Marisa
asked
Jennifer Weiner:
I was lucky enough to read an ARC of your memoir. I laughed out loud and definitely ugly cried a few times. I loved that the characters in your novels are similar to you. How do you feel being a role model to women?
Jennifer Weiner
Ack! Role model!
This goes back to the question of vulnerability, and suspension of disbelief. When I’m writing, I try not to think too much about how my books are going to be perceived, out there in the wild, and I just write as honestly as I can. I pretend that I’m talking to a good friend, over coffee, and I’m saying, This happened, and that happened, and some of it was awful, but I got through it okay.
There’s a quote I always think of, by the poet and activist Muriel Rukeyser, who asks, “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.” It’s a lot easier to pretend, to put a flattering filter on a picture, or a positive spin on a Facebook post, and act like things are perfect…but does that leave anyone in a better place? I believe in telling the truth about my life, as much as I can, whether that means talking about my family, or posting a shot of myself in a swimsuit and saying this is my truth, because I believe that, when something has split open, when it’s broken, that’s when you have the chance to heal and repair and make things better. (But I still love a good filter on an Instagram picture!)
This goes back to the question of vulnerability, and suspension of disbelief. When I’m writing, I try not to think too much about how my books are going to be perceived, out there in the wild, and I just write as honestly as I can. I pretend that I’m talking to a good friend, over coffee, and I’m saying, This happened, and that happened, and some of it was awful, but I got through it okay.
There’s a quote I always think of, by the poet and activist Muriel Rukeyser, who asks, “What would happen if one woman told the truth about her life? The world would split open.” It’s a lot easier to pretend, to put a flattering filter on a picture, or a positive spin on a Facebook post, and act like things are perfect…but does that leave anyone in a better place? I believe in telling the truth about my life, as much as I can, whether that means talking about my family, or posting a shot of myself in a swimsuit and saying this is my truth, because I believe that, when something has split open, when it’s broken, that’s when you have the chance to heal and repair and make things better. (But I still love a good filter on an Instagram picture!)
More Answered Questions
Jackie Matey
asked
Jennifer Weiner:
So I've been reading a lot about the planning, structuring, and outlining of novels lately, and, to be frank, I've been incredibly intimidated in my own writing since then. When it comes to your books, especially those with three or four main characters, what does your pre-writing process involve? Scrivener? Index cards? Outlines? Character bios? Ritual sacrifices to the writing gods?
Y.M. Nelson
asked
Jennifer Weiner:
"In shopping my debut novel, I've noticed that there are a LOT of female literary agents. The agent is like the gatekeeper to the traditional publishing industry for authors. Why then is there so much less recognition/reward/notoriety for female authors than male authors?"
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