I had a very nice time in Seattle on Saturday, teaching a few dozen writers all about using the internet to market their books. I got home late Saturday night full of caffeine, and with my nerves buzzing after listening to loud music for three hours (a great way to stay awake while driving late at night).
While I was gone, a couple more ladies posted snippets from their male POV scenes. I’ll look at those now and see how they stack up to the typical Manly Guy:
Tami posted this example:
“Abbie, come look. This is really –,” her scream cut him off. He spun around in time to see her back away from the door. He jumped onto the deck. “Are you alright? What happened?”
She pointed to the back door window. Inside was a kitchen that would have been outdated for his grandmother. The ancient stove door hung to the floor and the refrigerator wasn’t much more than an icebox.
A bit of a mess, but Abbie’s reaction had him expecting to see Hannibal Lecter having a snack in the kitchen. He saw something move. “Geez, it’s huge. I’ve never seen a rat that big.” The foul creature paused from rummaging through a pile of trash heaped in the corner. “It’s probably just looking for something to eat.” Ryan looked at Abbie’s pale face. “Don’t panic. I’ll kill it as soon as we get the key.”
“I’m not going in there.” Abbie’s cinnamon brown hair brushed her shoulders as she shook her head.
“Don’t freak on me. I said I’d kill it.” Why did women always over react to rodents? “But then again, it could be one of my relatives.”
“Ryan! That’s awful.”
“Hey, my old man was a rat, so why not a few more in the family?”
The old man. When had he started thinking of his father in those terms? When they were young he and Matt had called him Papa.
Randy sez: The first issue that caught my eye was the “cinnamon brown hair.” I firmly believe that Manly Guys only know eleven colors: red, blue, yellow, green, orange, purple, black, brown, grey, white, and pink. Women seem to know an infinite number of colors, such as mauve, taupe, beige, rust, aqua, lavender, and cinnamon. All of these are “unmanly” colors. No Manly Guy would ever allow these colors to pass his lips. Many Manly Guys would not even know what these colors are.
Back to that “cinnamon brown hair.” You might say that her hair is the color of his grannie’s cinnamon rolls, but that is the closest you will ever get to having a Manly Guy use the word “cinnamon” in any color-related context.
The second issue I see here is that we’re in the middle of an action scene, which will hopefully culminate in the death of a rat — possibly using an exploding helicopter, or better, an exploding 747. However Mr. Rat meets his demise, one thing is certain: there must be no introspection about Dear Old Dad during this action scene. Manly Guys simply don’t think like that. When a Manly Guy sets his mind on a target, everything else vanishes from thought until the mission is accomplished.
Donna mentioned that women multitask. Manly Guys don’t. Manly Guys focus on one single task.
Karla suggested that Manly Guys think about only 4 things: Food. Sex. Blow things up. Sleep. There is quite a lot of truth to this, although I question whether “sleep” really belongs on the list. Mark noted that “football” was missing, and he echoes my thoughts exactly, although some Manly Guys prefer other (less manly) sports. In any event, when a Manly Guy sets his mind on any of these Four Thought Groups, introspection goes out the window.
Becky posted this snippet:
Maybe this was the weapon that spewed darkness over him when he wallowed helplessly in the marsh.
He wanted to believe so, wanted to ask the Abonah to confirm his suspicions that the Stone of Surrender could cause the fear he had known, the lure that pulled him toward the shadow, toward the seductress, but those questions would reveal more to his friends than he was willing to tell. As long as it was up to him, he would never discuss what happened in the swamp. The only others who had been there were the shadow creature that he hoped he would never see again and Paloh who was dead.
Randy sez: The Manly Guy does not ever think that he wallowed helplessly in the marsh or anything else. The Manly Guy never wallows. He may fight, struggle, kick, bite, slash, churn, or battle, but he never wallows. Wallowing is for wussies, and the Manly Guy is not a wussy.
Likewise, the Manly Guy would never describe himself as helpless. He may be defeated by bad luck, or by a better-armed foe. He may be down for a time, while he awaits the opportune moment. But the Manly Guy is not helpless. Ever.
Finally, the Manly Guy does not use the term “seductress.” This word implies that the Manly Guy could be persuaded to do anything against his will, which no Manly Guy would ever admit. There are two kinds of Manly Guys. One will cheerfully seduce the lady; she has no power to seduce him because he’s three steps ahead of her. The other kind of Manly Guy has manly willpower and could not possibly be seduced by a woman. If this sort of Manly Guy DOES succumb to temptation, he would never admit that the lady seduced him. Instead, he would blame himself — his Manly sex drive simply got the best of him (which is an implicit statement that he is way too virile for his own good). The Manly Guy can turn any negative into a positive.
Ladies, you need to remember that the Manly Guy has an ego that won’t quit. He always thinks of himself in positive terms. Even when he botches things terribly, he phrases his defeat in Manly terms that make it clear that he was put in an impossible situation and anyway he was off his game that day. The Manly Guy firmly believes that he could have been an Olympic champion (if it weren’t for that trick knee, caused by an old football injury when the entire opposing team piled on him). The Manly Guy firmlly believes that he could have had a Nobel prize if he’d felt like it, but he just wasn’t INTERESTED in any of those things. The Manly Guy is dead certain that Julia Roberts or Angelina Jolie or Keira Knightley would fall for him in a heartbeat, if only he could get introduced.
Ladies, you may think that guys are suffering from a delusional disorder. This may be true of Wimpy Guys, but the Manly Guy knows that he himself is a bitter realist, seeing only that which truly is.
Randy, Thanks for the critique. It’s a great help. I’ll work harder on making my guy more manly, but when can he be introspective, and just how far can it go? I know he has to blow up the rat first, probably taking out half of the kitchen in the process, but manly guys also have soft feelings. When can they show? Also, how do you show a guys softer side?
I am just *loving* this ‘Manly Guy’ commentary.
Chuckled my way through the whole blog post.
Oh, and I’m sure it will be helpful for my male characters, too. Note to self: Manly Guys are Always Right. But only about One Primary Coloured Thing at a time.
Seriously, these pointers are GREAT.
I agree, this has been very interesting and thought provoking. But I also am curious about the more insecure and softer sides of the manly man, especially in their actual thoughts. Surely they do at times think that way, so how can we portray that without making them seem wussy or worse?
I’m loving this too! I have a mental list of manly and wussy verbs started.
I quite agree with the colors. Back in college a prof was writing directions to his new office and asked me what color the building was. I said “beige”. He said, “That’s a lady’s word!” I rolled my eyes and said “tan”. He pounced on that. (Oops jumped on, seized, commandeered 🙂 )
I have a question, or maybe it’s an observation. But isn’t it true that in romance novels the guys think more like women and that’s why (some) women like reading them so much and wishing her man was that way? (I don’t read romance novels very often and if I do they are Christian ones and the Christian romeo is usually a stellar fellow who of course would never think about sex and blowing things up. Food is OK. Football, too.)
Having said that, it’s probably been about ten or fifteen years since I read a true romance novel. Usually I read historical or mystery or adventure fiction. Maybe there is no such thing as a true romance novel anymore.
And I don’t know, maybe you’re really hyper Randy, but all the men in my life love sleep (as in taking naps). Maybe they do it just to get out of chores. 😉 I will admit, though, they have no problem staying up late and watching movies or playing video games. (Which would probably explain why they take naps, eh?) I guess I answered my own thoughts on that one! 😀
I have to tell ya, this post made me laugh, especially the line about Angelina Jolie.
Always the conquering hero, no matter what the situation or topic.
Randy, you have just described my youngest son (now aged 25). Except for the introspection thing. He can go on a ‘manly introspection’ for hours, if someone will listen, which usually involves most of the points you mentioned above, the chief theme being that he really could have if he wanted to, and it was due to circumstances beyond his control.
You are right about guys not thinking about sleep. Hubby doesn’t think about it, he just does it. Except when he has to get up. Then he thinks about it — does it — thinks about it — does it — It was for him that they invented the snooze button!
Man, that was a hilarious post Randy! I think I’m really starting to understand my hubby better…lol!
Ok, so if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, then a manly man would never stop to think about anything “sad” while they are focused on one of those other areas? Goal oriented – got that! So, if my MC’s wife was just murdered by the evil wizard Gorkon, then he will not stop to “mull” it over, instead he will immediately go after the evil wizard to blow him up, behead him, or whatever. Right?
So does that mean that AFTER the evil wizard is killed, he will finally take a moment to think about his wife’s death?
did I mention how much this is helping me. I think i did a good job making a manly MC, but there are still several areas that need work. I have him thinking about things a lot on his journey, but now I realize that he doesn’t have time for all that “thinking” and is focused ONLY on reaching his goal.
Got to go start hacking those out of my novel. I really do want any men who might one day read this thing, to think of my MC as a manly man.
Next time, I really need to bribe my muse into letting me write a female MC.
Man, that was a hilarious post Randy! I think I’m really starting to understand my hubby better…lol!
Ok, so if you’re saying what I think you’re saying, then a manly man would never stop to think about anything “sad” while they are focused on one of those other areas? Goal oriented – got that! So, if my MC’s wife was just murdered by the evil wizard Gorkon, then he will not stop to “mull” it over, instead he will immediately go after the evil wizard to blow him up, behead him, or whatever. Right?
So does that mean that AFTER the evil wizard is killed, he will finally take a moment to think about his wife’s death?
did I mention how much this is helping me. I think i did a good job making a manly MC, but there are still several areas that need work. I have him thinking about things a lot on his journey, but now I realize that he doesn’t have time for all that “thinking” and is focused ONLY on reaching his goal.
Got to go start hacking those out of my novel. I really do want any men who might one day read this thing, to think of my MC as a manly man.
Next time, I really need to bribe my muse into letting me write a female MC.
Randy, I am loving this – educational and incredibly entertaining. Ever think of writing a book/let about how women should write men? Something tells me it’d sell like hotcakes.
Thanks, Randy. It is soooo helpful to hear a writer guy’s perspective on this.
My question about the Manly Man’s ego is, how then does he ever acknowledge his sin/need of a Savior?
Becky
This has been a very informative discussion – thanks Randy, and all who have participated. I have one question to add to the mix. If a male POV character is an artist, is he permitted to think in more than 11 basic colors?
my short and simple idea is that those emotional moments for the manly guy are good if and only if he experiences a profound change at a profound moment, and even if this is in the beginning or middle of a book, he still wont act far from his basic Four Thoughts.
and after reading Rebecca’s comment if I am having the same Manly Guy in my head as Randy, he is no longer the stereotypical Manly Guy anmore but a Christian Guy who may be driven by simplistic thoughts, but fights to be real.
Randy—You crack me up! I think you nailed Manly Guy . . . a.k.a. Bond, James Bond.
One point of dispute: ULTIMATE Manly Guy thinks Purple and Pink and anything else like them are all Pink. And if you point out the difference to him, you’re either a woman or a wuss. This I know for a fact.
Tami—Manly Guy’s soft side, from personal observation: He displays his soft side when introduced to food, sex, and sleep. Some Guys who blow things up cry soundlessly or wet their pants afterward, so technically, that could be considered evidence of a soft side.
Here’s my entry into the Unmanly Man Hall of Fame:
Lawrence tipped his teacup to his lips. Too hot. He dabbed the corners of his mouth while his mind wandered to the buttercup fields of his youth where he and Mother would gallivant the meadows searching for just the right spot for a picnic. Oh, how he ached for those picnics again–the tiny crustless sandwiches, the petit-fours, the clanking of the china cup to its flowered saucer. He’d give his best suit to sit next to Mother again.
Caroline smoothed her dress and burped.
Lawrence gasped. “You can’t be serious, Caroline. That’s hardly ladylike behavior. I thought better of you, actually.”
The woman who’d soon be his bride slurped her tea, spat it back into the cup and grimaced. “You got any chew?”
Lawrence drew in a quick breath, then calmed himself. He picked at a hangnail. “Darling, whatever do you mean?”
“Chew, chaw, Copenhagen. Anything. I’m dying here.”
Lawrence looked around, his eyes wet with disappointment. “Would a pipe do?”
She smiled. She ransacked the tiny cottage, thrashing about. “Now! I need it now!”
Lawrence slunked off to the corner and shook.
“There it is.” She flicked the lighter on and off, on and off, her face like a macabre black and white movie. “Now I can blow this place up!” She ran over to Lawrence and kicked him square in the gut. “And if you’re smart, you’ll get out of here or you’ll be toast.”
The last thing Lawrence saw was his precious cottage engulfed in growling flames, his fiance’s cackle booming in his ears. Lawrence cried. Then cried some more.
How does a boy think differently from a man, or is there a difference? I mean, boys can be pretty sensitive right? At what age does boyish bravado change over to manly ego? Or are they the same thing?
Rebecca LuElla Miller, that’s a good question.
relevantgirl – all I can say is HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
Rebecca LuElla Miller, that’s a good question.
relevantgirl – all I can say is HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
I think the important thing to remember about men is that above all, we are problem-solvers. This is why we drive you women nuts in our marriages, when you’re pouring your heart out to us and asking us to empathize with your problems, and we’re telling you how to fix them in three easy steps.
Becky, I think we finally acknowledge the need for a savior when we realize there’s one problem we can’t fix by ourselves. So many men (myself included) resist for years, figuring we’ll try harder the next day to avoid sin, and then ultimately we fall into the same traps. It takes a while to get through a thick skull.
Mark — Good point. Some of us women have the same problem solving, quitcher cryin’, thick skulls. Our Savior knows what challenges each of us faces in taking up our cross daily for him: for some of us, male or female, it’s pesky independence — the ‘I must fix this myself’ mentality.
Mark, that’s perfect–just what I needed to hear. Thanks for being a problem solver! 😉
Becky
Mark, thank you for that answer. I need to write that down somewhere, so I’ll remember it.
Mark, thank you for that answer. I need to write that down somewhere, so I’ll remember it.