By Maren Uthaug, as told to Karoline Markholst and translated by Hazel 

Maren Uthaug on being read
“What I love most is when a reader tells me she opened my book and couldn't put it down until the end. When you have so much to say – about society, structures, norms and conventions – none of it matters if a reader only makes it to page 33.

I guess the biggest challenge as a writer is to keep believing that what you do is worth putting into print. That your ideas, no matter how strange, disgusting or ridiculous some might find them, deserve to take up space. The critics hardly start lowering their voices the better your books do – on the contrary. And then it’s about finding something solid to hold on to and standing your ground in whatever shitstorm or pie-storm comes for you and your books.”

“Some of us are lucky enough to have editors and publishers who’ll stand by us and shield us from the worst of it. But if you don't go all in with what you think is interesting to write about in the moment, then it's going to be thin, boring rubbish – and readers can feel this. It’s crucial to be uncompromising.”

Maren Uthaug on Danish open-mindedness
“I love that in Danish culture there’s room to play with taboo subjects. To turn them on their head and come at them from unexpected and not always popular angles. Before interning men in breeding centres in 11% and 88%, I wrote about incest and necrophilia.

I also love that Danish culture gives critics the right to disagree with me and express themselves. There has to be both, otherwise we’d stagnate as a society.”

Maren Uthaug on female energy
“I wrote a fan letter to Hanne Vibeke Holst when I was young because she opened my eyes to why women have always had migraines […] Recently I was lucky enough to have dinner with Margaret Atwood, and I was so starstruck I could barely move my arms when I walked into the room. But she was iconic. Sharp, calm and entertaining in a way that so few are. She had a thoughtful response to every topic that came up.”

“The younger generation of women artists across all mediums are incredibly inspiring to me. They possess a fearlessness that I missed in my generation. They’re not bending over backwards to fit in with the boys – a club that you're always part of as a girl or woman anyway, just along for the ride. Today, young women go around with their flags held high, giving the finger to anyone who points fingers at them. And often it’s women from my generation and older who are doing the finger-pointing. I adore them (the young ones)!”