Concerns about being a "White" writer

[Ari Meermans]

ahem.

You are ABSOLUTELY correct, @Ari Meermans -- I went a little Wild West there, in my brain. My sincere apologies! I absolutely should have been paying better attention, and respecting the existing protocols and the Room Mod's wishes.

'sallright, darlin', it's easy to get carried away at times.

 

[MacAllister]

'sallright, darlin', it's easy to get carried away at times.

I've been so excited about having a little more time to be here, since the boards are back up, I've been careening around a bit, like a loose cannon in high seas. I appreciate your kindness at my gaffe.

 

[AW Admin]

I've been careening around a bit, like a loose cannon in high seas. I appreciate your kindness at my gaffe.

I see what you did there. Stealth pun: gaff

 

[Ari Meermans]

And we're excited to see your bright, shining face more often now, Mac. You just don't know.

 

[AlanHeise]

We as writers need to look at how we can try to bring about change for the better in our society. These areas of change for the better need to be discussed and helped in what ways we can do these changes faster. Beta readers and critiques need to look at these issues when the writer has an interest of talking about these things in his or her stories. It takes a discriminating mind to be careful and thoughtful about these issues when the writer is trying to be some help opening up the reader to these issues in the interest of making change. Even if it is just to let these character be present and a normal person in their writing. This is a much needed change for the better, in my mind.

 

[mccardey]

We as writers need to look at how we can try to bring about change for the better in our society. These areas of change for the better need to be discussed and helped in what ways we can do these changes faster. Beta readers and critiques need to look at these issues when the writer has an interest of talking about these things in his or her stories. It takes a discriminating mind to be careful and thoughtful about these issues when the writer is trying to be some help opening up the reader to these issues in the interest of making change. Even if it is just to let these character be present and a normal person in their writing. This is a much needed change for the better, in my mind.

Except everyone has a different idea of "better"

(For myself, I think the world would be better if everyone kept chickens and had a Good Dog and a horse, and a little patch of ground, and a vegie garden and lots of visiting kids and also a really good recipe for lemonade. And made their own icecream and got vaxxed and stopped being STUPID!

*cough* )

Sorry. Carried away...

 

[Introversion]

For myself, I think the world would be better if everyone kept chickens and had a Good Dog and a horse, and a little patch of ground, and a vegie garden and lots of visiting kids and also a really good recipe for lemonade. And made their own icecream and got vaxxed and stopped being STUPID!

Well, that’s just common sense, innit?

 

[Harlequin]

Not "danger", no, but if two equally promising manuscripts cross an editor's desk, one by a black or Asian or hispanic writer (as indicated by their names and their thumbnail bios) and one by a white writer, the white writer will have a disadvantage. because the majority of editors don't specifically look for work by white writers and as far as the other categories, they will.

Nah, not true. Quite apart from the fact that the two mss will not be equal because they most likely appeal to different demographics and markets, the editor is more likely to say they already have their black girl author, or their Asian romance book, and do not need another. They are more likely to say "black people don't read a much" because their marketing efforts are outdated and white centric, and more likely to say "we can't connect" to a neurodivergent mc or author than to an nt one.

And if you are taken on as a marginalised author you're more likely to get a small let advance than your white counterparts.

In no way do the stats support your claim, in any case.

 

[be frank]

*momentarily pokes head out of the revision cave*

Wow, seems I touched a nerve, huh?

 

[mccardey]

Wow, seems I touched a nerve, huh?

#59?


Hell of a nerve...

 

[be frank]

Isn't it weird how white writers feel cheated by the removal of an unfair privilege that has always been accorded to them by their own whiteness, and outraged when it appears that that privilege is now being accorded to a BIPOC writer? Because - suddenly it's unfair for other people to be disadvantaged like that!

What's that old adage? When you've always had privilege, equality must feel a lot like oppression.

Except in this case, it's completely imaginary equality. The publishing industry is many things, but 'skewed against white people' sure as hell isn't one of them.

 

[mccardey]

The publishing industry is many things, but 'skewed against white people' sure as hell isn't one of them.

No, but as Liz points out, the belief in the skew is extremely comforting on a cold night

ETA: I say that as a white male writer, because credibility is a Thing

 

[Introversion]

ETA: I say that as a white male writer, because credibility is a Thing

Your testosterone levels are certainly incredible.

 

[mccardey]

Your testosterone levels are certainly incredible.

Why thank you. Yours are also very pretty manly.

 

[Introversion]

Why thank you. Yours are also very pretty manly.

The flannel shirt is maybe a bit on the nose, but I’m a lumberjack and I’m okay.