No, I don't think stumbling blocks work both ways. Describing clothes in detail is not a way to reinforce that your narrator is female; but it's a tell that your writer might be.

Also, if the male characters ever discuss curtains, beyond the basic, "You know, I was walking around naked in my apartment yesterday, and there were people looking and pointing!"

One thing a lot of romance writers do, though, is idealize their male characters. Not many men of my acquaintance have been happy to talk about their feelings ad nauseum at the drop of a hat. And a lot of the men don't have men's hobbies or interests. Some men are art collectors and gourmet chefs, yes, but plenty of other men like baseball, and take-out food, and don't clean their apartment. Like, ever.

So, I need a bit of feedback.

Two very good friends of mine are getting married next month. They wanted a fairy tale version of how they met to put in the program, but both admit they're not writer-types at all. This is what I've come up with for them:

Once upon a time, in a land filled with clouds, there were two people who were looking for each other, but hadn’t realized it yet.

One was a handsome prince disguised as a lonely tailor. While he had good friends and charming people to keep him company, he frequently was heard to sigh and ask “But where? Where is she?” When his friends asked who “she” was, he fell silent. He knew there was someone he was supposed to be with, but didn’t know who she was.

The other was a beautiful princess, with a heart full of love. She wasn’t quite aware how full of love her heart was, because she had been trapped by a gloomy ogre who made her doubt the truth of her feelings. After she cleverly escaped the ogre, she too would sigh and ask “But where? Where is he?”

One night, in a loud and smoke-filled chamber, the beautiful princess and the handsome prince saw each other. Conversation was had, and both of them left the chamber that evening determined to talk more with the other; not only that, but to entice the other person into spending time with them.

On another evening in the loud and smoke-filled chamber, the beautiful princess, upon spying the handsome prince across the room, went forth to be her most charming and entrancing. However, when she arrived by the prince’s side, she discovered he was speaking to another lady. But as she said “Hi” and prepared to walk away, the handsome prince reached down and took the beautiful princess’ hand, to keep her by his side. They have been together, and in love, ever since that night.

Weirdly, I have more trouble writing women characters than I do men. I've also be accused of not like women in the "real" world. Which isn't true, I'm just bored to tears by the usual interests of the local women. Scrapbooking and children hold no thrills for me.

Oh, Jilli, that's lovely! Maybe add a little something about their future kingdom, too? i.e. "And they intend to live happily ever after in a..."

I love it. Jilli! I might add something to this sentence

Conversation was had

Something along the lines of "They spoke to to each other and even though the room was loud and distracting, the words they said went straight to each others' hearts."

Oh, good suggestions, Amy & Robin.

Lovely, Jilli, and I like Amy and Robin's suggestions.

I've been told I write good men. Thing is, I don't really give it a lot of thought. But I've always tended to have more men friends than women, and at family gatherings would rather be in the living room talking football than in the kitchen talking shopping, so maybe it's just a side effect of tomboyishness.

Most of my close friends, historically, have been women.Lately, I've added in more men, but the need to write men came from necessity than from "Wow, new creative challenge." I have to laugh at the Dispensing of Wisdom because my strongest male character is very much an Idealized Father Figure. I hope he comes out like a real guy, too.

Jilli, shiny!

For a total feminist who really can't claim to understand the Y chromosome at all, I've been weirdly testo-heavy in the last two series. I'm just as comfortable writing Ringan as I am writing Penny, but I've found that, oddly enough, a lot of readers and reviewers see Haunted Ballads as just as much Penny's thing as Ringan's, and I honestly don't see it that way.

The Kinkaid Chronicles - well. Very different. First person male POV, but John Kinkaid is based on a real male, a cornerstone of who and what I am, and it's really all about seeing out of his eyes and staying true to his voice.

Kalshane, one thing about women versus men, and this is 50 years experience talking: Men, in my experience, fight to show off. They scrabble for position. When women are pissed off enough to actually fight?

We're out to fucking kill. The last time I lost my temper, all I remember is a red mist and putting the woman in question in the ER. That was a good long time ago, but honestly, if we're that pissed, we're not playing barnyard games. We want nuts or ovaries as earrings.

No more baby talk from me, yo. Said my piece. However, courtesy of Brenda, who has friends in high places, I finally got my hands on the Booklist review for "Matty Groves":

Ringan Laine, leader of the British band Broomfield Hill, is thrilled to be invited to perform at the prestigious Callowen House Arts Festival. He has second thoughts when he learns that the house is haunted. He and his lover, Penny Wintercraft-Hawkes, have dealt with ghosts on two previous occasions, and they do not want to meet any more. Miles Leight-Arnold, the festival's patron, is proud of his family ghost, boasting that Winston Churchill met the spirit. When Ringan and his colleagues arrive at the estate, they discover another evil ghost lurking there. This one seeks revenge for a lost lover who happens to resemble Jane Castle, the ensemble's flautist. Ringan, Penny, and the band have their hands full trying to sort out the events that led to the haunting. Grabien (The Famous Flower of Serving Men, 2004) weaves folklore, history, and mystery into an intriguing tale with supernatural overtones. Readers who enjoy a good ghost story will find this one most satisfying.