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

[sweet_heloise]

A lot of white authors can't write POC characters without fetishising them and coming across super racist. Rainbow Rowell comes to mind. That being said, it depends? Like if you're a white woman trying to write about immigration and the Mexican-American experience. Maybe don't.

Also if you're writing fantasy, IDK how it prevents you from writing about character with varying skin tones. Race is a social construct that's very specific to this time period.

[joe_pwnz_pete]

I think one of the main issues is that often in fantasy settings, people like GRRM and JRR Tolkien used non-white races as the "other" from the "exotic lands" type trope. Look at Dorne/Mereen lol.

My main writing problem with this is that I don't want there to be racism based on skin tone/religion in the world I'm creating. Some mild sexism still exists in non-magical societies because birth control isn't readily available in those communities. I want POC to be as plentiful and important and varied as they are and have always been in the real world. But is that sort of Kumbaya, "We're all in this together!" attitude I have actually stemming from a subconscious need to whitewash away the real world that I actually exist in where racism is rampant? Idk. It's a complicated argument.

[sweet_heloise]

If you want to write fantasy where everyone is kumbaya, do it. Lots of people including POC like myself read books to escape. Not everything has to be an allegory for the real world and the current political climate.

[joe_pwnz_pete]

Yeah, this is why I write too! I want so badly for things to be different, but they just aren't and it sucks and fantasy can be a great way to escape from it. But it's still being written by people who live in this world (myself included) and I'm afraid of it leaking in I guess!

My big thing with this current story is I don't really want it to be an analogue or an allegory for ANYTHING. I just want to tell an entertaining narrative.

[milfordacademy]

have you read the Earthsea series? it's just what you described. like exactly

[joe_pwnz_pete]

It's one of those ones I always mean to get around to and then pick up something else! Didn't it have a show back in the day? If it's like that, I'll def have to pick it up for reference. Thanks!

[milfordacademy]

yes there was a show, but don't watch it! the main character was whitewashed in it

and no problem! Le Guin was a master. you'll see how much JK Rowling nicked out of the first Earthsea book! lmao

[milfordacademy]

do it! I have the 4-book omnibus too, only a different cover. the series has more books after them though!