.jpg)
Pink Think: "It would have been easier to have a male protagonist, but I didn't want people to assume that Nikki Hill was me in her entirety because a lot of people just don't like me and I don't think they would be interested in reading about me, even in the fictional context." - Christopher Darden 
Photo from bing.com
My oldest recently had a bone to pick with me. She said, "How come you never write stories with a strong girl as lead protagonist?"
"I wrote about a princess in my last one," I pointed out.
"Yes," she conceded, "but other than that...?"
I opened my mouth to protest, then shut it. Coz she was probably right.
***
Let's see, some of the stories I have written in the last three years:
The Spanish Exile - historical novel - male protagonist
Ghost Moon Night - historical paranormal - male protagonist
Girl From Gurian - historical romance - female protagonist
Rosalie's New Hobby - contemporary short story - female protagonist
Coconut Island - horror short story - male protagonist
Roadkill Grill - horror short story - male protagonist
Please Do Not Disturb - horror short story - male protagonist
***
Reasons why I usually write stories with a boy as main character:
1. I can write autobiographically without being obvious.
2. I can write about emotional situations and my character can remain fairly stoic without coming across as cold.
3. I can put romance in and avoid getting too sappy.
4. I find it easier to write "funny" from a male point of view than a female's.
5. I feel like I can write about darker and more disturbing subjects.
***
To appease my daughter I told her I should write a story sometime soon with a female protagonist as lead. She said, "With manatees."
"Female lead, check." I said. "Manatees. Check."
Hey, come to think of it, this summer, I had started a mermaid fantasy set in the Philippines. Maybe it is time for me to dust it off.
***
To you fiction writers out there, do you find it easier or more fun to write from the POV of your gender or not?
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Why I Write Boy-Stories
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
14 comments:
i am just amazed at writers anyway no matter their pov.....lol
did you remember it is NANAWRIMO?
I love it that your daughter suggested manatees as a part of your story. That one should be dedicated to her.
My first novel is a male POV and it's been suggested that the voice "isn't quite there."
In my current wip I have two female and one male POV and again, I need to work on the male. It's better than in my first novel, but it's still missing a little something.
I picked male POV for my first novel because there is just so much to learn about writing anyway that I didn't want to try writing with a female voice.
My second book rotates between two female and one male POV. It's a SF adventure, so not a lot of emotional digging needed there.
IF I get to do a sequel to my first book, it will likely be told from the female POV - partly to stretch my writing, but partly because the male character's story will have already been told.
Hmnnn, cool post. I am going through this when I ponder writing songs from a man's viewpoint, in terms of The Musical. I am finding it a bit challenging, so may have say, 3 women and only 1 man in the show.
But I don't know. It's still in its infancy, kind of.
I guess I never really thought about it. I think it's about equally hard, each one. I think I try not to hit stereotypes either way.
I write most of my stuff from the female POV.
Not sure why, other than maybe that most of my friends are female and somehow, I just feel more comfortable using a female voice with some male attitude.
I don't understand boys at all, so I never right from their point of view. I don't even have brothers! Lol.
I don't consider myself a writer so I can't answer the question but I did want to say how wonderful it is that your daughter thought to bring it up. She sounds like a strong confindant woman in training. She must get that from her mother.
For some reason I keep coming up with female protagonists. I have no idea why but I just enjoy writing them more.
well, my MC in both my Fantasy Saga and my Sci-Fi book is male. I do have a book idea that i plan to do after these that is Female... but she is a tough thing that can really kick trash. so, does that still count? tehehehe
I have given you several awards! Stop by to redeem and thanks for all your inspiration!
- Cougs
http://cougar-tales.blogspot.com/
I gave you an award! http://authorsdesk.blogspot.com/2009/10/stealing-word-from-spider-i-dub-this.html
Lynette: Yes, and I am trying to ignore it LOL. (I don't know if my sanity is up to it right now...)
Lynn: I know! She is one of my best readers. I would love to write a book for her, to her.
Melanie: It's a trick to pull off, but I do think it's always interesting to write from the opposite gender.
Don: Yeah, I know what you mean by *emotional digging*
Jannie: I can't wait to see the fruits of your labors!
BJ: I find it liberating to write in the opposite gender's POV. I find myself looking at things with a fresh eye. I strive to not stereotype, but maybe to a certain extent, I do...
G: Really? How interesting.
Georgie: I have a brother, but most of my stuff is based on friends I had in school and life. And thanks for the award!
LeSan: You ARE a writer, too! As for my daughter, she has a strong sense of self I didn't haven until much later in life. It bodes well for her.
Iapetus: Like inhabiting a different world. It IS cool.
Pendragon: That MC sounds awesome!
Jessica: Thanks!
Post a Comment