One of the major challenges I’ve faced writing my novel is capturing the voice of distinct characters, especially male ones. In particular, I want the men I write to be nuanced, but I’m afraid they’ll be perceived as sissies or not “real men” if show I them being vulnerable. The thing that bugs me about my hang-up is that over the years I’ve accumulated a ton of evidence that men can be hurt, scared, care deeply about women, etc. Still, I find it easier to portray my male characters as withdrawn and unemotional, even though I know conforming to these stereotypes of masculinity can be damaging.
Luckily, my husband, David, has been a great resource when it comes to tapping into the mind of a man. He keeps me honest:
Sarah Zureick-Brown 