I'm going to try to write a chick lit novel in less than a month. I need your help.

Next month, I will start covering my 10th Supreme Court term for Slate. That seems an apt time for some very serious reflection. Or maybe not. When we were told to take time off from our everyday beats to do some kind of ambitious, long-form journalism, my first instinct naturally was to do something legal. Then I thought I'd like to do the hardest thing I could imagine. Which is writing a novel and filing it chapter by chapter as I go. And that's what I'm going to do, with you watching and helping. And I'm going to try to finish in less than four weeks.

Some folks think writing fiction is easy. And as I started to describe my fiction-writing project to people, I discovered that at least a quarter of my friends indeed have an unfinished novel someplace on their hard drive. This astounds me because as my kids will tell you, my idea of plotting fiction is to just keep talking until they've fallen asleep.

After much thought, I decided that the best genre for me to attempt is post-Bridget Jones, oops-there's-my-underwear-on-the-outside-again chick lit—because I'm a sucker for it and also because it seems slightly more doable than vampire erotica, about which I could not hope to become an expert in a matter of weeks. (For years, the joke around my house has been that there are two stacks of books on my side of the bed: One pile is about torture, Guantanamo, and military tribunals. The other is bright pink.) I am fully aware of the raging battles between those who take pink books seriously and those who do not. This project seeks to sidestep that entire literary debate by being fun for its own sake.

Of course chick lit is not a single genre. So I aspire to produce a book belonging to the fraught subgenre that's come to be known as "mommy lit." This subgenre is a cross between Bridget Jones and The Bell Jar. At its best, mommy lit is warmhearted escapism with a subtle poke at women who try to "have it all": Allison Pearson's I Don't Know How She Does It and Fiona Neill's Slummy Mummy are classics for good reason. At its worst, mommy lit is just another volley of back-and-forth sniper fire in the mommy wars—a prettily wrapped admonition to quit your job, if you have one, or get back to work, if you don't.

One of the things I want to probe in this month of writing is the question of why we see chick lit as an escape. What is it about women who are overscheduled, underappreciated, and who at some point become invariably compromised by an undergarment, that appeals to us? What does it signify, if anything, that men prefer to read about protagonists who slit terrorist throats from the deck of a yacht anchored off the Maldives while sipping a Makers Mark out of the navel of a pole dancer?

(Read more in Slate.)

Tags: chick lit

Dahlia Lithwick Slate contributor, mom, wife, currently drinking coffee

Comments

Canada Goose

By: sunnya2011 | Fri, 12/23/2011 - 02:34

A Canada Goose can aswell be a abundant section to alteration you through the alfresco amore to some arctic air conditioned space Canada Goose Jackets. Usually talking, it absolutely is abundant bigger to baddest a long-sleeved clothes shirt and cycle Canada Goose Coats the sleeves as abundant as your elbows than it absolutely is to aces a abbreviate sleeved clothes shirt. canada goose jackets online shop are alone Canada Goose Jacket down anorak a admirable garments. It is in fact absolutely balmy as a aftereffect of the adult and accelerating technologiescanada goose outlet. However, it’s a contemporary all-embracing look. For the humans gals who accept to accumulate appealing in winter, canada goose sale will be an able preference. Own a Canada Goose, abroad from snow and wind.The canada goose parka acquire a coyote fur trim on the hoods which has triggered a few altercation with a few pet rights non accumulation organizations that are absolutely from the use of fur in any affectionate of accouterment or product. canada goose jackets on sale has dedicated their own to use the hair aback it is appropriate aural the acutely astringent problems to accomplish the aegis and calefaction from the hair.

Canada Goose

By: sunnya2011 | Fri, 12/23/2011 - 02:33

miu miu bags

By: 1xuntong | Mon, 12/12/2011 - 22:47

Head is a dressed in prada mens bags , the waist is hand wan the wind Huan fog whiskers, hair don't the prada bags on sale. Eyes look unripe brightness, hold the colourful color hearts and beauty.

Just go to the flowers there is a side in prada bags on sale , white clouds scattered with flower skirt, BinFa such as the mist, inclined fork prada vela messenger bag , delicate and charming face like the palace outfit and eyebrow woman.

Golden cherubim prada tote bag 2012 the border of yellow, green hand wan xia ROM peony mist the yarn. Cloud bun I I, wearing , face like month namby-pamby, eyes look unripe brightness, hot heart. Is a natural and graceful and temperament with a expensive gas and fragile woman.

jewelry

By: wonderfuljewelry | Sat, 12/10/2011 - 09:00

Buy small quanity fashion jewelry directly from China? Here I strongly recommend you one fashion jewelry wholesale supplier online. It is wonderful-jewelry.com which carry huge collections for cz jewelry crystal jewelry, fashion jewelry. It is a big company for wholesale fashion jewelry. And it has very small quantity minimum order requirement. With fast delivery time and best customer service, it has won a lots of small fashion jewelry wholesale customers. It ships worldwide.

cheap true religion

By: agagshoes | Thu, 12/08/2011 - 21:19

U.S. Defense Secretary Panetta discount true religion jeans said that in 2014, the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan and Iraq, Washington's attention will shift to strengthen the "Asian" military. But the U.S. is only now beginning to deter China, will not be too late? In the United States true religion outlet focused on the Balkans and the Middle East, the Chinese dragon has emerged. Now the Chinese armed forces have entered a new phase of cheap true religion modernization, to stay away from the coast of China in regional activities, safeguard China's true religion jeans sale national interests in the Asia Pacific region, and this region of the true religion jeans outlet United States has a very important significance. China has developed nuclear submarine modernization program, 2020 to build aircraft carrier battle groups, China's coastal areas away from combat. However, the attention of Chinese leaders are now focused on three areas: to defend national interests in the Yellow Sea; recover Taiwan; the competitors out of the Nansha Islands.
http://www.religionjeansis.com

ugg boots

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:57

If you are one of those fashion conscious individuals who love to wear everything that is stylish.Cheap Ugg boots are creatively designed to accommodate the feet of women and kids of all shapes and sizes and come in different colors to suit different tastes.

moncler

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:56

2011 Moncler Shop,We offer more remise Moncler Outlet，Cheap Moncler Outlet products with unbelievable prices;amazing customer services here.Be looking forward to your coming.Here are Mens Moncler Coats,Women Moncler Jackets,Moncler Vests,Moncler Branson Kids Jackets,Moncler down jackets,Moncler Jackets Men ,Moncler Jackets Women and so on.These doudoune moncler will make you warm and comfort.
Welcome to Moncler Jackets Outlet Store online! We are providing 2011 latest Moncler jackets,coats,vest up to 50% off and Free Shipping!

mbt shoes

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:54

guohua0594

By: macmakeup12 | Fri, 10/21/2011 - 06:24

discount ugg boots

By: nikekobe | Sat, 10/08/2011 - 04:02

The "studio flex low" Ryke women boots sale are also very light shoes which can help you to accomplish the twists and turns of the dance steps in Zumba with ease. When it comes to shoes, you need those that will help you to remain light on your feet but they should also be sturdy enough to keep their traction on the floor so that you do not slip and hurt yourself bailey button triplet.Of this range, the Studio D is also a very popular shoe. If you are looking for comfort then these shoes are all about padding and makes for a great Zumba accessory.The Bloch brand is another Zumba favorite bailey button boots and these ugg classic boots shoes are both light and flexible. These shoes have a high arch, which are perfect for those people who are not comfortable in average shoes. Another great advantage is the fact that the high density out-sole has been especially designed for turns of 360 degrees. If you are thinking about purchasing one of the items in this range, the Bloch Boost DRT Mesh sneakers is the best for Zumba and its dance moves.When you are dancing, getting the right ugg boots sale classic short boots is a very important factor which will help you to perfect the moves. Without the right shoes you will not be able to move correctly and this could hinder your performance. The best classic tall boots are those that are light, sturdy and yet will provide you with the traction that you need to control your balance. The brands listed here are not the only brands that will help you, when it comes to Zumba dancing, but they are favored among the many. Your comfort boots should be comfortable and they should suit you and your dance skills. When you have found these you will know you have found the cheap bailey button brand.

The Secret Dreams of Famous Women

Writers, actors, and politicians on who they wanted to be when they grew up.

What's Wrong With "A Short History of Women," the Novel

The shortcomings of this kind of fiction.

Linda Hirshman
|
July 6, 2009

The Death of Chick Lit

How the recession is transforming the genre.

Sarah Bilston
|
August 11, 2009

Arts

Saving Face? Or Losing My Mind?

Comments

Canada Goose

By: sunnya2011 | Fri, 12/23/2011 - 02:34

Canada Goose

By: sunnya2011 | Fri, 12/23/2011 - 02:33

miu miu bags

By: 1xuntong | Mon, 12/12/2011 - 22:47

jewelry

By: wonderfuljewelry | Sat, 12/10/2011 - 09:00

cheap true religion

By: agagshoes | Thu, 12/08/2011 - 21:19

ugg boots

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:57

moncler

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:56

mbt shoes

By: zhenhua | Sat, 10/29/2011 - 03:54

guohua0594

By: macmakeup12 | Fri, 10/21/2011 - 06:24

discount ugg boots

By: nikekobe | Sat, 10/08/2011 - 04:02

Related Articles

The Secret Dreams of Famous Women

What's Wrong With "A Short History of Women," the Novel

The Death of Chick Lit

DoubleX

The Root

Good Morning America

Washington Post