Thread by @astarte73

Reading the horrors of #RWA, I’ve done my best to keep my mouth shut and just learn. Because I am a writer coming from a place of privilege, I didn’t think I had the right to add more fuel to the fire

But the fact is, even though I am white & able-bodied, I am bi, neurodiverse and write characters like me in #LGBTQ historical romance, and this problem of hatred toward “other” isn’t just at the national level

I joined #RWA 2 years ago so I could enter contests and help kickstart my career. In the 14 months I contest-ed, I entered 18 and won or finaled 14 times. In 1 contest, I was the over-all winner & “won” a mentorship (more later)

I’m not mentioning this because I’m bragging: just trying to set up that my writing is considered at least objectively *decent*

But because I write MM historical romance, I have had a preponderance of nasty comments in the judges’ scoresheets. And UGH, I went through to find some of the more egregious (which sucked, and I admit I poured a cocktail to take some of the sting away)

“The focus seems to be too much about sex and sexual attraction instead of the plot of seeing ghosts, which should drive the story”

Erm, it’s a ROMANCE

“Considering the times, I doubt Ainsley would let members of household staff know his sexual orientation. In fact, Ainsley’s blatant sexual remarks seemed unrealistic.”

Sure thing, Karen. Except he’s based on Stephen Tennant who was very open about who he was.

Another one gave me a 47/100, which I have to assume is because…queer? She also mentioned multiple times that it just wasn’t possible. Sigh. (same contest, different judges, 98/100 & 89/100)

I went to a single local RWA chapter because I was receiving an award. However, the ladies at my table were aghast that I write queer romance. “WHY??? How many gay men will even bother to buy your books?”

Another contest “I was surprised to read that Toby ‘knew’ he was gay.” Hmm. You’re right. He was 22 and never felt attraction to a woman, but…no one in history actually had a clue, did they? This contest gave me 2 scores of 41/ & 40/60 w/ no critique other than “great writing.”

But the thing that made me give up contests entirely? My 2 Golden Heart comments about “this book didn’t classify as a romance”. Unsure why. It was the main plot & had an HEA. *AH* But they were queer

Anyway, it sucks. There are nastier comments I can’t even bother to look for because, why bother? I’m far from alone. All these shitty judges who are so ridiculously biased acting as gatekeepers on the lower levels too. The RITA crap was horrible and thank god it was brought up.

But the contests for unpubbed writers? A win means your story gets in front of an agent. Maybe gets you published. Or in one case for me, a NYT bestselling author as a mentor. Only she didn’t want to work on any of my queer romances.
Which is what I write. And won for.

I’m lucky enough to have gotten an agent and a book contract without the help of an RWA contest. I was OVER THE MOON to go to the national conference this summer and do a book signing in San Francisco. The dream, right?

But there is no way I can belong to an organization that is so rooted in bias and doesn’t believe either myself or the books I write belong or deserve to have an HEA. So, like all the rest of the decent people, #IStandwithCourtney

*and for the record, they don't "shag" until about page 90/300 page book. Don't even kiss until past page 50. Grrrrr. But I suppose 2 young-ish men thinking about sex is implausible.