Pink Think: “It would have been easier to have a male protagonist, but I didn’t want people to assume that Nikki Hill was me in her entirety because a lot of people just don’t like me and I don’t think they would be interested in reading about me, even in the fictional context.” – Christopher Darden
My oldest recently had a bone to pick with me. She said, “How come you never write stories with a strong girl as lead protagonist?”
“I wrote about a princess in my last one,” I pointed out.
“Yes,” she conceded, “but other than that…?”
I opened my mouth to protest, then shut it. Coz she was probably right.
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Let’s see, some of the stories I have written in the last three years:
The Spanish Exile – historical novel – male protagonist
Ghost Moon Night – historical paranormal – male protagonist
Girl From Gurian – historical romance – female protagonist
Rosalie’s New Hobby – contemporary short story – female protagonist
Coconut Island – horror short story – male protagonist
Roadkill Grill – horror short story – male protagonist
Please Do Not Disturb – horror short story – male protagonist
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Reasons why I usually write stories with a boy as main character:
1. I can write autobiographically without being obvious.
2. I can write about emotional situations and my character can remain fairly stoic without coming across as cold.
3. I can put romance in and avoid getting too sappy.
4. I find it easier to write “funny” from a male point of view than a female’s.
5. I feel like I can write about darker and more disturbing subjects.
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To appease my daughter I told her I should write a story sometime soon with a female protagonist as lead. She said, “With manatees.”
“Female lead, check.” I said. “Manatees. Check.”
Hey, come to think of it, this summer, I had started a mermaid fantasy set in the Philippines. Maybe it is time for me to dust it off.
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To you fiction writers out there, do you find it easier or more fun to write from the POV of your gender or not?
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