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
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?"
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more