Ms. Showalter deserves public censure for what she’s done, not adoring praise. She’s the most anti-feminist feminist I’ve ever known.

Lee Davis

You can Google around, there’s lots of stuff out there on this.

Showalter’s a little whacked on a few things, too. Like stating that certain illnesses are hysterical when you’re not qualified to assess. That’s kinda arrogant…when you don’t know what you don’t know. Plus, she totally misrepresented Tillie Olsen’s claim about Silences, at least as I recall it. And then she rebutted the wrong claim. I’m about to blog on this myself. Grrr.

The Tale of Genji written by female courtesan Murasaki Shikibu in the eleventh century is considered to be the world’s first novel. We learned in my 1993 (gasp!) Women Novelists class that women, especially in the 1700-1800s invented the novel.

Wild, I worked for MC when that issue with the sex slavery article came out. Have a lot to say about the magazine business (and new media) but must get back to work writing headlines like ‘unwanted hair is gone—forever!’ If it will let me take a few months off later this year to rework my novel, it’s all worth it.

Looking forward to reading more of your stuff – Michelle

“The only happiness you have is writing something new, in the middle of the night, armpits damp, heart pounding, something no one has seen yet. You have only those brief, fragile, untested moments of exhilaration when you know: you are a genius.”

It’s the middle of the night, armpits damp, heart pounding. Not so brief or fragile, but a real sense of exhilaration. Michelle, good god, woman, let’s get a drink.

I had a similar feeling when I wrote this piece. At the time, alone in my apartment, I said aloud, loudly, “WRITING-GASM!” Nothing feels better–except that one thing.

Anyway, the point is, a few things come to mind re: your things (and thank you for your contribution):

I personally haven’t read anywhere that women invented the novel as literary form. If it’s true, it’s not well attributed. A Jury of Her Peers is very much about this, the idea that women contributed in ways that have been concealed, misunderstood, and confused. I managed to confuse a few things myself…

When I was in high school, I subscribed to Marie Claire. Doing so made me feel sophisticated, worldly, prepared for sex, etc. (NB: magazines don’t prepare well for sex). In one issue, I read an article about women being sold into sex slavery. It scared the shit out of me. What scared me more was that the article was between ads for perfume and bras and diet pills. Lightbulb moment. Something is fucking wrong here. I was close with my European history teacher, one of my first female role models (she is a goddess), and just baffled, I showed it to her. I needed her to tell me why. She looked at me in a way that I interpreted as, “Yeah, this is the world, cupcake. I’m sorry you just figured it out. But deal with it.” Your comment turns it all around for me. “The message was still received.” Yes, you are right. Elaine made me rethink a few things, particularly my immature and thoughtless hatred of “chick lit,” for example.

In the uncut original interview questions, I asked Elaine if she was a feminist. She didn’t respond. Fair enough. And I can’t imagine what she could have said to that question. I, Elissa Bassist, would say this: That same history teacher taught the evils of “isms,” and I can understand why not everyone is into the label. But I know, secretly, that if you are a person who cares about equality for all people, you’re a feminist. If you’re a woman who’s in school or working or being a good mom, you’re a feminist. I know a ton of people, men and women, who are feminists and just refuse to use the term. Lots of my boyfriends have refused to use the term “boyfriend” or “relationship,” but that didn’t fool me. Words schmurds.

Want to send me your serious dark stuff? That’s my favorite kind. I think you’re right that you have to put it between optimism, humor, etc. I think that’s how Lorrie Moore gets away with it…balance, dimension, honesty. That woman is a black pit of despair, but she’s hilarious and smart as hell about it.

And, I have to say, even though E. Showalter didn’t respond to all my questions/insanity, she’s still my reason to get up in the morning.

Also, Michelle, most of what I write? Not all? Was it the Ayn Rand piece?

And, of course, I can’t wait to read more of your work. I completely agree when you-as-imaginary-Elaine encourage yourself to please, please keep writing!

A few things that come to mind:

Didn’t women invent the novel as literary form?

As a writer the term chick lit annoys me, but really, I don’t care. Who cares if the book gets published with a pink cover if it gets read? I come from a women’s magazine background where the Taliban articles were wedged between makeover stories and pieces about the hot new eyeshadow of the season, and it worked—the message was still received. I followed this model when writing my novels. I sandwich the serious lessons in between optimism, feminism, fashion and beauty. The serious stuff is very dark though and I have yet to find a publisher.

90% of the time I’m incapable of writing in my apartment—I have to get out.

Is feminism still a dirty word? Most women I know won’t admit to being one (never been my problem). I mean, look at all the women who voted for the man in last election…

I do read some of what you write, Elissa, and most of it is pretty damn good. Great spin on Showalter not showing up for most of your interview questions.