Comments on: Writing Authentic Male Characters http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/ How to write a superhero book, comic book or superhero novel and get it published Sun, 12 Feb 2012 08:42:54 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: ShyViolets http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-168232 ShyViolets Sat, 19 Nov 2011 10:33:17 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-168232 Well since males are weaker at birth than females, and don't mature as quickly, they need protection from their parents longer. The are, however, stronger after maturity so it makes since that they they would take more of a protector role, but strictly speaking in the animal kingdom that's often all males do. The females are usually the hunters and raisers of the young and in many cases the leaders of the family group. Just look at most couples you know. Who is really in charge? Well since males are weaker at birth than females, and don’t mature as quickly, they need protection from their parents longer. The are, however, stronger after maturity so it makes since that they they would take more of a protector role, but strictly speaking in the animal kingdom that’s often all males do. The females are usually the hunters and raisers of the young and in many cases the leaders of the family group. Just look at most couples you know. Who is really in charge?

]]> By: Bruno http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-168167 Bruno Sat, 19 Nov 2011 05:04:00 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-168167 Reading your article, I just remembered something I read long ago about boys x girls: It was some biological kind of thing. Women, as the child-bearers, are completely vulnerable during pregnancy and soon thereafter, thus, they need to ensure lasting relationships with protective males to care for them during that time. Thus they tend to be more relationship focused then males. Men, on the other hand, worries more about real objective stuff. Men want to be bad-ass enough to be the alpha male and the alpha predator, thus ensuring they get the girl. And that requires a lot of objective stuff, I guess. Even with great relationships to get a good hunting pack you still need to raise yourself over the others into the alpha to get the girl. Also, relationship building is girly, thus unmanly and non alpha, so a big no-no. Years and years of evolution fine tuned both into their respective 'roles', and no matter what feminists think, this won't change due the biology of the thing. That's just what I read somewhere too far away to remember clearly. Reading your article, I just remembered something I read long ago about boys x girls:
It was some biological kind of thing. Women, as the child-bearers, are completely vulnerable during pregnancy and soon thereafter, thus, they need to ensure lasting relationships with protective males to care for them during that time. Thus they tend to be more relationship focused then males. Men, on the other hand, worries more about real objective stuff. Men want to be bad-ass enough to be the alpha male and the alpha predator, thus ensuring they get the girl. And that requires a lot of objective stuff, I guess. Even with great relationships to get a good hunting pack you still need to raise yourself over the others into the alpha to get the girl. Also, relationship building is girly, thus unmanly and non alpha, so a big no-no. Years and years of evolution fine tuned both into their respective ‘roles’, and no matter what feminists think, this won’t change due the biology of the thing.
That’s just what I read somewhere too far away to remember clearly.

]]> By: ShyViolets http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-158977 ShyViolets Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:33:27 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-158977 The female character is known for having a temper and hold grudges while the male character is very easy going so I think he handles the situation well. She has a right to be angry (he let her teenage daughter sneak out) but he has his very good reasons for doing that. he was accused of a crime he didn't by his girl friend (she's a cop) and her daughter is really the only one who believes that he is innocent and she snuck out to go after the real culprit. The female character is known for having a temper and hold grudges while the male character is very easy going so I think he handles the situation well. She has a right to be angry (he let her teenage daughter sneak out) but he has his very good reasons for doing that. he was accused of a crime he didn’t by his girl friend (she’s a cop) and her daughter is really the only one who believes that he is innocent and she snuck out to go after the real culprit.

]]> By: Myna http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-158937 Myna Tue, 18 Oct 2011 09:59:32 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-158937 It depends on the situation. I think any person would want to defend themself if they were being accused of something, but maybe the guy char's idea is that he's not going to say anything now, just let her chew him out, and then talk to her when she's less angry so it doesn't escalate into a fighting match when they sort it all out. It depends on the situation. I think any person would want to defend themself if they were being accused of something, but maybe the guy char’s idea is that he’s not going to say anything now, just let her chew him out, and then talk to her when she’s less angry so it doesn’t escalate into a fighting match when they sort it all out.

]]> By: ShyViolets http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-158904 ShyViolets Tue, 18 Oct 2011 07:06:30 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-158904 Hey people :) If a male character lets his girl friend chew him out without offering ANY argument on his own defenses, will he come off as a wimp? I think his choice is diplomatic because he obviously doesn't want her to me any madder than she already is but i don't want him to be a push-over. Hey people :)

If a male character lets his girl friend chew him out without offering ANY argument on his own defenses, will he come off as a wimp?

I think his choice is diplomatic because he obviously doesn’t want her to me any madder than she already is but i don’t want him to be a push-over.

]]> By: Snow http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-145346 Snow Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:02:06 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-145346 Poking around this site quite a bit, seeing as I just found it. No hard feelings about reviving dead threads, I hope? Very helpful article on the brains of men... I didn't even think about the intimacy of describing eye colors, although the lingering stare of description was something I was already familiar with. Thanks for the tip on what to describe; I plan on spending a lot of time in my male protagonists head, and I wanted to make sure I was getting it right. This helps. Poking around this site quite a bit, seeing as I just found it. No hard feelings about reviving dead threads, I hope?

Very helpful article on the brains of men… I didn’t even think about the intimacy of describing eye colors, although the lingering stare of description was something I was already familiar with.

Thanks for the tip on what to describe; I plan on spending a lot of time in my male protagonists head, and I wanted to make sure I was getting it right. This helps.

]]> By: Links on Writing « Seven & a Half First Drafts http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-123599 Links on Writing « Seven & a Half First Drafts Sat, 23 Apr 2011 20:30:17 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-123599 [...] Writing Authentic Male Characters - Superhero Nation (being female, I found this useful) [...] [...] Writing Authentic Male Characters - Superhero Nation (being female, I found this useful) [...]

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115852 B. Mac Wed, 16 Mar 2011 03:11:07 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115852 "Is Mendoza’s ego the size of Texas, or bigger than Texas?" Mendoza? I thought we were talking about Reyes. <br /> Mendoza does have quite the ego, I think, and his interactions with Claire are a bit nastyish. He doesn't give me much of a violent vibe (yet) but I don't think he has the empathy to care much if he did hurt someone. (Note how Mendoza used the bloody sock as a chance to create a mawkish scene for his documentary). <br /> "Does it make sense to try to pressure his brother into going to work for the government so he won't get in trouble with the law?" I haven't seen much of Greg's character and motivations yet, so I'm not sure if it'd be consistent with his characterization, but it could be. There are some people that care so much about their work that they'd put it in front of family. He may even think he's doing his brother a favor (keeping him out of prison, which is more than he's willing to do for Amber--he might even have had to pull some strings to get the antidote made). The last time I saw him interacting with Amber, it sounded like he was an anything-goes sort of cop, so it's not THAT much of a leap to imagine him putting the pressure on his half-brother. <br /> Speaking of Greg's motivations... Later on, when you're ready for rewrites, I'd recommend revisiting why an FBI agent is so unconcerned about getting kidnapped by a director. (One possibility would be having the agent come along willingly, but the director refuses to tell him what it's about, saying only that the FBI would be interested to see what he has to show. Given the director's previous work with Reyes, I imagine that Greg would be interested). <br /> ... <br /> If Greg has an antidote for Reyes' powers, why does he have it with him on this trip? (One possibility is that he's just crazy-prepared for everything, but we haven't seen much of that so far). “Is Mendoza’s ego the size of Texas, or bigger than Texas?” Mendoza? I thought we were talking about Reyes.

Mendoza does have quite the ego, I think, and his interactions with Claire are a bit nastyish. He doesn’t give me much of a violent vibe (yet) but I don’t think he has the empathy to care much if he did hurt someone. (Note how Mendoza used the bloody sock as a chance to create a mawkish scene for his documentary).

“Does it make sense to try to pressure his brother into going to work for the government so he won’t get in trouble with the law?” I haven’t seen much of Greg’s character and motivations yet, so I’m not sure if it’d be consistent with his characterization, but it could be. There are some people that care so much about their work that they’d put it in front of family. He may even think he’s doing his brother a favor (keeping him out of prison, which is more than he’s willing to do for Amber–he might even have had to pull some strings to get the antidote made). The last time I saw him interacting with Amber, it sounded like he was an anything-goes sort of cop, so it’s not THAT much of a leap to imagine him putting the pressure on his half-brother.

Speaking of Greg’s motivations… Later on, when you’re ready for rewrites, I’d recommend revisiting why an FBI agent is so unconcerned about getting kidnapped by a director. (One possibility would be having the agent come along willingly, but the director refuses to tell him what it’s about, saying only that the FBI would be interested to see what he has to show. Given the director’s previous work with Reyes, I imagine that Greg would be interested).

…

If Greg has an antidote for Reyes’ powers, why does he have it with him on this trip? (One possibility is that he’s just crazy-prepared for everything, but we haven’t seen much of that so far).

]]> By: Castille http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115799 Castille Tue, 15 Mar 2011 21:49:37 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115799 I was also maybe thinking...how to make it not-cliche? Maybe have her come up with a plausible explanation that would even fly with Gregory. Maybe something like "The moment I saw that Sasquatch... my sense just told me that even you couldn't handle it Reyes. That's why I ran." Maybe he ends up bruising her really badly? Remember this was a woman who traveled with him for 6 months before the events of the story. Reyes saved her life, and thus feels a bit of responsibility on that front. Also on authentic male character front... it makes sense for Greg to have the antidote for the cause of Reyes's powers right? That is, even though they're brothers, he'll not hesitate to use it if he determines that Reyes is a potential threat to national security. (Because in my universe superheroes didn't exist before Reyes.) Does it make sense to try to pressure his brother into going to work for the government so he won't get in trouble with the law? And B.Mac...You read that chapter I sent you...Is Mendoza's ego the size of Texas, or bigger than Texas? I was also maybe thinking…how to make it not-cliche? Maybe have her come up with a plausible explanation that would even fly with Gregory.

Maybe something like “The moment I saw that Sasquatch… my sense just told me that even you couldn’t handle it Reyes. That’s why I ran.”

Maybe he ends up bruising her really badly? Remember this was a woman who traveled with him for 6 months before the events of the story. Reyes saved her life, and thus feels a bit of responsibility on that front.

Also on authentic male character front… it makes sense for Greg to have the antidote for the cause of Reyes’s powers right? That is, even though they’re brothers, he’ll not hesitate to use it if he determines that Reyes is a potential threat to national security. (Because in my universe superheroes didn’t exist before Reyes.) Does it make sense to try to pressure his brother into going to work for the government so he won’t get in trouble with the law?

And B.Mac…You read that chapter I sent you…Is Mendoza’s ego the size of Texas, or bigger than Texas?

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115681 B. Mac Tue, 15 Mar 2011 07:32:25 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115681 I agree with Ghost that he may be overreacting to his use of force against the woman, especially given that the woman is a werewolf... However, it may be believable if he reacts rather strongly if he's either very gentle by nature (so that any violence against women makes him feel really uneasy) and/or the forcible restraint gets really (unintentionally or intentionally) messy. On the other hand, I can see why someone might have a harder time getting in a fight with their partner/sidekick. (Except for Batman. He's never more than a panel away from clobbering Robin). ... "So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort…" This may be selling male emotional complexity a bit short but I'll leave that to you. I agree with Ghost that he may be overreacting to his use of force against the woman, especially given that the woman is a werewolf… However, it may be believable if he reacts rather strongly if he’s either very gentle by nature (so that any violence against women makes him feel really uneasy) and/or the forcible restraint gets really (unintentionally or intentionally) messy.

On the other hand, I can see why someone might have a harder time getting in a fight with their partner/sidekick. (Except for Batman. He’s never more than a panel away from clobbering Robin).

…

“So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort…” This may be selling male emotional complexity a bit short but I’ll leave that to you.

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115635 Ghost Tue, 15 Mar 2011 02:46:23 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115635 Castille, "So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort…goes right into the arms of another woman." Without any more background on the character, I would have to say that the character sounds a little cliche and shallow. Simply because a man is in need of emotional comfort, does not mean that he will run into the arms of another women. Unless your character has an ego the size of texas, he should be able to rationalize and justify forcibly restraining someone. Unless he causes some kind of serious injury, I dont find it to be a possible action. I think a more reasonable response would be for him to become withdrawn from her or hesitate the next time he needs to use force. Castille,

“So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort…goes right into the arms of another woman.” Without any more background on the character, I would have to say that the character sounds a little cliche and shallow. Simply because a man is in need of emotional comfort, does not mean that he will run into the arms of another women. Unless your character has an ego the size of texas, he should be able to rationalize and justify forcibly restraining someone. Unless he causes some kind of serious injury, I dont find it to be a possible action. I think a more reasonable response would be for him to become withdrawn from her or hesitate the next time he needs to use force.

]]> By: Castille http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115600 Castille Mon, 14 Mar 2011 23:06:21 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115600 For me, I'm trying to make all my male characters stand out and have character of their own. I'm also trying not to get too cliche or make the characters act improbably. For example, the chapter I'm currently writing is from Reyes's POV (My super-strong protagonist). In it, I tried to emphasize his working class background, in a scene that emphasizes his inexperience and difficulty controlling his emotions. In the scene,he has to forcibly restrain a traitor(Amber) that's trying to escape. As he subdues her, he finds himself using (quite a bit) more force than necessary. Later, in my plot, he will regret this- but I decide upon that to show how a working class man with anger issues could misuse his powers. Actually, he regrets it immediately after-when he realizes how badly he's hurt her. if he continues down this path. -So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort... goes right into the arms of another woman. (And actually he only stops because this other woman 'Claire' implores him to) Sound realistic or not? For me, I’m trying to make all my male characters stand out and have character of their own. I’m also trying not to get too cliche or make the characters act improbably.

For example, the chapter I’m currently writing is from Reyes’s POV (My super-strong protagonist). In it, I tried to emphasize his working class background, in a scene that emphasizes his inexperience and difficulty controlling his emotions.

In the scene,he has to forcibly restrain a traitor(Amber) that’s trying to escape. As he subdues her, he finds himself using (quite a bit) more force than necessary. Later, in my plot, he will regret this- but I decide upon that to show how a working class man with anger issues could misuse his powers.

Actually, he regrets it immediately after-when he realizes how badly he’s hurt her. if he continues down this path. -So he does the only logical thing a male with testosterone does when he needs emotional comfort…

goes right into the arms of another woman. (And actually he only stops because this other woman ‘Claire’ implores him to)

Sound realistic or not?

]]> By: B. Mac http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115516 B. Mac Mon, 14 Mar 2011 15:06:11 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115516 Yeah, Jimmy. When someone is intimate with someone, I think they're close enough to notice them. Yeah, Jimmy. When someone is intimate with someone, I think they’re close enough to notice them.

]]> By: Jimmy http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-115493 Jimmy Mon, 14 Mar 2011 12:47:31 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-115493 Is it fine for a man to describe another man's eyes if the describer is homosexual/bisexual/has feelings for the person? Is it fine for a man to describe another man’s eyes if the describer is homosexual/bisexual/has feelings for the person?

]]> By: Ghost http://www.superheronation.com/2007/04/08/writing-male-characters-and-perspectives/comment-page-1/#comment-77065 Ghost Wed, 01 Sep 2010 02:41:09 +0000 http://208.78.98.28/blog/?p=50#comment-77065 Yeah finding good archetypes is hard. Most of the ones that I have found have been kind of onesided. The ones from Carl Jung are alright but they don't really cover both genders. Yeah finding good archetypes is hard. Most of the ones that I have found have been kind of onesided. The ones from Carl Jung are alright but they don’t really cover both genders.

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