Books and Authors: Do you think it’s weird for a girl to write in a boy’s point of view?

Question

It just seems to me that almost all girls write in a female’s point of view. But I can’t write in a girl’s point of view to save my life, and I am a girl.

Answer 1

Yeah, same as Damon. I'm actually better at writing from the male pov. I find it hard to write from the female perspective because I think more like a man in a lot of ways. I put practicality above anything else. I don't over dramatize things in the sense that so many authors make their heroines either and I'm certainly not overly sentimental or "mushy" in terms of emotions so I couldn't write those types of scenes in a novel. I also can't relate to a lot of womens hobbies.



I hate shopping, especially clothes shopping, I don't paint my nails, I do wear makeup and do my hair each day but I don't take any longer than necessary. I've never fussed over something to wear, I place comfort over appearance unless I'm forced to attend some formal event and have to wear thongs to hide the lines under my skirt/dress..etc. So I don't really get the high maintenance women these days.

Answer 2

No it's not weird at all. It depends on the story. Personally I am female and most of my main characters are females. That's because I find it difficult to imagine what might go through a man's head. I do it occasionally, but I do find it challenging and I have only attempted it in a first person narrative once (couldn't tell you whether I succeeded, I was 14 back then and I've lost the manuscript o I can't go back and find out)



Actually kind of funny story, but I'm currently reading I am Number Four (not a great book but eh) which is a first person narrative of a 15 year old boy and when he meets his love interest he keeps talking about how she's the most beautiful girl he's ever seen and he couldn't believe he got to be with her. I asked my husband if that was something a boy might think (the author is using a pen name and fake identity so I have no idea if it's a male or female). He said it is exactly what he used to think when he was 15-18 and had a crush on a girl.I was kind of "uh" about it. I never imagined a boy might be thinking like this.

Answer 3

Heck to the naw! (I've always wanted to say that XD)



Harry Potter is pretty much in Harry's POV, even if it IS in third person. There's nothing weird about it, some people are just better at writing some things. I've always been closer to guys, so writing ina guys POV comes naturally to me since I know how they think and have similar thoughts to theirs (with-in reason, I don't look at girls and such) But, I write in a female POV because... i don't actually know, I guess I like writing about tomboyish girls so it makes me feel like I'm not the only one? Oh lord, that sounded Mary-sue, and I'm getting off topic. but no, you're perfectly fine

Answer 4

Harry Potter, The Outsiders, and many, many more book were written by women in a male point of view. If that is the style that speaks to you and you are able to do well than you should write that way instead of trying to fill the stereotypes and norms of our society.

Answer 5

Pffft, who says that all girls think in the stereotypical female way? Not all girls think about make-up, shopping, guys, gossip or fashion. As a matter of fact, it gives the story more flavor when you have a female character that thinks differently than how you see a lot of female protagonists think.



Just write what you know. Readers won't really care about the point of view anyway.

Answer 6

No. Thousands of female writers write from the point of view of male characters. It's perfectly normal.

Answer 7

Of course not. If you can imagine it from a boy's point of view, you can write it. If you only wrote from a girl's point of view, your options would be seriously limited. I've read books by male authors who wrote from a girl's point of view, and I've read books by female authors who wrote from a boy's point of view. I've never considered that weird :D

Answer 8

No, it's fine. I'm female and I can hardly write from the female POV. When I do write she comes out sounding like a tomboy. I guess the main thing you have to do is tap into your inner boy and try not to screw it up. Little things can scream loudly.

Answer 9

Not at all. It'll be a challenge trying to portray the world from a guy's point of view but I think the finished thing will be something to treasure..

Answer 10

I don't think it's either weird or unusual. But then I write fanfic in a couple of fandoms where almost all the characters are male and almost all the writers are female.

Answer 11

I am the exact same as you.



However, for the story I am planning currently, it wouldn't work if my main character was a guy.



Sooo...



I guess I'm going to have to try writing as a girl again :P

Answer 12

I think that different POVs are great to read although they sometimes might not be as accurate, they are still great reads

Answer 13

I don't think it's weird. It worked for J K Rowling. If that's what the story needs, go for it.

Answer 14

No. I mean, Harry Potter was written by a girl.

Answer 15

The story will prob be more interesting if you did it in a guys pov

Answer 16

I prefer male POVs.

Answer 17

Nope, you should try guy though because not alot of people do it.