Madeline Brock asked Chris Bohjalian:

What is your secret to writing realistic women and understanding the female mind? As a woman I sometimes struggle with writing from the male POV.

Chris Bohjalian Oh, I struggle, too --writing from both a female and a male POV. One of my favorite reviews was for MIDWIVES way back in December 1996. It ended, "An added benefit of this novel is the candor and honesty wth which Chris Bohjalian writes about her experiences in labor, and what it must have been like for her to give birth." That one was a keeper.

I usually begin with the universalities of what links us as people -- the things that make us all human. Then, little by little, I start to layer in the gender-specific differences and quirks and idiosyncrasies.

Thanks for asking, Madeline. It's a great question.

flag

Just want to say that I am a HUGE fan (also born in White Plains!).. just finished The Flight Attendant last night and LOVED it. Midwives and The Double Bind are also favorites... thank you! (? - no question, just a comment)

Gwyn Haller asked Chris Bohjalian:

I have six grandsons. A couple of these grandsons are voracious readers and the others are active readers--a couple of them write. All the boys are between 12 and 17. Suddenly, they are the size of men, and the writers have to keep that secret or on a back burner because they're expected to be all about sports. Did you experience any resistance to your career as a writer as a boy/teen?

Jason Howell asked Chris Bohjalian:

People talk about "Aha!" moments. What about "I've stopped caring!" moments? Can you recall a particular instance, in writing or in life, where stopping caring was the cure? Where letting go jettisoned you forward, helped you get unstuck?

All answers from Chris Bohjalian…

Chris Bohjalian

12,929 followers

To ask Chris Bohjalian a question, please sign up.

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

What is your secret to writing realistic women and understanding the female mind? As a woman I sometimes struggle with writing from the male POV.

More Answered Questions

Just want to say that I am a HUGE fan (also born in White Plains!).. just finished The Flight Attendant last night and LOVED it. Midwives and The Double Bind are also favorites... thank you! (? - no question, just a comment)

People talk about "Aha!" moments. What about "I've stopped caring!" moments? Can you recall a particular instance, in writing or in life, where stopping caring was the cure? Where *letting go* jettisoned you forward, helped you get unstuck?

About Goodreads Q&A

People talk about "Aha!" moments. What about "I've stopped caring!" moments? Can you recall a particular instance, in writing or in life, where stopping caring was the cure? Where letting go jettisoned you forward, helped you get unstuck?