Can't decide if I should switch the sex of my MC

I've got a bunch of stuff written (mostly for the villains) and several stories planned, but I just can't get in the head of my MC. I think it's because he's too much of a ripoff of Batman, personality-wise. Or it could just be that I haven't been able to write in that genre lately...

I'm thinking maybe if I make him a woman I'll be able to relate to him better and it'll be slightly more interesting. Currently, the story starts with Dale's wife getting killed and he makes a suit and stuff to track down the scumball who did it, then gets into superheroing, yadda yadda. His son is there to try to convince him not to be stupid and eventually gets into a support role.

If I make Dale into Delia and his wife into her husband, is that just too obviously a gender flip? Or would it be an interesting gender flip?

I'm trying to make Dale a mix of Golden/Silver Age Batman, Captain America, and somewhat of a classic knight.

I like the idea that she'd be a superhero and have to be a mom at the same time, and that she's actually giving up some of the mom stuff to do it. You don't get that kind of stuff with male superheroes as much. Go for it.

edited 5th Aug '11 10:41:26 AM by OhSoIntoCats

Well, not so much. The son is in college.

You could also age down the son, as long as you're at the point where you can make changes like this.

I don't see what the point of that is, unless the writer has a great desire to write about there relationship. It's fine as is.

From scanning Death By Origin and Stuffed in the Fridge it seems like there hasn't been a story with a woman whose husband is killed to start her on her heroing (I really doubt that's entirely true, but I'm not seeing one and I can't think of one).

I think I'm going with it.

I'm trying to decide who all I need to also switch. Currently the MC's best friend is his wife's brother, who is a big believer in casual sex. I think a woman being friends with her husband's brother, especially if said brother likes to sleep around, might be a little... awkward. Opinions?

Doesn't sound awkward to me, so long as he doesn't hit on her.

Or if he does, but only playfully and she has that kind of sense of humor, but that would be harder to work correctly.

Er, why would it be? Unless there's an in-law antagonism thing going on I don't see why one's spouse shouldn't be friends with their family.

As for the brother's sex habits, I could see it being awkward if he's the sleazy "anything that moves" guy but if he's got standards his brother should be able to trust him.

Just checking. My parents are of the opinion that married people shouldn't have friends of the opposite sex at all. (there are not enough rolleyes in the world).

Are you writing a story about your parents, my good man?

Now that I think about it, hitting on a widow whose husband was your friend just seems awful.

If the guy has any kind of standards he wouldn't.

If you can't decide, you can always just make the main character a hermaphrodite.

I'm a chick, actually. But you see where I'm coming from. Unfortunately, I have no writer friends IRL I can talk about these things with.

No, the... okay we need names. Originally, the MC was Dale, his wife was Nadine, and Nadine's brother, who was Dale's best friend was Leonard. Dale is now Delia, Nadine is now Nathan, Leonard is up in the air. Leonard is a ladies' man, but the non-creepy kind, unless I make him gay or female.

If I keep Leonard as a straight guy, is it weird for him to be friends with Delia, considering she is his sister-in-law?

Dude. Listen to me. Of the few friends I have, most are of the opposite gender.

It is ok. Really.

That.

What gender are you, AHR? I'd assume its male since you're Mr AHR, but really you never know on the internet.

I AM NO GENDER! YET ALSO ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME! BUT USUALLY ONLY ONE OF THEM!

edited 5th Aug '11 6:23:35 PM by MrAHR

Oh, so just like Vaarsuvius then.

(Seriously, this is, like the easiest way to troll the GitP forums.)

edited 5th Aug '11 6:25:52 PM by Zennistrad

I so thought you were going to do the "I am no man as I am all men" quote too. Sadface.

For the record, Mr AHR is a girl. And like her, a lot of my friends are of the opposite gender. I don't know why. It's easier finding girls that are bookworms, dancers, or otakus.

Hey, AHR, you should tell your unattached male friends about your relationships. It's fun. And cruel, though the two are generally synonymous.

Hey, I ask these things because I have no friends. Also I tend to think the best of people except when I'm being a cynical bastard.

Now I just have to decide which of Delia's college friends are gay...

And possible write the scene where her bi friend / frenemy kidnaps her and injects her with some of his blood.

You know, Chihuaha, when I answer like that, that is not your cue to give the real answer. That information is mind alone to give, and you have no right to use it as you do.