I am tired of racism/sexism handled clumsily in speculative writing. Otherwise fascinating books that manage to entrance me with their deft world creation and magic systems, politics, etc. And then they have to introduce the fact that a race or sex is discriminated against by saying, “but [as you know, Bob] women can’t own property!”

Bigotry is an ingrained thing, deep within the layers of society. You do not describe bigotry by saying outright, “Women can’t work outside the home,” you describe it be the lead never assuming that a woman COULD hold the position. And if she happens to be in such a position, he will look for someone else to talk to, or be otherwise rude. If someone is convinced another race is violent, they will lock their doors when someone walks by, or cross the street, not say, “well goodness, I’d never go there because of the [race] who are so violent!”

Normally people do not outright discuss their bigotry. They assume that everyone around them - even the people who they discriminate against - agree with them. Yes, it’s harder to write this, but let’s just attribute this to “show, don’t tell.” Show us the bigotry, don’t tell us that women can’t own property.

• In this podcast I talk about how to find what works for you.
• Promo: Rejection Letter Audio
• Promo: Voice of Free Planet X
• Feedback links: Nathan Bransford’s blog on querying, Kristin Nelson’s blog, Free Range Librarian, David Wong’s free novel, John Dies at the End, Getting Things Written.
• I’ll be at PNME this week, so be sure to say hi!

 

 ISBW #77: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (485)

• I’m back from DragonCon!
• I won the Parsec for Best Writing Podcast!
• on a new writing schedule
• Promo: Mike Bennet’s Hall of Mirrors
• I discuss solidarity with JC Hutchins.
• My Twitter username, and JC’s.
• Bumper: Tracy Hickman
• Lots of voicemail! Mike started a writing journal. CA Sizemore wants to contribute to the podcast - I say definitely.

 

 ISBW #76 - Solidarity! Interview with JC Hutchins: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (478)

For more information contact: Jim Kelly - jim@jimkelly.net

September 8, 2007 – For immediate release

Clarion Foundation Announces 2008 Faculty

The Clarion Foundation has announced the faculty for the 2008 Clarion Writers Workshop: Kelly Link, James Patrick Kelly, Mary Anne Mohanraj, Neil Gaiman with Nalo Hopkinson and Geoff Ryman team teaching the final two weeks. Now in its second year at the University of California, San Diego, the Workshop will run for six weeks from June 29 to August 9. To read about Clarion’s 2008 faculty, visit http://clarion.ucsd.edu.

“We think that this is one of the strongest faculties we’ve put together in recent years,” said Clarion Foundation Chair Karen Joy Fowler. “One of our goals was to get some of the members of our Board of Directors out to San Diego to work with the wonderful staff there. We’ve been very impressed by the way the UCSD community has embraced Clarion.”

Founded in 1968, the Clarion Workshop is the one of the most highly regarded writing workshops in the county. Participants are selected from a pool of applicants who demonstrate the potential for successful writing careers. The Clarion Foundation will begin accepting applications on January 2, 2008. Note that the deadline for applications has been moved back a month to March 1, 2008.

Clarion is administered by the not-for-profit Clarion Foundation. The Board of Directors of The Clarion Foundation is made up of past Clarion teachers, alumni and friends and includes Chair Karen Joy Fowler, Vice Chair James Patrick Kelly, Treasurer Nancy Etchemendy, Secretary Leslie What as well as Walter Jon Williams, Kate Wilhelm, Kim Stanley Robinson, Kelly Link and Cory Doctorow.

Dr. Grant of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd got in touch with me and asked me to put this historical audio document in our feed. How could I refuse the young protege’ of the world’s most brilliant scientist? I hope you enjoy Dr. Floyd’s adventures, it’s one of my favorite podcasts.

 

 The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd Epipsode 605C [4:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (417)

I Should Be Writing won the 2007 Parsec for Best Writing Podcast this past weekend at Dragon*Con! I was shocked to win, considering the fine company I was in (including Tracy and Laura Hickman’s DragonHearth and Michael A. Stackpole’s The Secrets - the latter of which was an inspiration to ISBW). It was a wonderful weekend and congratulations to all the excellent podcasters who were nominated.

Wow.