{"id":2246599,"date":"2024-05-17T03:54:02","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T07:54:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-no-such-thing-as-good-masculine-male-characters-in-the-woke-world-of-book-publishing\/"},"modified":"2024-05-17T04:05:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T08:05:05","slug":"theres-no-such-thing-as-good-masculine-male-characters-in-the-woke-world-of-book-publishing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/theres-no-such-thing-as-good-masculine-male-characters-in-the-woke-world-of-book-publishing\/","title":{"rendered":"In the woke world of book publishing, good masculine male characters are hard to find"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Ftheres-no-such-thing-as-good-masculine-male-characters-in-the-woke-world-of-book-publishing%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2246599&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The text discusses the challenges\u200b faced by a \u2063conservative\u2062 author\u2062 in creating likable characters in modern romantic comedy books. It highlights\u200d the evolving portrayal of male characters in the romance genre and \u200dthe\u2064 influence of cultural \u2064and industry trends on character development. \u200cThe author reflects on the expectations and \u2063limitations imposed by the current publishing landscape. The text explores the struggles encountered by \u2063a conservative writer when developing appealing characters in \u200ccontemporary romantic\u200b comedy novels. It emphasizes the\u200d changing depiction \u200bof male\u2063 figures in\u2064 romantic literature, affected by cultural shifts and industry inclinations.\u2062 The author contemplates the \u200bconstraints and demands\u2064 shaped \u200dby today&#8217;s \u2064publishing \u200denvironment.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-content\">\n<p>In a world of man buns and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.smithsonianmag.com\/smart-news\/human-sperm-counts-declining-worldwide-study-finds-180981138\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/introducing-responsible-man-from-daily-wire-ventures-mens-health-products-that-arent-afraid-of-manliness\/\" title=\"Meet Responsible Man by Daily Wire Ventures: Bold Men\u2019s Health Products\">declining sperm counts<\/a><\/a>, the last thing we needed was four men gracing this year\u2019s red carpet at the Met Gala in flowing gowns. But like it or not, this is our culture. So as a conservative author of romantic comedy books, how do I develop likable characters that today\u2019s female readers want to root for?<\/p>\n<p>I can do it and believe I have, but have I lost touch with today\u2019s mores? Is there anyone left who still wants to read about two seemingly normal potential lovers caught in funny or interesting scenarios? My job is to create entertaining plots that don\u2019t betray my core values. Such a task for a conservative author in the romance genre feels as futile as trying to sell a fire extinguisher to an arsonist during a BLM riot.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2-long d-flex justify-content-center\" style=\"margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center; \" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-70152560\">\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-1379703300879-0\" class=\"mb-30\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-826eb56058f30dfc0478dce1487992fc fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-826eb56058f30dfc0478dce1487992fc\"><\/div>\n<p>An author striving for success does not dare depict the leading male character as a normal, grounded, masculine man. That won\u2019t fly in today\u2019s leftist publishing world. I know this truth well enough that I didn\u2019t exert an ounce of energy seeking a traditional publisher for my latest book. Conservative publishers <em>do <\/em>exist, but they are few and far between. They tend to publish nonfiction books by movers and shakers on topics such as culture and politics.<\/p>\n<p>The trend in romance books is to either emasculate or demonize the male characters. Too often, in this leftist book world, the one-dimensional male character\u2019s only discernible traits are those needed to successfully abuse, objectify, and degrade the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/airplane-director-says-the-only-way-to-make-that-movie-now-would-be-without-the-jokes\/\" title=\"\u2018Airplane!\u2019 Director Says The Only Way to Make That Movie Now Would Be \u2018Without The Jokes\u2019\">lead female character<\/a>. This is surprising, especially when over <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nielsen.com\/insights\/2016\/romance-readers-by-the-numbers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">80 percent<\/a> of romance or romantic comedy readers are white women buying books published by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/books\/2019\/apr\/04\/fifty-shades-of-white-romance-novels-racism-ritas-rwa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mostly<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/science-white-libs-more-likely-to-have-mental-health-problems\/\" title=\"SCIENCE: White Libs More Likely To Have Mental Health Problems\">white liberal women<\/a>. So much for the triumphant matriarchy.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/bookriot.com\/best-selling-romance-books-of-all-time\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">bestselling romance book<\/a> of all time is not<em> Pride and Prejudice<\/em>, it\u2019s <em>Fifty Shades of Grey<\/em>. It has sold more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.penguinrandomhouse.com\/series\/FS3\/fifty-shades-of-grey-series\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150 million<\/a> copies, and its main appeal is bondage, sadism, and masochism. If that doesn\u2019t make me want to jump off the ledge of a tall stack of books, nothing does.<\/p>\n<p>I wrongly assumed that readers want characters they like and root for. Characters who overcome obstacles as they deal with interesting and humorous scenarios on their way to a happy ending.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-a8ac874000fef0d44da30114d0ab4223 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-a8ac874000fef0d44da30114d0ab4223\"><\/div>\n<p>These days, a book with a male character worth looking up to is tantamount to surrendering to the patriarchy. That\u2019s not what today\u2019s female reader wants. Not by a long shot.<\/p>\n<p>The elite publishers push only a handful of tropes. And in those few tired storylines are primarily two types of men. If you\u2019re guessing the most popular male character type is a handsome man with conventional values who must win her over with charm and wit, you\u2019d be wrong.<\/p>\n<p>Today\u2019s leading male character fits into one of two categories.<\/p>\n<p>The first category features the male character appearing on the cover of countless books as the shirtless, ripped, stubbly-chinned male hunk (he\u2019s not actually a masculine man; he\u2019s an overgrown boy with too much testosterone). Often, he\u2019s the grumpy boss or the billionaire jerk who is condescending toward the female character. <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-40e1b09d73cf4c8d0f12ab77adbda399 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-10\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-40e1b09d73cf4c8d0f12ab77adbda399\"><\/div>\n<p>Where did this idea come from? Most billionaires look like Bill Gates. No one wants to see <em>him <\/em>with his shirt off. Anyway, the male character usually despises and demeans the female lead. She hates him because, after all, she\u2019s a liberal woman.<\/p>\n<p>But something about being treated like garbage is too darn irresistible for today\u2019s enlightened woman. She must have him. Yes. She\u2019ll win him over and change him. The male hunk might continue to mistreat other women, but not her. <em>She\u2019s <\/em>the object of his lust. Charming.<\/p>\n<p>In our culture, men watch pornography, and women often get their pornography through books. Many of the bestselling romance books are nothing more than a collection of explicit sex scenes loosely strung together by thin plot lines.<\/p>\n<p>If that\u2019s not disturbing enough, the newest trend is mental and physical abuse. One of today\u2019s bestselling books tantalizes female readers with the vicarious experience of physical abuse by a bad boy-type who is so irresistible she marries him despite her bruises. It\u2019s <em>Fifty Shades of Grey<\/em> redux, but the physical torture is no longer playacting. Gee. Another giant step for womankind.<\/p>\n<p>The second male character type is \u201cthe best friend.\u201d He leans metrosexual and doesn\u2019t have the nerve to confess his love until the final chapter. He\u2019s too spineless to make a move, so the reader spends most of the book wondering if he\u2019s gay. He\u2019s not a take-charge guy and is most likely not the one who leads on the dance floor.<\/p>\n<p>In my new book, <em>Retraining Him<\/em>, I tread in dangerous waters. My male character owns a big sporting goods store, loves deep-sea fishing, and enjoys hunting. These activities could soon be illegal in blue states. The female lead meets a high-profile woke psychologist who convinces her the male species is the root of all evil and she must retrain the man she loves. That\u2019s the inciting incident.<\/p>\n<p>If I had stopped there with the storyline, I would\u2019ve had a book a New York City publisher might have considered. But I have to live with myself. The female character needs to learn it\u2019s the <em>differences <\/em>between men and women that help make for a happy marriage.<\/p>\n<p>So I ask myself, do I persevere as a writer in this genre? It seems like 15 minutes ago \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Mail\u201d was an acceptable romantic comedy for Americans. But those days are gone. Long gone.<\/p>\n<p>My other option is to be a sellout. Maybe my next plot will feature a grumpy billionaire male hunk who abuses his woke lover until she convinces him to lose his masculinity. Only then, within the confines of their open marriage, will they reach enlightenment and freely explore their proclivity for dangerous, unconventional sex \u2014 which I\u2019ll describe in explicit, delicious detail.<\/p>\n<p>And of course, they\u2019ll surround themselves with like-minded friends with diverse skin colors and undefinable \u201cgenders.\u201d The male character will come to the obvious realization that the matriarchy is all that matters and fittingly leap to his death from the NYC corner office of one of the big-five book publishers. My book will be entitled <em>A 2024 Love Story<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>Hey, New York Times bestseller list, here I come.<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-90b7239e28b467e20663e3d596e826a8 fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-90b7239e28b467e20663e3d596e826a8\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">    \t\t\t\t\t   \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a world of evolving norms and unique fashion statements, seeing four men in gowns at the Met Gala may raise eyebrows. As a conservative author of romantic comedies, crafting relatable and endearing characters becomes a delightful challenge amidst changing cultural landscapes<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3145,"featured_media":2246600,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/nature-love-couple-in-love-grooms-8fddffb822f74fb7e58abfd07cfef150.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2246599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/nature-love-couple-in-love-grooms-8fddffb822f74fb7e58abfd07cfef150.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2246599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3145"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2246599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2246599\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2246600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2246599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2246599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2246599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}