And, no, I don't mean I need help in getting a man. Got one of those and I'm quite blessed with him, too, thank you!What I need is help in writing in the male POV. I had a very exhausted male doctor lean against the cement wall outside the next case room door he was to enter, and was told that that was a very effeminate move for a hero to do.
I write romance. I'm thinking writing a hero with effeminate gestures isn't in any one's best interests, least of all this ladies-man type hero I have.
So I asked my dear sweet hubby, who is very manly, what he would do if he was exhausted and had to wake himself up fast. I'm still in disbelief with his answer.
"I'd tickle the roof of my mouth with my tongue."
That was his answer.
He'd tickle the roof of his mouth with his tongue? Okay, I'm thinking this judge might just really slam it to me if I had my hero doing that, when leaning against a cold cement wall isn't considered masculine in the least.
Any one have a truly manly suggestion for me? He's in a hospital in this scene. Rushing from one delivery room to another. Knowing he's about to enter a room where an unviable baby is about to be born. He's frustrated with the situation, feels compassion and sadness for the mom-to-be, and he's exhausted, being it's near the end of his 24-hour shift.
What would you have your hero do before entering the room?
Surrendering to Him,
Eileen
16 comments:
Maybe he would stop for a moment, lean agains the wall, grimace as though in pain and softly pound the wall with a clenched fist.
Your husband sounds like mine. Honest, but no sense of what we need for the novel!
Oh, sweet question, Eileen:) You're brave to ask your man. Mine would laugh at me... Personally, I love a man who runs a hand over his scruffy face (or something like that) in contemplation/sadness/dread of what's to come. The scruffy part means he's harried and is too busy to shave, etc. I might be on a rabbit trail here;) I like Sarah's suggestion!
leaning against the wall sounds find to me, huh??? okay I picture him actually against the wall, but leaning forward with his hands resting on his thighs maybe. You bring up a good point here! I'm wondering if my guys are reacting like men, or if their reactions are skewed by my feminity.
My first instict is to rent a couple mannish movies and watch what the men do. I love picking up reactions from Denzel Washington - he's so expressive.
Take a deep breath? Close his eyes and run his hands over his face? Something involving taking a moment to collect himself. Men seem to be taught to force their emotions down and not show them.
Total manly move: have him stop, take a deep breath, and run both hands down his face, or have him cross his hands on top of his head, look up at the ceiling, and let out a deep breath. I see my husband run his hands down his face when he's tired. You could even say somethinga bout the stubble on his chin. :)
First, I've seen men lean against a wall. :)
I guess I'd have him pause at the door, looking in and then shake off his moment of compassion to do his job.
I was thinking fist to the wall too. Maybe watch an episode of Grey's Anatomy. I've never watched it but it seems like women like the men involved. :O)
Eileen:
I'd have him lean against the wall with his back to it. Look at the chart and either sigh or shake his head. He's a professional but, he has a heart.
I hope this helps. You've gotten a lot of good ideas here.
LOL, Eileen, Your husband's response cracks me up. I guess leaning against a wall doesn't seem that feminine to me, but what can I say? I'm a female. :)
Maybe he'd keep it more internal, like blinking hard and tightening his jaw, but not necessarily changing his posture? Looks like you've gotten some other great suggestions here.
You've got lots of great suggestions here, though I wouldn't have thought leaning against the wall would be girlie...
Rolling his neck and jouncing his shoulders to alleviate tension, pinching the bridge of his nose, scrubbing his hands down his face, tugging on his ear, rubbing his palm on the back of his neck...
You could watch a couple episodes of Grey's Anatomy, St. Elsewhere, M*A*S*H etc to see what the male doctors do when they're tired. I bet one or two even lean up against a wall. :)
Eileen, I ran your scenario by my resident male POV expert, who is used to me posing such questions. Gwynly's not a doctor, but he is a guy who has faced a classroom of 36+/- high school students when he was exhausted. He said he would stand outside the door, rub his eyes with his fists, yawn, stiffen his spine, and go into the room. I asked if he would lean against the wall, and he said "probably not." Hope that helps.
I’m still laughing at your husband’s comment…
I think having the man run his hand across his face…or chin…followed by him sweeping his hand up and running his fingers back through his hair...he closes his eyes for a brief moment to regain his strength...or maybe he's tickling the roof of his mouth with his tongue...I don't know...
You guys are always so awesome and helpful.
Funny, but when I googled a tired man a lot of the pictures did give me a man pinching the bridge of his nose. The rubbing his hand through his hair or at the back of his neck is becoming cliche to me as I read those ones SOOOOO often.
Guess some medical dramas are going to be watched in my household soon. I watch House regularly, but for some reason they rarely seem tired on it. :)
Thanks for all the great advice!
I would recommend that good old attack the wall with a fist method and a barely suppressed growl, then wipe his palms over his face, sniff, deep breath, and move on. :)
I wonder if the judge was a man? Hmm...
I was told once that men don't sigh. Well, they obviously don't know my husband. He sighs LOUDLY a lot! Even the kids comment about it! LOL.
Maybe he could squeeze his forehead, as if a headache was brewing there.
I like the idea of watching some of the Grey's Anatomy guys. "Just doing research, honey!"
I can help but laugh about the answer your husband gave you. But i i think, he would take a deep breath, then rub his hands from his face through his hair... You have a lovely blog.:)
I am a new follower.
Thanks.
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