How does a man understand a woman?

[CAP811]

I'm just finishing a story for the Romance section, The Aftermath. Evan, the male character, thinks too often with his dick. But he realizes that he does not understand woman, and wishes he could. In a passage near the end of the story he asks himself:

<What is a woman? Evan pondered as he gazed at her. This morning, Nikki, you're fashionably Ann Taylor, mascara and eyeliner perfect, the right hint of Chanel No. 5. But just beneath all that is a feral animal. I ought to know. So which is the real Nikki? What is a woman?>

Nikki is actually a more interesting character, but I'd like to do a story in which Evan gains a new understanding of women. But how? A tragedy that he or a woman that he loves experiences? Unrequited love? A great sacrifice that he makes, or that a woman makes for him?

I enjoy movies or novels in which the main character becomes a different and better person. Any suggestions on this story idea??

 

[3113]

Nikki is actually a more interesting character, but I'd like to do a story in which Evan gains a new understanding of women. But how? A tragedy that he or a woman that he loves experiences? Unrequited love? A great sacrifice that he makes, or that a woman makes for him?

It's a very interesting question. Just how alien *are* women to Evan? I think that makes a difference. What kind of guy is he? Has he only had guy friends his whole life? Does he work in a primarily male enviornment? What about mother or sisters, did he have any? And is it all women or just Nikki? And if Nikki is going to be emblematic of the enigmatic nature of her sex...what's SHE like?

I think these question will help us answer your question.

 

[fissitagain]

Will the real Nikki please stand up

It Is rumor/legend that Queen Victoria said of a woman /wife, that they should be a Lady in public and a whore in the bedroom..That of course is very Loosely translated but From personal experience , the most complete women that I have known were completely both..in the appropriate setting and time..
What does it take for the Male to understand that??? Perhaps the answer is not so noteworthy, but time and experience usually reveal this wisdom of the world to those that finally get it...

 

[interrobang]

I tend to learn lessons the hard way. To me, understanding is gained when you fuck something up royally. So, he should get dumped for a reason that he never saw coming, but it illuminates something important for him.

 

[sunandshadow]

Sound like that movie where the man gets electrocuted and can hear women's thoughts for a while.

Personally, I think women and men are practically the same, the really big difference is between personality types, not genders. So that begs the question, is Nikki the same kind of person as Evan? He should either discover that they are the same and circumstances are the only thing different between them, or that their differences are complimentary, making them partners.

 

[CAP811]

Yes, the lady in public and whore in the bedrooom concept seems straightforward enough. But for me as a man it's still a bit tricky to accept sometimes.

I should have said in the beginning that neither Evan nor Nikki are paragons of virture. He was married to Nikki's older sister Jill, and they had a torrid affair about a year before the story, when they were found out and Jill divorced Evan. Both are racked by guilt over the affair, especially Nikki, who really did care for Evan and just couldn't help herself.

Hmm. This is sounding like your basic soap opera plot as I describe it here, but it's kinda where the story went.

 

[3113]

Hmm. This is sounding like your basic soap opera plot as I describe it here, but it's kinda where the story went.

Okay. So what *doesn't* Evan understand about women or about Nikki in particular? Afterall, he *had* a wife. And he fell for Nikki and has been with her...so what is the mystery? What doesn't he get that some event can reveal?

We have to know what he *needs* to understand about her. If we don't, then we're just tossing out random ideas with no direction.

 

[snooper]

How does a man understand a woman?

Not at all.
But then, how many of us understand ourselves, let alone anybody else of whatever sex?

As to aphorisms, I prefer ours (the Welsh one) describing the ideal wife:

Sharp in the market, devout in the chapel, and wild in the bed.

 

[harry87]

Okay. So what *doesn't* Evan understand about women or about Nikki in particular? Afterall, he *had* a wife. And he fell for Nikki and has been with her...so what is the mystery? What doesn't he get that some event can reveal?

We have to know what he *needs* to understand about her. If we don't, then we're just tossing out random ideas with no direction.

I think this is a smart approach that you should consider taking. Your story is about a specific man's understanding of one woman, not all men's understanding of all women. It's something subjective, so figure out the nature and circumstances of your male character and things should hopefully fall into place. Failing that, there's always 'Men Are From Mars, Women are From Venus' as a reference. Good luck.