I'm critiquing with a group that includes a guy now. It's very helpful to have a man's point of view on characters and dialog. It's not a one way street, I think he's been learning a little about women from us.
Recently, we tried to get him to understand 'the fantasy', that the men in romance novels are not realistic guys, they are specific archetypes that appeal to women's fantasies. It might actually be making sense to him.
I love the new commercial for men's body wash from Old Spice. This very handsome, sculpted half naked man stands by a shower and tells the women in the audience, "look at your man, now look at me". This commercial is actually a perfect explanation of 'the fantasy' that is produced in women's fiction. In real life, that guy is just irritating. (In the commercial, it's freakin' hysterical!) But the fantasy is that we want our men to look like him, smell like a man (thus the body wash) and act all alpha male. Most of us, given an alpha male in real life, would smother him in his sleep. The fantasy is that we'd love him, or one just like him.
It takes all images to sell products, books and body wash. As authors, it's important that we understand what we're selling and to whom. When you write for women, no one ever burps, has gas or forgets to shave (unless the heroine likes unshaven men). The same could be said for men's fiction. I don't recall ever reading a John D Macdonald mystery where he slept with the same woman twice. And none of those women ever had cramps, rough skin or even sunburns. Perfection in a partner is the fantasy. Not the reality.
I'm learning a lot from my critique partner. Look at him, now look at me. Look back at him, now back at me.
--Sandee Wagner
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6 comments:
You really think most women would wait until that alpha dude to go to sleep? Snort!
Is your mcp the one with the werewolf voice?
Tell him hi. He should come to the April meeting. Our speaker will be talking about male pov.
Am reading "Pride & Prejudice for the nineteenth time now. One of the things I like about it is that Mr. Darcy, no one's fantasy, probably turns out to be a very fine husband. Also, I think most men, if they know what's good for them, do not want to get saddled with their fantasy woman.
But Mr. Darcy IS fantasy material!! He's the gorgeous, intelligent, snobby man that changes *everything* for the woman he falls for! And, let's face it, change is not common in reality...
Susan, my mcp is indeed that guy. But his voice has healed (it was affected by his neck surgery) and he's not so growly now. Sounds normal in fact. It lasted much longer than the surgeon expected.
Stephen,
I'm actually surprised to hear that you re-read and enjoy Jane Austen. One of the most endearing characteristics of Mr. Darcy is his cluelessness and the fact that he grows to understand the insults he dealt. Plus, he was going to live without her and helped out when/where he could.
You speak the truth when you say that men don't want their fantasies either... Let's face it, there's a reason we refer to it as "the fantasy". spw
Emm,
Men change in reality. They lose hair, gain weight, grow hair in less attractive places... they continually change. I don't know why you don't think that is fantasy material.
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