I don't understand writers who are willing to pay a scientist to make sure the science in their book that only 5% of readers will even understand is perfectly correct but cry foul at doing the same for marginalized groups.
You don't have to get a sensitivity reader. No one has to do anything in publishing.
Clearly. I mean I can easily name a number of racist books published in the last year by big publishing houses.
Obviously no one forced anything on anyone.
Clearly. I mean I can easily name a number of racist books published in the last year by big publishing houses.
Obviously no one forced anything on anyone.
Even if you have a sensitivity reader. No one is saying you have to take those notes.
In fact a lot of sensitivity readers including myself could tell you so many stories of writers that got angry at our notes or simply refused to use them.
In fact a lot of sensitivity readers including myself could tell you so many stories of writers that got angry at our notes or simply refused to use them.
The thing is all this anger at the very idea of sensitivity readers has NOTHING to do with censorship. There are a number of readers and editors that books go through, all of whom give notes on plot, line structure, character, etc. and no one is protesting that,
No, the real reason for the railing against sensitivity readers is the fear that our criticism/notes on race, gender, sexuality, disability, class, etc. equal an accusation of bigotry.
We've all been there, when you call someone's attention to something they did/said that made you uncomfortable and they immediately respond with: "I'm no racist/homophobe/misogynist/ableist/etc.!"
That wasn't what was being said.
That wasn't what was being said.
Instead of taking the notes as the advice they are intended. They take is as an insult.
The writers who are crying "Censorship!" are the ones being extremely sensitive.
The writers who are crying "Censorship!" are the ones being extremely sensitive.
Then you want to whine when your ARC comes out and people get a hold of it and rightly rip it to shreds for bullshit you could have avoided.
Well, you did you boo boo and these are the consequences.
Well, you did you boo boo and these are the consequences.
You now have one of two options.
1. Apologize, learn and do better next time.
2. Scream "Censorship!"s & "You're too sensitive!"s like a child.
1. Apologize, learn and do better next time.
2. Scream "Censorship!"s & "You're too sensitive!"s like a child.
Unfortunately most authors choose the second option. Again they become so concerned that the criticism denote accusations of bigotry and they become more obsessed with that label than with the acts they perform while "defending themselves."
Honestly the number of nerds who get pissed if a minuscule Klingon tradition is changed in a new series but wanna lose their shit when asked to fact check their marginalized characters with marginalized people are the worst people.
