This sounds dumb, but is true: As a kid, I grew up with a lot of violence. Men, in my family, school, but also on the street, were either utterly angry or utterly indifferent at all time. [...]
Due to this, I didn't really socialize with guys till I was an adult. And while I do know some "opposite examples" now, this shit is still bleeding in my writing. Like, I've been writing a script with around 5 main male characters. In general I treated them like every other character: Character, motivations etc. However, now a Beta-Reader informed me that they all sound needlessly aggressive. Like: Rude, cold and/or indifferent.
Very strong in contrast to the female characters, who are very "normal", including empathy, kindness and "often sounding like the last wall between a full out massacre sometimes".
Now, obviously I don't want that. I live for four-dimensional characters. But looking through my other stories, I can def see a pattern: Men (if not the LI) are often villains. There are grumpy old men, shitty fathers, sociopathic Mafia bosses etc. "Positive" examples, are mostly just variations of 1.) My cousin (very nice, extroverted guy) and 2.) character-types I picked from other stories (e.g. "old man who is too invested in his grandson's love life")
Any advice? Cause at this rate, I'll paint a very, very bad picture and I hate it
"How can I make myself not hate men? I know! I'll talk to some Redditors!"
🤝
Ever notice how their go to examples are never books?
OP:
You will NOT have a man who protects you. You WILL comfort your boyfriend when he comes home crying after work.
Women be reading romance. That's basically the same as me edging in my goon cave for four hours every night.
If you wanted to, you could write the men as "normal" people, too. As people first, men second.
Novice writers when you explain to them that the opposite s*x are people
Trust your instincts, sister
Five years of therapy didn't work? Better give it another five years.
Is this... the ick?
I AM NOT CRAZY!
Without actually reading her work I can't evaluate it or try to psychoanalyze her.
What I can tell you is that Redditors are the last people you should ask about masculinity. Redditors are hardcore feminists to the exact extent that they believe feminism strips them of masculine responsibility. Once we get rid of toxic masculinity, women will finally throw themselves at timid scrawny nerds who cry once a week... Right?
It seems to me like the obvious advice is to portray male aggression honestly, while showing the neutral or positive ways it can be channeled. The Redditors instead are telling her to feminize her male characters, watch children's cartoons, and get (another five years of) therapy, sweaty.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Say the basedest things imaginable about foids and strags; but put them all in your antihero or villain so that you have reasonable deniability![:marseyhappytears: :marseyhappytears:](/e/marseyhappytears.webp)
Don't forget to turn off signatures in settings!
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
Maybe I'd say, "Think of a woman, except nobody will notice or care if you're sad and nobody will give you any sympathy if you fail"
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
Idk don't fail?
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
yeah
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
Jump in the discussion.
No email address required.
More options
Context
More options
Context
More options
Context