The One-Letter Sex Change

I have a dilemma: My nip¹ is too male-centric.

I have no misconceptions about my audience; this book will always appeal more to men than women.² My problem is that it’s currently weighted too far toward the y-chromosome side of things. I’d prefer a little more balance.

Though my nip³ features some strong women who are integral to the plot, they are primarily secondary characters. The book has an ensemble cast of sorts, but by the time I finish my first draft, only 4 of the 40 chapters will be from a woman’s (third-person) perspective. Even worse, only two of those will remain once I begin the rewrite, since I’ll be demoting a superfluous character to an extra and relieving her of her narration.

Perhaps my fears are unwarranted, but I feel I need a prominent female character the fairer half of my readership⁴ can connect with. I toyed with the idea of introducing a new character, but I might have already reached the saturation point. Giving a secondary character more page-time was another option, but I couldn’t figure out how to do so without bloating or completely changing the story. In the end, I hit upon a simple, elegant solution.

I use a police detective’s perspective for five of the chapters, and he plays a significant role in some of the pivotal scenes. That’s going to change, though. Not the importance or the number of chapters. The he. With one stroke of the keyboard, I shall forever alter the detective’s worldview.

I’m already beginning to see the possibilities: A newly minted detective trying to prove herself, her motivations and reactions — and others’ perceptions of her — defined in part by her gender. Not only will this add nuance and depth to a character who until now was rather one-dimensional, but I also believe my novel will be better for it.

Instant improvement.

Just add S.


¹ Novel in progress. And yes, that’s the last time I’ll call it that.
² It's the possibility of political assassination they go for. That and invisible monkeys.
³ Yeah, I lied.
⁴ Women and Swedes.