When writing a novel - or a portion thereof - I'm continually torn when writing female characters. Making them real, and making them interesting while not continually relying on sexual tension to carry the character is not easy.
I find men easier to portray without that dynamic, possibly because I'm a man and understand what makes them tick far more clearly. It's not easy being an author.
8 comments:
It's not easy being an author? Hell, it ain't easy being a woman.. lol... !!
Xmichra- no it's not (in either case).
Easy? Well, no. Profitable? Well, no. Have to? Well, yes.
Having lived among the female species for many years now, I can honestly say that I understand the species even less today than when I was younger. Best of luck to you in writing about them.
I can barely put together a stinkin' blog post - writing a whole novel is WAYYYYY beyond me. Kudos to you for having that kind of talent.
Well, if you have to you can always justify your writing.
After all, women's romance novels objectify men as sex objects.
Alternatively, you can portray women with the same/similar wants and needs as a man, while toning down the competitiveness, except in the area of vanity.
I was at a seminar last weekend and another lady there said she was surprised to see me. She had just called her husband to say that she thought she was the only woman there. As such, she said she was sure to be the best looking woman in the room. She looked to be about 10 years older than me, and she is an accomplished professional and entrepreneur. Now in the business world, does it still always boil down to that? "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who's the fairest one of all..."
Its just as hard reading them. I guess it was how I was raised, how I treat the women in my life (keep them at a distance, give them privacy)...but when I'm reading a good book, and the descriptions of the female are too...I don't know...female? It gets awkward. Oh, and since I've only read male authors - that may be it.
LL you just described me, "Making them real, and making them interesting while not continually relying on sexual tension"... yup me to a T! lol Anytime you want a real and interesting female to depict ask away, I'll give you as real as can be answers without all of the sexual tension. ;-)
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