TL;dr…Look up authors on social media before you decide to join their private writers’ groups or professional organizations.
Yeah, there’s a pandemic happening, and it’s getting worse in the regions where Stupid Meets Hateful.
I live in Arizona, one of the current US hotspots. Covid19 is around every corner. I’m in lockdown right now from a non-Covid injury (shoulder; I am newly in awe of people who type one-handed with skill!)
So I’m updating will & power of attorney, setting up as many art projects as I can while I can, writing & publishing fiction, and reading.
Enough about Covid19.
Let’s talk about Romancelandia instead, that glittering realm-genre where a gigantic percentage of publishing sales occur. While nearly everyone else derides the field with outdated stereotypes that were never really true.
Amplification of black & brown writers & characters is a long overdue result of the #DiverseBooks and #PublishingPaidMe movements. It’s infuriating to see how much less POC are paid, compared to white counterparts. It’s refreshing to see amazing books from marginalized writers…get the attention they deserve.
The recent meltdown of the Romance Writers of America laid bare some appalling racism, homophobia, and descrimination of disability at all levels of the organization.
There are new people at the National Group now, trying to clean up. Many local groups have disbanded or are rebuilding themselves.
I wish I could say the same for all local groups.
For writers thinking of joining ANY local or regional writers’ group (professional or not), do this first. Look up their high-ranking members (ideally, all current members) on social media.
Are they Nice White Ladies?
Most romance (and other genre) writers recognize at least dimly they should have a social media hub, and that they should be a little circumspect with what they post.
Here’s the hilarious thing about racist, homophobic, conspiracy-loving NWL: they can’t easily censor themselves. On Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Parler, or internal author boards, they will sooner or later show their true faces.
We come back to Covid19, the crashing economy and the Black Lives Matter protests. Rightwing paranoia and resentment are cresting into a storm of twitchy irrational outbursts on social media.
NWL can’t help joining in.
They will show you who they really are. At least, they’ll show you they lack the discretion needed to be leaders of any well-functioning group.
As long as they hold power in a group, they cast shadows on every good thing the group does.
Do you want to be associated with them?