Within six months of submitting short stories for publication, I had my first acceptance. Eight months later, I’ve received my second, and I know I’m a strong contender for a third. I don’t know any actual stats, but I feel pretty good about this start.
Yes, I know there are a lot of folks doing better. I know there are people out there selling enough stories each year for it to be a regular thing for them, a steady thing. But this is my first year, and I’m only treating it like a hobby, if I’m honest. It’s a spare time pursuit. I’m really quite pleased and rather proud.
So what’s my title about? Well, there are all these opportunities for disabled and marginalized writers, whether it’s an extended submission window or an extra submission window or a whole publication open only to their voices. Our voices. And I’ve always struggled with whether or not they were really meant for me.
Because here’s the thing: I’m not sure I’ve ever been discriminated against. I know I haven’t been discriminated against because of my sexuality. I only became aware of it last year. I know I haven’t been discriminated against because of my identity, I only became aware of that last month (and I’m still processing what it even means). I pretty sure I haven’t been discriminated against because of my health or neuro-divergence. At least not directly. So I’m benefiting from a pay-it-forward mindset at best, right?
I haven’t been writing terribly diverse and certainly not representative fiction of my particular demographics. I’m fairly certain that’s going to change a bit, now, but is the fact that it’s my voice really enough to make my work worth the extra consideration?
I’m still not sure about a lot of that, not entirely, but here’s something I am beginning to understand, to actually believe: I am absolutely disadvantaged. Why? Because I can only write when I have the time, energy, and focus. My chronic health issues decrease all three, and what I have left has to go to my family first, mundane obligations second, and, if there’s anything left over, I get to write. Except that by the time I’ve taken care of my family and seen to what I can of the mundane obligations, even if I’m not ready to collapse into bed, I am too fatigued to focus.
And that’s just the writing. Then I have to have the strength to process submission markets and their individual requirements. I have to track what I’ve sent where. I have to use ‘spoons’ to hit send. As a result, I’m working with a fraction of the material, and even when I have the material, I have the ability to submit with a fraction of the regularity.
If an extra window opens up that I have time and ability to slip through? Yes, I will gratefully take advantage of the opportunity and accept the assistance and consideration.
As for being a marginalized voice? I’m still working on what that means to me…
