Jennifer Weiner Quotes

Powerful Jennifer Weiner for Daily Growth

About Jennifer Weiner

Jennifer Weiner, born on November 28, 1970, is an acclaimed American novelist and journalist known for her bestselling novels that explore the intricacies of contemporary womanhood. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Weiner attended the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated with a Bachelor's degree in English and Jewish Studies in 1992. Weiner's career as an author began when she published her debut novel, 'Good in Bed,' in 2001. The book, which revolves around a plus-size romance writer, was met with critical acclaim and commercial success. It launched Weiner into the literary world, setting the tone for her subsequent works that delve into themes of femininity, family, love, and body image. Her other notable novels include 'In Her Shoes' (2005), 'Little Earthquakes' (2007), 'Fly Away Home' (2016), and 'Mrs. Everything' (2018). Weiner's works often feature strong, complex female characters who grapple with real-life issues faced by modern women. In addition to her fiction writing, Weiner is a prominent cultural critic and has written for various publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time magazine. She has been an outspoken advocate for gender equality in literature and media, often using her platform to challenge the industry's portrayal of women and body image standards. Weiner was awarded the 2018 Smart Choice Award by PEN America for her work in advocating for diversity in children's literature and her commitment to social justice. Today, she continues to write captivating novels that resonate with readers worldwide while advocating for gender equality and representation in media.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"Sometimes you have to let go of the life you planned in order to have the life that is waiting for you."

This quote emphasizes the idea that sometimes we need to relinquish our preconceived notions or expectations about our lives to embrace the opportunities, growth, and experiences that may lie beyond them. It suggests that while it's natural to have aspirations for a particular life path, unexpected circumstances or changes can lead us to a more fulfilling and meaningful life than we ever imagined. Embracing these shifts and learning to adapt can bring about personal transformation and greater happiness.


"Being a writer is about being honest. The word 'honesty' gets tossed around a lot, but I think it's an underappreciated value in our culture."

Jennifer Weiner emphasizes that being a writer fundamentally revolves around honesty, which she believes is undervalued in contemporary culture. In essence, she suggests that writers should strive to express truthfully their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, reflecting the authenticity of human nature in their work.


"I write because I can't not write. I love the act of creation, the satisfaction that comes from making something out of nothing."

This quote by Jennifer Weiner encapsulates the deeply ingrained passion and necessity for creative expression that writers often feel. The phrase "I write because I can't not write" suggests an innate drive to create, a compulsion that is so strong it defies logical explanation. The second part of the quote, "I love the act of creation, the satisfaction that comes from making something out of nothing," highlights the joy and fulfillment that writers find in their work. For Weiner, and many other authors, the act of bringing ideas to life, crafting characters, and weaving narratives is not just a job but a deeply personal and rewarding experience. This quote, therefore, underscores the essential role of creativity and self-expression in human life and the profound impact it can have on those who embrace it.


"Being a mom is hard and lonely and exhausting and terrifying. But it is also, without a doubt, the most rewarding thing I have ever done."

This quote by Jennifer Weiner eloquently captures the multifaceted nature of motherhood. It highlights the challenges and hardships that come with being a mother, such as feelings of isolation, exhaustion, fear, and uncertainty. However, it also underscores the profound sense of reward and satisfaction that comes from nurturing and raising a child. The quote serves as a reminder that while motherhood may be difficult, it is a deeply meaningful and fulfilling experience for many women.


"I think we need to make it okay for women to be as ambitious as men without being called names or labeled as something less than fully feminine."

This quote emphasizes that societal norms should allow women to pursue their ambitions equally with men, without facing derogatory labels or losing their femininity in the process. It implies a need for greater gender equality and respect for women's aspirations in both personal and professional realms.


Women are far and away the bigger consumers of fiction than men, but men are still far and away the more reviewed, the more critically esteemed, the more respected. That can get frustrating.

- Jennifer Weiner

Fiction, Away, Still, Critically

Whenever people with money have power over people with less money, you have the potential for exploitation.

- Jennifer Weiner

Money, Over, Whenever, Exploitation

I went to Princeton, I minored in women's studies.

- Jennifer Weiner

Women, Studies, Princeton

If you write chick lit, and if you're a New Yorker, and if your book becomes the topic of pop-culture fascination, the paper might make dismissive and ignorant mention of your book. If you write romance, forget about it. You'll be lucky if they spell your name right on the bestseller list.

- Jennifer Weiner

Book, Lucky, Romance, Bestseller

I think it's a very old and deep-seated double standard that holds that when a man writes about family and feelings, it's literature with a capital L, but when a woman considers the same topics, it's romance, or a beach book - in short, it's something unworthy of a serious critic's attention.

- Jennifer Weiner

Romance, Standard, Very, Writes

There's something really nice about writing something on Wednesday and watching it being performed live for a studio audience on Tuesday. You never really get that with novels.

- Jennifer Weiner

Audience, Studio, About, Wednesday

Character is character and voice is voice, which translates nicely from writing novels to writing TV. But the process is different. You have a writer's room, people pitch you jokes and you collaborate.

- Jennifer Weiner

Voice, Which, Nicely, Novels

I wonder if novels work for women because they give us a safe place to talk about our ish.

- Jennifer Weiner

Work, Give, Safe Place, Novels

I sometimes read about authors who say they require a perfectly silent room maintained at precisely 68 degrees, with trash bags taped over the windows and a white-noise machine in the corner to write, and I think, 'Who are these people, and do any of them have kids?'

- Jennifer Weiner

I Think, Perfectly, Bags, Maintained

Right now women are using surrogates because they can't be pregnant. What worries me is the possibility that soon they'll use surrogates because they don't want to be pregnant.

- Jennifer Weiner

Want, Use, Using, Possibility

I wrote my first books when I was single and then I got married and then had a kid and there were different things happening in my life.

- Jennifer Weiner

My Life, Kid, Wrote, Different Things

My feeling about my own work is, I could be writing 'The Aeneid' and they would still have to call it chick lit or mommy lit or menopausal old hag lit.

- Jennifer Weiner

My Own, Still, Mommy, Chick

I get really starstruck and tongue tied when I'm around other writers and the conversation tends not to go well.

- Jennifer Weiner

Tongue, Other, Tied, Conversation

If you write thrillers or mysteries or horror fiction or quote-unquote speculative fiction, men might read you, and the 'Times' might notice you.

- Jennifer Weiner

Fiction, Horror, Read, Notice

I'm not cut out to be a famous person; I can't do my hair and makeup well enough.

- Jennifer Weiner

Makeup, Famous, Cut, Well Enough

Having a day job again I found really kind of fueled my fiction, because it became almost this forbidden thing where I had to sneak off and do it in private.

- Jennifer Weiner

Private, Became, Having, Sneak

The difference between people who believe they have books inside of them and those who actually write books is sheer cussed persistence - the ability to make yourself work at your craft, every day - the belief, even in the face of obstacles, that you've got something worth saying.

- Jennifer Weiner

Obstacles, Every Day, Craft, Persistence

Many writers secretly long to be performers. You always get the 'if you weren't a writer' question. I would be a back-up singer, to stand in the back and go like 'do, do, do.'

- Jennifer Weiner

Question, Always, Performers, Secretly

I don't write literary fiction - I write books that are entertaining, but are also, I hope, well-constructed and thoughtful and funny and have things to say about men and women and families and children and life in America today.

- Jennifer Weiner

Entertaining, I Write, Literary Fiction

I was an English major in college, took a ton of creative writing courses, and was a newspaper reporter for 10 years.

- Jennifer Weiner

College, Newspaper, Took, Creative Writing

Being a novelist is hard for anyone - male or female. You don't get to quit your day job.

- Jennifer Weiner

Being, Your, Day Job, Novelist

People say I'm not good at writing about men. My dad left when I was 16. Give me a break. I'm doing the best I can.

- Jennifer Weiner

Doing, Give, Break, Give Me

I don't particularly like being angry about stuff. I'd rather hang out with my daughter and write my little books.

- Jennifer Weiner

Like, Hang, Particularly, Daughter

Instead of hoping that some day the boys' club will open its doors, we can form our own clubs, define 'worthy' our own way, and celebrate the books and voices that we decide deserve celebration.

- Jennifer Weiner

Deserve, Will, Some, Hoping

I can carry a tune with a three-note range. Once I'm out of that range, I'm in trouble.

- Jennifer Weiner

Trouble, Once, Range, Tune

My book sales make 'real writers' possible.

- Jennifer Weiner

Book, Real, Writers, Sales

I've always been interested in the economics of reproduction, who gets what they want when it comes to childbearing and how these days, money is a tremendous advantage.

- Jennifer Weiner

Always, Been, Advantage, Tremendous

Money is a tremendous advantage in just about everything, but in terms of reproduction, if you're a poor woman and you are infertile, it's like too bad, so sad. And if you are a wealthy woman, you can kind of buy whatever you want.

- Jennifer Weiner

Woman, Bad, Wealthy, Tremendous

Every mother I've ever met, pretty much without exception, is doing the best job she can ever do.

- Jennifer Weiner

Best, Doing, Pretty, Exception

I'm not in charge of my life.

- Jennifer Weiner

Life, My Life, Charge

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