Well, it's a bit soon to discuss the 2015 A-Z Blogging Challenge, but I've decided to join it this year. I've been thinking more about visibility of authors, particularly women authors and indie authors. For example, this post, which was shared on the Broad Universe Facebook page, discusses the struggles of a traditionally published female SF/fantasy writer and how more difficult it is to gain attention and sales as a woman writer. That said, I don't think the solution is to adopt a male pseudonym. I am who I am, and I write about what moves me. It may not resonate with every single person in the world--not that that's possible--but I write to reach the people, however few or many, who can grok what I have to say. That can't happen if I hide a fundamental part of my identity. And why should women hide who we are? While I don't track author gender, I probably read more women authors than men, and there are some highly skilled women authors out there. Women create great aliens and worlds, come up with witty dialogue, rock their science and action scenes, and evoke emotion. Some women writers are more well-known than others, but they all deserve an audience.
Accordingly, I will dedicate my blogging during the month of April 2015 to featuring women authors of science fiction and fantasy. I already have my schedule and list of names drawn up, and there's so much awesomeness out there I couldn't limit myself to twenty-six authors. As of now, I have nearly sixty authors on my schedule, though this may change between now and April. I just have to decide on the format for each author before I start preparing my posts.
In an ideal world, writers would be judged on their merits, not their identities. If this world will not come about from the top down, we must build it from the bottom up, author by author, book by book, reader by reader. Let's build it together.
10 comments:
Not too soon to talk about it - the sign up list opened today!
Great idea for a theme. I don't get the prejudice. Online, most of the authors I know are women, including those who write science fiction and fantasy.
Just signed up, Alex!
I don't see why anyone would want to discriminate against women writers either, Alex.
I'm feeling left out. But nothing new. I'm not a joiner. I'm a lifelong member of the American Introverts Society.
Re: That said, I don't think the solution is to adopt a male pseudonym.
Well said. But on the other side of the coin, I'd had a recent conversation with a male author writing romance. I really feel using his real name limits his success.
It's just barriers we have to break down, one brick at a time.
Mac, I'm a strong introvert too, so I understand. That said, why would we introverts form a group and force more socialization on ourselves? ;)
Maria, good point about male romance writers. To be fair, it should work both ways, with both genders free to write in whichever genres they choose.
You need to make sure to include The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell.
:Adds another author to the list: Andrew, I already had two authors for R, but thanks for reminding me about Russell.
Hi, Sandra! I found you in the blogosphere! :)
That sounds like a great idea for the A to Z Challenge. I look forward to stopping in and reading about all of these different authors you decide to highlight.
By the way, you can find me here...
Swords and Stilettos
Nice to meet you, Kristin!
What a great blog idea! I hope you will add me to the list. It sounds like a lot of work, so if I can do anything to help, let me know and I will pitch in.
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