"Girls Do What They Want, Boys Do What They Can!"

Good afternoon, fellow writers! Just to let you know, the title is a lyric from the song "Girls Do What They Want" by the Maine. Good song.

Before we move on to today's topic, let's begin with the word of the day. This week's is evanescent. I used to love the band, Evanescence, and I finally understand what their name means! Evanescent is an adjective meaning to vanish like vapor. It comes from the Latin verb "evanescere," which means "to evaporate" or "to vanish." Exciting, isn't it?

This week's topic is, not the writers, but the readers. I was reading something online awhile back about boys' and girls' preferences on what they want in a novel, the ages ranging around middle grade and early high school.

Here are a few interesting points I've discovered:

- Girls are more active readers than boys
- Girls prefer to read about girl protagonists (but will read about boy protagonists), but boys usually stick to strictly boy protagonists
- Both boys and girls want a character to root for and relate to, yet boys look for sarcastic characters with a sense of humor, while girls prefer a smart, reliable protagonist.
- Girls want a character who has to surpass real life problems, like tough decisions and friendship, but boys want a competitive, funny outlook for their character.
- Girls seem to enjoy stories with more emotional depth and creative solutions to problems, while boys prefer a clear-cut good vs. evil plot. Boys prefer an action-adventure novel, while girls prefer novels relating to real life.

Boys and girls, for the most part, have very different genres and storyline they like to read, so writing for both genders can be difficult. If you want to try to write a unisex novel, try:

- Creating characters they can relate to (ex. a similar age, similar challenges and issues for that age)
- A unique storyline (but whether it's fantasy or realistic fiction, still include experiences the reader can relate to. An adrenaline rush can be achieved by defeating the dragon or doing well in a high school recital.)
- It's easier to get a girl to read about a boy protagonist, but if you really want a girl protagonist for both genders, the girl has to be adventurous and have strong, realistic goals that a boy or girl could have. (A boy best friend can help, too).

That's all for today, faithful readers! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at penelopepaige@rocketmail.com. Time to go sharpen that pencil...

Question: What do you think about writing novels for both genders? Have you ever done it before? Or do you believe that most novels are easily fit for both boys and girls?

Check back tomorrow (Monday? A post? I know!) for a fun announcement. I'll give you a hint: It includes this blog, me, and a shiny award ;)