Also, I write in my head all the time. I tell myself stories while I’m walking some place, taking the metro, etc. The more I imagine scenarios, the more I want to write them down. Sometimes it gets frustrating though when I don’t have any time to do so!

I actually have the flu so I’ve been in bed all week only venturing out on trips to the kitchen, the bathroom, and the computer. I’m feeling a little more peppy today, though. How are you?

I think writing is considered a “womanly” pursuit – which is stupid since for a long time men were the only ones who were allowed to write!

I think that gender assumptions definitely condition brain development. There have been lots of studies done that prove that people react differently to an infant they perceive as male than to an infant they perceive as female (in most of these studies it’s the same infant being dressed differently and getting completely different reactions depending on their gendered presentation). I think there are lots of gendered assumptions that go along with language – that’s why there are ideas about how men speak vs. how women speak. I’m sure those differences are a function of socialization. Like I said, I’m willing to believe those things translate into written language as well (maybe that’s why lots of people think romantic era writers are “girly”?) but I think a good writer can convey whatever gender speaker they want.

It’s Tara from NYC. I just tried this analyzer on the blog I write for my Finnegans Wake reading group, and apparently I’m a man (67%). Oh well. Also, I’ve considered this question (whether a recognizably male or female style of writing exists) before, because I’ve been accused of (or rather, described as) writing too masculine-y. And I don’t know how to feel about that. But, all your thoughts and questions are good ones and w/r/t this particular site—which claims its motive is “fun and curiosity”—I don’t think we’ll be getting any answers soon.

Hope you’re well …

I saw a play (or “theatrical conference”) recently that was about gender roles, and one of the questions they asked was do gender assumptions condition brain development? For example do boys play ball because they’re “better at spatial relations” or are they better at spatial relations because when their brains are developing, their parents are always sending them out to play ball. And idem for girls and “community-based” communication. Is that because they’re often offered cooperating games? I could believe that language may develop also based on gender assumptions, but I totally agree with you — a good author is universal.

Sorry it took me a long time to respond. The spam filter caught your comment!

I like the idea of a twitter novel, but still can’t seem to get over my aversion to the point where I can join the site. Anyway, if I ever end up on twitter I’ll start following you and your novel idea