How do you handle it?

I've never done that, myself. My target audience is myself and my mom. I write stuff that I would LOVE to find in a bookstore (and never do) or something I know my mom would enjoy.

It's the whole 'Stephen King Ideal Reader' thing.

However, that being said, most of the stuff I write is super 'girly' so I don't think a man would read it, no. Mine is pretty much unadulterated romance, or urban fantasy for girls.

Hi Irish:

I too only write what I like and it is usually what women like. I write women's fiction, paranormal romance. So I can't really say what your result would be. Most men I know don't read what I write. A lot of them are into non-fiction, thinking about it now.

Of course, the proportion of women readers is much higher than men readers. If you want to sell well, or for interest sake, or for both, it really is your bag.

Maybe some of the writing gurus on here can give you some good advice.

Cheers

Hi Irish!

While I'm a straight up romance writer, I did write a vampire romance that has had some positive feedback from several men. The reason for that was because I had written it for my husband. Back then, I couldn't get him to read anything I had written because it was all romance and he wasn't into that. (I have since converted him into a closet romance reader) However, with him getting ready for a six-month deployment I wanted him to have something to read on his downtime and something to remind him of me. So, I wrote a vampire story, thinking that it would horror with a few "sex scenes" thrown in to spice it up. Um, yeah.... it was a romance with blood and gore. My husband loved it. He pulled into port in Hong Kong, called me and told me that I had to write the sequel just so he knew what happens next.

I guess what I'm saying is, if you want men to want to read your book as well, then keep them in mind while you're writing it. That's what I did. I kept my husband's tastes in books in mind while writing my story while keeping true to my romance writing. Hope I was helpful!

I think you can do both. A Voice in the Wind is a perfect example. I (a male) loved that book so much that I got my brother to read it. He liked it too, but said it was kind of on the girly side.

One theory I've heard is to think of one person who is your ideal reader, and write for him or her alone.