Craft Chat: THE BOY VOICE

My current w-I-p is the only the second time I've used a male protagonist. (The first time was a (rightfully) never-published fantasy featuring an anthropomorphic tweenage rat-like character so, yeah.) The voice came to me quite clearly. It is supported daily by living in a house with three teenage boys (and their friends). Still, it is scary crossing the gender line. I feel like I need to use extra caution. I am deleting and changing more lines because they don't feel "boy" than I tend to do when I write girls. I feel a strong sense of obligation to do this correctly so that the final product doesn't feel like an abstract, non-gendered narrator but truly like a guy. (I won't cite any specific works here but I have read several novels in which I get this sense of "stock" character and not rich, specific masculine individual.)

Sometimes, when I feel extra terrified by the task upon which I have embarked, it is helpful to see that it can and has been done before. This Publisher's Weekly article has a list of adult titles of this type. Looking over my own reading list for examples, I invite you to read Kendare Blake's fantastic ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD, Megan Whalen Turner's THE THIEF, Melina Marichetta's THE PIPER'S SON, Philip Pullman's delightful Sally Lockhart mysteries and, of course, John Green's Hazel in THE FAULT IN OUR STARS for a start. This list of male protagonists from The Faculty Lounge includes a few other women who have risen to the gender challenge work (um, J K Rowling!). 

Have you tried writing across gender lines? Do you have another title to add to my reading list? Do you think this type of writing requires more care and, if so, what kind of care?

Thanks in advance for your advice!

Happy Book Birthday to THE THIRD LIE'S THE CHARM & PB Book Birthday to FALLING FOR YOU!

 

LOVE Lisa & Laura Roecker! LOVE The Liar Society!

This book is a MUST for my shelves!

 

 

Lisa Schroeder, an amazing, talented writer of poetry and prose,

has crafted a heart-wrenchingly poignant read about love and words

so, go get your paperback edition!

WHY I'M INSPIRED BY… @DessenSarah

 

There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying.

--Sarah Dessen, Just Listen p. 349

 

Last few hours to enter THE SOUND OF LETTING GO Goodreads

This is for a signed, annotated advance review copy (arc) of THE SOUND OF LETTING GO. Comes with a pack of TSoLG sticky notes and a signed postcard, too!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Sound of Letting Go

by Stasia Ward Kehoe

Giveaway ends December 01, 2013.
See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

Enter to win