Reasons for withdrawal: why I have pulled out of WICKED PRETTY THINGS.: seanan

Reasons for withdrawal: why I have pulled out of WICKED PRETTY THINGS.

Just last week, I announced that I would have a story in the YA anthology Wicked Pretty Things. I was extremely excited; this was going to be my first young adult publication, and I really, really want to start publishing some of my YA (werewolves and movie stars and sociological experiments, oh my). It seemed like a great opportunity.

Then I heard that one of the authors, Jessica Verday, had pulled out of the anthology. Which seemed a little odd, given how late we were in the process.

And then I found out her reason. To quote her blog post on the subject (originally posted at http://jessicaverday.blogspot.com/):

"I've received a lot of questions and comments about why I'm no longer a part of the Wicked Pretty Things anthology (US: Running Press, UK: Constable & Robinson) and I've debated the best way to explain why I pulled out of this anthology. The simple reason? I was told that the story I'd wrote, which features Wesley (a boy) and Cameron (a boy), who were both in love with each other, would have to be published as a male/female story because a male/male story would not be acceptable to the publishers."

...uh, what? That's not okay. I mean, really, that's not okay. I began, in my slow, overly careful way, to get angry. Then I saw a statement from the editor, saying that the decision had been entirely hers, and had been in no way a reflection of the publisher's views. I sat back. I thought very, very hard. And I decided that, barring any additional developments, I would stay in the anthology, rather than hurting the other authors involved with the project by pulling out.

Naturally, there were additional developments. In light of the ongoing situation, my own discomfort with this whole thing, and the fact that discriminating on basis of sexual orientation is never okay, I have withdrawn my story from the collection.

And here's the thing. There is absolutely no reason to censor a story that was written to the guidelines (which dictated how much profanity, sexuality, etc. was acceptable, as good guidelines should). If Jessica had written hard-core erotica, then rejecting it would have made perfect sense. Not that kind of book. But she didn't. She wrote a romance, just like the rest of us, only her romance didn't include any girls. And she didn't get a rejection; she got her story accepted, just like the rest of us. Only while we got the usual editorial comments, she got "One of your characters needs to be turned into something he's not." And that's not okay.

Books do not determine a person's sexual orientation. I was not somehow destined to be straight, and led astray by Annie On My Mind and the Valdemar books. I was born with universal wiring. I have had boyfriends and I have had girlfriends and I have had both at the same time, and none of that—NONE OF THAT—is because I read a book where a girl was in love with a girl and I decided that being bisexual would be a fun way to kill a weekend.

But those books did tell me I didn't have to hate myself, and they did tell me that there was nothing wrong with me, and they did make it easier on everyone involved, because here was something I could hand to Mom and go "See? It's not just me, and it's not the end of the world, and it's not the only thing that defines me." Supposedly, ten percent of people are gay or bi with a tropism toward their own gender. It stands to reason that there should be positive non-hetero relationships in at least ten percent of YA literature. And they're not there. And things like this are why.

I am not withdrawing from this book because I'm not straight. I am withdrawing because of my little sister and her wife, and because of my girlfriend, and because of my best friend, and because of all the other people who deserve better than bullying through exclusion. Thanks to Jessica for bringing this to our attention, and thank you to everyone who has been supportive of my decision to withdraw.

I am sorry this had to be done. I am not sorry that I did it.

droewyn

March 28 2011, 21:19:01 UTC 6 years ago

New comment

Thanks, from yet another small bisexual girl who really could have used more characters that were like me. I look forward to being able to read your story, and Jessica's, someday.

seanan_mcguire

March 28 2011, 21:24:40 UTC 6 years ago

I hope so, too.

Also, twenty points for the Neptune and Uranus icon.

6 years ago

archangelbeth

March 28 2011, 21:19:45 UTC 6 years ago

*hi5s ya*

March 28 2011, 21:24:50 UTC 6 years ago

Whee!

ironed_orchid

March 28 2011, 21:20:29 UTC 6 years ago

March 28 2011, 21:24:55 UTC 6 years ago

<3!

yellowblackhaze

March 28 2011, 21:33:04 UTC 6 years ago

I'm very sorry this happened, it shouldn't in this day and age. I hope that the stories for this anthology can still the light of day in some shape or form. I applaud the authors like Seanan and Jessica (and if someone took something I'd written and made a change like that without my approval I'd be so mad I wouldn't be able to see straight) who have the courage to take a personal stand against this type of censorship.

March 29 2011, 01:12:52 UTC 6 years ago

It's not easy; the fear of being blacklisted is there. But the shame of needing to explain why I would be in that book to my thirteen year old self is greater.

miintikwa

March 28 2011, 21:39:22 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you. And my sincere thanks to Jessica for writing her story. Too often I default to M/F because of fear, and because it's easier, and it's heartening to know that other people aren't defaulting.

*wonders if her winged-character world has any gay people in them...*

March 29 2011, 01:13:08 UTC 6 years ago

Agreed.

captaintwinings

March 28 2011, 21:40:11 UTC 6 years ago

I know it's not easy to withdraw from some exciting thing that you wanted to do, but I'm sure I'm not the only fan, queer or otherwise, who appreciates your taking a stand.

(Is it taking a stand or making a stand?)

March 29 2011, 01:13:30 UTC 6 years ago

I think it's either? Probably "taking a stand" is more standard.

Deleted comment

March 29 2011, 01:13:42 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you.

browngirl

March 28 2011, 21:45:18 UTC 6 years ago

Well said and bravely done. *applauds you*

March 29 2011, 01:23:52 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you, sweetie.

kengr

March 28 2011, 21:48:27 UTC 6 years ago

You did good.

And for the folks who don't get what a big deal it is? Ask them what they'd think if it had been an M/F romance, but one of the characters was black and that editor had asked the author to make them both white. Same thing.

March 29 2011, 01:24:04 UTC 6 years ago

Word.

wolfette

March 28 2011, 21:56:52 UTC 6 years ago

I'm going to share this, if you don't mind.

March 29 2011, 01:24:14 UTC 6 years ago

Not at all.

catalana

March 28 2011, 21:57:03 UTC 6 years ago

I realize this is an unfashionable term these days, but I can't think of a more appropriate way to put it: you acted with great honor. And, given my profession, I don't use terms like "honor" lightly.

March 29 2011, 01:24:27 UTC 6 years ago

I understand your use, and I thank you for it.

gwynnega

March 28 2011, 21:58:45 UTC 6 years ago

Well done, Seanan!

March 29 2011, 01:24:38 UTC 6 years ago

brightlotusmoon

March 28 2011, 21:59:05 UTC 6 years ago

I'd love to quote the part about universal wiring! It's how I was born too. I didn't realize it until I was in my early twenties and dating the guy I would marry, but thankfully my male spouse is happy to accommodate my wishes for a girlfriend. That's kind of rare, I'm told.

March 29 2011, 01:24:51 UTC 6 years ago

Rare, but wonderful. Quote away.

misachan

March 28 2011, 21:59:50 UTC 6 years ago

It makes me so sad this is happening. You were so happy on twitter! And your story sounded so cute!

Some of the wrong-headed things coming from the editor's twitter are mind-boggling (the comment about having a blinkered, old-fashioned view of romance was especially damning, I thought.)

I wish all of you could put together your own anthology of the pulled stories.

March 29 2011, 01:25:12 UTC 6 years ago

It's starting to look like someone may do just that. Ah, Internet.

kyrielle

March 28 2011, 22:00:13 UTC 6 years ago

Thank you for doing this. I'm so sorry it came to it, but so grateful for you and all the other authors who are standing up for a world I'd like to see my children grow up in.

March 29 2011, 01:25:25 UTC 6 years ago

Very welcome.

amazon_syren

March 28 2011, 22:00:51 UTC 6 years ago

Go you. Right thing to do. (Looking forward to seeing your story publushed elsewhere. :-)

March 29 2011, 01:25:37 UTC 6 years ago

Me, too!

Thank you

cecylyna

March 28 2011, 22:01:24 UTC 6 years ago

Let's just say that thinking inclusively about LGBTQ teens is something very near and dear to my heart for very personal reasons. And I can most definitely verify that it DOES make LGBTQ teens feel ostracized when EVERY romantic story they read is heterosexual.

Not that I would expect other from you, but thought I'd throw my $0.02 of support and thanks into the mix. :)

Re: Thank you

March 29 2011, 01:25:51 UTC 6 years ago

I understand utterly. :)

dianthus

March 28 2011, 22:02:25 UTC 6 years ago

When I saw there were over 250 comments, I figured there must be some big dramatic argument going on here. I'm happy to see that it's nearly all completely supportive of your decision.
I'm so sorry you had to do this, but I, too, am glad that you did.

March 29 2011, 01:26:08 UTC 6 years ago

I'm amazed at how positive and wonderful everyone has been.

aliciaaudrey

March 28 2011, 22:09:24 UTC 6 years ago

*standing ovation*

March 29 2011, 01:26:19 UTC 6 years ago

deakat

March 28 2011, 22:10:26 UTC 6 years ago

Once I saw the details regarding the editor's and publisher's stance on this issue, I knew that you'd refuse to be associated with this project if at all possible.

It makes my heart glow to see people here rallying to support you and confirm that you did the right thing. <3