  Fantasy
This week: Switching Genders Edited by: Satuawany  
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In this week's For Authors newsletter, "Changing Roles" , I went over an exercise my high school theater teacher sprang on us. It's something I use for putting the finishing touches on well defined characters.
This is a spin-off of that idea (which I'll summarize below), and though it can be a great exercise for any genre, I find my fantasy characters tend to need it the most.
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As I said above, this week's Fantasy newsletter is a spin-off of this week's For Authors newsletter. The For Authors newsletter outlines my adventures in my high school's One Act Play. Specifically, I rambled about a play rehearsal in which we switched roles and went through scenes. It was a way of catching characterization holes and showing details to the director she might never have thought of otherwise. In the newsletter, I opined about how great an exercise it is for characters in fiction.
In that newsletter, I made a whole Letter from the Editor about it. Here, I summarize it in a paragraph. That probably says more than I'd like it to.
{e:looks around to see if anyone caught that}
First step, Mom (my high school theater teacher) had us switch roles and go through scenes once we reached the point of knowing said roles so well it became rote. When we got comfortable with that exercise, she surprised that cast of Anne of the Thousand Days with another switch-up.
She called for a scene between Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII and cast one of our male actors as Anne, one of our females as Henry. Caught in such odd roles, our actors exaggerated the tones and mannerisms of the usual actors. Weird things can pop out that can make you rethink your characters.
That's useful in any writing, seeing your characters in a new light. It can be a good form of stress relief, too, to imagine your swarthy male warrior in a poofy dress and simpering over some lord's witticisms. The most useful application of this kind of exercise, I've found, is utilizing it on something of an archetype in action, adventure, and fantasy genres: the swarthy female warrior.
While I applaud the tough-as-nails females, they often border the line of caricature. Sometimes, they even cross the border. The role of the swarthy female warrior is less and less "thinking outside the box" and more "pressed up against the outside of the box." There are two role-switching exercises that can really help her out.
First, try imagining her in a male warrior's role. While the archetype female warrior often decries the wearing of dresses, even when society dictates, would she decry the formal dress of a man? Why or why not? If she does, in what ways does she complain? Does a woman like her complain about it differently than her male counterpart?
How do your male characters behave when in the company of only males? Now have her take one of their places. Does she get louder or more boisterous just to prove she belongs there? The answer changes, depending on your character; I do understand that. I'm not asking you to infer what my answer may be, but what the answer is for your character and use that to bold her edges.
Next, take a specific scene, one in which she is very strong. Put a man in her place, saying her lines, going through her actions. Does imagining it that way make any of her lines or actions absurd? Exaggerated? Why or why not?
Furthermore, if making those substitutions makes no difference, what does that say about your characterization? Hey, if that's true and that's exactly how you want it, it's nice to have further validation. Revising characters based on these characters is great, but finding out they don't need revision is just as useful.
While I find it most useful to use this tactic on female warriors, using this suggestion has shown me surprising things about my characterizations again and again. Taking my female inn owner and putting her in the mercenary training camp has taught me which tactics went against common sense. Coaxing my male lead into taking a "girls' night out" with the female cast showed me a side of him I think might have better been hidden.
All news is good news, when it brings your characters more depth. Or maybe I'm just addicted to the giddiness that comes over me when I see my characters forced out of their comfort zones. Makes me feel like they might be able to sympathize with me someday.
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The one item I got in when I asked for stories with a switch in traditional gender roles:
| |  | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1813596 by Not Available. |
A twist on the excersize, but a good way to practice:
See how you do in this one:
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1817635 by Not Available. |
Think about it, fantasy erotica writers:
I wish I were going to be in town this December, just so I could enter this one:
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1789382 by Not Available. |
Put this one in your favorites for when the next round opens:
| | | Invalid Item
This item number is not valid.
#1782631 by Not Available. |
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Comments submitted to my previous newsletter, "Does God Exist?" . Someone even replied to the title!
spokenword writes:
Let people believe in whatever they like to believe: as long as they keep their beliefs to themselves and people who happen to believe in what they believe, then why start an unwanted quarrel in the first place? Atheists go for logic, evolution, it whatever interests them; Christians: Jesus Christ; Jews: Moses and Abraham; Muslims: Allah; Hindus: Ganeesha, Vishnu, Krishna, and seven others. Let them be what they are, and remotely respect their beliefs and so will they also.
A good stand to consider when writing up a creation myth. Often, the characters readers most sympathize with have a similar view, but it's still useful to consider the whole of your world, including those who steadfastly believe one way or another.
Roy Hills  writes:
I really like this! I just wish I could find a book where the author isn't afraid to speak out about their religion. Hey, do you know any like that? I've been making a story like that.
Depends on what you mean. From what I know, there are many books where authors inject their own spiritual views, but I'm not versed on authors' beliefs. Therefore I'm not sure what books line up with their authors' religious views. Well, aside from the nonfiction books you'd find in the "Religious" aisle. 
bertiebrite hoping for peace writes:
Hi, I copied this whole article and will use these directions in building a cooperative world with other members here. This is just what I needed. Thanks.
Outstanding! I wish you the best of luck and hope this continues to be useful to you and your comrades!
mr.sincerety writes:
No comment.
{e:arches brow} This just may be my favorite comment.
Light writes:
Creation myths are a subject I have addressed. But, I haven't approached it from the typical point of view. The item that I have highlighted in this reply is a folder of static items--a prologue and six chapters. It isn't ready for publishing, but it is a story that takes place in an alternative universe. Its physics were challenging.
Oh, very cool! I haven't had a chance to read it in-depth, but I thank you for contributing. Since this item doesn't quite fit the theme of this week's newsletter, I'm including the link here, because I do want people to see it.
BIG BAD WOLF is Howling  writes:
A universe can be created by one person, and others can add to it. For instance, Felarya is a world that was created by a guy named Karbo on Deviant Art, but others make characters and stories that take place there.
That might interest some of our readers, so I'll include the link. Thanks!
atwhatcost writes:
Creation "myth" for my fantasy world? The characters are Abearicans, so most believe Rose Michtom created the first teddy's bear. The more mature, worldly Abearicans understand Margarete Steiff created the first stuffed bear though. Then there are the few who agree with the English start - creation because the Royals "prefer our Teddy bare." (Sorry. Teddy bear humor.)
Humor's good, especially when it's relevant. Thanks for this.
Leila writes:
There is already an author that created a civilization without any kind of religion: Robert Sawyer. The Neanderthal civilization in the Neanderthal Parallax Series has no religion.
Oh, wow, thank you for this! I hadn't heard of it, but I'll be looking it up as soon as I can. Fascinating!
thebigchin11 writes:
The answer is 'no' can we all please move on?
Robert Sawyer, is that you?
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Fantasy: November 15, 2011 Issue [#4724]
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