tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post2195848908812712545..comments2024-03-29T01:12:55.703-04:00Comments on Chick Lit Central: Never too old to be a chick?Melissahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06488832373580617482noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-21415436491530508552013-07-18T19:42:12.460-04:002013-07-18T19:42:12.460-04:00Now that I think about it, all of us chafe against...Now that I think about it, all of us chafe against the ___-lit labels and there are no similar labels for books that appeal to men! Those books have never been pigeon-holed as "6-pack ab lit" or "balding lit" or "divorced-Dad lit." Hmmmmm . . . !!!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322005667504237009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-23309009448906447112013-07-18T19:13:08.827-04:002013-07-18T19:13:08.827-04:00A few months back I read that chick lit characters...A few months back I read that chick lit characters are no longer chick lit characters after age 35. My character is 40 something. When I read "hen lit" I might have had a little panic attack. I do agree that I don't relate much to the 25 yr old somethings anymore. My daughter is 21. I refuse to be considered a hen lit writer. I did also read something that said chick lit is a state of mind...it's an attitude. That made me feel better. Carolyn Ridder Aspensonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09077435277907465951noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-2889376343369590242013-07-18T08:01:42.669-04:002013-07-18T08:01:42.669-04:00"I’m here to tell you that as long as you are..."I’m here to tell you that as long as you are a modern woman with sass, class and in my case, some brass, there will be room for more chickies in the nest!"<br /><br />Love this so much I had to repeat it! :) This was an amazing article, Cindy! And it's a very timely topic, one that I've discussed with many of my author friends. What happened to 40 being the new 30? Why do women of a certain age have to classify themselves as "mature?" All the labels are so insulting. Hen Lit is the absolute worst; it has so many negative connotations. I, for one, like to write about heroines of all ages (In my first book, the lead characters ranged in age from 24-48.) All the stages of a woman's life are interesting, funny, and fraught with challenges. So, I think they should all be celebrated and enjoyed, in real life and on the page. Tracie Banisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16251073586491084749noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-33052088371833098332013-07-11T12:38:49.718-04:002013-07-11T12:38:49.718-04:00Love this post and have also thought a lot about t...Love this post and have also thought a lot about this topic. When I wrote "What the Dog Ate" and signed my agent, I didn't know what genre to call it. My agent said it wasn't chick lit cuz the m.c. is 41. She called it "hen lit." Good lord, I hate that phrase! I told her no way would I ever call it that, so we settled on pitching it as "humorous commercial women's fiction." What a mouthful! <br /><br />I feel funny calling my book chick lit because I do think folks expect the heroine will be 20 or 30-something. And, yet, I myself - like you - think I am a very young 48 and I definitely consider myself a chick still (NOT a hen!!). <br /><br />Hoping the older (but apparently not wiser) Bridget Jones will do great things for advancing stories with chick lit heroines of (slightly) advanced years! <br /><br />Great post! Jackie Bouchardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05854479764528604256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-25991028993525808232013-07-10T21:22:13.799-04:002013-07-10T21:22:13.799-04:00This is a great post! I'm still firmly in &quo...This is a great post! I'm still firmly in "chick" territory but I can understand this. Thanks for sharing!Books Etc.https://www.blogger.com/profile/10920924552574859601noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-8957223756359991752013-07-10T20:18:51.870-04:002013-07-10T20:18:51.870-04:00Fascinating subject, Cindy! I thought a lot about...Fascinating subject, Cindy! I thought a lot about the labels before I pitched Thin Rich Bitches. My main character is 40 years old and divorced, with a 10 year old child. So was it Mom Lit or Divorce Lit or Chick Lit? I decided to avoid all of the labels, assuming that Chick Lit would define the genre not the age of the main character. So I agree! Chicks can and are all ages!<br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14322005667504237009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-77919636413021995192013-07-10T19:31:38.534-04:002013-07-10T19:31:38.534-04:00lol! I so remember when I first heard the term &qu...lol! I so remember when I first heard the term "Hen Lit" - I was very much against that. "Lady Lit" wasn't much better. Back then I had a blog called "Chicks Over 40" - so I think you can be a chick at any age.<br /><br />I'd love to think this is making a comeback because not only do I love reading it, but I love writing it. <br /><br />Thanks for posting this!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-61851349528799182642013-07-10T17:22:31.703-04:002013-07-10T17:22:31.703-04:00Love this post, Cindy, and I love YOU!
My female c...Love this post, Cindy, and I love YOU!<br />My female characters are usually over 40, and I wouldn't have it any other way. Martha Reynoldsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-24169862039659955552013-07-10T16:50:07.549-04:002013-07-10T16:50:07.549-04:00Chick-lit, for me is an attitude--finding "ha...Chick-lit, for me is an attitude--finding "happy" within the chaos that is life. It's relevant at any age. Perhaps the publishing industry links the genre more tightly to the age of the main character, but the spirit of the story isn't limited. At a smidgen shy of fifty, my life feels like a more grounded version of my twenties, looking at everything with a fresh lens.J. B. Everetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17183630832732620906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-61755805384049293342013-07-10T16:23:05.247-04:002013-07-10T16:23:05.247-04:00I believe as we get older, we just have more life ...I believe as we get older, we just have more life experiences with us. I'm proud of my age and to have all the knowledge I have. I wear every one of my gray hairs and wrinkles proudly. I don't have any children either, but I have nieces and a nephew that fall in those age groups. I can honestly say, I don't wish to revisit those ages. I'm proud to be a 48 year old chick. Janinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462641875046092313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-85622364514631439512013-07-10T16:11:08.841-04:002013-07-10T16:11:08.841-04:00Cindy,
I loved your post! As a 42-year-old woman, ...Cindy,<br />I loved your post! As a 42-year-old woman, I am shocked every time I hear those radio commercials that say, "If you're over 40..." and they are implying that that is OLD! Crazy! The heroine of my novel <i>On Grace</i> is about to turn 40 in the book and it celebrates this wonderful time in women's lives. When we finally get to start being who we are! I do have to say, though, that while I have no problem reading books about 20-something women and they're a lot of fun, I do very much enjoy reading about women my age just because it's more authentic and relatable. Thx again for the great post!!Susie Orman Schnallhttp://www.susieschnall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-59103876686033248302013-07-10T15:40:36.932-04:002013-07-10T15:40:36.932-04:00I think you can be a chick as long as you wish!
I...I think you can be a chick as long as you wish!<br /><br />I cannot wait for the new Bridget Jones book to come out!AiringMyLaundryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11051140760624657630noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-1582436208197872122013-07-10T15:05:01.564-04:002013-07-10T15:05:01.564-04:00Thanks so much for this! It falls into the catego...Thanks so much for this! It falls into the category of "I wish I had written it"! Those of us older "chicks" are just wiser "chicks" and we can read and write the books that speak to us and our continuing sense of fun. Can't wait to read your new book. Best, P.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-87361316651916024752013-07-10T14:51:43.382-04:002013-07-10T14:51:43.382-04:00Thanks for the Geoducks shout-out!
My motto is &q...Thanks for the Geoducks shout-out!<br /><br />My motto is "grow up, not old". :)<br /><br />:)<br /><br />Daisy<br /><br />Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03945333203846453316noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2622828765030571851.post-14122567161685304342013-07-10T13:50:27.635-04:002013-07-10T13:50:27.635-04:00Golly, I hope age doesn’t keep one from being cons...Golly, I hope age doesn’t keep one from being considered to be a “chick.” i am 67 and I adore chick lit! It is the happiest, most down to earth genre ever and always leaves me laughing and happy. So, I hope that it won’t get to the point that I’m asked for my ID before I can buy a chick lit book. ;-)Conniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03217408544219883095noreply@blogger.com