If one writes the rules then one can contradict oneself. It's all about rhetoric, about official narratives.

I don't think men experience the embargo on channeling the autobiography in their literature.

I think the female first-person is still dismissed, demonized, especially if the book does not end on an empowering note, especially if the main character is perceived as unlikeable, or too privileged.

The hope in literature is that we are allowed to be imperfect, to write of our imperfection, without being overly critiqued for being unlikeable.

I am worthy of being read. I mean, one has to be convinced of one's genius.

I think for a woman, getting older can help, through personal experience, although of course older women are then rendered invisible in our society, another existential crisis.

People are depressed for many reasons, one of which I think is how we have been taught to react to trauma, to stress.