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one of the most things I have learned about being an editor for lit mags (including and especially from volunteering for one that I ended up resigning from to speak against #racismincanlit and workplace harassment) is the importance of editors being accountable to writers.
when you're in a position to solicit work and uplift voices and to "gatekeep" you have to consider your responsibility, especially to the communities you're a part of and/or trying to support. I'm so tired and wish editors would DO BETTER
Just stop asking for free labor already =____=
if one goes into editing, especially to support folks and communities that have dealt with a history of underpayment, under-/mis-representation, and oppression, the work needs to be done with sensitivity. treat other people's work with respect and care <3
its not enough to just seek them out. we're beyond that point. you should pay them, but also think about how you can support their work and make sure its sustainable, and and create a space that's safe(r) for folks to share their work. you want to build and set good precedents
i'm not perfect and always learning from other BIPOC editors and trying to think about ways to do better. I'd like to encourage other editors to do better as well
this thread is in response to a lot of things, but in this place known as Canada I've noticed this to be an issue with quite a few presses/publications lately, although its definitely not just limited to Canada
I'm thinking in particular about a case a few weeks ago when two white editors started a micropress and accepted work by BIPOC writers and then left them hanging without publishing them (sometimes at the last minute). its just so irresponsible, abusive, and exploitative
we've also had #publishingpaidme and various hashtags that have drawn attention to unequal pay for writers, especially Black writers. I'm so tired of these kinds of situations repeating themselves.
I'm also thinking about when I was asked to review books by Chinese Canadian writers for free. I pushed back and refused. The white editor listened and came back later offering to pay. I agreed to refer reviewers, and this wouldn't have happened if I hadn't pushed back
I really think its important for BIPOC folks to watch out for one another and set good standards/boundaries rather than being used for free diversity labor =____= like we're already underpaid and face enough barriers. free "exposure" isn't actually a benefit
