Things That Matter
Writing Matters.
It’s a major goal of this newsletter to help out other writers. That spirit continues as I host NYT bestselling author and Zora senior editor Morgan Jerkins this Wednesday, 6/17 from 6-7 pm for a Zoom workshop on “How to Pitch as a Minority.” The workshop will center the unique challenges of pitching from a marginalized position but is open to everyone. Between Morgan’s and my identities and the fact that we’ve served as authors, editors, and freelancers, I’m sure we’ll have plenty to talk about. REGISTER HERE
For folks who missed last week’s workshop with John Paul Brammer, “How to Build and Use Your Online Platform for Good,” here’s the link to the recording. Also, here’s a Google doc with answers to chat questions that we had to skip because of time.
Next week, I’ll have my wonderful agent Seth Fishman with me to discuss “When and How to Find the Right Literary Agent.” We’ll discuss what stage in the writing process it makes the most sense to seek representation, and how to go about making sure that your agent is a good fit for your needs. Registration link to come!
Helping Out Matters.
For folks who don’t know, authors get copies of our own books and I have 30 copies of Fairest sitting around the house. I decided to offer them to queer and trans people of color who can’t afford it right now given the challenges we’re facing because of the pandemic. Fill out this form if you’re one of those people and I’ll send you a copy of my book. I posted this on Insta and a few people offered to buy more copies to donate and I’m talking to book stores right now about the logistics of doing that. Reply to this email if you’re interested in helping to donate copies of Fairest to QTPOC folks and I’ll send info once I have it.
Most Importantly, Black Trans Lives Matter.
My wonderful friend Fran Tirado organized the Brooklyn Liberation Action for Black Trans Lives yesterday along with a bunch of folks, including wonderful community member and workshop regular Denny Agassi, which an estimated 15,000 people attended. I was so heartened to see this much support and also sad I couldn’t be there because of COVID-19. At a time when our country is reckoning with the long legacy of anti-Blackness in the U.S., let us not forget Black trans folks like Layleen Polanco, Tony McDade, Nina Pop, Riah Milton, Rem’Mie Fells and many others who have died at the hands of police, the prison system, intimate partners, and strangers, and strive for a world where Black people, including Black trans people, can experience complete joy and liberation.