Writing in Color

by Julie C. Dao, Chloe Gong, Joan He, Kosoko Jackson, Adiba Jaigirdar, Darcie Little Badger, Yamile Mendez, Axie Oh, Laura Pohl, Cindy Pon, Karuna Riazi, Gail D. Villanueva, Julian Winters, and Kat Zhang

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Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.

Writing in Color is a well curated anthology collection of essays on writing and craft by authors of color edited by Nafiza Azad and Melody Simpson. Released 22nd Aug 2023 by Simon & Schuster on their Margaret K. McElderry imprint, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover and ebook formats. It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links and references throughout.

Finding the way as a writer (which is a somewhat solitary and often fraught occupation) can be difficult. Getting a book to print is almost -always- a long and difficult process. Doing so as a writer with a minority voice can be overwhelming. That's one reason that community strength and experience is even more important. 

This is a book for everyone: writers, and women, and people of color, and allies, and readers. Everyone who loves books and wants to understand more of what the challenges are and how to compensate and overcome them.

Diversity is critically important to shaping society and the next generations of readers (and writers). These experienced authors provide a glimpse into their own encounters in the overwhelmingly white-centric, market driven publishing industry. 

It's a fast read, and as with any collection, there are essays which resonate more and hit harder. They were all worthwhile to read however.

Five stars. Really interesting viewpoints and valuable information to know, both for writers -and- readers. 

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.