British Comedy Guide

Writing for female characters Page 3

Sarah: Hi Betty, sorry I'm late, I'm on the blob.

Betty: Don't worry about it, I was fixing my bras anyway. These bloody boobs, aye?

Sarah: tell me about it. Wow that IS a pretty bras.

Betty: It looks better on the floor.

Sarah: I bet it does.

Betty drops the bras, as Sarah leaps on her and they start kissing...

----

I don't see what the problem is?

Laughing out loud

A good way to try to write for any character is to try to get inside their mind. So if as a man, you want to write a female character, simply try to think like a woman. Go online and look at shoes and other accessories, and try to imagine really coveting them. Perhaps you could try talking in a woman's voice while you write her lines (no-one's going to see you do this), or put on a pair of stocking and feel their silky smoothness (no-one's going to see you do this). Then, maybe check out some man-on-man porn action, and try to feel aroused (no-one's going to see you do this).

It always works for me, although I often do hours of this research and never write a thing.

Quote: zooo @ July 6 2009, 2:20 PM BST

not whether they're off out to buy a bra and some tampax.

*giggles*

Very true. :|

We've been watching you all along Fred. The shame, the shame of it all.

I'd say if you're concerned you're not getting it 'right' perhaps you should run a section by some people including some women?

As several have said already it needn't be that big a difference but I do find it tedious when women only get reactionary roles in comedy. Or they're always the ones who are sensible etc. Yawn. That's different to speech though but possibly worth considering as well.

JP

Not sure if it's been mentioned. But the characters and actors used in Green Wing and Smack the Pony all have good parts and play them well. Although that is a very unique still (or at least it was).

Quote: Jane P @ July 7 2009, 1:17 PM BST

I'd say if you're concerned you're not getting it 'right' perhaps you should run a section by some people including some women?

They're too busy baking lovely cakes and cleaning the house to be interested in serious matters such as female dialogue.

To be fair, pretty much everyone who deals with my scripts seems to be a lovely lady thesedays. So if I'm not getting it right then I'm sure they'd tell me. :)

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 7 2009, 1:23 PM BST

To be fair, pretty much everyone who deals with my scripts seems to be a lovely lady thesedays.

This is true, there does seem to be a lot of women producers. Being a sexist pig I assumed it would be male dominated, but so far its been a girl-fest.

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 6 2009, 1:39 PM BST

Nah, just Stephen Moffatt.

I think Moffatt has said that all the male characters in Coupling are based on aspects of his own personality, and all the female characters on aspects of his wife's.

I find wearing a dress and sexy underwear to get into the frame of mind helps.

Quote: Timbo @ July 7 2009, 1:27 PM BST

I think Moffatt has said that all the male characters in Coupling are based on aspects of his own personality, and all the female characters on aspects of his wife's.

That's as may be, but he still wrote the thing.

I don't really see the problem with writing women; the lead in one recent script of mine is a fourteen year old girl and I had no problem doing that. Just write the bloody character.

Quote: Tim Walker @ July 7 2009, 1:23 PM BST

They're too busy baking lovely cakes and cleaning the house to be interested in serious matters such as female dialogue.

To be fair, pretty much everyone who deals with my scripts seems to be a lovely lady thesedays. So if I'm not getting it right then I'm sure they'd tell me. :)

If only I could bake cakes. :)

My comment was only a suggestion for Jacob though - I'm not saying men can't write female roles, or vice versa. But you can see, even from a thread like this, that men and women do talk quite differently, whether it's tone or subject matter. ;) But then they'll always be exceptions so as long as you have a rounded character that's the main thing.

JP

Quote: Matthew Stott @ July 7 2009, 1:33 PM BST

the lead in one recent script of mine is a fourteen year old girl and I had no problem doing that.

Pretending to be one on chat sites helps to get into character.

I always think in terms of attitude when writing a character. And when you are writing a female character you've already got a head start there!

:)

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