Are men better writers than women?

What brave soul is going to answer that one with a 'Yes' or 'No'?

Yes . . .

Are you really asking us to answer this question? Does it actually need an answer? If you're aware that Kvelvane's arguments are specious and immature, why raise his question here? I'd much rather discuss how Kvelvane's about to get ripped a new one.

...Oh, very well.

No, the ability to write excellently is not sex-linked. Neither men nor women are universally better at writing fiction. Next question?

Ayn Rand and Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings are my favorite female authors. I'm a fool for whatever they wrote. So "yes" females are every bit as good as men.

On the otherhand the topics of female writers usually dont appeal to me. Real Moronians dont do romances or Rachel Ray.

Ok, if the guy never reads books by women, how does he know men are better? Ridiculous.

ludicrous.

Lighten up, people . . . come on.

Just giving this subject any sort of serious debate gives it far more credence than it can ever deserve.

Funny, I was going to use Ayn Rand as an extreme (probably the most extreme possible) case against female writers.

But it's a silly argument, anyway. If I had to choose, I'd be tempted to side with the women. It can't be that simple though.

Q: Are men better writers than women?
A: No.

The question assumes an either/or proposition, which calls for a gratuitous conclusion, which is absurd on its face. Thus the question is no good.

The art of Finding Things Out is in asking the right questions.

I think there's some merit to this question, actually. I heard/read somewhere that men are generally better at reading maps than women. If it's true that men's brains are wired differently than women's brains, then maybe men are better at writing some kinds of things than women....generally speaking.

It also depends upon how granular you want to get. I would have to think women are better at writing about experiencing menstruation & childbirth (in general) and men are better at writing (in general) about how they feel when experiencing male-patterned-baldness.

I think being good at something, though, boils down to passion. If that's the case, I think I know more women who are passionate about writing then I do men. Could be my perception, though. Men may be less open to sharing their passions.

Wow, this is getting deep.

Sure. George Sand and George Eliot to name two.

Sesselja said:

I never set intended to read mostly men, yet I seem to do so. Is it just coincidence? Do men cover different topics than women? Write differently? Have better publicists? Get less prejudice? Recieve more attention?

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All I can safely conclude is this: The set of authors represented by your bookshelf overlaps closely the set of authors that best match your particular tastes. To try to make any claims about writing quality based on your reading preferences is to mistake your opinion for objective fact.

(This has been excerpted from page 37 from Niki's book, How To Apply Your "people mistaking their own preferences for Universal Truth" Pet Peeve To Every Possible Discussion On AW. Forthcoming, Feb 2007, Doubleday. )

rwam said:

I think there's some merit to this question, actually. I heard/read somewhere that men are generally better at reading maps than women. If it's true that men's brains are wired differently than women's brains, then maybe men are better at writing some kinds of things than women....generally speaking.

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Yes, even if it's true, what does one plan to do with this information?

"Men are better than women at writing. Therefore..."

Therefore Kvelkane wants to perform preliminary publishing triage based on the presence of a Y chromosome. Bad!

Therefore readers who believe this to be true perform purchasing triage based on the presence of a Y chromosome. Bad!

Therefore writing teachers who believe this to be true will encourage male writers and discourage female writers. Bad!

Therefore a woman who might have pursued a career in fiction will, once convinced that men are better fiction writers than women--or at least convinced that publishers, editors, and agents are convinced of it--subsume her aspirations into something else, like journalism or copy-editing or teaching. Really bad!

Even if "men are better fiction writers than women" were true, I can't think of a single good use to put that fact to. I can only see it being used as a bludgeon to beat on women's heads with. And that's just plain bad.

So, with that in mind, what possible merit is there to this question? Seriously?

Well it's pretty obvious, men and women , ON AVERAGE, write about different things, but then comparing two genres and saying one is better doesn't make much sense.

rwam said:

I heard/read somewhere that men are generally better at reading maps than women.

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You're assuming a man will pick up and read a map? I thought men never got lost?

And how does this guy know he's never read a female writer's work? Has he heard the term Pen Name before?

I would like to kick this man in the 'nads. What's his address?

What merit does this question have? I think any question that causes people to think and inspires meaningful & civil dialogue provides a great opportunity for learning and growth. Especially when I'm bored stiff here at work.

Midnight: Are you wanting to kick my nads? Or the person that once said men read maps better than women?

rwam said:

Midnight: Are you wanting to kick my nads? Or the person that once said men read maps better than women?

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Considering any person who feels women can't possibly write well probably doesn't have 'nads, tis a moot point.

men/women

Such a silly question. Of course men are better writers than women. Men are better at everything than women. We're even more humble than women. Women should be barefoot, in the kitchen, and prepetually pregnant. And they should only speak when spoken to, and then should lower their eyes and speak softly. They should also , of course, walk three steps behind a man when in public.

(Note. None of this applies to my wife, who is smarter than any man, does everything better than any man, and is an angel come to earth.)