Something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately is how, as more and more diverse books get published, I see more and more identity policing happening.

I know it’s not going to stop but it’s dangerous.

Let me tell you why.

I’ve seen on several occasions a reader or blogger or sometimes even another author call out someone for writing an experience they don’t *think* that writer should be writing.

But the problem is, usually, there’s no way to *know* all of someone’s identities unless you ask.

Someone can pass as white and still be a POC.

Someone can have an invisible disability.

Someone can be married and questioning. Or be QUILTBAG and not out yet.

And it isn’t the responsibility of the author to reveal all of their marginalizations just so their book won’t be attacked or vilified or so WRONG assumptions won’t be made about who they are and the stories they want to tell.

People assume that just because you’re a writer you owe all your truths to your readers. So often people assume they know all there is to know about public figures.

But there are authors who don’t talk about their religious or political beliefs to keep their families safe.

There are authors who are only now coming fully into who they are.

Writers write because they love story and character. They write because they are full of voices and pain and sometimes confusion about who they are themselves.

Before you make a judgement about a book or a character or who you’ve decided an author is or isn’t, think about that.