I don’t look at gender when I’m choosing what I want to read. E. Annie Proulx managed to write two novels and a collection of short stories that I thoroughly enjoyed. And there is a list of other writers who wrote material I enjoy, and who happen also to be female.

Although she shoots herself in the foot by making such broad generalizations. I think Gray’s comments were less about female writers than the genre referred to as “chick lit” which is really “genre” writing (like fantasy, Sci-Fi and Horror) and not lit. And which seems to be popular lately among aspiring female writers.

The problems with any “genre” is that the “set of conventions” that are generally must be adhered to, does not lend itself to a less experienced writer. Now imagine that you’re a judge in a writing contest and have to wade through tons of manuscripts a majority of which happen to be weak attempts at the same genre because it’s what’s popular at the moment. In a similar situation I might be inclined to share Gray’s assessments. It would be like judging a mainstream fiction contest and everyone submitted Tolkienesque Fantasy.

Of course I could be on the wrong track entirely.

As to the merits of “chick lit” that’s an entire different conversation which I won’t go into, except to say it is not a genre I would (for a variety of reasons) spend my time or money on.