Thread by @ArmyVet5

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc 1/ A THREAD:

I tend not to respond, but maybe it is time I shed some light on this post and my assessment of lack of BIPOC in Kidlit. I am speaking as a #BlackCreator and #PictureBook writer.

This is not throwing shade at agents, or editors...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc 2/ I remember I was told that I will not get published because I do not write picture books the right way. What does that mean? It means, I do not write "The White Way," which is the character tries three times and fail.

I write stories. To get books in front of editors in...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc 3/ "THE BIG HOUSE," you have to go through agents. Many agents say, "I didn't connect with the story," or "The voice is not authentic," or "I pass because it is not what publishers want." Then you ask an editor what they want and they reply, "I know when I see it."...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc 4/ How will they see it, if agents do not get it in front of them? There is a problem...I am a Black woman who writes stories where the character does not fail three times and get back up.
@LGartonScanlon
told me at VCFA, picture books are more than this format....

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 5/ They can have movement, and lyricism, and narrative arcs. They can be poetic, and empowering, and sends a message that is not peachy preachy. Many agents are looking for the "Three-times-failed" manuscript. I'm in a group of picture book writers who are all people of color...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 6/ Some are agented, some are not. Some have books under contract, some don't. But they all have a story to tell. Stories of kids being kids. Story of #BlackGirlMagic and #BlackBoyJoy. Stories so poetic, you are lost in the words...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 7/ Stories which empower and entertain, inspire and intrigue. Stories about blood family and "Found" families. When people control how we get to the top, we lick our wounds and keep writing with hopes someone will see the beauty in our words and way of life. ...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 8/ There are nine of us in my group of picture book writers. We want to tell our stories, but what do you do, when agents do not understand your stories or find them "not authentic." Imagine that, being Black and have a non-POC tell you, "It's not authentic." Hmmm...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 9/ This means, there is an expected narrative, a stereotype. We should be considered authentic because we are writing what we know. Our children of color get to live life and just be kids. They get to make friends and break up with friends. They go to school on the first day. ...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 10/ Plus, we see #PublishingPaidMe. We see what Black creators get. When agents know they will not get paid a lot from a picture book, they will not waste their time. So let's figure out the solution. I have ideas...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 11/ Get rid of the intrinsic bias. Stop thinking about what #Blackness is. We are complicated beings. But we are creative and smart and bold and brave. We are resilient and our children are resilient. We rise up and we fall down. We are people...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 12/ ...and children who live regular lives and doing regular things. We want to tell stories that are not painted with "slave" narrative and oppression. We just want to see ourselves on the pages of books. We want our children to see they are just as important.

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 13/ We can start with agents who are willing to prepare themselves for the marathon and stop training for a sprint. We need Publishers to allow us to tell our stories, not scold us in telling them what they want to hear. We are more than "slave" stories, and "oppression" stories.

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon 14/ I just took a picture book class where the writers only had one picture book written by a POC, a book about a red lollipop. Why wasn't #LastStopOnMarketStreet on the list or anything and EVERYTHING by
@JackieWoodson? The whole time, the facilitator was pushing the...

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @LGartonScanlon @JackieWoodson 15/ "Three-time-failed" format. This is the problem. If you want us to bring something different, allow us to write what we want, what we know, what we live. Let us tell our stories. And agents, be honest and fair in your acquisition.

#AmplifyBlackVoices #WritingWhileBlack

@kaitfeldmann @CCBCwisc @threadreaderapp unroll