Can a male author write stories with a female protagonist well?

1. It’s certainly possible, and I’m sure it’s been done on many occasions.

2. It would be especially helpful for said male author to read books by women about women, and talk to women about their experiences in similar situations as his protagonist. I, of course, don’t know how the thought/emotional life of a man (or anyone) differs from my own, but externally I’ve noticed that women are more outward with their emotions, and appear to be affected emotionally more easily than men do.

3. Sure! Creative writing has no limits!

1) Absolutely it can be done. Not every man (or woman, for that matter) can write from a different perspective, but many can.

2) Ask the females you know how they’d react to or feel about the situations in your story, see how they compare to your own reactions/feelings and to your protagonist’s.

3) Why not? As long as they do it well.

What about Agatha Christie’s Hercule Poirot?

Absolutely. Check out The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry

Sure, it’s possible. The first example that comes to mind is Golden’s Memoirs of a Geisha. Stephen King has done it a few times, in Carrie, Lisey’s Story, Rose Madder and Dolores Claiborne, to name a few. I’m sure there are a ton of other examples that I can’t think of or that I haven’t read.

As far as techniques go, I have no idea, because I’m not a writer. But @FluffyChicken‘s suggestion of reading books by women about women makes sense.

And regarding whether male authors should be writing female protagonists… why not?

Wally Lamb has done it several times with outstanding results.

She’s Come Undone
I Know This Much Is True
The Hour I First Believed

In fact, he now teaches women creative writing in Connecticut (and New York?) state prisons.

Definitely, see Carl Sagan’s Contact. One of my favorite female protagonists!

Of course. There are dozens of examples. Anyway, check out Stephenson’s The Diamond Age.

Yeah. If ou have a female model close.

If the man has learned enough about women, I think sure. Especially since you asked if he can do it “well”, not “perfectly”.

From the movie, “As good as it gets.”

Receptionist: How do you write women so well?
Melvin Udall: I think of a man, and I take away reason and accountability.

Some can, absolutely. And vice versa.

My son adores books with female protagonists. At least half of the ones I’ve read to him have been written by men.

His two favorites are by men:

Dorothy Gale from The Wizard of Oz

Alice from Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass

I am living proof that this can be done. I’m not published or anything, but I do enjoy using female protagonists. It feels refreshing to mix up my perspective every once and a while.

1. I think Jeffrey Archer has had some success with this. I don’t know if people would count Dan Brown as successful (since I hate his books) but he does usually have strong female characters.

2. I like people’s suggestions about talking to women. In fact, you should always try to get people to read through your work for this kind of stuff is accuracy is important to you.

3. Sure. Anyone should try anything if they want… even if its bad. Bad writing occurs all the time.

@WasCy – Great example. She’s Come Undone is an amazingly poignant coming-of-age story. I thought it was wonderfully realistic.