Member-only story
I think you’re a pretty special writer
But the question is, do you?
I watched an interesting conversation unfold on Twitter a few years ago, after Roxanne Gay retweeted an update from Kima Jones, where they were talking about how frustrating it is as an editor to tell people you want to work with them and have them “aww-shucks” their replies, decorated with insecurity.
Now, Gay and Jones are two women of colour in publishing who have very publicly talked about how much of their careers have been spent being told “no.” What follows isn’t necessarily about the treatment of women — and especially women of colour — in the publishing industry (cause holy hell, that’s a deep rabbit hole to tumble down).
It’s about something you might be doing wrong when you send submissions and pitches to editors.
Cause hooooo-doggies, is this one a frustration for me.
When looking at the conversation between Kima and Roxanne, I did something I normally don’t do in situations like this, and I clicked through to read the replies and comments.
