tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post514885792002847396..comments2023-07-01T01:52:41.798-07:00Comments on Guys Lit Wire: An Apology and a Course CorrectionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-24058859561610512802009-07-12T16:09:19.330-07:002009-07-12T16:09:19.330-07:00Gender marketing is always annoying. Marketing cam...Gender marketing is always annoying. Marketing campaigns bring gender into the stupidest of product campaigns (in the UK I can think of the campaign that Yorkies were not for girls and the idea that men had to be secret lemonade drinkers because not drinking beer all the time was unmanly right off the top of my head)and then this reinforces mens ideas of what they need to do to be manly. <br /><br />In my opinion marketing is becoming lazier and lazier (and I can say that because I'm a marketeer but thankfully a business to business company that doesn't have to segment its product by gender) continuing to talk about how men only want 'manly things' without doing any substansive research into these assumptions. As they keep projecting this idea of manliness they make it really hard for guys to reach outside this circle of mans interests because of the chat they'll get from other male friends intimidated by the marketing campaigns and eager to laugh at those who go against the grain. <br /><br />Relying on 'well known facts' about gender segmentation works out fine for the companies involved because they don't have to spend money diversifying their products, doing research or really trying to encourage the gender they feel will not buy their product to buy it.<br /><br />So to get back on track yay to you for challenging those assumptions and looking into things properly.Jodiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11462660276240016464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-52401478291959724022009-07-10T07:19:59.910-07:002009-07-10T07:19:59.910-07:00Thanks for writing this post, Mr Chompchomp! I hav...Thanks for writing this post, Mr Chompchomp! I haven't read the Lynne Cox, but the four fantasy series you named are all some of my very favorites and I agree have great cross-gender appeal. And I think I've actually had better luck getting boys to take <em>Sabriel</em> than girls.<br /><br />(But how I wish <i>The Wee Free Men</i> had a different cover... maybe even a different title. It takes a strong pitch to get most kids past the sheep and the word "wee.")Lisa Jennhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06605848269001923091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-91241995294465368112009-07-08T05:49:00.989-07:002009-07-08T05:49:00.989-07:00Thanks for the warning, David. IMHO the book pitc...Thanks for the warning, David. IMHO the book pitch is completely inappropriate in any case. As for malicious links, well, all I can think of are various forms to torture to inflict upon the poster.<br /><br />I've removed the link and will work on getting the poster blocked. (I know they'll just use another account, but we can make it as difficult as we can.)mr chompchomphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02120045873445890949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-34909682110152484992009-07-08T04:48:55.613-07:002009-07-08T04:48:55.613-07:00A warning: all links to www.eloquentbooks.com like...A warning: all links to www.eloquentbooks.com like that above may contain malicious software designed to mine data on your computer without your knowledge.<br /><br />I don't know how GLW feels about authors pitching their books in the comments, but in this case the link is potentially dangerous to other readers, hence a warning.david elzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16653215150526146224noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-16385407086529936322009-07-08T01:27:03.062-07:002009-07-08T01:27:03.062-07:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Philip O'Marahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15937511884881820802noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-69156795992733599492009-07-07T17:17:02.366-07:002009-07-07T17:17:02.366-07:00Thanks for the comments, all.
David: One nice e...Thanks for the comments, all. <br /><br />David: One nice exception to the Disney rule is Lilo and Stitch. It has a female protagonist who is no princess and lo and behold, the movie has very broad appeal. Pixar is apparently a few movies away from it's first movie centered around a female, but it is about *sigh* a princess.<br /><br />Lindsey: sounds like you are a great bookseller. Thanks for pushing the boys to extend their comfort zones. The more I write and read about publishing the more I am shocked at the dogma that informs it. Aren't editors and publishers supposed to be bright, thinking people? You would think they wouldn't need lean on such blunt, and so often wrong, rules. I kenna what you mean.<br /><br />Thanks Ms. Yingling for broadening the young male library patron's reading experience. A few good novel set in skate parks could redeem their image, tarnished by endless insipid energy drink ads.mr chompchomphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02120045873445890949noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-68086023535231234752009-07-07T16:58:13.888-07:002009-07-07T16:58:13.888-07:00It's always good to consider these things. I h...It's always good to consider these things. I hadn't figured pegged boys as having QUITE the interests you mentioned. It is true to a certain extent that boys 11-14 don't want to read books about girls. This doesn't stop me from trying. The exception does tend to be boys who like to read, and who like to read fantasy, and they will read <i>Sabriel</i>, or <i>Dealing with Dragons</i>, etc. The one thing that did surprise me is how much girls like action and adventure. It was never something I liked as a reader, so I didn't recommend it much. When a book is good, it's worth recommending to any readers. My son loved <i>I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You.</i> Thanks for a thought provoking essay. We do need more preteen books set at skate parks, though!Ms. Yinglinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805324364289597178noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-4406900995122696362009-07-07T09:53:59.523-07:002009-07-07T09:53:59.523-07:00I work in the kids/teen department at a bookstore ...I work in the kids/teen department at a bookstore and the accuracy of the stereotype seems to vary with age. Boys in the 8-12 year range seem to be fairly firmly in the "girls have cooties" phase. The only 8-12 book with a female protag I've had consistent success selling to boys is Neil Gaiman's Coraline, I think because I usually describe it as a scary story. Even so, I've had a couple of boys refuse to buy it on the grounds that Coraline is a girl.<br /><br />Teen guys in general seem more open to so-called girl books, but in my experience, tailoring the pitch is still important. For instance, when I'm selling Sabriel to a girl, I focus on the "girl kicks butt" aspect. For guys, it seems to help if I emphasize the zombies, while giving Touchstone a plug for some solid butt-kicking as well.<br /><br />In addition to bookselling, I write for kids and teens, and it's interesting to note that the "boys won't read about girls" thing is still handed down as dogma on all sides of the industry. My feeling is that if the story is good enough, readers of both genders will appreciate it.<br /><br />Long live the Nac Mac Feegle!Lindsey Carmichaelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14389935604095632734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7893796119628724760.post-24170420475454184822009-07-07T09:42:54.562-07:002009-07-07T09:42:54.562-07:00Ah, but have you noticed how all the boy character...Ah, but have you noticed how all the boy characters in these Disney movies all pine for or require the aid of girls? I think Disney is a HUGE ship and it takes them a while to change that ship's course. Much like the economy. Eventually they'll get steered back into the right.<br /><br />Nice work pointing out solid books with female characters that boys will enjoy. I can't tell you how nervous I was initially about reviewing Philip Reeves <i>Here Lies Arthur</i> because, although about King Arthur it was narrated by a girl. Okay, so she was passing for a boy, but the reader knew that. And it was good.<br /><br />Nice round-up.david elzeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16653215150526146224noreply@blogger.com