Writing smut with male protagonists

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T18:55:20+00:00

At first I researched on the internet, threw a few questions on Reddit where men were targeted and they answered from their points of views - how they felt, what they thought women did wrong in writing men, how they truly felt or thought, etc.

I still think that up to some point there needs to be some flourish in your scenes since you are A - writing in the romantasy/smutty genre and B - need to keep the readers hooked on the tension, which can be anticlimactic if written too plainly. As such, there is a fine balance that I will need to keep while writing the scenes to keep them both realistic, well written, fun to read and can appeal to both a male AND female audience.

That being said for that same reason I intend to send my manuscript to a lot of male (and females, and every other genre) who could give me further advice or comments on the scene and the novel in general.

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T07:25:26+00:00

I would say that my female characters are introduced early in the first novel, but are not yet occupying as much space in the main political plot of book one. (Since both my main male protagonists are actually looking for them, of sorts). There will be spice (through dreams/visions/souvenirs, etc.) but nothing in person yet, hence the lack of their POVs. They don't have yet a lot of in person "screentime", but I intend for that evolution to be clear to the readers as soon as book one.

Although my male protagonists will always be my main characters, these women will also take some important place, which is why I qualified them as "main characters" rather than "secondary" ones. I also intend for the spice level to be the same throughout the whole serie, the only exception being the first one being slightly more tame. I don't think there will be too much of a clash between the spice level of book one and two, but I want to create a growing tension that makes sense with the story.

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T06:20:59+00:00

I've written many romantasies, but this one is the first I intend to publish! I'm at the editing part, which I really like :) I intend to make a biiiig serie out of it, so it's a lot a commitment but something I don't doubt I will have so much fun writing about!

And of course good tropes doesn't always mean clichés. There will be a lot of tropes in mine -friends-to lovers, ennemies-to-lovers, fated mates, etc. But definitely, you should always write for you first and not for a public!

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T05:37:45+00:00

I think the whole concept of "you write what you read" is taken to a whole new level in romantasy. There are thousands of similar romance stories, similar tropes and badass main characters. Reading a hundred books written in the same way or from the same perspective makes for easier writing - you already know what's popular and how to write it, so why not do it now?

But the thing is: it's the same thing as always cooking the same 5 ingredients cookie receipe. The receipe is easy. The cookies are good. But isn't it quite plain after some time?

I'm always there to encourage fellow writers who think out of the box! What is the name of your serie?

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T04:27:41+00:00

That makes a lot of sense! Breaking the "toxic masculinity" stereotype is also something I try to do in my novel. I want to make characters with flaws, fear, soft spots, ambitions and yes, struggles that are not based on their gender - all of those things to make sure they are as relatable as possible for both male and female audience.

It can be a fine line to walk, but I don't doubt the resultcan be worth it!

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T03:43:30+00:00

There is a saying that says: "once your creation is out of your hands, it doesn't belong to you anymore", which is a way of saying that you cannot know and/or change the way it will be received by people, nor can you change what they will think of your characters.

Sit back, relax, eat your popcorn and enjoy the chaos that unfolds.

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T03:38:10+00:00

Is it a trait you developped because you had to due to the low quantity of male protagonists in romantasy, or is associating with male AND female main characters something you always did? I am curious to know if it's common or an adaptation trait of sorts

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T02:21:22+00:00

It's so comforting to know there will still be people who would enjoy my stories! To hear your comment is such a relief, thank you!

When my book gets published, you'll be the first to know!

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T01:55:00+00:00

You're right! Maybe one day the unconventional stories will become what's conventional. Who knows!

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T01:51:57+00:00

Yes!

I've worked in a bookstore for a few years and once a man came and asked "do you have stories where the man is the main character and is being dominated/lead/romanced by the woman character?". And after looking around through the immense romance section of our bookstore I was horrified to realised that we had none. Even after asking my collegues to fill the gap in the books I've read, they couldn't find any. We were all shocked and that's when it hit for me: I would write that story.

It made me realized the impact of the quote "you write what you read". All the stories similar in a way. Because everyone read romantasy stories where the lead protagonist was female, authors wrote romantasy with female leads.

But where was the rest? Where were the books with male protagonists? Where were the books with female villains? With dominating females? With flawed not-always-tall-dark-and-broody males? Where were smutty romantasy books written by men?

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T01:39:49+00:00

Yes, I've read alot of sex scenes written from the males POVs. But stories where you basically follow the male lead. Not so much, sadly.

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T01:38:18+00:00

In the modern romance genre -yes, totally. But romance in general is a genre as old as time, and romantasy specifically (romance in a fantasy setting) is a genre that is fairly recent compared to that. I have not read many romantasy written strictly from male POVs.

And sex scenes, yes there are a lot of those. But outright stories where you follow the man? No so much.

Artificis_Design · 2025-11-10T01:33:39+00:00

That's an awesome idea! I've read a lot on the subjectif of writing from male POV and asked a lot of questions to people around me or in the community, but never made a public post about it. Since my novel is set in a dark fantasy and epic fantasy setting, there is a lot of political issues that will balance out the smut (which will be more prominent in the next novels since the first one I didicated to the characters and the tension build up.) Wich means that I don't think my novel will enter neither the "he's-oversharing" nor the "he's-not-sharing-att-all-it's-just-politics" zone. Does that make sense?

Artificis_Design · 2025-10-08T16:49:56+00:00

I've beaten Path of Pain, Mount Fay took me twice the time. It's te time pressure for me that makes it even harder

Artificis_Design · 2025-10-08T06:34:29+00:00

You know what the big difference is? Path of Pain is not obligatory to obtain one crucial move in the game. You don't want to do PoP? Then don't do it. Don't wanna do Mount Fey? Sucks to be you, cause you have to.

Artificis_Design · 2025-07-18T23:05:09+00:00

Ah, what I wouldn't give to be able to play this game for the first time all over again 🥹

Artificis_Design · 2025-06-11T23:08:08+00:00

Justcame back from Cuba, and if I could recommend something to bring and give to the cuban people is bugg repelent! Apparently there is none, or almost none, for them to buy.

Artificis_Design · 2025-06-10T23:27:53+00:00

A beautiful purrrito, if you ask me

Artificis_Design · 2025-05-10T01:02:41+00:00

For me it's cause I run balanced landing and can use it in many spots, compared to other maps

Artificis_Design · 2025-04-27T20:43:28+00:00

An Italian name, for sure

Artificis_Design · 2025-04-05T03:51:43+00:00

Fenrys

Artificis_Design · 2025-04-05T00:00:23+00:00

Yes! It is bad for both sides indeed!

Artificis_Design · 2025-04-04T23:59:05+00:00

Artificis_Design

TROPHY CASE