r/menwritingwomen Subreddit Stats and Best Posting Times

What to Post and How to Rank on r/menwritingwomen

Best Topics & Content Types

The r/menwritingwomen subreddit thrives on direct quotes from fiction where male authors have portrayed female characters in unrealistic or problematic ways. Top performing content typically features short, cringe-worthy excerpts that highlight specific writing failures, particularly those involving physical descriptions of women that focus obsessively on breasts or other body parts. Image posts showing actual book pages with highlighted problematic text receive the most engagement, followed by text posts that quote the most egregious examples. Posts that showcase the "she breasted boobily" phenomenon—where breasts are given agency and described as moving independently of the character—tend to go viral within this community. Discussion threads asking for analysis of particularly subtle examples of poor characterization also generate substantial conversation, especially when users dissect how male authors reduce female characters to plot devices rather than fully realized people.

Writing Style & Tone

The tone within r/menwritingwomen is predominantly humorous and satirical, with users adopting a lighthearted but critical approach to the examples they share. Formal academic language rarely resonates here; instead, the community responds best to casual, conversational commentary that points out absurdities with witty observations. Many top comments employ exaggerated mimicry of the problematic writing style being critiqued, creating an effective satirical effect. While the overall mood is playful, there's an underlying seriousness about the importance of authentic character representation. Users frequently employ inside jokes and memes that have developed within the community, such as references to "boobily" movement or the infamous "Cassandra woke up to the rays of the sun... she breasted boobily to the stairs" passage that has become emblematic of the subreddit's focus.

What Gets Upvoted

Highly upvoted posts consistently feature clear examples of male authors projecting male perspectives onto female characters, particularly those where physical descriptions dominate dialogue or internal monologue. Posts that reveal subtle sexism—like female characters whose entire personality revolves around attracting men or whose primary purpose in the narrative is to motivate male characters—receive significant engagement. The most successful content often highlights anatomical inaccuracies that demonstrate the author's ignorance of basic female physiology. Posts showing female characters as "not like other girls" tropes, where protagonists are portrayed as superior to ordinary women, also gain traction. Community members particularly reward submissions that include context about the book and author, as this helps verify the authenticity of the examples rather than appearing to be fabricated for the subreddit.

What to Avoid

Avoid posting content that could be interpreted as mocking women themselves rather than critiquing poor writing. The subreddit strictly prohibits posts that veer into misogyny under the guise of literary criticism. Do not submit examples from books written by female authors, as this violates the community's specific focus on male writers' perspectives. Steer clear of overly long excerpts that require significant scrolling, as these typically get ignored in favor of concise, impactful quotes. Never defend the problematic writing you've posted—the community expects contributors to recognize why these examples are problematic. Refrain from posting about general writing issues that aren't specifically related to male authors' portrayals of women, as these will likely be removed by moderators for being off-topic.

Posting Tips

Timing your posts for weekend afternoons appears to maximize visibility based on community activity patterns observed in the subreddit. Craft titles that immediately signal the specific failure being highlighted, such as "Breast movement defies physics in this thriller novel" rather than vague titles like "Bad writing example." Always use appropriate post flairs to categorize your submission by the specific writing failure demonstrated. Engage with commenters by providing additional context about the book when available, but avoid becoming defensive if your example receives scrutiny. Before posting, verify that the excerpt is indeed from a published work by a male author to maintain the subreddit's credibility. Consider cross-referencing with related communities like r/badwomensanatomy for particularly egregious physiological errors, but keep your primary focus squarely on characterization issues rather than isolated anatomical mistakes.