Authentic portrayal of both genders

[Winter_Fare]

Authentic portrayal of gender.

Hi all

There are resources on this board that have helped me structure edit and post my stories so far, it's a treasure trove!

Would anyone mind sharing techniques, websites etc. that have helped them with character development and dialogue, particularly women writing male characters?

I don't feel I'm doing the boys justice at the moment, it feels very much forced. It sounds crazy since obviously I speak to men all the time and I do listen to what they're saying (honest) but I cannot seem to get my head into male characters and let it flow, if you see what I mean?

 

[lovecraft68]

If you can pull off, dumb and horny, you have it.

 

[Winter_Fare]

If you can pull off, dumb and horny, you have it.

Mr pop up cock always ready!
Currently writing a series that started off as a quickie, literally the only men in the first chapter say nothing and just fuck.

Help!

 

[Zeb_Carter]

But, but, but, what about the other 70 genders out there?

 

[Winter_Fare]

But, but, but, what about the other 70 genders out there?

Gotta start somewhere x

 

[HordHolm]

Hi all

There are resources on this board that have helped me structure edit and post my stories so far, it's a treasure trove!

Would anyone mind sharing techniques, websites etc. that have helped them with character development and dialogue, particularly women writing male characters?

I don't feel I'm doing the boys justice at the moment, it feels very much forced. It sounds crazy since obviously I speak to men all the time and I do listen to what they're saying (honest) but I cannot seem to get my head into male characters and let it flow, if you see what I mean?

Maybe worry less about gender and more about individual - what are X's motivations? Obviously men and women (and those who are more fluid) share things in common with their own gender but equally people share stuff across genders. Some guys are route one, lack subtlety, get right in your face and 'tell it how it is', but there are plenty of thoughtful chaps out there who are quiet, introverted, sensitive. Even alphas can have their less overt sides - Churchill's favourite colour was pastel pink...

 

[lovecraft68]

Mr pop up cock always ready!
Currently writing a series that started off as a quickie, literally the only men in the first chapter say nothing and just fuck.

Help!

Just go with what you know. How do guys you know act, and speak? What do they talk about? I never know for sure on here, are you female? If so what did any guys you dated act like? Of course if you're not into men, scratch that idea.

Guys are all jokes aside not very complicated, we're more instinctual than over thinkers, and whatever it is we have a mind to to do we usually just blunder right on in.

The other thing you can do is read some stories from here with male POV. Also, write third person not first, third you're not directly in the characters head meaning you can fake it a little more, because you can be a bit more vague with what they're thinking.

 

[Winter_Fare]

Some books that I go back to over and over are Eisenhorn by Dan Abnett, and Scot Lynch's Gentleman Bastards Well they are men, so of course they nail that characterisation. But then also up on the list is Joe Abercrombie, Best Served Cold , and his Monza Mercatto gives me a massive lady boner every time I read it. All the resources I've found on here have been more focused on men writing women.

Anyway, textbook answer (from Creative Writing by Linda Anderson) is get into character by filling out all the details, using acting techniques, and it helps a tiny bit.

Practice makes perfect I guess.

 

[Winter_Fare]

- Churchill's favourite colour was pastel pink...

The colour of cold exsanguinated entrails...

 

[Winter_Fare]

Edited the title of the thread because on reflection, it sucked.
It's changed it on my OP but not on the Authors Hangout thread list, hey ho.

 

[NotWise]

Start by conceiving of a realistic character; avoid stereotypes like "mr pop up cock always ready," and "dumb and horny." Give them interests other than sex.

Put yourself in their position, and write.

I think men and women are more alike than we are different. We are traditionally in different roles, and that leads to different points of view.

 

[lovecraft68]

Start by conceiving of a realistic character; avoid stereotypes like "mr pop up cock always ready," and "dumb and horny." Give them interests other than sex.

Put yourself in their position, and write.

I think men and women are more alike than we are different. We are traditionally in different roles, and that leads to different points of view.

Nice post, I think everyone is more alike than different in every way, race, gender, religious beliefs etc....too bad most of society has let the media and the politicians who pay them convince us differently .

 

[Winter_Fare]

*shrug* my only method is hypersexuality and lots of male friends that have no shame in telling me all of their secrets, lol.

Experience only gets me so far...

I admit it's probably a personal hang up. I should probably just add male POV to my work as and when the it requires without stressing so much. If it sucks then too bad

 

[Bramblethorn]

You do know that Anon is a guy or maybe one of the 70 other genders everyone wants to be.

Now, what I would like to know is, where are all those other 70 genders?

But, but, but, what about the other 70 genders out there?

Keep trying Zeb, it's bound to get a laugh one of these days!

 

[Winter_Fare]

. Unless you're like me and end up arguing with your characters

Or they argue with each other...

 

[TadOverdon]

If you can pull off, dumb and horny, you have it.

Well, "dumb" is redundant to "horny." Some guys are pretty bright when they're getting enough blood flow to the auxiliary nervous system in their skulls.

I kid.

 

[yowser]

Read Penis Dialogues.

 

[KeithD]

Nothing beats engaged personal observation.

 

[Winter_Fare]

Read Penis Dialogues.

That made me laugh.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think if you just focus on the character development, the gender authenticity will fall into place. I wouldn't worry about it.

I think there are some generalizations and stereotypes about men that have some validity, but they're at best generalizations. Here are some you might incorporate if you want to emphasize the "maleness" of the character:

-- Men are visual and are more apt to focus on body parts while women look at things like shoes and grooming.

-- Men are more aggressive, more interested in controlling and dominating, and more likely to talk over other people.

-- Men are more likely than women to believe they are smarter and better looking than they really are.

--Women share more. Men express their emotions by talking about sports.

Again, all just generalizations. You could write a great, authentic male character without paying any attention to the stuff I just listed.

 

[Auden James]

What you are talking about is sex, not gender, at least that is my impression of the difficulties you describe in writing male characters yourself.

If you are a scientific-minded person, you might gleam some insights of interest from reading into some evolutionary psychology, e.g., you could start with Roy F. Baumeister's short essay "Is There Anything Good About Men?" or dive into the deep end with David M. Buss' seminal "Evolutionary Psychology." Thereby you might gain a better understanding of what characterizes the male half of the human population, in tought, word, and deed.

If you are more of a literature person, you might gleam some insights of interest from reading into some classics, e.g., Emily J. Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" or F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." Thereby you might come to a better understanding of the workings of the male mind, in particular amidst the turmoil of love and rivalry.

 

[LAHomedog]

Hi all

There are resources on this board that have helped me structure edit and post my stories so far, it's a treasure trove!

Would anyone mind sharing techniques, websites etc. that have helped them with character development and dialogue, particularly women writing male characters?

I don't feel I'm doing the boys justice at the moment, it feels very much forced. It sounds crazy since obviously I speak to men all the time and I do listen to what they're saying (honest) but I cannot seem to get my head into male characters and let it flow, if you see what I mean?

It helps to have an editor or a beta-reader of the other gender. I have a female beta-reader who is also an author on here, Eva_Adams, and she reads my stuff and helps me with the female dialogue and I read hers and help her with the male stuff and also some character development and details.

A cooperative writers relationship like that can be very, very helpful especial with the sex scenes and the dialogue.

 

[AlexBailey]

But, but, but, what about the other 70 genders out there?

What about us?



Some stereotypical breakdowns:

* Men tend to pride themselves on effectiveness and self-sufficiency, to take things at face value, they assume others will judge them by their own values, and they see problems as obstacles to be solved head on - seeking only the advice of their qualified betters.

* Women tend seek connection, to weigh things aesthetically, be more concerned about how someone else may perceive them, when faced with a problem they will seek opinions and advice from people who they trust personally and will figure out how to turn a problem into an opportunity.



Again, just some stereotypes, but I find it helpful to try to remember these when writing in different voices.

 

[Auden James]

Prejudices

Or think of a kind of inverse of Jack Nicholson's character's famous answer to the question how he writes women so well from "As Good as It Gets:"

I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.

Hence, think of a woman and endow her with reason and accountability!

 

[MillieDynamite]

What about us?



Some stereotypical breakdowns:

* Men tend to pride themselves on effectiveness and self-sufficiency, to take things at face value, they assume others will judge them by their own values, and they see problems as obstacles to be solved head on - seeking only the advice of their qualified betters.

* Women tend seek connection, to weigh things aesthetically, be more concerned about how someone else may perceive them, when faced with a problem they will seek opinions and advice from people who they trust personally and will figure out how to turn a problem into an opportunity.



Again, just some stereotypes, but I find it helpful to try to remember these when writing in different voices.

And men staring into mirrors, admiring their face, brushing their finger, lovingly across their perfectly trimmed moustache, and ogling their fitted suite and how fine they look in it, isn't vanity. Neither is their obsessives pride in accomplishments, rights? No, it's only mainly excessive pride in one's appearance or accomplishments; conceit. Oh wait, that's definition of Vanity. My bad,