and because they're out of touch with humanity, the stories are also out of touch with humanity, because the feedback is not given to level the work up. it's given to streamline it. there is barely any thought of what it's doing to the work beyond that it makes it blend in.

they think of artists, and art in general as capital. they are out of touch with the fundamental concept of a book even, as the expression of an author's soul, and a person's truth. this really makes me feel like they're obsolete as people who should be handling peoples' art.

this may be overgeneralized. but the way "publishing" is talked about without specifics allows gatekeepers to paint it as an amorphous beast attacking all of us rather than a thing run by people. they perform ennui about the whole operation and work every day to perpetuate it.

when gatekeepers tweet things like "publishing! ugh! amirite?" they deflect from the fact that they've resigned to the industry's model of toxic competition as well as the conservative ideals protected by the work. they do this by pretending they, too, are just victims.

and yes, everyone working beneath someone else is a victim in some way. but authors are the most victimized. and they will watch us self-destruct and destroy ourselves and lose all morale and will to create before admitting they have ever done anything wrong.

this is not some elusive "publishing" beast that came to destroy the town and everyone in it. this is that editor at macmillan, that agent at icm, that executive at penguin, etc. these are people doing this. mostly white. have never had to take accountability so don't know how.

i wake up everyday swinging at folks because being combative is the only way to protect what should be the beating heart of the industry - integrity. meanwhile SO MANY gatekeepers are chillin. would not risk a thing if it meant departing from their one true love, white supremacy.