I Don't Read Books Written By Women...

[Amanda Markham]

Not me personally, but a colleague of mine. He's not alone. Lots of people choose books based on gender. You can read more about it here. I discovered that there are real, established differences in the ways in which men and women write - actual research.

So perhaps my colleague is on to something... For me though, I read just about anything (with a few notable exceptions).

But what about you? Do you read or not read books based upon author’s gender? What are your thoughts on the research (see link above) that men and women write differently?

[Becki Rizzuti]

They may have an easier time getting published (I believe you on this, as my observation has been similar) but I have consistently heard from women freelancers that they aren't making the same amount of money as the men are. The person who authored this particular post had taken on a male pseudonym and her revenue doubled, if I recall correctly.

The subject may also matter. For example, if technical writing is required, men seem to be more likely to be published at higher commissions.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

Oh, my! Well, that is news to me!

Now let me go find myself a male pseudonym . . .

[Becki Rizzuti]

I was pretty surprised to read this, but had also spoken to several female freelancers who felt as though they weren't making any money. It couldn't hurt to have a male pseudonym anyway. Maybe do an experiment of your own?

What I think is difficult for a lot of us (especially bloggers -- moreso than authors) is the fact that our "voice" can be lost if we attempt to bury it in an alternate identity.

[Shan]

That is interesting. I had a male college instructor who had much more success as a freelance writer when he wrote under a female name.

[Becki Rizzuti]

If you like, I can try to find the article. Let me know. I'm not going to dig it out if nobody's interested though ;)

[Amanda Markham]

I've actually written in spec fiction under a male pseudonym. I have to admit, I did find it easier to get published!

[Lesa]

Andre Norton is a another male pseudonym ---- I read Andre Norton as a kid and I'm not sure when I found out she was a woman but I researched her today for a blogpost and saw that she had written under several male names. wiki said she legally changed her name to Andre Alice Norton. Guess she felt she had to as a female writing sci/fi and fantasy in the early days.

[pussreboots]

Mary Ann Evans changed her name so many times throughout her life it's just easier to keep her pen name for her books. (I read that in Anonymity: A Secret History of English Literature by John Mullan ).

[Amanda Markham]

Yes, it was suggested at the book club lunch that he read George Eliot. I don't know if he has yet (I suspect not) but the rest of us are eagerly awaiting his feedback.

[Skip O'Neal]

I don't mind being blunt here: If you won't read a book because of the author's gender, you are an idiot.

-Skip
The Reading Ape

[pussreboots]

Women write with male pen names and men write with female pen names. I bet your colleague is reading books by women and not even realizing it.

[Enbrethiliel]

+JMJ+

This comment and the few digressions into Romance in this thread remind me of a similar issue that came up on a Romance message board.

One reader brought up Romances written by men, and someone else who had some insider information said that we'd be surprised to learn which moderately popular Romance authors are men. (She wouldn't name any, though, which was disappointing.) But what's most interesting to me is a third user's comment that she didn't like the idea of men writing Romances at all, because she sees it as a women's genre! And then the second user came back at her to say, based on the books #3 comments on, that the latter is already reading (and enjoying) Romances by men. LOL!

And then there are "teams" of two writers who share a pseudonym. I can think of two male-female pairings right now, and both of them use male names. (Well, if you count the ambiguity of something like "J.S. Smith"--for example--as "male.")