#bang2write

A sensitivity reader is someone who reads a literary work, looking for perceived offensive content, accidental stereotypes and bias. They then create a report for a writer, publisher or another industry pro with suggested changes. No more, no less. FYI, I actually don’t like the term ‘sensitivity reader’. I feel it plays into (some) writers’ belief the job is ‘pandering’ to various communities or cultures. These writers focus on the word ‘sensitivity’ being about the READER or VIEWER, when in reality that word refers to US, the writer (ie. we’re the ones who should be ‘sensitive’, not the other way around!). I much prefer the term ‘authenticity checker’. It shows the value of the job, because as we all know: industry pros want AUTHENTIC STORIES right now! But maybe you’re on the fence about needing a sensitivity reader, or perhaps you’re thinking about becoming one yourself? No doubt you will have heard all the myths I list here … I know I have! I’m going to spotlight each one, with why they’re wrong. Ready? Let’s go … [...]

Literal inequality in action. Anyone conflating legitimate protests like #BLM with an attempted COUP by white supremacists is on the wrong side of history. Remember, we are writers. We should be able to think critically about how concepts and ideas work and how they can shore up the status quo. This is why we should conscious of our language use in how we express the injustice we see today. Black Lives Matter was a PROTEST. Protests are our right as citizens in democracy. Let's not forget how overly policed these protests were, in comparison to cops taking selfies today with men in war paint parading confederate flags. The storming of US govt buildings is a COUP. Just because you don't like a democratic election result DOES NOT mean you can attempt to take over yourself. It literally against democracy. It is terrorism. Protest = a strong complaint expressing disagreement, disapproval, or opposition: "Protests have been made/registered by many people who would be affected by the proposed changes." Coup = (TAKE POWER) A sudden illegal, often violent, taking of government power, especially by part of an army: a military coup #Repost @everydayracism_ • • • • • • Let’s make it clear, we’re not comparing the Black Lives Matter protests with what happened at the capitol. BLM is about basic humanity. Yesterday was a terrorist attack in response to losing an election. Thank you for this picture @turnitaroundproject #listenlearndothework #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #amwriting #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood #blacklivesmatter #antiracism https://www.instagram.com/p/CJvbAGFBX4h/?igshid=gnyyre35mos9

Here is Charisma Carpenter's statement in full if you have not seen it yet. I have never worked with Whedon but I recognise so much here. Abusers divide and conquer, playing favourites and isolating their victim from their peers, making them doubt themselves & their own recollections. They make that victim dependent on them, unable to break away. The helplessness can be total. I literally felt trapped but also that I had NO CHOICE but to put up with it. I tried so hard to make life better for myself but with that one person in it NOTHING worked, their poison crept into everything no matter what I tried. Worst of all is the fear. It is relentless. Fear of what is happening to you; fear of speaking up; fear of not being believed; fear of being told YOU are the 'real' problem. Of course, this is exactly what happens and *has* happened to Carpenter and Fisher. This is why so many abused people feel there's 'no point' in trying to break away. But we can help by BELIEVING people as standard, instead of starting from a place of disbelief. People say 'oh but what about the ones who are lying??' like 1 or 2 instances of this is enough to shut down the vast majority of true cases. Reminder - People steal or destroy stuff for the insurance a LOT more, yet people don't advocate to stop believing burglary or arson victims. #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood https://www.instagram.com/p/CLMrcsdh5r1/?igshid=1bxc08gvl00ab

Love this ... how a huuuuuge cultural icon began!!! I adored Stephen King as a kid though I havent read any of his books recently. I read CARRIE when I was a teenage girl myself and LOVED IT SO MUCH. My favourite though was probably THE TOMMY KNOCKERS or NEEDFUL THINGS ... Left such an impression. I can't dig a hole or see stained glass (aka carnival glass) without thinking of those 2 books. Fun fact: King's advance of $2500 in 1974 is $13,204.00 dollars today. Just looked it up on an inflation calculator. He got an insanely great deal on paperback rights. His agent must have had some serious clout!!! What's YOUR favourite of King's books? #Repost @tcviani #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #bookstagram #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood #booknerdigans #booknerd #authorsofig #authorsofinstagram https://www.instagram.com/p/CK8lxRgBjdW/?igshid=14s8bd3dcqp86

Just seen someone arguing online that King Arthur in #Cursed 'shouldn't' be black cos 'Celtic Legend' and they were all white basically 😱😱😱 . . Now I have zero invested in CURSED (I haven't even watched it, plus Arthurian legend is all played out for me tbh) but NEWSFLASH -- King Arthur is a FICTIONAL CHARACTER!!! No form of historical accuracy is required, it is literally a myth 😡😡😡 . . Also as mentioned, there have been forty billion iterations (actual number) of the #arthurlegend as a white man. Take the recent #CharlieHunnam one... Now that film was largely terrible yes, but of all its problems one issue I never saw raised once was that Arthur is portrayed there as a working class Moses-type raised by sex workers*. Yet **apparently** making Arthur black is 'silly' and 'taking it too far'??!! DO ME A FAVOUR 🤔🤔🤔 . . #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #writing #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood #diversity #diversityandinclusion . . * A move I also have no problem with FYI. Its biblical allusion was bombastic and delivered with the subtlety of a brick, but the whole film was like that tbh. Had it been able to deliver on its female characters instead of fridging them all it might have been borderline genius https://www.instagram.com/p/CC8SG1VJRA1/?igshid=52cv7iv7xona

Well it has barely been 3 days since the murder of George Floyd and the weaponized whiteness of Amy Cooper, yet already I am seeing the usual 'not all police officers/white people', as well as 'white privilege is a slur' and 'I grew up in X as the only white person and got bullied for it' BS. It's almost like white people really don't want to give up **the system** that values whiteness and gives us the ADVANTAGE. (AKA privilege) Funny, that 🤔🤔🤔 . . ONCE MORE, FOR THOSE AT THE BACK: 'white privilege' doesn't mean your life hasn't been difficult or you haven't had prejudice aimed at you. It just means being white IS AN ADVANTAGE in a world that values and centres whiteness. That is it!! What's more, literally no one is saying police officers or individuals are not people ... they are decrying systemic racism 🤬🤬🤬 . . If you really have a problem with the word 'privilege' replace it with 'advantage'... My white advantage means I have been given the benefit of the doubt by the police, even when I have been sketchy as hell or even breaking the law. I have certainly never been arrested in the middle of a supermarket (evenfor writing bad cheques) or pulled from my bed in the middle of the night when just trying to live my life. Now do you see? 😱😱😱 . . REMINDER - the current racist system cannot be dismantled if white people won't do their part and keep saying 'this is nothing to do with me.' Those making these bogus BS arguments at the top of this post are part of the problem. Literally. Do your part and REJECT this crap robustly wherever you see it ❤ . . #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #racism #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood #blacklivesmatter https://www.instagram.com/p/CAz9be1J04y/?igshid=16f8un0ixrz23

So it is #nationalcomingoutday today in the UK - delighted to see so many #LGBT Bangers sharing their truths and authentic selves on my feeds. #Solidarity my friends! ❤🏳️‍🌈🌈 In this spirit, here is an inclusive LGBT-inspired #writing point ... Reconsider any thoughts you may have against the use of the singular 'they'. Contrary to popular belief, it is NOT incorrect, or a new thing ... in fact, slagging off singular 'they' is the new thing in comparison! 😆 Language evolves. Meanings and usage are in constant flux. As writers, we need to appreciate this in order to make the best use of our words. Saying language should be set in stone is literally RIDICULOUS when you are a creative if you think about it. 🤯 Don't be a grammar purist and insist on those mythical 'higher standards'. They don't exist (and have NEVER existed). Instead, understand different people use different words for different reasons ... What's more, this realisation will help your own writing because it will help you with your characters, concepts and reaching your target audience! What's not to like? 🥰 #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #LGBTQIA #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood #LGBTQ #trans #nonbinary #enby https://www.instagram.com/p/CGNMMLjh5q-/?igshid=1se34vxrq0ii7

Newsflash: your story needs a structure ... but that DOESN'T mean tick-the-box writing, or resorting to formulas. Get over to my #blog today for some great advice from the guys at @prewriteapp - link in my bio ✒📽✏ . . #Bang2write #Bang2writers #amwriting #writer #author #authors #screenwriting #screenplay #novelist #screenwriters #book #novels #writersnetwork #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writersofinstagram #writing #authorsofinstagram #writersofig #authorsofig #insta #instalike #instagood https://www.instagram.com/p/CEoLXlChcDJ/?igshid=1g7slc828hw2b