Comments on: Turning Xs into Ys: Guy Talk that Works

By: Sal Marino

Sal Marino — Sat, 17 May 2008 03:19:51 +0000

In my book, Guy Talk, Girl Talk there is no doubt about the gender of the characters, with the exception of one chapter which outlines an experience with a transitional individual. I wonder what the Genie would have done there? Other than that, I don’t believe there is any question. The book is far too macho for doubt…

By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:51:14 +0000

It is kinda funny, isn’t it, Eric? But twenty minutes inside your head and I wouldn’t have these issues. ;)

Congrats, LJ, for the success on capturing the “male essence” in your dialogue!

Seek out teenage boys to eavesdrop on. Thanks, Thea. But I think all the seats near the hole in the girls’ locker room wall are already taken. Ha.

Hubby’s reading my stuff, too, Georgie, but he’s never put up a red flag. One thing that helped me see what critique buddy saw was reading the dialogue out loud. The hero sounded cardboard stock.

Thanks, Ray! I thought we were due for a craft post.

By: Georgie Lee

Georgie Lee — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 02:53:05 +0000

I always have my husband read my work and he’s good about telling me when I’ve made a man sound like a woman. I enjoyed playing with the generator and I learned my writing quickly betrays my gender.

By: Ray Rhamey

Ray Rhamey — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:19:21 +0000

Now THIS is a useful post! Not only was your experience fun to read, I learned a lot. I’ll be trying it out on one of my wips in which the primary protagonist is female.

Thanks,

Ray

By: Eric

Eric — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 18:23:56 +0000

This is all so funny. :)

I hope I don’t have problems with my female characters.

By: theamcginnis

theamcginnis — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 17:23:28 +0000

great blog! i have found initiating discussions with teenage boys to have greatly helped my ability to ‘alpha up’ the manly dialogue. eavesdropping on male conversations or observing interactions among men while watching sports is also helpful. i think its easier to understand them, then to get them to understand you!!!

By: Kathleen Bolton

Kathleen Bolton — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:50:01 +0000

WoW! Now I’m curious about my dialogue. I’m going to give it a whirl.

Love the Constanza pix…that reminds me of the Kramer’s Bro (a bra for guys). Talk about gender ambiguity! :-0

By: LJCohen

LJCohen — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 13:47:15 +0000

Thank you for the discussion and the link. I describe my experience with the genie in a blog post here:

http://ljcbluemuse.blogspot.com/2007/10/pov-gender-and-voice.html

It was interesting because I am currently writing a novel that alternates POV b/w a man and a woman. The genie got it right 8 out of 8 tries when I ran 4 scenes from each POV through it.

At least I have 2 distinct voices. :)

By: Therese Walsh

Therese Walsh — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:56:44 +0000

Hi, Nonny. Points taken. My hero is half-British and definitely leans beta; and he still does, after his dialogue makeover. There's a whole page of complaints about the genie on BookBlog's site HERE. But I think this approach has worked for me, fwiw.

By: Nonny

Nonny — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 12:44:53 +0000

I wouldn’t place a lot of stock in that generator. I put several stories through that a while back, and the damn thing consistently told me I had a dick. *glances down* Nope, still haven’t sprouted one.

As for whether or not your character sounds like a guy, your best bet is to find a couple of male writers and ask their opinion. Also keep in mind there’s pretty wide spectrum; a “beta” male isn’t going to be as stereotypical in communication and mannerism as your normal “alpha.”