Traditional publishing says it wants diverse voices, but does it really?
Activism and Advocacy / Crafting characters / Represention

Traditional publishing says it wants diverse voices, but does it really?

Traditional publishing says it wants diverse voices but when presented with them, they either tone them down to be more acceptable to the neurotypicals, or they make them so ridiculous and centre the neurotypicals, or worse, when speaking of POC, they center whiteness. I am very proud of a novel I wrote, which I have … Continue reading

Drawing Me Out: How DisArts Tells My Story
art / Arthritis / Crafting characters / depression / Fibromyalgia / mental health

Drawing Me Out: How DisArts Tells My Story

If you’ve ever encountered me through video or in real life, the word most associated with my personality is “bubbly.” I love engaging with people and get energized by them. Making people laugh drives my joy. If you’re following me on Twitter, I’m also quite open about how I manage mental illness, such as agoraphobia … Continue reading

Charity™ and Disabled Futurity
Anthology / Books/Anthologies / Crafting characters / Represention

Charity™ and Disabled Futurity

Editor’s note: I invited Derek Newman-Stille to share with us their own experience with writing fiction, as some people might only know them as a champion in elevating speculative fiction authors and/or disabled voices. Their short story, Charity™, is the grand finale of the Nothing Without Us anthology. Most of my writing about disability has … Continue reading

I Built My First Disabled Community With a Fictional Character
Author image / body celebration / chronic fatigue / chronic pain / Crafting characters / Fibromyalgia / Living fully / Spoonie Challenges / Writing journey

I Built My First Disabled Community With a Fictional Character

I’m sure many of you will read that title and think: One too many cupcakes, Cait? Is all that sugar affecting your perception? Nope. It’s true. My first entry into feeling in community with a disabled person was when I bonded with Noola Quirk from Life in the ’Cosm. Okay, yeah, I know it seems … Continue reading

Becoming a Sensitivity Editor of Indigenous Content
Crafting characters / editing / Represention

Becoming a Sensitivity Editor of Indigenous Content

The thing about sensitivity editing, and looking for content that might be inaccurate or offensive, is that no particular group is a monolith. This is the thought that entered my head when I was asked to be a sensitivity editor for any Indigenous content that appeared in the forthcoming anthology, Nothing Without Us. There are … Continue reading