Writing female characters? (Crikey.) - Page 2 - Writers Forum

PamHKyle · 07-23-2006, 01:27 AM

When your story gets on fine without women, then leave them out, jeez.
Trying to force some into the story will probably disrupt the whole thing.
(I'm a little surpised I'm writing this, considering the fact I'm normaly regarded as a bit of a feminist

)

As Dwellerofthedeep stated, there are loads of examples of stories where there are hardly any women actively involved in the story (most of the Hornblower movies, the books by Henri Vernes (the Bob Morane-series), Capt. W.E. Johns's books (Biggles series) and a lot of semie (auto-) biographical works on for example WWI - II....)

BTW do active research, not just reading. TALK to girls/women. We're rather complex and diverse creatures, you'll be hardly able to capture it all by just reading up on the subject

Stewart · 07-23-2006, 08:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Syren

I think you can gain a lot from reading a few books where women are drawn well.

The male writer that, for me, writes such interesting female characters is Richard Yates. In books such as Revolutionary Road, Cold Spring Harbor, and The Easter Parade he tells the stories of men and woman with ambitions and the lack of drive to realise their dreams. There's nothing fantastic about his work - it's all set on Earth (suburban New York usually) and is realist fiction at its best. The way he looks at his characters is with refreshing honesty.

Another male author who seems to have the knack for female writers (indeed, his women are more realistic than his men) is Michel Faber. His short stories tend to genre-hop so he may be worth a study.

Spooky Cactus · 07-24-2006, 11:42 AM

The best thing to remember when writing women is that you're just writing about people who are female, not another species. A well-developed female character whose gender could be changed without really impacting the story will be a lot more realistic to read about than one obviously written with her feminity in mind. Also, in the settings you aluded to, the girls are highly unlikely to be delicate flowers anyway.

I'm a girl myself but I have a roughly equal gender ratio in my stories, and I write both male and female characters as just people, not men and women, yet no one's ever told me my male characters seem unmanly. I think the trick is to have an idea for a character first, then decide their gender. Otherwise you're in danger of having a female character whose entire personality is built around her gender, and beleive me that will not appeal to a female audience.

It's annoying really that a lot of really good male authors fall down when it comes to women - Terry Prattchet and Douglas Adams (my two favourite authors) do this. In both cases, it's because they appeared to be thinking too hard 'this is a woman, I have to make her womanly' rather than just concerntrating on the character as any other.

simon woodhouse · 07-24-2006, 04:30 PM

I've written a couple of female characters, and the only consideration I made regarding their gender was whether they were physically capable of doing something, as I think that's the only way men and women are different. I don't subscribe to the Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus point of view. A few years ago I worked in an office full of women where I was the only man. Over time I noticed there were no typical female behaviours. The women there were ten individuals who just happened to be of the same sex.

When I right female characters I don't pay much attention to the fact they're women, at least not behaviour wise. Obviously they look different, and are often treated differently by the male characters, but I don't attribute them with any typical female characteristics, because as far as I can see there's no such thing.

Fantasy of You · 07-24-2006, 04:42 PM

Personalities don't differ that much from men to women, besides from when you stereotype and it shouldn't really be a problem. You decide what the characters do based upon their pas, experiences and personality (which should come automatically), not on gender.

Fantasy

Mike C · 07-25-2006, 05:22 AM

Write SF> Alien life forms are easier to understand than women

G. Palmer · 07-25-2006, 05:35 AM

Haha!

Writing a female character without being a female is a large bog that needs to be carefully walked around. Stray in the wrong direction and you will drown in extremist feminists who declare you an anti-Christ. When I am trying to figure out how to write something that I am unfamiliar I go out and buy an acclaimed book in that genre etc. In this case I can't offer any advice, only what to read to know what not to write. Which would probably be Ian Fleming's The Spy Who Loved Me a Bond novel written from the perspective of a Bond girl, with some rather interesting generalisations made, the book is quite enjoyable if you read it relatively quickly. (I particularly enjoy his statement, 'All women love semi-rape, they like to be taken...')

Fantasy of You · 07-25-2006, 05:44 AM

Urggg I don't get why people say that. Writing a chracter of the opposite sex doesn't differ in the slightest. Unless you are a man who runs and hides from chicks form you entire life, it shouldn't be that hard.. You all have man and woman friends.. You don't need to buy books, go out and see for yourself

Oracle · 07-25-2006, 08:47 PM

Think of one of your male characters. Now take their personality, and imagine what they'd be like as a female. You might make a few adjustments, but it shouldn't be all that different.

I've read a story before where all the female characters had similar personalities, and they were all the "stereotypical woman". They were all bubbly and ditzy, and there was very little character differentiation. Avoid that kind of thing at all costs.

Kane · 07-25-2006, 09:44 PM

Writing females is easy. Just write the character as a man, but take away all logic, reason, and accountability.

Spooky Cactus · 07-26-2006, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Writing females is easy. Just write the character as a man, but take away all logic, reason, and accountability.

Really, really helpful. And on that note, I'd like to congratulate you on a post that was totally non-inflammatory and not in the least counter-productive!

C'mon, I'd expect that kind of talk in some forums, but not here. :eyeroll:

Ty_lol · 07-26-2006, 01:57 AM

So you have trouble writing about women because your fantasy stories has a lot to do with war? Have you ever had you ass kicked by a woman? Just go piss off a woman, let her beat the shit out of you, then write your story.
Ty

Hodge · 07-26-2006, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by G. Palmer

Writing a female character without being a female is a large bog that needs to be carefully walked around. Stray in the wrong direction and you will drown in extremist feminists who declare you an anti-Christ.

Only if you're an idiot who thinks the average woman has lesbian fantasies on a routine basis.

Mike C · 07-26-2006, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hodge

Only if you're an idiot who thinks the average woman has lesbian fantasies on a routine basis.

What is the 'average' woman?

G. Palmer · 07-26-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hodge

Only if you're an idiot who thinks the average woman has lesbian fantasies on a routine basis.

does fantasising about the average woman having lesbian fantasies on a routine basis count?

Naturally I overstated, but I certainly find it easier doing some investigation on to how other writers tackle female characters and taking what I think works well and mixing it in with my own style and approach to characters in general.