tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post2367279947707341727..comments2024-03-22T12:11:58.453-06:00Comments on Michael Offutt: Understanding Men To Write Your FictionMichael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-53110330449591440762011-09-19T00:57:50.550-06:002011-09-19T00:57:50.550-06:00You hit the male on the head, which explains why s...You hit the male on the head, which explains why so many men are soreheads when they lose.Sher A. Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03067955594103356768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-69939988097380308522011-09-18T13:10:57.959-06:002011-09-18T13:10:57.959-06:00You are on the right track although part of this i...You are on the right track although part of this is also due to upbringing. I notice that in some countries I visited (and I didn't visit all that many), BEING someone was far more important to men than it is in other countries.<br />Take Germany as an example. Of course, men like to be someone but they don't (dare to) boast too much. There is a proverb: "Praising yourself stinks". This is deeply embedded here. So to be someone, you have to be someone others recognize as someone. It isn't enough to tell them.<br /><br />In some southern European countries, boasting is part of the business. Bragging about how many women you had, or what kind of financial deal you just did is expected of men.<br /><br />Totally different in Japan.<br /><br />See what I mean? Your basic idea is right, no doubt about it, but there are regional (and of course individual) differences.<br /><br />Yay for cultural potpourris! ;-)Katharina Gerlachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00223722392075669331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-59737169338937127902011-09-17T20:18:15.113-06:002011-09-17T20:18:15.113-06:00Now *that* is a very informative post. I always wo...Now *that* is a very informative post. I always worry that I'm not 100% in my male characters' heads, and any insight I can gain from an actual guy is always helpful. Thanks!Deniz Bevanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17134553551048836979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-59494383070184371162011-09-17T08:02:34.785-06:002011-09-17T08:02:34.785-06:00I'm glad you posted this, because I'm star...I'm glad you posted this, because I'm starting a story with a male protag and I feel a bit lost by the whole thing. A little insight is always helpful!Alyson Burdettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16916059117572619004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-65374913424885186702011-09-16T16:24:02.642-06:002011-09-16T16:24:02.642-06:00Mike, I just wanted to thank you for taking the ti...Mike, I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to answer my question here and via email. I thought that was super awesome of you. :)Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-72118662746922117552011-09-16T06:00:03.593-06:002011-09-16T06:00:03.593-06:00Great post! I never really thought of men's m...Great post! I never really thought of men's motivations in this way. Thanks for pointing this out.<br /><br />BTW- I'm a new follower Really enjoy your blog.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09179338199224761532noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-60189568611484182922011-09-16T03:11:17.442-06:002011-09-16T03:11:17.442-06:00I'd like to modify your theory and suggest tha...I'd like to modify your theory and suggest that it's not about being 'somebody' (which has an end point like becoming a doctor) but rather it's about being <b>admired</b>. <br /><br />And it's about <i>winning</i> admiration from people who are admired in turn, like fathers, bosses, teachers, the prettiest girl in the room. <br /><br />Once admiration is achieved, the game is over, the man becomes bored and needs to satisfy himself with more winnings.<br /><br />Just my theory ;)Stobbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17307341548219021848noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-83582243676020853492011-09-15T23:49:18.560-06:002011-09-15T23:49:18.560-06:00Oh forgot to say, Matt at QQQE directed me in your...Oh forgot to say, Matt at QQQE directed me in your direction :)Claire Hennessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16576410137759875223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-20333927569047276522011-09-15T23:47:08.100-06:002011-09-15T23:47:08.100-06:00Oh I love hearing about stuff like this from a man...Oh I love hearing about stuff like this from a man's perspective. Soo interesting. Thanks for sharing and I will think on this. My experience has been that you are right ... to a point. I'm a new follower and looking forward to reading more :)Claire Hennessyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16576410137759875223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-9440413727235112972011-09-15T23:44:29.153-06:002011-09-15T23:44:29.153-06:00Just to clarify...I don't think that men neces...Just to clarify...I don't think that men necessarily need a male point-of-view. They just need to be able to identify with a situation. To answer Ciara's question about the Hunger Games...that one is super easy. Men/boys like it because games = winning. It's a chance to win to come out on top...to be somebody. That the stakes are high simply make it that much better.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-62757786798665589332011-09-15T23:03:54.099-06:002011-09-15T23:03:54.099-06:00I like your insights.
Perhaps this is why I avo...I like your insights. <br /><br />Perhaps this is why I avoid my 10 year old and his fav video games--he trounces me and I like to win too much.Slamdunkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13087161268629251860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-50569202138307772952011-09-15T22:26:30.162-06:002011-09-15T22:26:30.162-06:00Great post! I couldn't agree with you more. I ...Great post! I couldn't agree with you more. I featured your post on my blog Ready,Aim,Hook me.I'm getting tired of reading books written by women in a male pov and it reads just like that--a book written like a woman thinks a man would act. Anyway, nice job. <br />DS TracyReady, Aim, Hook Mehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10917625209106328305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-44510416362313181282011-09-15T21:07:23.800-06:002011-09-15T21:07:23.800-06:00That's why I chose a '98 Saturn to drive a...That's why I chose a '98 Saturn to drive around town. It makes me feel like a winner.<br /><br />Good stuff. I do think most of what we do, men or women, has it's roots in that primal, animal part of us. We just use those more developed portions of the brain to justify those actions.Rusty Carlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09887821877521181811noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-59561825508165418392011-09-15T20:57:51.023-06:002011-09-15T20:57:51.023-06:00This is a very interesting take and quite helpful!...This is a very interesting take and quite helpful! :) I'll have to keep this in mind.WritingNuthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16326756274887055685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-18552604685485017632011-09-15T20:55:05.612-06:002011-09-15T20:55:05.612-06:00Awesome Michael. This has me thinking about my mal...Awesome Michael. This has me thinking about my male characters in a whole new way. I think this is something I have always seen but never thought to incorporate into my writing.<br />Thanks!Small Town Shelly Brownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13535247595352753415noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-41306324398642890172011-09-15T19:18:06.429-06:002011-09-15T19:18:06.429-06:00Thanks for this great post, Michael - I've got...Thanks for this great post, Michael - I've got male characters whose POVs I write from, so this will come in handy for sure.<br /><br />I think Edward is different too, 'cause he's had a long time of being dead to adjust his mentality. Plus he's going to live forever, so he's got all the time in the world to become 'somebody'. heheTrishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16927558937796802496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-74098013950768550662011-09-15T18:38:44.904-06:002011-09-15T18:38:44.904-06:00Well, I'm a woman and don't have any empir...Well, I'm a woman and don't have any empirical data to either support or dispute you. So, I will settle for giving you my opinion, which is: I really agree with your assessment. And, I'll use this as a good reference tool when going back through my MS ...<br /><br />Another great post!<br /><br />Best;<br />PMTPM Taylorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08103936210580390256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-22599115044815003472011-09-15T18:29:22.747-06:002011-09-15T18:29:22.747-06:00In some places it feels like it can't be that ...In some places it feels like it can't be that easy, but maybe it is...really. I'm chewing on this.Kimberly Kayehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17444687247465657926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-5623500106161938222011-09-15T18:01:15.616-06:002011-09-15T18:01:15.616-06:00I'll have to keep this in mind...I'll have to keep this in mind...Liz A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16531953467834426316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-19420585304904377922011-09-15T17:29:14.774-06:002011-09-15T17:29:14.774-06:00So on the entering politics part, Andrew Leon abov...So on the entering politics part, Andrew Leon above said just what I wanted to because we both read the same study. The findings really ring true for me.<br />I see a lot of truth in your argument that men want to be somebody. And since I fence men regularly (epee) I can testify that they sure as hell want to win.<br />But I disagree that men only want to read about men, or at least watch other men. Certainly TV series like Alias (strong, gorgeous, kick-ass woman who can do it all) had audiences that were mostly made up of men. On the other hand, I'm no expert in the area of sci-fi or fantasy novels with strong women, but maybe they also have a lot of male readers. Maybe someone can answer that?<br />What I've found disturbing about SOME women (NOT ALL!) is that instead of wanting to be somebody, they go for the big, beautiful house and/or the kids they can show off. Becoming somebody on their own or achieving something truly great doesn't even occur to them.Helenahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967821142796562697noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-67780833429620137572011-09-15T17:26:36.775-06:002011-09-15T17:26:36.775-06:00I find this intriguing. I write male POV in some o...I find this intriguing. I write male POV in some of my adult high fantasy fiction and realize everything you wrote here applies to those characters. SO, I have a question. Why do you think The Hunger Games are so popular with boys? The lead is a girl. Just curious.Ciarahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15628488753277495111noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-86109925273637135042011-09-15T16:50:57.038-06:002011-09-15T16:50:57.038-06:00This is fascinating and makes so much sense lol. O...This is fascinating and makes so much sense lol. Of course, as you said, they are generalizations and I know several guys who love Twilight. But, as a starting point, this is awesome. Thanks so much!Miho Lihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06252611289037745469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-85313099280485856942011-09-15T16:00:08.173-06:002011-09-15T16:00:08.173-06:00This post is amazing! Because you keep on the one...This post is amazing! Because you keep on the one point and show how it relates to all things male. Having just completed 20 years of marriage to a member of the male species, I say you're dead on. I think I understood this "being someone" thing innately, but I could never have described it so well. I HOPE this is reflected in my male characters and will certainly make sure it is going forward. Thank you, Professor Offutt!Nicki Elsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11412032684225126973noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-42191676234276227472011-09-15T15:21:45.701-06:002011-09-15T15:21:45.701-06:00Interesting you should bring this up. There was a ...Interesting you should bring this up. There was a study done recently about men and women in politics, and the results were that, yes, men enter politics to "be someone." To be important. It's the base cause of so many men in politics being involved in sexual scandals. <br /><br />On the other hand, women enter politics to "fix things." <br /><br />Men only fix things (from a political standpoint) because they are required to to be in politics. <br />Women only enter politics so that they can fix something they perceive as broken and can't fix without entering politics.Andrew Leonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13964775673414653644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2495499100279472520.post-41904089730655517742011-09-15T12:52:53.550-06:002011-09-15T12:52:53.550-06:00I love the debates you started with this post! I&#...I love the debates you started with this post! I've read some of your comments on this subject before on other blogs, so some of them didn't surprise me, and I'd already reflected on them. <br /><br />I love writing male pov. They come off more powerful, well... like they are somebody. My female pov are tiny in comparison, even the kicka ones. I can't build them high enough. Always my beta readers will say, I like his pov better than hers. Now I know why.<br /><br />And I think the most beautiful thing about being a writer is how we take the time to analyse our characters like this and how people, be it men or women, see the world. We can be real philosophers, no?<br /><br />Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, and keep them coming.Tanya Reimerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00293977395016853814noreply@blogger.com