Did you know? It’s Women’s Fiction Day!

Can you believe it? WE HAVE A DAY!

I started this blog in March 2011 because I couldn’t find like-minded writers anywhere. I didn’t see information on the interest that spoke to the kind of author I wanted to be, the kind of books I wanted to write. It didn’t exist, so I created it!

Now there is an international organization WFWA and an acknowledgment of the genre in mainstream publishing.

Of course the arguments ensue. What is WF? Why is there no men’s fiction genre? Why do we want a label that marginalizes us and our readers?

1. To me, like I’ve always said, WF is a story in which the main character saves herself. It’s about life from a woman’s perspective, partially at least. No, I don’t believe books without at least one female POV are WF, but that’s me. If the emotional journey is a man’s alone — to me — it’s not what I’m looking for. But that doesn’t mean you’re not welcome to feel differently. But if you’re nasty on social media or my blog, I’ll delete and block you. This is not a democracy. No one pays me to do this. I pay to keep up this site, with money and with time and with energy. So be nice.
2. There’s no men’s fiction genre because the whole damn world is men’s fiction by default.
3. I do not feel marginalized by the WF label, I feel empowered. I choose to write stories that specifically are meant to be meaningful to women. I choose almost exclusively to read books by women, most fall under the WF umbrella in some way, some don’t. Again, choice is empowering. Take that any way you will. I happen to think lipstick is also empowering.

Writer Unboxed has a great WF post today as well.

Whatever you think and whatever you write, just do your best and be kind.

The rest will follow.

xo, Amy