S3E4 – Writing Men, Part 1

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany and guest host Louvie Tucker talk about writing better male characters. This is the first part of a two-part episode on the topic.

Listen to it here on Podbean or find us on your favourite podcast app.

What we talked about

• Masculinity in terms of definition
• How class affects definitions of masculinity
• Deconstructing arrogance, emotionality, and protective instincts assigned to male characters
• Should we write all male characters with straightforward personalities?
• The male character, lust, and ego
• Making room in our stories for male characters who aren’t leaders or in search of power
• The myth of the capable gentleman
• The effects of wish fulfilment writing on men

(Re)sources mentioned on the show

• May 10th, 2022 Video Tiktok by @marcusterritory “When I stopped identifying with the label ‘man’”: https://www.tiktok.com/@marcusterritory/video/7096216725351337222?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
• “The Selfishness of Altruism” by Loretta G. Breuning: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201604/the-selfishness-altruism
• “Men and Things, Women and People: A Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Interests” by Rong Su et al.: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38061313_Men_and_Things_Women_and_People_A_Meta-Analysis_of_Sex_Differences_in_Interests
• “How to Write a Damn Good Man” by Robert Wood: https://www.standoutbooks.com/writing-male-characters/

Articles we found problematic but are useful for conversation

• “How to Write a Male Character” by Josh Prior: https://www.jeuneauthors.com/post/how-to-write-a-male-character#:~:text=Even%20if%20you%27re%20writing,what%27s%20in%20it%20for%20him
• “On Writing Convincing Male Characters” by Randy Ingermanson: https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/13/on-writing-convincing-male-characters/

Films and novels referenced during the episode

• The Indiana Jones franchise
• Gladiator starring Russel Crowe
• The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Hunger Games series written by Suzanne Collins
• John Wick 1, 2, & 3
• The Visitor by Louvie Tucker
• The Queen’s Enforcer by Ciara Darren

Find Louvie Tucker’s novel, The Visitor, here. Available in eBook and print form on Amazon, and as an eBook in most online stores.

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