Open Thread: Oracle Hotline

[mithen]

--Do you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations?

Most simply, I'm always deeply amused because most people who read my nonfiction assume that I'm a man, and usually a pretty young man, rather than a 52-year-old woman. I even talk about my husband in my writing! But because I never say explicitly I'm a woman, a lot of people continue to refer to me as "he" when they talk about me online--apparently it's more likely I'm a gay guy than a straight woman. I have no problem with this at all, but it does make me laugh.

How do you think readers see you or your work? And how's that work going this week?

Comments

[svgurl]

When I first got to fandom, I assumed most people were women and now I don't assume because I've been wrong a few times. It is interesting they thought you were a guy. I would wonder about the subjects you write but it seems that both men and women write about every topic more frequently these days but I guess there are still those preconceptions out there.

I haven't given much thought to how people see me or my work. I assume they realize that I'm a very specific type of writer by now. At least the ones who do know me, since I'm a fairly NNF and really that is how I prefer it. I don't think anyone hasn't assumed that I'm not a woman and I was relatively young when I started writing (late teens), which did come across. Some people are surprised I am Indian, but you wouldn't be able to figure that out from my fanfic anyway.

[mithen]

When I first got to fandom, I assumed most people were women and now I don't assume because I've been wrong a few times.

Yeah, me too! And yes, in this case it's because professional wrestling is so male-dominated, and it's assumed that women are only in the fandom because they find the guys hot, so the fact that I don't make thirsty tweets apparently throws people off, lol.

[bradygirl_12]

Wow, that's a toughie! I hope that people see my work as satisfying to read, and that whatever genre I present, it works for them. They probably look forward to foodie descriptions, too. 🍑🍉😄🍄🍅

My work's going pretty well. I just finished a new Natasha/Pepper story, which always makes me happy. 😊

[mithen]

The best foodie fan writer! And congrats on the Natasha/Pepper story getting done, that's always a great feeling!