Last week, bookish Twitter exploded in the very best way, with a hashtag campaign called #WeNeedDiverseBooks. If you missed it, I highly recommend you go back and check it out. The first part of the campaign (here’s their official website) focused primarily on WHY we need diverse books. I have always found fiction a great way to learn about the human condition, and reading books with diverse characters can help us learn about and develop empathy for the ways we are all different, while also helping us realize just how alike we are, just by virtue of being human. Perhaps even more importantly, there is something very empowering in being able to see yourself in a book, for knowing that people care enough to write stories about people like you, and that experience is something that should be open to every child, every person should be able to access. Of course no character is ever going to be exactly like any given reader, but it is not fair to readers to never see a character with their race, gender, sexual orientation, physical disability, etc. Our literary landscape will be the richest when we have the greatest diversity of authors and stories.
Occasionally diverse books hit a roadblock in the publication process, because it looks to publishers like they don’t sell, so other books don’t get acquired to counteract that idea. As a reader, you can do your part by buying diverse books. Check out the Twitter hashtag #diversifyyourshelves, which was also part of the campaign, for suggestions. If you are querying with a diverse book, please know that we are absolutely looking for a variety of diverse stories and experiences, but also take a peek at the #diversitywl hashtag to see a (partial, I am sure!) list of agents who are looking for diverse books. Some agents are looking for particular kinds of stories, others primarily just want more books that do not default to straight, white, cis characters.
Just because the Twitter festival is officially over, doesn’t mean we should stop talking about the value of diversity, so let your voices, your pens, and your wallets be heard on the subject!
