But it seems that being straight and white may be a disadvantage when it comes to publishing and freelance writing. And I’ll explain why.
I’m always on the lookout for high-paying freelance writing opportunities. And more and more I’ve been coming across submission guidelines that say things like “We like to publish authors from diverse backgrounds.” And that got me wondering what exactly that means?
Just this week I came across an interesting freelance open submission window that said the company was, "committed to uplifting voices from all walks of life. We actively welcome submissions from writers of every race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, and cultural background. This includes — but is not limited to — BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, disabled/neurodivergent writers, immigrant authors, and those from historically marginalized or underrepresented communities.” Does this mean they have a preference for submissions from a gay person over a straight person? Or a young person over an older person? Or a black person over a white person?
A few months ago, a writer named Aaron Barry, experimented with his submissions. He first tried submitting his work in his own identity, a straight white man, and only had modest success. He then began submitting his work under several different “marginal” identities and had great success. His work was even published in acclaimed literary journals.
And, most importantly, he admits that the work he submitted (and was successful with) was just nonsensical gibberish.
For instance, one of his poems included gibberish like “voodoo prak tik casta oyal drip drip.” Another poem, that he titled Shakespeare’s Cmslt, opens with: “To ?️ or not to ?️ William Shakespeare’s ??? little cmslt ???: that is the question.”
The website that published the article about Aaron’s experiment said that it was interesting that “few questioned the authenticity of the work, until the author’s race and gender were revealed.”
Many other publications have commented on Aaron’s experiment as to whether publishers who claim to be “inclusive” by wanting to promote so-called marginal writers, do value a writer’s identity much more than their work. And do writers from “underrepresented” categories get preferential treatment over straight, white writers? They conclude that they don’t think so. But they don’t know.
Personally, I don’t submit to publications that say they are “committed to” or “actively welcome” submissions from certain groups of writers. I believe that my work should be judged on merit and not on who I sleep with or the colour of my skin or whether or not I’m physically or mentally disabled, or my religion. I prefer to keep politics out of the art of writing.
But you can be the judge of your own work.
And if you think this is all controversial, well, you’re probably right.
But I have never understood why a publisher needs to know the colour of my skin, or my partner preferences, or my religion. None of that has anything to do with my writing and whether or not it’s suitable for their publication.
