Homme de Plume: What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name
Homme de Plume: What I Learned Sending My Novel Out Under a Male Name
http://jezebel.com/homme-de-plume-what-i-learned-sending-my-novel-out-und-1720637627
The plan made me feel dishonest and creepy, so it took me a long time to send my novel out under a man’s name. But each time I read a study about unconscious bias, I got a little closer to trying it.
I set up a new e-mail address under a name—let’s say it was George Leyer, though it wasn’t—and left it empty. Weeks went by without word from the agents who had my work. I read another study about how people rate job applicants they believe are female and how much better they like those they believe are male.
(snio)
I sent the six queries I had planned to send that day. Within 24 hours George had five responses—three manuscript requests and two warm rejections praising his exciting project. For contrast, under my own name, the same letter and pages sent 50 times had netted me a total of two manuscript requests. The responses gave me a little frisson of delight at being called “Mr.” and then I got mad. Three manuscript requests on a Saturday, not even during business hours! The judgments about my work that had seemed as solid as the walls of my house had turned out to be meaningless. My novel wasn’t the problem, it was me—Catherine.
I wanted to know more of how the Georges of the world live, so I sent more. Total data: George sent out 50 queries, and had his manuscript requested 17 times. He is eight and a half times better than me at writing the same book. Fully a third of the agents who saw his query wanted to see more, where my numbers never did shift from one in 25.
(more at link)
= new reply since forum marked as read
Do men choose books by gender? Don't think i've ever taken that into consideration.
Article was super interesting and a bit disheartening. i have a name that could be for a boy or a girl. When accepted to graduate school my acceptance letter was addressed to Mr. My Name. Was very nervous about traveling across country for my first day. 
Happened twice when being called in for job interviews, too. Can't help wondering now how many opportunities were denied me based on gender.
