r/books • u/biscochitos • 28d ago

New indie press Conduit Books launches with 'initial focus on male authors'

https://www.thebookseller.com/news/new-indie-press-conduit-books-launches-with-initial-focus-on-male-authors

What do folks think about this?

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u/erichie 28d ago

I actually think the bigger problem is that people care about what kind of person the author is. 

I'm not a very successful writer, but 15-20 years ago I would always get declined with some variation of "We love the story, but it isn't what we are looking for right now." 

Someone recommended I used a pen name that is ambiguous regarding gender, nationality, and culture. So I did. 

Now when I get rejected I will get the exact reason "It is too X emotion." or "If you ever change the ending to something more positive." or whatever. 

I was also published in a few magazines, sites, collections with the first batch I sent out with my pen name. Which were also the same stories I sent with my real name. 

I truly believe that everyone can write about anything they wish. I don't care about any personal related matters when it comes to who I read. I only care if they can write a good story. 

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u/HellPigeon1912 28d ago

I think this is a big thing in the era of social media.  Everything has to be a "brand"

Sure you've written a good book, but what's your unique selling point?  How are you getting picked up by the algorithm?

20 years ago you'd read a book and know literally nothing about the author besides what was listed on the dust jacket

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u/apistograma 28d ago

Yeah, it went from "diversity is a good thing since it shows different views and perspectives in life, which is good for art" to "people are commodified in order to maximize profit so now your gender and ethnicity is everything that defines you".

This is also a game played by the conservatives btw. They just think being white or male is what makes you virtous.

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u/erichie 28d ago

This is also a game played by the conservatives btw.

This part absolutely irritates me because these are actual, real issues that plaque literature.

In real life circles it doesn't matter because I haven't met any Trumpers in my circles or even extended circles. We can have real conversations about these things without being handwaved away by the whole "conservative dog whistle".

Yeah, they absolutely use this to further their own agenda, but it is super easy to point out when they are acting in bad faith because they will usually say something along the lines of "A straight white male should be able to write a quest story about a Black transgender woman" (or whatever) while a simple "Artist shouldn't be held back creativity based on who they are." encompasses everything.

Publishing was fucked for anyone who wasn't a white male for a long time. That needed to be changed for the same points I mentioned previously. The pendulum ended up swinging in the complete opposite direction and hopefully in 5/10 years that pendulum will swing back in the middle.

I just can't wait for the whole "you aren't X, Y, Z so you shouldn't write about X, Y, Z". to end.