quite a lot of discussion and debate!  I think we came to the shortlist because each of the books are very different in genre but they are also a mix between gender, sexual identity, subject matter and writing style.  What was most important was how they addressed what the prize is for; if it was just a prize for writing a ‘gay book’ or being a gay author then I think it wouldn’t matter so much. But I don’t see the point in giving an award to a gay author who has written a book that isn’t remotely gay. The shortlist is very clearly formed of books that explore themes relating to LGBT life. They all explore, reflect and contribute to our understanding of ‘the queer experience’.

How do you feel about non-LGBT authors writing about LGBT subject matter?

I think any author should be free to write about absolutely everything. Having said that I do find that the kind of gay characters who tend to get written in mainstream publishing tend to be ‘the gay best friend’ who’s there to help with hair and make-up and have fun with, and I find that somewhat patronising. It’s not very often that a book comes along written by a straight writer who gets it right in my experience. Having said that, there are some out there definitely but you’re more likely to read the stereotypical character than you are to read a rounded gay person who can identify with. Contemporary fiction should reflect the lives which we’re living.

Just to clarify, everyone on the shortlist identifies as L,G,B or T?

That’s right.

What are your hopes and thoughts for the event itself on 21 November?

We haven’t made our decision yet – that happens on the day before. I know who I’d like to win but of course I’m not going to say.   In terms of the night it’s very exciting because since  we first had the idea a year ago there’s been so much reading and discussion, but to see it finally come to fruition and announce the winner is going to be a truly great moment. As an older gay man I feel very duty-bound to support younger talent and to be able to give someone that acknowledgement and boost to their publishing career is a good thing to do.

Finally, have your experiences made you want to continue with the prize in the future?

Oh definitely! This is the first year but the prize is going to become annual and although I can’t say too much as it’s not all in writing yet, it will be bigger next year. The first year of a prize is very ‘make and mend’, once you’ve got it up and running it’s all about building on it. In a similar way when the Orange Prize began it was very much a grassroots small prize and I see no reason why we can’t go a similar way. I think there will always be a need, at least in my lifetime to support and encourage LGBT authors in the same way that women’s fiction is supported.  I feel that the Polari Book Prize is needed for representation, and as long as it is, I’ll do it!

The winner of the First Polari Prize will be announced on the night of Monday 21 November 2011. Tickets cost £5. Publicity photograph courtesy of Krystyna FitzGerald​-Morris. Paul’s latest novel, The Gay Divorcee, can be purchased on Amazon.