While the literary world has been set alight by the writings of J.K Rowling and Jane Austen, apparently if you want a publishing deal, you need to change your (female) name. An experiment by author Catherine Nichols has now proven you are EIGHT times more likely to get published if you are a man. Catherine decided to try the experiment after her plans to land a publisher was falling apart. The author sent out over 50 emails with an introduction and sample of her writing, reaping just two responses, neither of which were promising. Feeling disheartened, but not totally convinced her writing wasn’t worthy of a book deal, Catherine decided to contact the same publishers list, with the same email and sample. There was just one simple change – her name now appeared as George. The result? After just six emails, five agents responded, all wanting further samples and interested in signing Nichols on as a male writer to their books. Catherine, posing as George, received a total of 17 manuscript requests. Writing about her depressing experience for Jezebel, Catherine wrote: “He is eight and a half times better than me at writing the same book. “One who sent me a form rejection as Catherine not only wanted to read George’s book, but instead of rejecting it asked if he could send it along to a more senior agent.” Catherine finally added: “In theory, the results of my experiment are vindicating, but I feel furious at having spent so much time in that ridiculous little cage, where so many people with the wrong kind of name are burning out their energy and intelligence.” Story via Jezebel