#(even with Pip being a rebellious menace)

[spaceshipkat]

why does VA need a "right" to write anything that's in her own damn mind? like people ask for diverse worlds and then complain when people write them

she doesn't need a "right" to write what she wants, but when she writes from perspectives that aren't her own--namely, people of color or a sexuality or gender that's not her own, given those are what crop up most in RB--there comes a certain responsibility to be respectful of the people she's writing about. it's true of any author, not just VA (or sj///m, obv). if you write diversely, great! thank you! but doing so opens your work up to critique from people who share the identities in which you're writing.

given i'm an enby, i can freely and confidently point out that the way VA has tried to include more than the gender binary is a little wanting. i can see what she's going for, which i truly appreciate, but it's not really working. for instance, in chapter 14, Ridha stops at an inn for the night and two children run out to care for her horse. this exchange happens (emphasis my own):

The boy sneered at her, a woman in armor, but the girl gaped, her pale eyes going round.

“It’s three pennies to stall your horse,” the boy spat, wiping at his nose. “Another one for hay and water, another for grooming.”

“My lady—sir,” the girl added, jumping into a bow that was more a squat. Ridha guessed she had never bowed in her life.

and later, when Ridha goes into the inn, this (emphasis my own):

“What can I do for you . . . miss?” the barmaid said. Her eyes roved over Ridha’s face and armor. “I’ve got a room to let, six pennies for the night, seven with board. Ale’s more.”

clearly they don't know what Ridha's gender is, and i know what VA was trying to do, but what could have happened is the characters simply use a gender neutral greeting. i know it's 100% possible for an author to do, especially with VA's caliber and the anachronisms that already exist in RB's world. just look at Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse. that was wonderfully inclusive, and it was set in a world inspired by Pre-Columbian Americas. so the fact remains that VA is writing from a perspective not her own (presumably, given she hasn't come out as anything other than cis afaik; a quick look at her social media profiles doesn't say anything re: her pronouns, so) and therefore i am allowed to critique the way she wrote this.

the same can be said for how VA writes people of color in the book, or hints at sexualities outside of the assumed straight (Corayne's mom, for instance, mentions a fling with a girl prior to meeting Cortael, Corayne's dad). when any author writes from perspectives not their own, they're opening themselves up to critique that is 100% allowed and valid. when a book is published, the author's intentions cease to matter. all that remains is for people to read the book, take the canonical evidence, and respond accordingly. it's always fair for marginalized people to demand that authors who include their marginalizations do everything they can to be as respectful and accurate as possible.

so no, VA doesn't need a "right" to write what she wants, but she has to be willing to accept critique over it. and, afaik, she's aware of this, given her response to the anon who first pointed my live read out to her (and the anon who followed up to clarify and back up what i do on my blog was so lovely, thank you; that meant the world to see).

hopefully this answers your question!

#ask #anonymous #kat reads r breaker #spoilers #i usually don't get to notes while i read but #i wanted to answer this before i continued to read #(my goal is to get through chapter 16 today) #(given i'm on chapter 15 it seems doable) #(even with Pip being a rebellious menace) #another kat ramble in the tags #long post