The fact is, there's as many ways to get into SFF as there are SFF fans, and while there's always going to be overlap, telling the same old war stories over and over again doesn't remotely acknowledge the plurality of where the genre has been - or, crucially, where it's going.
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Because when I was a tiny new writer at my first EVER Industry Event, a small dinner at my publisher's place,
@FIRECATz greeted me happily and said nice things about my forthcoming book, which I hadn't even known she'd read. Because@KateElliottSFF and@Kit_Kerr talked to me.Show this thread -
Because even when I embarrassed myself in full fangirl mode meeting
@TamoraPierce, she was kind and funny and, after I gave her a copy of my book, sought me out later to have me sign it. Because@robinhobb was gracious and friendly and warm.Show this thread -
THAT was my introduction to fandom: established women making time for a newcomer, holding out a hand and acting as if I was in the right place. And that is what I think fandom should always strive to be, across all axes of marginalisation: a place where we welcome the future.
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Because the thing about the future? It rarely looks quite like the past, and you have to lay ground for it in the present. And that's impossible to do if your base approach to greeting *new* people is to be, on some level, tuning out anyone who Doesn't Already Matter.
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Is it really so hard to be welcoming? To look at newcomers and be excited just by their presence, without running a mental calculation about whether you want to endorse them; if they'll be worth the investment? Apparently, for some, it is. And they shouldn't be in charge.
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Great thread, thank you. I think it also comes down to basic manners and social skills. No-one should be made to feel unwelcome or inferior whatever level they are at. We can all remember times we were left out + shouldn't want others to feel that way.
Thanks. Twitter will use this to make your timeline better. UndoUndo
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