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Observation is key, I feel, to creating a character of the opposite gender (or for that matter any different demographic than oneself). Social media helps with that a lot because it enables us to be privy to real life conversations.

The story sounds intriguing.

posted by FormerStudentIntern on September 9, 2018 at 4:02 PM | link to this | reply

How fun.  It sounds like something worth following along.   I'm on a James Michener jag.  I never get tired of his stories.  I've got two more coming from Amazon.

posted by TAPS. on September 9, 2018 at 11:33 AM | link to this | reply

Pat

It does sound like your story and characters are developing and yes, I agree, it IS more fun than 24/7 news and politics.

posted by Sea_Gypsy on September 9, 2018 at 11:00 AM | link to this | reply

I am sure you will make good with this, it is interesting when the characters  are actually the ones from whom one can work to build a framework. Good luck

posted by C_C_T on September 9, 2018 at 10:18 AM | link to this | reply

Re: Ciel -- Gender "blindness"

You've hit the nail on the head with this one.  I remember one specific female character drawn by a male writer that could only have been one of his porn fantasies. It's been years ago, I don't remember the book or author, but I do remember throwing the book at the wall in disbelief.    

posted by Pat_B on September 9, 2018 at 8:47 AM | link to this | reply

 Lord of the Rings Online is one of those 'massive multi-player' games where players actually interact, and we also create our own characters. Gender is one thing we can choose, and I know this one guy in particular who occasionally creates a female character. As role-playing is also a popular option in this game, he role-plays as a woman. He likes to be sneaky, not letting the other players know who is behind his female face and form.

But we always know, because he always presents females as what he thinks females are, expressing his idea of what women think and want. He is also one of those divorced men who never saw it coming, never realized his wife was that unhappy with him, let alone why. His characters are snarky, demanding, hiding behind a 'nice' mask. They make a game of embarrassing everyone they interact with, pretending innocence of malice. All of this is his idea of a liberated woman.

As a woman player who occasionally creates a male character, and as a writer, I have come to wonder how my expectations of what a man is, like that other player, are betrayed by how I make and play them. What perceptual filters do I have that shape my notions of male intent and behavior? The problem with gender-blindness is that one is blind to it. The player I've described has no idea how wrong he is about women.

 

posted by Ciel on September 9, 2018 at 5:51 AM | link to this | reply