Indie Publisher Drops Author Over Twitter Dispute Regarding OwnVoices

[zodgory]

Another day of drama on book twitter though the current argument is about who can write what. It all started when writer Alisha Hillam tweeted about how white authors shouldn't write from the POV of non-white characters and should have sensitivity readers. This also goes for cis/het authors writing LGBT+ characters and abled authors writing

Comments

[zharia]

i see no legitimate point in people being encouraged to only write character POVs or main characters that reflect only the authors personal identity. someone should also not be shamed for pointing out that that is a ridiculous argument. i see no world in which that is a feasible or reasonable ask.

YA twitter is insane.

[crystalzelda]

Yeah, obviously there are bad writers who will do a shitty, racist job of portraying a POC or LGBTQ characters (that Latina book realness where a white woman wrote about being a Mexican immigrant and did basically a caricature ... phew) but the answer to that is more sensitivity readers and scrutiny, not a blanket statement like this. I don’t think this is going to yield the results they want...

In that case Rick Riordan would have been wrong to include so many characters of color, trans characters, non-binary people in his books like his fans asked... and should have just stuck to straight white kids?

[zharia]

yeah, sensitive and more thorough review of books before they are published is a much better solution than "only write what you know ever."

i simply do not see the point of limiting creativity in this way, it seems like such a simplistic understanding of the world.

[crystalzelda]

Your reply is rude and unproductive. I am of Arab descent and am bi - this conversation intimately concerns me and my representation. If you feel I'm wrong, feel free to have a dialogue, instead of insulting me and saying I don't get it while not even saying what it is I don't get. How does this help anyone?

[crystalzelda]

Tone policing is not a get out of jail card for being inappropriate, first of all. I am not tone policing you, I am pointing out that insults and false assumptions (like saying I want to center whiteness and straightness because I have a different point of view which, might as you disagree, is just as valid as yours) is a pretty shitty way to talk to people and does nothing to further a productive conversation. I'm not approaching this discussion in bad faith - you are, as well as shutting down a conversation that clearly deserves to be had? I mean, if you're more concerned with being right, that's fine, but I'm more interested in addressing this particular issue and talking to other stakeholders about how to proceed. See how far this "I'm right, you're wrong, and you're a bigot for it" attitude towards someone you know, as I've told you, is a marginalized person, takes you. I'm guessing it won't be far. But thanks for your point of view, I guess.

[crystalzelda]

Thank you again. It truly means a lot. I'm also sorry that the comment above is sharp. I was in my feelings lol. These topics are so sensitive bc they just cut so deep to our identities and it's so frustrating to feel pushed aside, it's normal to feel very invested in them emotionally and to respond strongly.

[booksforlunch]

"Tone policing" is when someone disregards good points made by someone because of how they were delivered. You made no point, you were just insulting.

And here asking you to clarify what you mean isn't being tone policing either.

[zharia]

you are rude and the way you discuss thing is purposefully unproductive.

[zharia]

thanks for a reasonable reply, its appreciated to see someone act reasonably and reflectively online.

[zharia]

bruh i understand. i got an email yesterday that made me scream into a pillow. we've all been there <3

[saintlys]

I think Rick is an interesting case because while he took the criticism and listened to it and wrote in diversity as opposed to just retconning everything after the fact, he also was guilty of not doing his research and ended up with some really whack representation.