Thought you might enjoy this infographic on men vs women writers, while I’m living it up in Maine! Â Please note this graphic was kindly provided by:https://www.grammarly.com/grammar-check
Interesting. My daughter has sent me an article about a woman who submitted a manuscript to multiple publishers, sometimes with a woman’s name and sometimes with a man’s name as author. The results are interesting. I’ll see if I can find it and send you a link. 🙂
That would be great. I can put it in a post followup! I gave my daughter a neutral name – Cameron – because I did not want her to be judged before being met. Many people have assumed I am a man based on my name.
Okay, Noelle, here is the link: http://goo.gl/BsgQhy
It is interesting to choose your daughter’s name that way. Was your name chosen for the same reason? The spelling of your name is unlike the “male” spelling.
This doesn’t surprise me. I think women are typically more creatively patient and look beyond the obvious. There are exceptions to everything, of course but as a general rule…
I can’t tell which I like. I don’t know whether I’m reading men who write like men, men who write like women, women who write like men, or women who write like women! Ha ha!
Maybe it’s just the style that I favor when reading, but I like shorter, to the point prose over long description. I have to mention over-writing a lot when I’m reading for other people.
OK, I’m glad I’m not just being grumpy when I critique. Marking someone’s manuscript all over with, “Why are you saying this in such a complicated way?” makes me feel like I’m just impossible to please sometimes. 😛
Interesting, indeed. I write mysteries, as do you, Noelle, a genre long dominated by men. I’m not interested in plot and suspense alone, however, or the detective crime novel, but prefer a literary quality to it. I’m interested in prose and want to see every word sing. I’m assuming men take a different approach to it, and imagine there’s an audience for both. Some studies show men sell better, perhaps because the field has been dominated by male writers for so long, and for that reason many women writers use initials rather than full names. In my view, that’s ridiculous, but I’m just the audience of one. Great post.
Great insight, Sylvia. I use my initials because there is another writer with my name out there and I wasn’t sure I wanted a nom de plume. I think women are catching up to men in the mystery genre rather quickly now, but I like your desire to make every word sing!
An interesting post and comments. I read more women authors, because my genres are generally favored by women. I prefer character driven novels, but I don’t mind description as long as it is well written and doesn’t drag. Long or short sentences? I would have to say long, as too many short sentences can sound sloppy.
I hope Norah can find that clipping. It will be interesting to see how publishers feel about male vs femail authors.
Reblogged this on Stuart Aken and commented:
An interesting infographic here. Of course, we’re all individuals and each of us will recognise various aspects of this survey as either true or false for us. But averages are always of interest.
I wouldn’t call women better writers just because of some tests although the results are interesting. I’d say it depends on the reader and on his/hers mood while reading a story. Sometimes I want a lovely written book filled with feelings, lovely descriptions and rich character development and sometimes I just want to dive into fast paced action to forget about the world surrounding me.
Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
Stand by for a SHOCKER from Noelle 😀
Thanks, Chris. I can be shocking!
NEVER Noelle 😀 😀 😀
Or perhaps it’s just that women write books women prefer to read?
A very valid comment! I usually investigate a male writer before I pick up his book.
Interesting. My daughter has sent me an article about a woman who submitted a manuscript to multiple publishers, sometimes with a woman’s name and sometimes with a man’s name as author. The results are interesting. I’ll see if I can find it and send you a link. 🙂
That would be great. I can put it in a post followup! I gave my daughter a neutral name – Cameron – because I did not want her to be judged before being met. Many people have assumed I am a man based on my name.
Okay, Noelle, here is the link: http://goo.gl/BsgQhy
It is interesting to choose your daughter’s name that way. Was your name chosen for the same reason? The spelling of your name is unlike the “male” spelling.
Thanks for the link, Norah. I will post this with some more “commentary” when I get home from vacation!
I look forward to reading it – hope I don’t miss it. 🙂
My dad used to get very cross with books (thrillers, detectives) written by women writers. I think he didn’t like the extra description.
My Dad, too, which is why he preferred to read sci-fi, which for many years was a male genre.
I’m not sure that it was, even in the early days (Mary Shelley?) – but there were certainly a lot of male writers to choose from in the 60s 🙂
This doesn’t surprise me. I think women are typically more creatively patient and look beyond the obvious. There are exceptions to everything, of course but as a general rule…
You may have a point there. Men like to get on with it, so perhaps that’s why their writing style – in general – is sparse.
I actually wasn’t surprised by the results, but I’m thrilled that there are a significant percentage of exceptions!
Me, too. But I am getting used to men’s writing and like it as a style.
I can’t tell which I like. I don’t know whether I’m reading men who write like men, men who write like women, women who write like men, or women who write like women! Ha ha!
Hard to tell who’s what these days! 🙂
Maybe it’s just the style that I favor when reading, but I like shorter, to the point prose over long description. I have to mention over-writing a lot when I’m reading for other people.
I do think women tend to overwrite, NJ. My critique groups comment on this a lot and it’s something I note when I’m reading. It’s a hard balance.
OK, I’m glad I’m not just being grumpy when I critique. Marking someone’s manuscript all over with, “Why are you saying this in such a complicated way?” makes me feel like I’m just impossible to please sometimes. 😛
Interesting, indeed. I write mysteries, as do you, Noelle, a genre long dominated by men. I’m not interested in plot and suspense alone, however, or the detective crime novel, but prefer a literary quality to it. I’m interested in prose and want to see every word sing. I’m assuming men take a different approach to it, and imagine there’s an audience for both. Some studies show men sell better, perhaps because the field has been dominated by male writers for so long, and for that reason many women writers use initials rather than full names. In my view, that’s ridiculous, but I’m just the audience of one. Great post.
Great insight, Sylvia. I use my initials because there is another writer with my name out there and I wasn’t sure I wanted a nom de plume. I think women are catching up to men in the mystery genre rather quickly now, but I like your desire to make every word sing!
There are exceptions, of course, and you’re one of them. 🙂
Aw, thank you! and back at you!
Very interesting. But I think that everyone who is writing a book has his/her own unique style and writing, and Genre
I agree about the uniqueness, but some of this I have noted in reviewing books by men and women,
Reblogged this on Adventures and Musings of an Arch Druidess.
Thank you!
An interesting post and comments. I read more women authors, because my genres are generally favored by women. I prefer character driven novels, but I don’t mind description as long as it is well written and doesn’t drag. Long or short sentences? I would have to say long, as too many short sentences can sound sloppy.
I hope Norah can find that clipping. It will be interesting to see how publishers feel about male vs femail authors.
She found it for me and I will post it when I get back from vacation. A good discussion to keep going!
Thanks. Have a great vacation.
That was really interesting, Noelle. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
You’re welcome, Suzanne. Actually a guy named Nick contacted me and asked if I’d be interested in posting and I like the topic!
Very interesting! Shared on Twitter… 🙂
Reblogged this on Stuart Aken and commented:
An interesting infographic here. Of course, we’re all individuals and each of us will recognise various aspects of this survey as either true or false for us. But averages are always of interest.
I wouldn’t call women better writers just because of some tests although the results are interesting. I’d say it depends on the reader and on his/hers mood while reading a story. Sometimes I want a lovely written book filled with feelings, lovely descriptions and rich character development and sometimes I just want to dive into fast paced action to forget about the world surrounding me.