White authors, when you're on a panel, you have to take the time to look up every person on the panel and familiarize yourself to make sure your panel is inclusive. Yes, this takes time. No, it's not easy. This is the WORK.

I see a lot of white creators saying they are ready for change and that #BlackLivesMatter
and that they are ready to take action. Then they don't bother to research their own panels. Usually, it is POC who do the research. WE MUST DO BETTER.

For anyone loathe to drop themselves from a panel: you don't sell a ton of books from a panel. You might not sell ANY. If you are on three panels, you can get the same marketing benefit from reducing to ONE panel. That is action we must take to MAKE SPACE.

I get emails from white organizers asking for help making events inclusive. I try, but I also feel like I'm being asked for a magic button. There is no easy way. You have to research extensively, have conversations, make connections, and REMOVE cis white people.

In order to make SPACE, you have to say NO. You have to say no to people you debuted with. To friends. To crit partners. To creators you admire. If you are not willing to say NO, your event will not make space for marginalized voices, and you will not be inclusive.

Also..."marginalized voices" does not mean the dozen best selling authors you see at many events. Reach out to marginalized DEBUTS. Reach out to LOCAL authors. Notice the theme? REACH OUT. You have to make space and WELCOME marginalized people into it.

This means your event needs to be SAFE. You need safeguards to prevent racist/homophobic moderators or panelists. This also takes work. You have to organize your panels so that there is safe space for all, and you have to ensure the space stays safe during your event.

There isn't an easy way to do this! It takes a lot of time and communication. It takes being humble and changing your view of someone when you hear new information about them. It takes INVITING marginalized voices into leadership positions. We must MAKE SPACE.

The biggest point I run into every time I have this conversation with white author/organizer friends is that they do not have inclusive friend circles. How can you solicit marginalized voices for events if you aren't friends with any marginalized people?

What does that mean? Well, it means SPENDING TIME ON PEOPLE. Friendship is about giving. You give your time, care, and effort to people and they become your friend. You may not have Black neighbors, but what is keeping you from being friends with your Black debut authors?

What is keeping you from supporting marginalized voices on your social media feeds? Your RT does actually help. Your comment on IG can help, too. Social media metrics are all about engagement...so, engage! Engage EVERY DAY. Over time, you make friends! Who wouldn't want that?

This is all low hanging fruit. Social media engagement, checking to make sure your panel is inclusive...how about volunteering to organize an event without being on several panels yourself? That is a way to make change. How about posting book reviews? So few people do this stuff.

There is no mystery answer, and there is no magic button. Step back and look at who you even follow on social media. Do you follow diverse voices? Do you click through and comment on their article? Do you suggest books/names other than your own when people are looking for recs?

I'm getting all angry here, because NONE OF THIS IS HARD. Publishing likes to make you think you have to fight for every scrap of attention. Trust me, YOU DON'T.

Opportunities come to cis white authors. You should NOT take all of them. Do you have a new release? Do you have a marginalized friend who has a new release? Can you make change by suggesting their name instead? YES. Yes, you can!

Look, I just had a book release into this hellscape and I am familiar with the feeling of panic that it will disappear into a black hole, but I also know, in my heart, that there are people who will order my book before they will order a book by a Black author. That is a fact.

It really, honestly does not hurt me to make space for others. Taking every scrap of attention I could get won't do anything for me if those readers ALREADY KNOW ME. If they meet someone new, a marginalized voice they had not heard of, that can do a LOT. That helps!

I get feeling like you are missing out, or that maybe you aren't hustling enough if you step back, but we have to look at the numbers and trust the facts. Cis white authors do not need to take up every space we can get. We are wildly favored by publishing. We have to change that.

Cis white authors can make publishing more inclusive. Our choices can make change, but we have to be willing to make the choice! Small choices, big choices...every time you choose to do the work to be inclusive, you are making change. You can make change AND thrive.

It's a false assumption to think that lifting another voice will silence your own. We can be inclusive and thrive together.