Cross Gender Characterization

WerenCole · Mar 9, 2006

Okay, this is not a thread about transexuals. So, you can just exit that door before breaking it open.

I wrote my first novel in about four months. I have been polishing it for two years. Part of this is that I have moved on to other work, taken a step back from that manuscript to let it gel. Increasingly (especially after basically finishing my second novel) it has been intruding into my thoughts. I have been doing lazy edits, copy writing and the what not, though nothing substantial in terms of the nuts and bolts of the story. I have trimmed about 15% off the original draft, and now I am thinking it is time to add some more depth.

The kicker comes with the depth of my primary female lead. She is an important part of the story, though I can't help but feel that I have missed a vital point with her. I am going back to flesh her out, give her depth, add more character to the character.

I was watching CSI and I had the notion of having one of the characters play my leading lady, but then I thought "what in the novel does said actress have to go on?" Not enough, was my estimation.

Not many writers are thoroughly adept at portraying the opposite gender. It takes a certain something to think backwards, so to speak. Mark Twain wrote for decades and his only primary leading lady was Roxanne in Puddn'Head Wilson. (And he did her well)

I have been thinking of how to engage this problem. Asking questions like "what trips her anger?" "What is in her inner monologue?" Trying to steer away from the classical stereotypes. My leading lady was not devoid of personality before, but I think that since she plays such a role that she needs more depth. . .

A tactic for ideas to ask myself, situations I can put the character in to see how she reacts has been tough, but I have had an idea. I know a bunch of people who are crazy about this MySpace thing, so I checked it out. Some of these people (especially the girls) have made very elaborate sites, with definite clues to what make them tick. There are personality tests (some quirky, like "which angry house wife are you") that can help me create situations, and there is nothing more telling of a person than what they do under pressure or when put into certain situations. Honest, loyal, shy, trapped, prone to explosion because of pent emotions or wears emotions on sleeves and makes spur of the moment decisions.

It is important to know everything there is to know about your characters, though it can be difficult when you are of the opposite sex. The question is, have you ever tackled a difficult cross gender character, and how did you do it, how well did it turn out?

veinglory · Mar 9, 2006

For me, gender isn;t a very important part of a character--several times I have changed a characters gender partway through. perhaps it would be useful for you to think of this character as a man for a while. If that is hard than maybe she needs more to her other than being 'the girl'.

SC Harrison · Mar 9, 2006

I wrote a rather long short story with an elderly widow as my protagonist. I'm not really sure how well it was done, but I did get more comfortable with the character as the story progressed, exposing vulnerability and strength along the way. I tried to immerse my thoughts in recollections of elderly females I have known, searching for commonalities. I would say: don't be too strong in your avoidance of stereotypes, as you may sweep away something that will help a reader identify with your character.

That MySpace idea is neat. I just read a few personal blogs out of curiosity, and, while a couple were almost mindless babble, there were a few that were pretty deep. One note: I searched for local females 25 to 35. When reading one of the blogs, it became appparent that a 27 yo was talking about Prom, and wondering if she should go?

Methinks something is not kosher.

A. J. Luxton · Mar 9, 2006

I agree with veinglory in terms of technique. Sometimes it helps to read aloud a character's dialogue and behavior using the opposite pronoun. If it doesn't sound right, ask why?

Sometimes, the answer is that there's something about that character's behavior which is uniquely gendered (i.e., hesitating and apologizing, which is something that women in Western culture are taught to do more than men.) If that's the case, you can think about it more deeply and expand on it in order to allow the character to be true to him- or her- self.

Other times, the answer is that a sensible person just wouldn't act like that, or in some cases there just isn't enough there, and you can then examine the lack in specific terms.

Simon Woodhouse · Mar 9, 2006

I'm not convinced there is such a big difference between the sexes (apart from physically of course). People seem to be comfortable with the idea there is, but I think it's a cosy generalisation.

No two women are going to act the same way in the same situation just because they're women. I've written two novels with a female lead. One was a girl in her late teens and the other a middle-aged professional. When I considered their reactions to given situations I based them on their personalities, and I didn't think too much about their gender.

There are strong women and there are strong men, and there are weak women and there are weak men. I don't think it's a gender thing, but something far more personal to the individual.

WerenCole · Mar 9, 2006

Valid points. . . I am not particularily going for the ungendered thing. If I wanted to do that I would. What I am really going for is depth of character in general, and I do believe that woman and men approach the world in a generally different manner.

I have other girls in the story who can serve purposes and do not need to be flesh out, but this particular character is too pivotal to be left in the shallower end of the pool, so to speak.

The question still stands though, maybe I will alter it for the sake of discussion. Could you write a first person story from the basis of the other gender and be true to the character?

Jamesaritchie · Mar 9, 2006

Gender

In the last couple of years, I've been sliding over to believing that men often write women better than women do, and that women often write men better than men do.

I'm really starting to think we're too close to our own gender to see ourselves in an objective light.

Be that as it may, critics say I write better female characters than male characters, and if true, I have only two possible reasons why this might be so.
1. I don't invent characters, I use real women that I know very well. 2. I've always enjoyed spending long hours talking to women. When we have a big family reunion, I'll be found in the kitchen, sitting around the table and drinking coffee with the women while the guys are in the living room watching sports center.

Diviner · Mar 9, 2006

Men and women are different. Boys and girls are different. But most important, people are different. Some women act and react like men and vice versa. Your character will be like a man in some ways, possibly very few, but however much she thinks like a man, whether analytically or in cliches, she will most importantly, think like herself. In general, women are more open to expressing their feelings, and are usually more in touch with their feelings, but not all are this way. Some women are tongue-tied and inexpressive and not aware at all of why they or other people do what they do.

James follows the pattern I follow, he thinks of people he knows well to model his characters after. I also do what Jane Austen did, think of how I'd like people to be and make my admirable characters have qualities I think they should have, which may make them a little fake but keeps them enjoyable.

When I am creating characters, I think about their background, the families they come from, the world or social class, of what might have shaped their characters. Personality is more individual but values are learned. We are all a combination of instinctive and learned behavior. Generalities about sexual differences can take you only so far. Even within a well understood character, quirks can appear, because all of us can be quirky. You have to think about what your character wants, why she wants it, and how she goes about getting it, whether she consciously uses the tools she has or sort of muddles through. Quite possibly she is sometimes smart about things and at others clueless. Knowing these things will make your writing about her more fun.

There are other things, too. Most women are quite conscious of their appearance and like to present themselves attractively, even very intellectual women. Another thing most women enjoy is shopping, at least far more than most men do. This does not mean your character is one of "most women," but these are believable traits. The important thing is to know your character.

Personally, I get to know my characters so well that I have a hard time creating villains, male or female. But that is me.

ChaosTitan · Mar 10, 2006

WerenCole said:
Could you write a first person story from the basis of the other gender

I'm a woman. My first novel was written in the First person POV of a twenty-seven year old man. So yes, I could do it and I did.

WerenCole said:
and be true to the character?

True to the character or true to the gender? I believe that I was true to the character, yes. The story would never have worked if my "he" was a "she."

veinglory · Mar 10, 2006

WerenCole said:
Valid points. . . I am not particularily going for the ungendered thing. If I wanted to do that I would. What I am really going for is depth of character in general, and I do believe that woman and men approach the world in a generally different manner.

The question still stands though, maybe I will alter it for the sake of discussion. Could you write a first person story from the basis of the other gender and be true to the character?

Most of my stories are about men (I am a woman). Many are written in first person. Some are written for an almost all male readership (e.g. gay male magazine ezine 'Velvet Mafia'). I have never had much trouble, but then I do not see men and women as approaching the world differently except when viewed from such a great distance that individuals disappear. IMHO characters are specific human beings much more than representatives of an demographic variable.

I think my lack of interest or investment in the idea woman are from Venus (and possessing a vivid imagination) is what makes writing male characters easy. All my characters are me+accessories (sometime including a penis). The last story I sold was a first person tale about a burnt out older gay man who was an ex-pro snooker player. Sure I am a young, straight, female but you know what the tough part was? I dont know much about snooker.

Cross Gender Characterization

WerenCole

Funny what? Do I amuse you?

veinglory

volitare nequeo

SC Harrison

Dances With Hamsters

A. J. Luxton

Wibbly-Wobbly. Timey-Wimey.

Simon Woodhouse

WerenCole

Funny what? Do I amuse you?

Jamesaritchie

Diviner

ChaosTitan

Around

veinglory

volitare nequeo