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Do other females find it difficult to write stories from a male's point of view? Do males find it difficult to write from a female prospective? I am just curious.
Weird Harold
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Amy Davis said:
Writing from a female viewpoint is easy. Making it believable is horrendously difficult.
I have written one story from the wona's perspective, and the most common comment was "that's a male fantasy."
To write form the opposite sex's viewpoint requires a reliance on stereotypes that doesn't always give an accurate depiction.
Whispersecret
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In my first story, Hostile Takeover, some of it was in the male POV, but I'm not sure if I was successful. No one has sent me any feedback regarding that in particular. I tried my best, sent it to some of my male friends here (Weird Harold included 
) and told them to tell me if he seemed plastic. For the life of me I can't remember if they pointed out areas and I fixed them or if it was all right as written. It was almost a year ago.
Now, my current project, The Artifact, I tell most of the story from the male perspective. A few of the people who have read it so far have actually complimented me on one section in particular as being spot on. (Which of course makes me wonder what's wrong with the rest of the dang thing!) So, I guess I'm getting better at it.
I'd say that it's only harder to write the male perspective because I have to go through that extra step of having a male read what I've written and tell me if it rings true. The tricky part, I guess, is accepting their word for it and altering it to be realistic. Still, they're guys and I'm not. I generally do my best to pass their "inspection."
I hope that helps.
) and told them to tell me if he seemed plastic. For the life of me I can't remember if they pointed out areas and I fixed them or if it was all right as written. It was almost a year ago.Now, my current project, The Artifact, I tell most of the story from the male perspective. A few of the people who have read it so far have actually complimented me on one section in particular as being spot on. (Which of course makes me wonder what's wrong with the rest of the dang thing!) So, I guess I'm getting better at it.
I'd say that it's only harder to write the male perspective because I have to go through that extra step of having a male read what I've written and tell me if it rings true. The tricky part, I guess, is accepting their word for it and altering it to be realistic. Still, they're guys and I'm not. I generally do my best to pass their "inspection."
I hope that helps.
Madame Pandora
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Personally, I am comfortable in either perspective. I don't know why, but writing from a male viewpoint never phases me. It is all about if the story calls for it. In my latest story, it simply had to be told from the male perspective in order for the whole idea behind it to work.
If I am effective in this...well, I guess only a guy could say. I think so, but then, if I didn't think so, I wouldn't have written it that way. LOL
Granted, most of my friends are male and they have given me a great deal of insight over the years, but I don’t know what makes some people able to write from the opposite sex’s perspective with more ease than others. I do it without real effort – when I start writing, I just think about who would be “talking” at the moment and I type that voice onto the page.
Now…the OTHER voices in my head get jealous sometimes, but what can you do….
MP
If I am effective in this...well, I guess only a guy could say. I think so, but then, if I didn't think so, I wouldn't have written it that way. LOL
Granted, most of my friends are male and they have given me a great deal of insight over the years, but I don’t know what makes some people able to write from the opposite sex’s perspective with more ease than others. I do it without real effort – when I start writing, I just think about who would be “talking” at the moment and I type that voice onto the page.
Now…the OTHER voices in my head get jealous sometimes, but what can you do….
MP
I wrote "Lucky Lawnmower Ladies" from a man's viewpoint. I started it from a man's viewpoint, then changed to the woman's viewpoint, got bogged down, and went back to the man's viewpoint for that story. A woman's viewpoint just didn't work with that one.
It was successful as it hit the #1 spot in the Top 20, and stayed there for almost two months.
The men loved it from the response I got. I think the 5 themes it had they really loved - common male fantasies - voyeurism, girl/girl, brother/sister incest, a threesome, and gettng to make love to three different women.
I kiddingly said, "How hard could it be to tell it from a man's viewpoint!"
I did have to have a different mindset while writing it, and try to think like a man. I had to revise a couple of places when I lapsed into a woman's thinking in relating the story.
It was successful as it hit the #1 spot in the Top 20, and stayed there for almost two months.
The men loved it from the response I got. I think the 5 themes it had they really loved - common male fantasies - voyeurism, girl/girl, brother/sister incest, a threesome, and gettng to make love to three different women.
I kiddingly said, "How hard could it be to tell it from a man's viewpoint!"
I did have to have a different mindset while writing it, and try to think like a man. I had to revise a couple of places when I lapsed into a woman's thinking in relating the story.
Male view point!
Whisper, any male editor worth his salt will tell you whether it fits with his viewpoint. Trouble is that there are multiple male viewpoints. The rape section in "Hostile takeover" seemed right for a male stereotype that I can understand but not right from my male viewpoint.
So, having gone around the roundabout on that - we are not all the same. If you want help then send it to a male or two and get a view, just like Whisper.
Whisper, any male editor worth his salt will tell you whether it fits with his viewpoint. Trouble is that there are multiple male viewpoints. The rape section in "Hostile takeover" seemed right for a male stereotype that I can understand but not right from my male viewpoint.
So, having gone around the roundabout on that - we are not all the same. If you want help then send it to a male or two and get a view, just like Whisper.
GuyJD
"Simply.....the best"
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EITHER WAY
Good Question, Amy....
In my first story, "Houseguest From Heaven", I wrote the story as if the male character is telling it. I did the same for "The Birthday Bang" and "Adventure With the Babysitter".
In my stories, "Nothing Going On But The Rent" Part 1 and 2 and "My Roommate's Ex", I wrote it as the female character telling it. That, to me, was a little different since I'm sure that a woman has different feelings during sex than a man. I was only able to describe the sex as it as often been described to me by most of my female associates.
My stories, "Lesson In Biology" trilogy, were all written in the form of a third person.
I guess that a story can be written in any form, depending how the author prefers to deliver it. Good luck with your story submission!! I'm sure that we'll all love it, as well as the visitors of Literotica.
Amy Davis said:
Good Question, Amy....
In my first story, "Houseguest From Heaven", I wrote the story as if the male character is telling it. I did the same for "The Birthday Bang" and "Adventure With the Babysitter".
In my stories, "Nothing Going On But The Rent" Part 1 and 2 and "My Roommate's Ex", I wrote it as the female character telling it. That, to me, was a little different since I'm sure that a woman has different feelings during sex than a man. I was only able to describe the sex as it as often been described to me by most of my female associates.
My stories, "Lesson In Biology" trilogy, were all written in the form of a third person.
I guess that a story can be written in any form, depending how the author prefers to deliver it. Good luck with your story submission!! I'm sure that we'll all love it, as well as the visitors of Literotica.
Sonia_de_Beaumanoir
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Does it matter to the reader
Bonjour
A somewhat different was to pose the question.
I recently posted my first story, and I have gotten some very kind reviews. Better reviews that it deserved I think. One email (from a woman I believe, but a male email name) complimented the story but added:
"I hope you're what you seem to be, and not some sociopathic male pretending."
Now I don't know why a man writing as a woman would be sociopathic (unless glorifying rape or some such). But I am starting to wonder if some authors post under two names, one for female and another for male stories.
Of course we could all write in 3rd person and solve this problem
I've only got a couple of ideas left based on personal experience, so I'll need to start inventing in order to post more. I've got an idea for a D/S story, but I couldn't image being a submissive. So it will have to be 1st person from the male viewpoint.
Any comments on this will be received with gratitude.
And should I care if people think I'm male or female?
Amicalement,
Sonia
Bonjour
A somewhat different was to pose the question.
I recently posted my first story, and I have gotten some very kind reviews. Better reviews that it deserved I think. One email (from a woman I believe, but a male email name) complimented the story but added:
"I hope you're what you seem to be, and not some sociopathic male pretending."
Now I don't know why a man writing as a woman would be sociopathic (unless glorifying rape or some such). But I am starting to wonder if some authors post under two names, one for female and another for male stories.
Of course we could all write in 3rd person and solve this problem
I've only got a couple of ideas left based on personal experience, so I'll need to start inventing in order to post more. I've got an idea for a D/S story, but I couldn't image being a submissive. So it will have to be 1st person from the male viewpoint.
Any comments on this will be received with gratitude.
And should I care if people think I'm male or female?
Amicalement,
Sonia
bluntforcemama
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I've tried it once or twice, but all my men either come off girly, or have no personality whatsoever. Needless to say, I stick with the woman's point of view. It's a sad thing to be stuck in that rut, though. Maybe I'm just too afraid to look into a man's mind. But the man that I know best isn't really all that.... manly.
masterhypnotist
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Writing as the opposite sex.
I have done it. I find it fun. I don't know how accurate I am. It is kind of like having a different
body. I think it helps me keep perspective. I think I will do it here soon.
I have done it. I find it fun. I don't know how accurate I am. It is kind of like having a different
body. I think it helps me keep perspective. I think I will do it here soon.
His Whimsicality
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Perhaps I´m not being very constructive, but I just don´t. (At least not yet *hehe*)
executioner
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Amy, I presume you are a woman when you ask whether it is difficult to write from a woman's point of view if you are a man, and vice versa. In actual fact there is very little difference because:
(a) Men write what they themselves want to read
(b) Women are smart enough to know what men want to read, and write the same.
Have you discovered this in any of your writing? BTW, what kind of material have you written???
(a) Men write what they themselves want to read
(b) Women are smart enough to know what men want to read, and write the same.
Have you discovered this in any of your writing? BTW, what kind of material have you written???
Interesting question and some very interesting replies.
I have to agree with executioner. He hit the nail on the head. But then, I have always thought, generally speaking, women are the superior gender; i.e., my wife lets me be the boss and does a good job of controlling any given situation.
However, having said that, I want to reintegrate Gus' statement.
Proof that it not good to generalize is the truth of what Gus points out. I think some men (or women) can do a better job than others in writing from the opposite gender's viewpoint. I think it is an interesting challenge.
Even more interesting, I think, would be to explore how the female gray matter differs from the male. What are the situations that a female would react most differently to than a male? What kinds of stimuli trigger one sex and not the other? Is there a common thread between some things that are always related to one gender but not the other? Like Weird Harold alluded to, it is not just the gender stereotypes that we need to take into account.
executioner said:
I have to agree with executioner. He hit the nail on the head. But then, I have always thought, generally speaking, women are the superior gender; i.e., my wife lets me be the boss and does a good job of controlling any given situation.
However, having said that, I want to reintegrate Gus' statement.
Gus said:
Proof that it not good to generalize is the truth of what Gus points out. I think some men (or women) can do a better job than others in writing from the opposite gender's viewpoint. I think it is an interesting challenge.
Even more interesting, I think, would be to explore how the female gray matter differs from the male. What are the situations that a female would react most differently to than a male? What kinds of stimuli trigger one sex and not the other? Is there a common thread between some things that are always related to one gender but not the other? Like Weird Harold alluded to, it is not just the gender stereotypes that we need to take into account.
Male/Female Perspective
My first story ("Atonement")is written in third person omniscient limited, using the female's perspective. I did this for two reasons: 1) I had previously done the same 'story' in roleplay form from the male perspective, and changing to the woman's view seemed just oh so intriguing and 2) charting the woman's reaction in that story is just far more nuanced and complex; it made for a better story.
I admit it was a bit intimidating writing it that way, and I was nervous when I first sent it out for reading (esp. to female readers). One Literotica writer/reviewer (a female) told me privately that she thought I was a woman until reading my bio. So, I guess the experiment worked.
I'm intrigued now to go and look at some of the stories referenced on this thread where women write from the male perspective.
Responses to a few specific remarks:
Again, here the question is 'does the author wish to capture a male view/reaction in honest terms? Or rather simply to describe a male fantasy?' I agree, writers of both sexes are likely to get (b) right. (a) is a trickier.
I don't see how that solves the problem. Unless one is writing from a third person objective POV (which seems to me to unduly restrict the vision of the story), one still needs to get the thoughts of one character or both, so the male/female perspective issue remains.
My first story ("Atonement")is written in third person omniscient limited, using the female's perspective. I did this for two reasons: 1) I had previously done the same 'story' in roleplay form from the male perspective, and changing to the woman's view seemed just oh so intriguing and 2) charting the woman's reaction in that story is just far more nuanced and complex; it made for a better story.
I admit it was a bit intimidating writing it that way, and I was nervous when I first sent it out for reading (esp. to female readers). One Literotica writer/reviewer (a female) told me privately that she thought I was a woman until reading my bio. So, I guess the experiment worked.
I'm intrigued now to go and look at some of the stories referenced on this thread where women write from the male perspective.
Responses to a few specific remarks:
executioner said:
Again, here the question is 'does the author wish to capture a male view/reaction in honest terms? Or rather simply to describe a male fantasy?' I agree, writers of both sexes are likely to get (b) right. (a) is a trickier.
Sonia_de_Beaumanoir said:Of course we could all write in 3rd person and solve this problem
I don't see how that solves the problem. Unless one is writing from a third person objective POV (which seems to me to unduly restrict the vision of the story), one still needs to get the thoughts of one character or both, so the male/female perspective issue remains.
MunchinMark
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executioner an quoted by almost everyone since said:
Doesn't every writer try to produce something that they would want to read? Regardless of gender? And it isn't hard to know what men want to read, it might be harder to be original within such constraints.
But back to the original question. I have written from both standpoints and not really thought about it. You have to have some understanding of how the opposite sex thinks and acts to produce a decent story anyway. This doesn't mean I understand women, it just means I get away with what ignorance I have.
Amy, you probably know far more about the male standpoint than you yourself realise.
Katerina Val-Kyrie
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I also write in both perspectives, but I never really thought of...if I was pulling off the male point of view or not...I just wrote what came naturally, thats all. I write in third person and I also tend to write in thoughts. I delve into the characters minds, as well as trying to voice their emotion. Both their feelings are shared...I think it is important to know what goes on in both their minds at all times. My thoughts anyways. Here is an insert from The Cabin, both...perspectives...
The excitement of being bound left him breathless. His mind was going wild as he felt the restraints tighten even more on his wrists. Darkness surrounded him now; he sensed her near, watching, waiting. Oh God, he thought. The suspense was unbearable! In his mind, he saw her naked body before him, her sensual curves, her full breasts.
Ante felt Dezerae's slight weight as she leaned over him, reaching for something on the night stand. He tried to remember what had been there, but his memory failed him completely. The sound of a cap opening filled the silence, and then he knew. Ante envisioned Dez as she squeezed the bottle, pouring the oily substance into the palm of her hand. He heard her rub them together, warming the slick oil between them. His breath held as he waited for her touch, but it did not come---yet.
Dezerae could not resist the sweet temptation of feeling her oiled palms against her own flesh. She slid them slowly over her breasts, leaving a glimmering sheen behind. The thick liquid felt heavenly as her fingertips trailed lightly over her slippery skin. A low moan escaped her throat as she enjoyed her own lingering caresses.
"Mmmmm...Ante, I wish you could feel the softness of my touch, as I am, right now," Dez purred. "My skin is so velvety smooth, so slippery with oil," she teased. "Oh, baby," she continued on in a sultry voice, "I know you would love to glide your hands over my breasts, feel the oil beneath your own fingertips. Mmmmm...feels so good."
Dezerae felt like a temptress as she leaned over, softly whispering in Ante's ear. "Oh, babe, would you like some too?" she teased further. "I can share."
"Jesus Christ, Dez, what are you doing to me, girl?" Ante moaned, acutely aware of her heavily oiled breasts brushing against his chest.
Dezerae spoke more, in low monotones, lulling him with her hypnotic voice as she picked up the bottle once again. She filled her palm, until a thick stream ran through her fingers, dripping onto the quilt-covered bed.
"Oh God," Ante groaned.
This time, the warmth of the oil touched his skin. He inhaled deeply as Dezerae's palms slid with ease across his taut chest. Pleasure filled him as her gliding fingers, bathed in oil, covered his body with gentle caresses. Every fiber of his being was on fire, ignited by the intensity of her heated touch. Deft fingers rubbed, teased and taunted him, leaving a part of him yearning for more. Ante's breath grew ragged as Dezerae's hands slowed, pressing lightly against his manhood. His cock throbbed, aching for the softness of her fingers and the warmth of her sensual mouth.
"Mmmmm...babe," Ante murmured softly, "I need, I want..."
"Shhh..." Dez silenced him, as her mouth captured his soft moans in a long, passionate kiss. His sobs grew muffled as her tongue delved deeply inside. With a parting brush across his lips, she lowered her body over his sinewy nakedness. Sleek and slippery with oil, she slid easily along his full length, gliding her breasts tenderly against him. The beating of their hearts joined as their bodies entwined together.
Slipping down further, Dezerae drew Ante's hardened nipples into her mouth. Sucking them gently, she circled her tongue around each one and slowly moved on. Her palms never stopped---gliding easily along the slipperiness of his skin as her tongue swirled, nibbled and sucked.
"Mmmmm...baby," Ante moaned, as her fingers slowly trailed down his body, caressing his inner thighs, softly circling, tickling and taunting him.
Dez grinned as she slowly parted his legs and lowered her head.
Ummm, did I succeed? You tell me?
The excitement of being bound left him breathless. His mind was going wild as he felt the restraints tighten even more on his wrists. Darkness surrounded him now; he sensed her near, watching, waiting. Oh God, he thought. The suspense was unbearable! In his mind, he saw her naked body before him, her sensual curves, her full breasts.
Ante felt Dezerae's slight weight as she leaned over him, reaching for something on the night stand. He tried to remember what had been there, but his memory failed him completely. The sound of a cap opening filled the silence, and then he knew. Ante envisioned Dez as she squeezed the bottle, pouring the oily substance into the palm of her hand. He heard her rub them together, warming the slick oil between them. His breath held as he waited for her touch, but it did not come---yet.
Dezerae could not resist the sweet temptation of feeling her oiled palms against her own flesh. She slid them slowly over her breasts, leaving a glimmering sheen behind. The thick liquid felt heavenly as her fingertips trailed lightly over her slippery skin. A low moan escaped her throat as she enjoyed her own lingering caresses.
"Mmmmm...Ante, I wish you could feel the softness of my touch, as I am, right now," Dez purred. "My skin is so velvety smooth, so slippery with oil," she teased. "Oh, baby," she continued on in a sultry voice, "I know you would love to glide your hands over my breasts, feel the oil beneath your own fingertips. Mmmmm...feels so good."
Dezerae felt like a temptress as she leaned over, softly whispering in Ante's ear. "Oh, babe, would you like some too?" she teased further. "I can share."
"Jesus Christ, Dez, what are you doing to me, girl?" Ante moaned, acutely aware of her heavily oiled breasts brushing against his chest.
Dezerae spoke more, in low monotones, lulling him with her hypnotic voice as she picked up the bottle once again. She filled her palm, until a thick stream ran through her fingers, dripping onto the quilt-covered bed.
"Oh God," Ante groaned.
This time, the warmth of the oil touched his skin. He inhaled deeply as Dezerae's palms slid with ease across his taut chest. Pleasure filled him as her gliding fingers, bathed in oil, covered his body with gentle caresses. Every fiber of his being was on fire, ignited by the intensity of her heated touch. Deft fingers rubbed, teased and taunted him, leaving a part of him yearning for more. Ante's breath grew ragged as Dezerae's hands slowed, pressing lightly against his manhood. His cock throbbed, aching for the softness of her fingers and the warmth of her sensual mouth.
"Mmmmm...babe," Ante murmured softly, "I need, I want..."
"Shhh..." Dez silenced him, as her mouth captured his soft moans in a long, passionate kiss. His sobs grew muffled as her tongue delved deeply inside. With a parting brush across his lips, she lowered her body over his sinewy nakedness. Sleek and slippery with oil, she slid easily along his full length, gliding her breasts tenderly against him. The beating of their hearts joined as their bodies entwined together.
Slipping down further, Dezerae drew Ante's hardened nipples into her mouth. Sucking them gently, she circled her tongue around each one and slowly moved on. Her palms never stopped---gliding easily along the slipperiness of his skin as her tongue swirled, nibbled and sucked.
"Mmmmm...baby," Ante moaned, as her fingers slowly trailed down his body, caressing his inner thighs, softly circling, tickling and taunting him.
Dez grinned as she slowly parted his legs and lowered her head.
Ummm, did I succeed? You tell me?
