Comments on: Women writers in hiding?

By: Melissa (My World...in words and pages)

Melissa (My World...in words and pages) — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 17:17:22 +0000

I am one who would love to say stick to your guns, be who you are and if female is it then be proud of it. But, now after my be who we are and proud of it speech will back down to the real world… Yes, I think there are people out there who wont read a female authors fantasy book. I am not exactly sure why, but for what ever the reason (I have my guesses) they are the way they are. I don't know what the right answer is. It is a shame it is that way, but it is. Maybe even just initials or something to give a small touch of fog to the author, but yet not completely hide the truth. I am not sure. Ijust find it aweful that has to be something to think on. Thanks for the post.

By: Brendan

Brendan — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 17:41:35 +0000

I just pity the fools who miss out on all the good writing if they don't read stuff by women.

I would like to see a demographic and preferred genre breakdown of these men who won't read women before I consider start considering drastic measures like changing my psudonym to attract more readers. And I probably wouldn't be for it anyway, it seems a regressive move. Onwards and upwards, always moving forward!

By: Tsana Dolichva

Tsana Dolichva — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:03:09 +0000

I've not picked up some books because they were by male writers. This was after a few bad experiences, however, and making the rather sweeping generalisation that female writers are better at writing the sort of intrigue I like in my fantasy. Which isn't to say I summarily refuse to read all male fantasy writers; I'm just more sceptical that I'll enjoy them.

(That said, I suppose I should also mention that most of the science fiction I read is by male writers, so that probably cancels much of the above out.)

Working in a male-dominated field (physics) it's hard not to be a feminist at times. SFF is increasingly giving me reason to get my feminist on, too. The Galactic Suburbia podcast may be fueling this urge.

PS apologies for any coherence-fail. It's late and I'm tired.

By: Jo

Jo — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 07:01:08 +0000

Well it is a fact that J.K. Rawlings was very successful without people knowing her name, but then other women have shot up the best seller list using a feminine name (Jean M. Auel being one that springs to mind). Its a difficult question to answer I think, as you say, there are pros and cons. You could start marketing as G.N. Larke *g*. Karen has her K.E. Mills persona.