A Tale of Two Titties: A Writer’s Guide to Conquering the Most Sexist Tropes in Literary History

Vondriska, whose X account @MenWriteWomen skewers sexist literature, provides an irreverent guide purporting to help women authors emulate the misogynistic literary stylings that propel male writers to the top of bestseller lists. The “basic bro code for writing women” includes such tenets as “women are breasts” and “thou must never portray a woman as having both brains and beauty.” A breakdown of female stock characters used to “advance the story of the male hero” explains that secretaries should be oblivious to their own sexiness and that nagging wives should drive their husbands to drink. Lampooning the excuses male authors use to dismiss critics, Vondriska recommends that readers accused of writing flat female characters blame “where you grew up,” “what books you read as a child,” or “the character. They’re meant to be an asshole!” The mordant commentary bites, but exercises interspersed throughout come across as filler, as when Vondriska provides a “manly Madlib” prompting readers to supply sexually charged adjectives, as well as blank pages for writing an objectifying description of a woman’s corpse in the style of a male mystery writer. Still, it’s a raucous send-up of the male gaze. Agent: Justin Brouckaert, Aevitas Creative Management. (July)