Round
Robin Blog Hop. August 22, 2015
Today Topic: Do you feel certain genres stereotype men and
women? Why do you think that happens?
How do you prevent it in your writing?
Fact:
Certain genres are looked down upon.
Comics, mysteries, and speculative fiction are all derided as formulaic,
escapist, and without literary worth. However, based on my affiliation with RWA
for over two decades, I think, romance suffers the worst of this stigma. People who read romance aren't just reading
worthless escapist fantasies, they are doing it because they are women who
couldn't get a man -- cat ladies who would rather live in books than in the
real world, and who possibly can't tell fact from fiction. I’ve heard it
all. (It makes no difference that I’ve
garnered numerous literary awards, was nominated for the National Book Award
and Frankfurt eBook award). I hear the
same disparaging remarks. With this
genre, I often meet people who don't just judge the books -- they judge the
reader, and the author too.
It
is often argued, “Romance novels are feminist documents. They're written almost
exclusively by women, for women, and are concerned with women: their relations
in family, love and marriage, their place in society and the world, and their
dreams for the future." Are these
topics not relevant to society as a whole?
Is the continuation of the family unit (past and present interpretation)
not beneficial to men and children alike? Or, is the real reason for the stigma
NOT because of the genre itself--but because the this very successful genre is
dominated by women?
Do
I feel certain genres stereotype mem and woman?
Is it stereotyping, or simply writing to the needs of the reader? If a reader picked up an Inspirational
Romance/Suspense, etc. The reader is looking
for a different experience (at that particular moment) than someone who is
shopping for story set in heat of “Desert Storm”.
Why
do I think stereotyping happens? Not
digging deep enough when ‘casting characters’ or developing a scene is often
the reason. However, the writer may have
developed a particular style, and therefore, a reader base who demand this ‘experience’
(author’s voice). This is why I, as well
as other authors, will chose a pseudonym.
Why? Because if one reader base with a preference for ‘action and witty
banter’ does not say, “What the heck?” when she thumbs though one of my ‘I’
books (first person, told from the hero/heroine’s point of view) which tend to
be more introspective.
How
do I prevent stereotyping in my writing?
DO
THE OPPOSITE
When
you are doing your “casting call” for secondary characters, or create a
situation, don’t be lazy. What will your
character look like? Why not have a
serial killer go out in the morning, instead in of the during the night? Who said a serial killer must be male? Or a bodyguard tall and muscular?
SELECT
UNIQUE WORDS AND PHRASES
Try
using different adjectives instead of the first ones that pop into your head.
By juxtaposing new combinations, you can create a unique voice. A person who
grew up in the suburbs of Southern California of the 1980s will have a
completely different speech pattern, list of buzzwords, and manner of dress
than an individual who was raised by an Aunt in a blended family in a gritty
northeastern city.
WRITE
STRONG WOMEN. WRITE STRONG MEN.
The
femme fatale is a standard character in crime and noir fiction, but put a twist
on it. Strong women need strong men.
Strong men need strong women.
Make your characters evenly matched.
CHALLENGE
CONVENTIONS
Remember,
it is your story, your voice. Your story
whatever you want it to be. Look at the
genres you write or plan to write. Then
find a way to twist, update, or mix-up that genre to make it your own. Build on the mythology, fairy tales and fables
you know, and make them contemporary and new.
BE
REALISTIC
Clichés
and stereotypes happen when an author is being unrealistic about character portrayal.
Emotions, situations, goals must be gained by observing life in the real
world. Life is not reality T.V. or a
soap opera. Life can be boring—but show
some day-to-day action anyway. People
have families, meals to cook, a job to pay the bills. Reveal bits of character
build emotion and tension pull your readers into your story.
Sprinkle
in what you know in your story. Your
heroine can share your hobby-- be it your love of fly-fishing; or your lack of
skill in walking a straight line while wear kitten heels. Look at the world and
use it to enhance your story.
I
hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s topic.
Stop
by the other members of this month’s Round Robin Blog Hop to see what they’d
written.
Happy
Reading,
Connie
Beverley Bateman http://beverleybateman.blogspot.ca/
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Marci Baun http://marcibaun.com/blog/
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Skye Taylor http://skye-writer.com/blogging_at_the_beach
Heidi M. Thomas https://heidiwriter.wordpress.com/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Helena Fairfax http://helenafairfax.com/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/
Diane Bator http://dbator.blogspot.ca/
Marci Baun http://marcibaun.com/blog/
Connie Vines http://connievines.blogspot.com/
Rachael Kosinski http://rachaelkosinski.weebly.com/
Anne Stenhouse http://annestenhousenovelist.wordpress.com/
Skye Taylor http://skye-writer.com/blogging_at_the_beach
Heidi M. Thomas https://heidiwriter.wordpress.com/
Fiona McGier http://www.fionamcgier.com/
Helena Fairfax http://helenafairfax.com/
Rhobin Courtright http://www.rhobinleecourtright.com/
