A small note, before the bigger note.: seanan

A small note, before the bigger note.

So I have just finished my guest editor slot with Queers Destroy Science Fiction!, the latest special issue from Lightspeed Magazine. It's a follow-up to last year's Women Destroy Science Fiction!, and I am so excited for all of you to read it. So very, very excited.

I am going to have a longer post about the experience of editing and the things I observed (with no "and then this person did this thing," because that is not helpful), but this is a distinct thing, and so I wanted to talk about it first, in isolation. And here it is:

The other night I was out at dinner with a bunch of friends and friends-of-friends, which meant that some of the people there didn't know who I was. Arley, who was one of my editorial assistants on the issue, was there, and he and I started chatting a little about QDSF. At which point someone else at the table, who didn't realize I had been the editor, said, "Oh, I was told not to bother submitting unless I knew the editor."

Someone told her, straight up, that she would not make it into the issue if she didn't know the editor—which is to say, me—personally.

Um.

I did not burst into tears or throw a chair, but I thought of both things. I thought it loudly enough that any local telepaths were probably frightened.

There are eleven stories in this special issue, selected from more than four hundred submissions. Of those eleven, two were solicited, because you need "marquee names" before you can expect people to support a Kickstarter. One, Amal, was (and is) a friend of mine. The other, John, is someone I know in passing and am professionally friendly toward, but he's not a friend. Of the remaining nine stories, one was written by a friend of mine. Before I was willing to accept it, I asked both my editorial assistants and one slush reader to read it, to make sure that I was not unduly favoring someone with whom I had a social relationship. The other eight stories were by people I don't know. People I've never met. Some were by people who have never had a sale before. I was able to help people accomplish their first sales, and that's something that I'm really, really proud of.

John Joseph Adams, who is the publisher and editor of Lightspeed, knows me. He considers me, so far as I know, a friend. He buys my shit all the time. You know why? Because it's good, and because my name sells magazines. Not because he is my friend. When he first started buying my shit, it didn't necessarily sell magazines, but it was good (she said, modestly). He has refused to buy some of my shit. Why? Because it was not good enough, or because it didn't fit the guidelines, or because he needed something different to fill that space. Because despite being my friend, he is also a professional.

No one got into Queers Destroy Science Fiction! with a story that was not good, or did not fit the guidelines, just because they were my friend. No one got in just because they were my friend, period. Because I am a professional, and I wanted to put together the best issue possible. That was my job.

Telling people "oh, you've got to know the editor" is completely counter to the purpose of the Destroy projects, which are all about throwing the doors open and encouraging the underrepresented group in the title (first women, now QUILTBAG individuals) to come in, since so often it's felt like the door said "keep out." That would be completely undermined by a policy that required the writer to know the editor in order to make a sale. That sort of policy would break my heart, and would definitely have kept me from accepting the position.

The submissions periods for Queers Destroy Horror! will end May 1st; the submissions period for Queers Destroy Fantasy! will open May 1st. Both will be edited by professionals (Wendy Wagner for QDH; Christopher Barzak for QDF). Anyone who makes it into those issues will be there because they wrote good stories that fit the needs of the issue, not because they have an "in." There is no one with a secret "in."

I can't help but be somewhat hurt by the idea that writers may have thought this was the case, or have been telling people that it was. I've been struggling to think of what I could have done to give this impression, and I've come up with nothing. I can promise you that the doors were wide open for QDSF, and that anyone queer-identifying was welcome. The same is true for QDH and QDF. If you fall within the QUILTBAG and you have a story for them to consider, please submit. Do it whether you know anyone at the magazine or not.

We need your stories.

queenoftheskies

April 27 2015, 15:17:23 UTC 2 years ago

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You do not give off that impression. Not that I can see, at any rate. But, with all these special issues, I understand why people who haven't made a name yet don't submit. So many people with big names are interested in submitting that all us little fish know we'd get eaten by the big fish in the pond.

I wanted to submit to the first special issue and was intimidated by all the folks on Twitter who were planning on submitting. I see their names, know they're already published, and figure they're better than me/have a better chance than me. It was nothing against the editor, no feelings that there would somehow be unfairness.

So, I understand where this person was coming from.

seanan_mcguire

April 27 2015, 15:22:27 UTC 2 years ago

But that's "I will have too much competition," not "the editor will favor her friends over me." One is self-rejecting based on logic. The other is ascribing negative motivations to me as a person and as a professional.

Also: lots of people say that they're going to submit to something like this. Most of them...don't. Or don't send in something we need, something that fits the guidelines, etc. All of those already published people became already published by submitting, not by self-rejecting before they stepped out of the gate.

I would say that there were three "big fish" in this issue, alongside multiple first-time authors and unknowns.

2 years ago

catsittingstill

April 27 2015, 16:56:31 UTC 2 years ago

What a shame that they were misinformed like that. The person who spread the misinformation did no one any favors, really, though I suppose it was a simple mistake.

FWIW I haven't seen you or anyone involved with the project giving off any "friends only" vibes.

April 27 2015, 19:40:26 UTC 2 years ago

Thank you.

kk1raven

April 27 2015, 17:46:34 UTC 2 years ago

I'd guess that nothing you did was responsible for this. When people tell other people things like that, there are usually some sour grapes involved. Maybe someone's story was rejected for a previous issue and that person can't accept that it was a fair rejection. Maybe someone is jealous of the author involved and just didn't want her to submit her story.

April 27 2015, 19:40:38 UTC 2 years ago

That's entirely possible.

carrie_tatum

April 27 2015, 17:59:00 UTC 2 years ago

I agree that it was most likely someone acting out because they went through a rejection. It's something that should drive you to try harder rather than lash out and spread rumors. Something like this would have really hurt my feelings. Sorry that you had that happen.

April 27 2015, 19:40:57 UTC 2 years ago

I just don't deal well with being accused of things I didn't do.

wolf_shadow

April 27 2015, 18:40:38 UTC 2 years ago

I have to say I also agree that I certainly didn't notice anything in the Call that sounded limiting, and that I'm inclined to feel that whoever told that person had their own ulterior motive (or gripe). As a backer the whole thing seemed very open and clear.

April 27 2015, 19:41:10 UTC 2 years ago

I am so glad to hear that.

agrumer

April 27 2015, 19:05:51 UTC 2 years ago

Did they say who it was who told them that?

April 27 2015, 19:41:33 UTC 2 years ago

They did not, and seemed very surprised when I went "um, I was the editor, that's not true."

martianmooncrab

April 27 2015, 20:17:30 UTC 2 years ago

Telling people "oh, you've got to know the editor" is completely counter to the purpose of the Destroy projects,

if you dont take a chance, the worst they can say is No, by not submitting you have already told yourself No. Take a Chance! I say to folks like that.

April 27 2015, 21:38:46 UTC 2 years ago

Exactly!

bearpaw9

April 27 2015, 20:29:26 UTC 2 years ago

I have a vague, and possibly fabricated memory of seeing an internet discussion that was something like this. (1) Something something 'reverse discrimination' against white male authors .(2) Give me an example. (3) "Well, Lightspeed only publishes LGBTQ authors. (4) "That's not true. They published me, and I'm straight." Some modest disclaimer, followed by the person who said 4 continuing with "but I know the editor/publisher" in a self-deprecating way.

It seems like this seed, which I may have seen on Metafilter, or in the recent Hugo debates, could have grown into some twisted fruit. However, I don't feel like I saw this long enough ago. More likely fairly recently, which might not fit your timeframe of when people were thinking about submitting.

(All of the quotation marks are really vague paraphrase marks.)

April 27 2015, 21:40:34 UTC 2 years ago

Huh.

I mean, I can understand the "oh, I am X, I am hence discriminated against by Y Destroy SF" logic, even if I think it's awful, lousy logic. Step the fuck back. There will always be projects that "discriminate" in that sense, on grounds ranging from "Canadian authors" to "authors who have dogs." One project does not a body of work make.

But I think you're right, that this convo is too recent to have led to those feelings about QDSF.

ladypoetess

April 27 2015, 20:34:22 UTC 2 years ago

I submitted, though terrified, and never felt as though I should worry about favoritism. Obviously, my story wasn't selected, but I knew the field was going to be really big when I decided to write something for this. On the contrary, I was elated when I found out that you'd be editor, because I felt I could trust that that would be the case - I've spoken to you in person precisely 3 times, and a handful of social media interactions, so I doubt you know me from Eve, but I've come to trust your judgment in many areas, including what stories are good stories for a specific goal.

April 27 2015, 21:41:04 UTC 2 years ago

I don't actually know which story was yours, but I promise you, they were all read and evaluated fairly.

rocannon

April 27 2015, 22:49:10 UTC 2 years ago

People tell new writers "oh you gotta go to the conventions and meet editors so they'll be your friend and buy your work. Networking!"

April 27 2015, 23:04:00 UTC 2 years ago

Ugh.

shanhaddock

ironed_orchid

lazzchan

April 27 2015, 23:44:20 UTC 2 years ago

This is something to definitely consider... I've been kicked in the rear several times over to submit my stories, but I need some work to make my stuff fall into the 'not too short, not too long' category for things like that.

I think some of that misinformation comes from "it depends on who you know" that bleeds over from several different areas, but writing is its own bag of tricks. Advice, yes,. That helps. But your own talent will be what gets you in the door.

May 1 2015, 01:02:23 UTC 2 years ago

Absolutely.

guendolen_sama

April 27 2015, 23:47:24 UTC 2 years ago

I'm so sorry you had to deal with that. In such cases, so many people are so cynical. It's like with job-hunting. There's so many people jockeying for the same thing that there are those who conclude that whoever got it did so not on their own merits, but because they had connections. I am sure there are some instances where this is true. But it's certainly not a universal. In some cases, it may even be a justification for them not taking the time to submit, whether it be because they didn't have time to write something, didn't have a good idea, or simply second-guessed their own skill, and justified it by, instead of admitting "I was scared" or "I just wasn't ready on time", saying "oh, what's the point when you have to know someone to get noticed anyway?" In fact, I imagine some form of justification is the cause of such blanket assertions, a lot of the time. I personally think it's great that you got your first turn as an editor- presumably it won't be your last. And rest assured not everyone assumes such things. Though I for one think you would have been entirely justified in throwing a chair. Or at least, making a scathing, cutting remark. Some people need to learn to watch what they say and where they say it. You never know who's listening.

May 1 2015, 01:06:06 UTC 2 years ago

I get the whole "justifying it to yourself," but yeah. It just made me...deeply sad.

Fred Capp

April 28 2015, 01:50:47 UTC 2 years ago

Somehow, you remind me of an Isaac Asimov short story. In brief, a gentleman discovers that he can fly (float) but he doesn't understand how. He tries to ask great physicists to study the phenomenon, but they all think it's a scam. He finally makes it the other fellow's problem by flying ONLY where the physicist can see him, and then denying he'd done so. At the end there was some wonderful word play that I can only approximate. "I finally got him to help me" "No you finally got him to let you help him."

That's what I think you're trying to communicate. You want the best stories in your anthology. If someone can write them, but won't submit, he isn't helping you out any.

-- Robin

May 1 2015, 01:06:19 UTC 2 years ago

Agreed.

elialshadowpine

April 28 2015, 07:47:23 UTC 2 years ago

Gyargh. I remember, as a young writer, some "words of wisdom" being passed around, that basically said if you didn't already have an "in", as in contacts, you wouldn't get published. Which seemed ridiculous to me even then. I'm not sure if this is a similar situation, but I've ceased to be surprised by the things writers will tell each other that aren't true and only serve the purpose of keeping people from submitting in the first place. Sigh.

May 1 2015, 01:06:36 UTC 2 years ago

Some people are not on your side.

phoenix_singing

April 28 2015, 14:11:03 UTC 2 years ago

For what it's worth, that is the exact opposite of the message I've ever gotten from any Destroy announcement, and you're the last person I would ever expect to play favorites at all. I'm very sorry that happened to you. :(

May 1 2015, 01:06:47 UTC 2 years ago

Submission is good

u_must_b_joking

April 28 2015, 20:29:45 UTC 2 years ago

I am sorry you had to deal with a supposition that you (as the editor) were going to use anything but your native wit and the posted criteria to pick stories. There are so many ways that the facts regarding QD could have been twisted on the way to this person's mouth.

Until it's safe to be a queer author, specialized anthologies are going to be required, and I salute your hard work in making that happen. Jealousy, trolling, and misinformation are going to happen even in relatively enlightened parts of the fantastic press/media. Yours is a clear voice. With luck it will cut through the fog and the mire.

RE: Submission is good

May 1 2015, 01:07:03 UTC 2 years ago

wendyzski

April 28 2015, 21:35:23 UTC 2 years ago

I'm sad that someone thought that.

Would you at some point do the literary equivalent of calling all of your friends and saying "Let's put on a ~~show~~ book" - absolutely.
And I'd buy the hell out of it.

But would you allow favoritism to affect a project like this? I barely know you and I can't wrap my head around it.

May 1 2015, 01:07:17 UTC 2 years ago

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July 7 2015, 18:41:35 UTC 1 year ago

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A small note, before the bigger note.

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Submission is good

RE: Submission is good