Showing posts with label Writing Diversity. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Writing Diversity. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 30, 2017

Read Authors of Color - A Resource List

Need to find books written by Writers of Color and Native Authors? This is a set of resources for you!

Apologies in advance -- most of these links will be heavily weighted toward authors of YA / MG, because that is what I gravitate toward. However, I will keep expanding to include others! This is a work in progress and I'd love your input if you know of resources I've missed.

Also note that while I've tried to keep this collection as strictly focused on POC & Native Authors as possible, a few resources may also list a few books with POC / Native main characters too. I will try to note those.

Table of Contents
(Click to jump to a particular section)

General / Mixed Lists

 African-American / Black Authors

 Asian-American / Pacific Islander Authors

 Latinx Authors

 Muslim & Middle Eastern-American Authors

 Native Authors


General / Mixed Authors of Color Lists:
(back to top)

 New Releases by Writers of Color

Young Adult, Middle Grade, and Picture Book Authors of Color

 Other / General Writers of Color Lists



Sci-Fi and Fantasy POC Authors 
African-American / Black Authors
(back to top)

New Releases by Black Authors

Young Adult & Middle Grade Black Authors

Adult Black Authors

PB & Children's Book Black Authors

Other Black Author Lists

Twinja's Black Book Bloggers List ||  Black Nerd Girls || African Book Addict ||



Asian-American / Asian / Pacific Islander Authors
(back to top)

East Asian / East Asian - American / Authors




Filipino, Malaysian & Other Southeast Asian Authors



Indian / Indian-American / Sri-Lankan Authors



 Other Asian Author Lists

Native Hawaiian #Ownvoices -- Reading for SJ || Hapa Booklist || 8 Books for Asian-Pacific Heritage Month  - RichInColor || Asian-Australian Kidlit || Read Asian Oz ||

See also: #AsianLitChat and #AsianLitBingo and #ReadAsianOz



 Pacific Islander / Pasifika & Native Hawaiian Authors

See also: #IndigenousLit 
Latinx Authors
(back to top)

New Releases by Latinx Authors


Young Adult & Middle Grade Latinx Authors

Adult Latinx Authors


See also: @LatinxInPub


Muslim & Middle Eastern American Authors
(back to top)


See also: #RamadanReads, #RamadanReadathon, #ReadMuslimOz, #MuslimShelfSpace,  @TheMuslimSquad, @MuslimReadathon & @Salaam Reads


Native Authors
(back to top)



Reviewers of Racially Diverse Books
(back to top)



Bookstagrammers: @BooksBeforeBandaids ||

Book Clubs:  Mocha Girls Read || Diverse Study Group - WOCReads || Social Justice Book Club || The Latina Book Club || Midwest Black Speculative Fiction Alliance
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Wednesday, May 4, 2016

Discussion: Even if we "get the rep right" ... should we write "the other"?

I'm here today on the blog to pose a question I've found naggingly absent from all the recent discussions on diversity in books.
Even if we get the representation right, should we write the other?
Even if we get the representation right,
should we write the other?
{ image : pixabay }

Even IF non-marginalized authors "get the representation right" .. should they be the ones writing it?

To what extent is this helping diverse books at the expense of diverse authors?

Is there a difference between writing a diverse cast of characters and writing a diverse MC? Between writing realistic vs. sci-fi/fantasy?

Okay. Bear with me a bit. I want to unpack that a little more. And I want us to discuss. I feel like it's a question that too often gets skirted around, and those who try to suggest that the answer might be something we don't want to hear?  They're often run off the internet.

But this is too important a topic to ignore.

We need to discuss it. And I really hope that some of you'll do so in the Comments section of this blog post. I want to hear your stories and your opinions! It's also important to me that this be a space to share your perspectives without fear of having your own twitter/tumblr etc filled with people attacking you for your opinions. So please feel free to comment anonymously. 

Before we discuss, let's unpack:

There's an enormous diversity gap in literature. Very few books are published each year featuring Main Characters who are natives or persons of color, who are disabled, or are LGBTQIA+, who live with mental illness, or are members of marginalized cultures/religions. This is a problem. We need diverse books. But what do we do about it?

As readers, educators, and social media-lites, the answer is clear: we read and promote more stories featuring traditionally marginalized characters. We help expand the market.

But we're also writers, and the writer side of us wants to help too. 

So naturally, our first instinct (if we feel confident enough about our ability to do the work needed for this), is to write books featuring non-white, disabled, LGBTQIA+, mentally ill, and/or otherwise marginalized or diverse protagonists. Even when we, ourselves, are not these things.

Because do we really need another story with a straight, white, abled protagonist? Not really, right?
Because the end goal is to get more books on the shelves with diverse protagonists. Right?
More mirrors for those who haven't had them and more windows for the rest of us.
More opportunities for a child to see themselves in a story.

Stop me if this sounds familiar.

Often, the first thing we ask when deciding to write outside our lane is How? How do we do this well? How do we get the representation right? In fact, I wrote a very long blog post on one aspect of this topic:



But there is still the one question I keep coming back to, something only skirted around in all this discussion. And that is this:


Even if we "get it right" ...

Even IF we do our research
Even IF we hire sensitivity readers
Even IF we aren't being tokenistic, don't culturally appropriate, or fall into lazy stereotypes
Even IF we work so hard and we "get the representation right"*
                                              { *or at least "good enough" ... assuming, as someone pointed out,
                                                    that this is even possible,  which is probably a topic for another blog post!! }

Are we really helping? 

 As we know, Publishing is Overwhelmingly White, Female, Cishet, and Abled.

We also are becoming increasingly aware that it's likely precisely because of this that marginalized authors often hear "your work is not a good fit" because editors "just don't identify with the character."

Agents can only sign so many new authors a year. Editors only acquire so many books. 

 We know that they don't sign things that are "too similar to other projects on their list."

Historically, publishing houses have been hesitant to acquire many works with diverse MCs { though I hope, hope this is shifting??! }

 Whites already write most of the books featuring protagonists of color. If "we" -- non-marginalized authors -- write "outside our lane" and submit those works to agents and publishing houses, are we helping the cause of diverse books, or:


Or are we simply taking up #ownvoices' seats at the table?
  • Are we effectively "elbowing in" on a slot an agent's client list or a publishing house's acquisitions plan that could have gone to a marginalized writer?
  • Are we getting a story into the hands of a reader who needs to see themselves represented NOW, or are we mostly just vying for a seat at a table that isn't really ours anyway?

Whew. I typed it.        

You can see why it's hard to talk about this.
Are there situations where it is more helpful? More hurtful?

 Are there situations, stories, and genres where non-marginalized authors writing "outside their lanes" is more helpful? Less helpful?

For example: 

          - A Contemporary "Issue Book" vs. A Contemporary "Fun Book"
          - Contemporary/Historical vs. Sci-Fi/Fantasy
          - Writing a diverse cast of characters, but not the MC
          - Marginalized perspectives that are very rare (book-wise and author-wise) vs.
            Marginalized perspectives that have a lot of #ownvoices ready to tell their story already

In which situations are we helping by "writing outside our lane"? In which situations are we actually just hurting #ownvoices?

 Okay. That's a lot to think about. Honestly guys ... I just don't know anymore. Am I overthinking this? Underthinking this? That's why I want us to discuss. If you want to read some more before jumping into the discussion, here are some links to other articles:

 Further Reading:
Please keep in mind that many of these posts/threads are old articles.
The original posters likely don't have time to engage in new conversations about them
Be respectful of their time and read/listen only. 

Apologies in advance. For many of these articles, the bits most directly relevant to the current discussion may be buried. That's part of the reason I want to have this discussion. I don't see it being discussed enough:

Why I'm Not Writing POC POV Anymore   ||   "I Just Don't Identify with the Character"   ||   Your Manuscript is "Not A Good Fit"   ||   "Well, we Already Have One Black Writer on our list ..."   || Reasons NOT to ||   Dear White Writers: Just Because WNDB, Doesn't Mean YOU should write them   ||  "The Burden Can't Just Fall to Writers of Color" ||   "We Published Lesbian Last Issue"   ||   Speaking Out About the State of Diversity in Publishing   ||   Who is "We?" -- & "Already have a Korean-American Writer"   ||   Diversity is Not Enough -- "What if they don't get what I'm doing?" and "We didn't Connect with the Character"   ||   What's in a Number -- Or ... What Happens if we wait for change to happen "organically"   ||   Narrow-Minded Marketing & How White People Can Respond   ||  "There are quotas in effect -- literally"   ||   "It is infinitely harder for the work of POC to be heard/seen/recognized in the marketplace"   ||  White Writers: Don't Write Diverse Books. Read Them.  ||   "We Don't Relate to the Character" -- It's not yours to relate to!   ||

Must-Read Twitter Threads on this Topic:Please keep in mind that these threads are dated. 
The original posters likely don't have time to engage in new conversations about them.
Be respectful of their time and read/listen only. 

 When NOT to
Write-In-Your Lane: Differences between New vs. Established Authors & Marginalized vs. Non-Marg


 So. Let's Discuss:

 Note: I would like to keep these comments open and unmoderated for people to express their full thoughts and feelings on this (the exception being that spam / off-topic material will be removed). 

 Because of this, I'm not asking anyone to play nice. I do ask that if you're about to post something that could be construed as aggressive or rude, you think about the effectiveness of your argumentation techniques, but I don't want you to feel restricted. It's a tough and potentially heated topic. Feel welcome to post your comments anonymously, if that's more comfortable for you.

 tl;dr? Please let's not tone police or derail here.


The Questions Again:
  1. Even IF non-marginalized authors "get the rep right"... How much are we/they really helping?
  2. To what extent does writing the other help diverse books at the expense of diverse authors?  (By taking up #ownvoices' seats at the table)
  3. Are there situations where "writing outside your lane" is more helpful? More hurtful?

    For example:
              a. A Contemporary "Issue Book" vs. A Contemporary "Fun Book"
              b. Contemporary/Historical vs. Sci-Fi/Fantasy
              c.  Writing a diverse cast of characters, but not the MC
              d. Marginalizations that are very rare (book-wise and author-wise) vs.
                  Marginalized perspectives that have a lot of #ownvoices ready to tell their story already

I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Please feel free to post your comments anonymously.

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Friday, April 29, 2016

Query Lab #1 - WCNV Edition: May Giveaway Closed

Query Lab #1 Submission Open Now
image: holdentrils
In case you missed it, The Query Lab is a new monthly feature on my blog! Each month, I'll open up a submissions window for those interested in receiving a Query & 1st 10 page critique from me. When the sub window closes, I'll randomly select winners and a runner up!

3 Winners will receive a private Query & 1st 10 page critique/consultation from me.

 1 Runner-Up will receive a Query-only Critique from me that will be publicly posted on this blog.

I'm most experienced with YA and MG, as that's what I write. However, I can definitely help with other age categories as well. The only thing I wouldn't be a good fit for is erotica (sorry!!)

{ For more info, please see the original information post here!
   And check out my Calendar of other opportunities for query critiques.}


The Query Lab WCNV Edition

Query + 1st 10 Page Critique Giveaway

Winners: Sierra Elmore, Natasha Hanova, & Kelly Cain!!!
The random number generator has also chosen a runner-up
Please check back in a couple weeks when the runner-up's
public query critique will be posted!

 Also! Note that next month's theme will be #SFFPit manuscripts,
check back here in the last week of May for that
announcement and entry window!
How to Enter:

  • Meet the Monthly Focus Criteria:  
    Each month, I will focus on a particular type of submission. This will limit the types of authors and/or manuscripts that are eligible to enter each month. I decided to do this so that my query critiques will be of maximum help to writers preparing for upcoming contests that have a particular genre or focus!

    May Focus: #WCNV

    (Writers of Color and Native Voices)


    Not sure if this applies to you?
    Please check the WCNV Website for guidelines
    (and to read more about their upcoming contest!)


  • Comment on this Post

    Please leave a comment on this post with the following:
    • "Enter Me!"
    •  A way for me to contact you if you win
       (If you aren't signed in with your Google ID, maybe leave a Twitter handle or blog address, or check back here when the contest closes to see if you've won)
    •  Note if you are willing to be a Runner-Up
       (Runners-Up will receive a PUBLIC query critique posted on this blog)

Want to know more about The Query Lab, or the upcoming submission theme/focus schedule? Check out the original post here.

Got a question? Feel free to drop me a line on Twitter!  ( @carissaataylor )


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Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Social Media, Writerland, and "Call-Out Culture"

Shredded so Beautiful
(or in other words, Critcism Can Be Painful)
Photo by Seemingly
When I was about eight-years-old, I participated in a workshop for young writers. I poured my heart and soul into a ten page story, and submitted it to the workshop leaders. Three days later, I got it back, all marked up in red pen.

My story was wrong, wrong, wrong. The grammar. The puncuation. The plot. Everything.

I was devastated. I cried. I hid the paper in my desk and never wrote another piece of fiction again (not voluntarily, though a few for class assignments). Not for twenty years.

And I'm still super sensitive about things (as my husband will attest). I'm literally the worst for reading between the lines and interpreting statements as subtle personal attacks on me.

I guess what I'm trying to say is:

I get it.

It's painful to see your work and your words critiqued. It's REALLY painful.

It's painful to see authors whose work you have grown to love and respect get "called out" on social media for writing things that hurt people.

     ... sometimes it feels like it's "A Witch Hunt"

     ... sometimes it feels like it's "dogpiling"

     ... sometimes it makes you feel like you don't want to write anything again for fear of criticism.

But here's the thing: Our books are bigger than ourselves and our feelings as authors. 

 Writers with platforms have power. 

 There are a lot of people paying attention to their words. 

 If authors use their platforms to say things that (intentionally or not) hurt people? If there are aspects of their books that are problematic? If they say things that employ or perpetuate harmful stereotypes, misinformation, fetishization, cultural appropriation, racial slurs, or other microagressions?

They need to be called out.

Sometimes this calling out sounds angry. That's because it is. Because effectively, whether the writer realizes it or not, they themselves have "thrown the first punch."

If the voices aren't loud, (and possibly somewhat angry sounding), would anyone hear about these issues? Very doubtful. I'm not sure about you, but if I heard a few people mumbling "well, I kind of had an issue with Chapter 2" or "well, but I'm sure she meant well" ... I wouldn't give it a second glance. I'd think "huh, must not be a big deal."

Calling things out does several extremely positive things: (1) it alerts readers and gatekeepers to books that may be perpetuating harmful messages about minority groups, (2) it alerts future authors on what not to do in their own books.

If we don't call out, how will change ever happen?

Is there a way to do this "nicer"? Sure. Do we need to have more conversations about that? Sure. It's probably a good idea to avoid, for example, tagging someone in something that just comes across as a personal attack. But niceness is in the eye of the beholder.

And also?

It's pretty hard to "be nice" if you just got punched in your gut ... again.

When we tone police and dismiss arguments because they sound angry, more often than not, we're further dismissing and marginalizing voices that our society has already marginalized in the first place.

Too often we dismiss when we should be listening.

So I think, as authors, published or pre-published, our first step and primary responsibility is not to get defensive, but rather to get okay with being called out, and be open to criticism. Maybe part of it is just saying it. Owning it. Preparing for it.

So I'll say it.





I hope you do too.


More Resources:

 We Need to Get Okay With Criticism


On The Dangers of Tone Policing


I'd love to hear from you, either here, or on Twitter. I've barely scratched the surface of this topic. What do you think about call-out culture? Have I glossed over important issues? Very likely. Call me out on it ;o)
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