There's no female conspiracy in publishing – your book might just not be good | Lauren Spieller
When I was targeted by the #MisandryInPublishing hashtag, I assumed it was a joke – but this conspiracy is indicative of the entitlement some male authors feel
When I first saw the #MisandryInPublishing hashtag, I assumed it was a joke. How could anyone actually believe that there is a bias against men in an industry that has historically prioritised the work of men, and paid them more for it? How?
I soon realised the hashtag was the work of a male author who was complaining about female agents and writers who had spurned him — myself in particular. Though I had not yet read his book, I had retweeted a meme about male authors being bad at writing female characters, which he didn’t like. It was enough to put me in his crosshairs.
Related: All cleavage and clunkiness – why can’t male authors write women? | Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett
You know what doesn't exist? #MisandryInPublishing
You know what does exist? Entitlement, and sexism against women in positions of power.
I wrote one of those 'not good enough' books. In fact, I wrote three. But I didn’t take to Twitter and cry foul
