Writing for Boys VS Writing for Girls

Over the last few years, I’ve had a chance to interact with parents, teachers, professional educators, acquisitions editors, publishers, and young readers.

Something I learned years ago, while I was involved in the business of producing and distributing films for kids, was this. Boys would enjoy a boy’s story, but not one specifically intended for girls. Girls liked both.

I used this background as the model for the books I would write. On the publishing side, I ran into stiff objections and a lot of rejections.

But you should hear the people who live in the marketplace, as they relate how my books are different, and why they work with boys. Here is just one example.
“Women and girls tend to love details. Guys hate ‘em. I doubt if it was a woman who first said, ‘Cut to the chase.’”

All of that to say this. Even though I grew up with three sisters, and my wife and I have raised a son and a daughter, there is no way I know what a girl feels inside; her emotions, thought process, or other things that make us so different. I’ve been asked several times to write for girls, and I don’t feel qualified.

My first target is boys. I know from the inside what a boy is like, what he feels, how he thinks, and what is important to him. And you should see the intensity with which parents, teachers, and boys are reporting back to tell me that my books are something unique. Families, libraries, and schools tend to buy all 7 titles.

I’m not saying I’ll never attempt to write a book for girls. It might be a good exercise. But for the time being, I’m going to continue on my path of writing action-adventures and mysteries especially for boys.

My books are ranked by Accelerated Reader, and distributed by Baker & Taylor.

Author web site http://www.maxbooks.9k.com
Nearly 50 pages of reviews http://www.maxbookreviews.blogspot.com