I like this! I love Stephen Graham's books. He is a great writer. I also want to add that I hope people who are neurodivergent, have autism and ADHD also feel confident enough to publish books. As someone who is neurodivergent myself, and was once told I would never be able to read. I have overcome so many hurdles to get my writing published. I don't cry doing homework anymore but I remember those days. I hope that those who are autistic or have ADHD are not shadowed or forgotten or overlooked. I hope that them like me are also becoming successful in writing and publishing. We deserve some recognition too. I hope things get better and that there is more understanding because there really needs to be.
glad to also be part of that 3-4% of Latinx reviewers, though frankly I'm very disturbed at how low that number is.
something Roxane Gay tweeted years ago made me realize I'd only been solicited to review other Latinx writers until very recently-- I'm curious if that's your experience, too.
thanks for this post and your honesty about publishing!
I think this is kind of simplistic. When 90% of publishers and agents have diversity statements on their websites saying they are seeking bipoc LGBTQIA etc etc authors that right there is evidence that they are prejudiced against writers who are not those things. I do agree that some of this is a result of people reading more widely, but there's also an anti straight white male bias being exuded, which you can see by just looking at last year's debuts, who won what awards, etc. What's really ruining publishing though is self-publishing and genre fiction. Since there are fewer filters now between writers and their audiences the quality of the work being published has really suffered.
Been researching and teaching diversity in publishing for a decade and “there's also an anti straight white male bias being exuded” is a stupid thing white male authors who can’t get an agent have been saying for the last five years with zero evidence. When confronted with numbers (percentages, Lee & Low’s baseline survey, etc), they ignore the facts or go complain elsewhere.
I think it says a lot that when I offer up my own experience you insinuate that I’m “stupid” and “can’t get published” and you refuse to take the experience of white authors seriously. I think you’re demonstrating your anti white bias right now so thanks. I in no way used my comment to demean you.
If there wasn’t a bias there would be no need for those kinds of diversity statements. Work would be published based on merit. But okay, give me the percentages and numbers that prove your point.
Here's my question: how do you feel about a white person creating characters of color, gender fluid, LGBTQ+ et al and having them live in my stories? I'm not asking for permission, I'm asking how you feel about it.
I know you love to drop “Well, actually…” comments and be the “but what about this idea?” guy, but this is just stupid. As of 2023, House Republicans had embedded at least 45 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions into must-pass funding bills just for the fun of it.
But Gabino this is just opinion. It's not fact. None of the congressmen would say they're ant-LGBTQ, or call their legislative efforts ant-LGBTQ. All would have some kind of argument, and would take great exception to accusations like this. But for partisans, of course, this doesn't matter. Their goal is to caricature and demean. It's all about winning, and that's what LGBTQ spells for them.
I like this! I love Stephen Graham's books. He is a great writer. I also want to add that I hope people who are neurodivergent, have autism and ADHD also feel confident enough to publish books. As someone who is neurodivergent myself, and was once told I would never be able to read. I have overcome so many hurdles to get my writing published. I don't cry doing homework anymore but I remember those days. I hope that those who are autistic or have ADHD are not shadowed or forgotten or overlooked. I hope that them like me are also becoming successful in writing and publishing. We deserve some recognition too. I hope things get better and that there is more understanding because there really needs to be.
Doing my little part by getting my husband to read female writers :) - No kidding, it's hard!
What's hard? Just make him do it. That's what my spouse does : )
Ahahah... I believe in gentle persuasion, it lasts longer!
🖤❤️💖🧚 love this so much!
Excellent!
🏳️🌈 proud and striving for excellence.
glad to also be part of that 3-4% of Latinx reviewers, though frankly I'm very disturbed at how low that number is.
something Roxane Gay tweeted years ago made me realize I'd only been solicited to review other Latinx writers until very recently-- I'm curious if that's your experience, too.
thanks for this post and your honesty about publishing!
I think this is kind of simplistic. When 90% of publishers and agents have diversity statements on their websites saying they are seeking bipoc LGBTQIA etc etc authors that right there is evidence that they are prejudiced against writers who are not those things. I do agree that some of this is a result of people reading more widely, but there's also an anti straight white male bias being exuded, which you can see by just looking at last year's debuts, who won what awards, etc. What's really ruining publishing though is self-publishing and genre fiction. Since there are fewer filters now between writers and their audiences the quality of the work being published has really suffered.
Been researching and teaching diversity in publishing for a decade and “there's also an anti straight white male bias being exuded” is a stupid thing white male authors who can’t get an agent have been saying for the last five years with zero evidence. When confronted with numbers (percentages, Lee & Low’s baseline survey, etc), they ignore the facts or go complain elsewhere.
I think it says a lot that when I offer up my own experience you insinuate that I’m “stupid” and “can’t get published” and you refuse to take the experience of white authors seriously. I think you’re demonstrating your anti white bias right now so thanks. I in no way used my comment to demean you.
Here’s a non white author saying the same thing since skin color is what matters to you. https://open.substack.com/pub/bariweiss/p/the-fight-for-the-future-of-publishing?r=g4gju&utm_medium=ios
If there wasn’t a bias there would be no need for those kinds of diversity statements. Work would be published based on merit. But okay, give me the percentages and numbers that prove your point.
Here's my question: how do you feel about a white person creating characters of color, gender fluid, LGBTQ+ et al and having them live in my stories? I'm not asking for permission, I'm asking how you feel about it.
Dems politicized a non-partisan movement. They said the LGBTQ was under attack by the right. Republicans are overwhelmingly pro-LGBTQ. but no matter.
I know you love to drop “Well, actually…” comments and be the “but what about this idea?” guy, but this is just stupid. As of 2023, House Republicans had embedded at least 45 anti-LGBTQ+ provisions into must-pass funding bills just for the fun of it.
But Gabino this is just opinion. It's not fact. None of the congressmen would say they're ant-LGBTQ, or call their legislative efforts ant-LGBTQ. All would have some kind of argument, and would take great exception to accusations like this. But for partisans, of course, this doesn't matter. Their goal is to caricature and demean. It's all about winning, and that's what LGBTQ spells for them.