Is this a bit unusual for what I usually link to? Yes, but this discussion makes some fantastic points about writing for men and women, and writing male and female characters. And seriously, this is the first time I’ve heard anyone talk about differences in male and female readers/watchers — differences we all know exist. Now, of course, not all women want their books to be steamy romances. I for one enjoy learning about military tactics and weapons when I read fantasy. My Lego characters battled monsters, chased robbers, and made movies. Still, Thomas Umstattd Jr. acknowledges he is generalizing, and makes some fantastic points about what either gender prefers and how this manifests itself in popular entertainment today. And he’s right. Even if I do like nerdy details, I also like knowing about the relationships of my favorite characters, albeit so long as they are platonic and not romantic, because seriously, short of perhaps the first book in the Pendragon Cycle or perhaps the Fireborn Epic, I haven’t found a romantic relationship that doesn’t get ridiculous with the feelings and steamy scenes and all. And the guys I know definitely prefer fight scenes or intellectual plots. Still, if you’re a writer, give this post a read. It’s seriously insightful.
https://www.authormedia.com/how-to-write-novels-men-want-to-read/
Cover image by Mateus Andre on Freepik
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