#authenticity reading

for real tho, been looking into it due to thinking a LOOOOT about glitchs misogyny + ableism + anti-transness + racism, plus its turning out that a standing job may not be possible and im trying to get on disability-- buuut essentially my only income is commissions that i barely have the drive to work on until then. and that sucks. so i looked into it and this is a job i can do and am passionate about. if absolutely goddamn nothing else, i am very familiar with a slew of mental and physical disabilities, and a lot of queer experiences

i know this isnt an easy thing? or something that i can just be perfect at overnight. BUT i genuinely would be happy to offer this, ESPECIALLYYYY while i learn the ropes.

I'm a sensitivity and authenticity reader and content editor. Typically every year for the past roughly decade, I've had 3-8 assignments with traditional publishers.

American publishers this year, 2025? Nothing.

I know I'm just one person with one year of this. But 2024 was a high count year. So I do take it as a sign of the times. That I wasn't even contacted for manuscripts I had to pass on due to time crunch, or not being a good fit for the story personally, etc.

I don't think there are only cozy novels happening with no marginalized voices or special experiences that need to be asked about. I do think that the industry was never super excited to have to look for big huge red flags an author might need to take out or risk a scandal.

I'm so grateful to have worked on so many books, scripts, and comics. I hope we don't stop caring about authentic voices just bc the government here says marginalized groups don't matter any more.