For film creatives, an extensive knowledge of the history of the field is an undoubted prerequisite to entry. For modern day screenwriters, the sentiment is twofold. If writers can’t recognize and appreciate the silent scribe pioneers of years past, who will? If you ask in the name of female screenwriters, the answer tends to be a dismal, “most likely, no one.”

Enter, When Women Wrote Hollywood: Essays on Female Screenwriters in the Early Film Industry. This collection of essays edited by Dr. Rosanne Welch introduces readers to 24 female screenwriter pioneers of the silent film era that might make even the seemingly most well-informed film historians furrow a brow. For the female Hollywood hopefuls of today, this book serves as a beacon of hope. Notable women are never truly lost to time for long; credit will be given where it is due.

Why I Liked It:

Reading through these essays was like stepping into a time machine. Readers see the emergence of film through the eyes of early female screenwriters. The medium is fresh and exciting, and opportunity feels ripe for the taking. Each author's voice parallels the character they are portraying through these bite-sized biographies, and the structure of each essay allows the reader to get a well-rounded, intimate view of each writer and her career. The collection as a whole creates an atmosphere akin to an exclusive cocktail party for female industry professionals to confide their common struggles and laugh at their own audacity. I loved every word. 

A common trend across every essay is the realization that nearly every screenwriter featured has been meticulously erased from film history for one reason or another. The most prevalent justification seems to be in the vein of male film historians refusing to acknowledge their contribution. And, even in the instances that they are acknowledged, they are severely downplayed, transforming these pioneers of the medium into mild contributors. Liken this to any woman in any profession being told that her efforts are cute. Every female creative is privy to logging these moments in their own careers as indicators of their true prowess.

And yet, each author is able to acquiesce to the daunting task of reconstructing the hidden histories of these women. In doing so, they share it with those who unknowingly strive to follow in their footsteps. It’s overwhelmingly uplifting and inspiring.

My absolute favorite screenwriter featured is Elinor Glyn. In The Glorious Ms. Glyn, Amy L. Banks attributes Glyn as the originator of the concept of “It” or, “the mysterious sex appeal some lucky people possess.” Audiences the world over can thank Glyn for revolutionizing sex appeal for the screen in the formative age of the medium. Female screenwriters can thank Banks for the formal introduction to the legend. Read on and feel liberated, ladies. 

Constructive Criticism: 

This is less a criticism and more a note to casual readers: this book is an undertaking. There are twenty-four screenwriters featured, meaning there are twenty-four extensively researched essays presented. Though it might be daunting, it is an incredibly rewarding and important read.

The beauty of this collection is that it doesn’t need to be read cover-to-cover or in order. Though it is styled as a text for a college course, the essays read conversational and enthusiastic. Dr. Welch has curated a collection that invites anyone to share in the rich herstory of the early film industry.

Famous Last Words:

When Women Wrote Hollywood is a testament to female creatives bridging the gaps between one another to uplift each other. This collection invites readers to dive deep into the seemingly forgotten histories of the women who helped to mold the industry that thrives today. To the female screenwriting trailblazers of tomorrow, I think this book is invaluable. For, if we cannot recognize and appreciate our sister scribes of years past, who else will?

For more from this editor: Dr. Rosanne Welch 

About the Writer

Mercedes K. Milner is a Co-Founder and Administrator of the Write or Die Chicks and the Writer’s Group Coordinator. She is a staff writer for the WODC Blog and she heads the Reading on Writing column.