101 Tips, Primarily on Writing Male Characters

Tips is a thought provoking, sometimes funny and often challenging approach to writing male characters, taking into full account their maleness in contrast to or in comparison to female characters. Therefore, Tips is especially suited for writing romance but doesn’t ignore other genres. It will wade through various misconceptions of how a male character should think and act and offer startling alternatives. Since a man is most a man when around a woman, much of what you will read, will concern the male/female dynamic. If you are writing a detective story with no love interest, you will still find the pointers helpful because it will add depth, and influence the back- and current story of your male characters be they heroes or extras. “She was just a dame. Nothin’ but trouble, with curves that kill.” What makes a man/character who he is? What gives him meaning? How real is he? Is the hero or supporting guy written one-dimensionally like a comic book hero? Is the character written two-dimensionally like an alpha hero with a flaw? Is the character written three-dimensionally to show his heart? Is the character written four-dimensionally to show his approach to life in specific ways that set him apart and make him memorable? The author goes there. Or is he into the fifth dimension? That is, he’s a fan of the sixties and seventies band, The Fifth Dimension. The author doesn’t go there. This is a niche book on writing for when you are stumped or your husband’s* not around to say that feels right. Or you don’t trust your years of intuition, interaction and observation. *For male writers, consider the text a resource for instant inspiration. RW has worked years to develop these ideas (okay it was a lot easier than that when you blog), you now have it at your fingertips. In a story devoid of the opposite sexes interacting in any way (thought or action), that writer will use non-gender specific traits to propel the story forward. That is, it would likely be possible after reading the story to change William’s name to Betty without ill effect. As a thought experiment, consider this opening line. “Call me Isabelle.” Picture the entire crew in the novel Moby Dick as female. Did you laugh and/or find it a fanciful journey to a planet where women could do what they want? This book mixes busting stereotypical conventional wisdom, point by point, to finding gems or unique ways to write a male character. And includes classic errors and how to correct them before they ruin your novel.