I have been thinking more about the last blog, in which I complained that a writing group of which I am a member is having a pitch day to a major publisher which is “only” for “underrepresented” writers. “Underrepresented” meaning persons who are not “traditionally” the targets of publishers.
(Technically, according to their definition, I am part of this group because I am a disabled American Veteran. But I digress.)
I want to reiterate for the sixth time that I think the pendulum swinging toward my friends who are LGBTQ or disabled or women or persons of color is a good thing. I have read many books already published by persons in these groups and enjoy them. It’s actually a good thing that publishers realize these persons have been “underrepresented” in the past and are seeking to rectify this.
Are we clear?
Okay. My problem with the way this group is doing things is that they say “only” people from these groups can participate. Any time you use the word “only” you get into trouble.
But in thinking about why this struck me wrong, I realized another thing.
It is paternalistic and somewhat insulting for “underrepresented” persons to be told that, usually they would not be good enough to be considered for publication. In this event, though (they’re being told), we will make a special day just for you because we know you need it. Because otherwise you would not have a damned chance.
Bull.
In this enlightened day and age, a person from the “underrepresented” group will get a full and fair chance by any agent, any publisher on the planet. As I noted, publishers and agents are now keenly aware of their past transgressions toward LGBTQ and minority writers and are working ardently to correct that. A good writer does not “need” to be given a special chance. Their writing will speak for itself.
The excellent and funny novel “Less” by Andrew Sean Greer is the story of a gay writer who has sexual misadventures while travelling the world in search of his lost muse. It did pretty well. Hell, it won the Pulitzer Prize. Mr. Greer didn’t need a “special” pitch night to get his book published and lauded.
Similarly, the novel “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen is the story of a Vietnamese man in America who secretly spies for his native country. Not only did the novel become a best seller but it, too, won the Pulitzer Prize. Never heard that Mr. Nguyen needed a special pitch session to get a publisher interested in his book.
Listen, friends. I know I’ve ranted too long about this. But the moral of the story is, the publishers and agents who formerly ignored “underrepresented” writers have already started to mend their ways. Which is good.
I say again that all—all–should be given that chance. And that includes overrepresented writers such as yours truly.
Mark Bruce, Writer 