Jutta Swietlinski's Blog - Posts Tagged "pride-month"
Happy Pride Month & Queer Reading Month!
Hi everyone, I wish you all a happy and safe, beautiful and successful, wonderful and literary Pride and Queer Reading Month!
June is the perfect month to read more queer/LGBTQIA* literature. For example, my own (always lesbian/sapphic) books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
But it’s also the ideal month to ponder on queer sensitivity.
Lately, a non-binary reader criticized a text passage in Returning Home to Her, one of my novels, where my main character is reflecting on a drag queen, which is expressed in a way that might be perceived as misgendering or, at least, very insensitive. My reader felt hurt by the way the scene was written (and I’m really sorry about that!). I can actually understand why that was the case. In fact, I had fully been aware of that problem before I decided to publish it exactly like I had written it, because I did it for a particular reason.
My MC is a reserved person with a disability, who grew up in a very “normal”, straight, heteronormative world and spent many years of her life trying to protect herself from being hurt. That’s why it took her a long time to realize that she’s actually a lesbian, but she was too afraid to come out at first. In the scene in question, my MC is attending a Pride event, which is a completely new experience for her. The things she experiences feel weird to her (far too colorful, gaudy and extreme) and she feels out of place.
That’s why I chose to write it like that on purpose – so as to show that my MC desperately tries to distance herself from the queer world that’s still new to her and makes her uncomfortable.
I’ve never had the intention to annoy or even hurt (!) anyone with my words, I just tried to elaborate this trait of my MC, who is by no means to be perfect or the mouthpiece for me, the author of the book.
What do you think? Is it okay to write scenes like that if there is a certain reason to do so? Or are the (potential) feelings of the readers more important than my artistic license? Or should I, maybe, only try to make clearer that the whole thing is really an issue for my MC, but not for me as the author?
I’d be curious and glad to hear/read/know about your opinions. Many thanks in advance!
June is the perfect month to read more queer/LGBTQIA* literature. For example, my own (always lesbian/sapphic) books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
But it’s also the ideal month to ponder on queer sensitivity.
Lately, a non-binary reader criticized a text passage in Returning Home to Her, one of my novels, where my main character is reflecting on a drag queen, which is expressed in a way that might be perceived as misgendering or, at least, very insensitive. My reader felt hurt by the way the scene was written (and I’m really sorry about that!). I can actually understand why that was the case. In fact, I had fully been aware of that problem before I decided to publish it exactly like I had written it, because I did it for a particular reason.
My MC is a reserved person with a disability, who grew up in a very “normal”, straight, heteronormative world and spent many years of her life trying to protect herself from being hurt. That’s why it took her a long time to realize that she’s actually a lesbian, but she was too afraid to come out at first. In the scene in question, my MC is attending a Pride event, which is a completely new experience for her. The things she experiences feel weird to her (far too colorful, gaudy and extreme) and she feels out of place.
That’s why I chose to write it like that on purpose – so as to show that my MC desperately tries to distance herself from the queer world that’s still new to her and makes her uncomfortable.
I’ve never had the intention to annoy or even hurt (!) anyone with my words, I just tried to elaborate this trait of my MC, who is by no means to be perfect or the mouthpiece for me, the author of the book.
What do you think? Is it okay to write scenes like that if there is a certain reason to do so? Or are the (potential) feelings of the readers more important than my artistic license? Or should I, maybe, only try to make clearer that the whole thing is really an issue for my MC, but not for me as the author?
I’d be curious and glad to hear/read/know about your opinions. Many thanks in advance!
Let’s Celebrate Pride Month! 🏳️🌈
Pride Month is finally here! 🌈
But first of all, I have to make a confession.
As some of you know, I created a poll a while ago to ask for your opinion to decide which story idea I should write next. Surprisingly, it turned out that a narrow majority wanted me to write a sapphic erotic thriller. 👩❤️💋👩So I tried – I really did. I actually wrote three chapters and there were even several scenes that I liked, but for some reason, it still didn’t work out. 😕
That’s why I decided to switch over to my other idea: a sapphic romance novel with a twist. 👩❤️👩 I’ve written three chapters again so far, and I have the feeling that it will work out this time. Though I’m quite certain that some people will have an issue with my story, I guess that others (hopefully most readers!) will like my approach. Well, let's wait and see …
To bridge the time gap until my new novel comes out, you can read my other (English and German) books which have already been published. ☺️ Although they belong to different genres, they’re basically always lesbian / sapphic. 👭
In honor of the occasion, a different book (e-book: Kindle Edition) is on sale every few days during all of June! 📚
Look out for the reduced prices on Amazon: 💸
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
Happy queer reading! 📖
But first of all, I have to make a confession.
As some of you know, I created a poll a while ago to ask for your opinion to decide which story idea I should write next. Surprisingly, it turned out that a narrow majority wanted me to write a sapphic erotic thriller. 👩❤️💋👩So I tried – I really did. I actually wrote three chapters and there were even several scenes that I liked, but for some reason, it still didn’t work out. 😕
That’s why I decided to switch over to my other idea: a sapphic romance novel with a twist. 👩❤️👩 I’ve written three chapters again so far, and I have the feeling that it will work out this time. Though I’m quite certain that some people will have an issue with my story, I guess that others (hopefully most readers!) will like my approach. Well, let's wait and see …
To bridge the time gap until my new novel comes out, you can read my other (English and German) books which have already been published. ☺️ Although they belong to different genres, they’re basically always lesbian / sapphic. 👭
In honor of the occasion, a different book (e-book: Kindle Edition) is on sale every few days during all of June! 📚
Look out for the reduced prices on Amazon: 💸
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
Happy queer reading! 📖
HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!
“The parade is gigantic. Like an enormous, brightly colored, roaring lindworm consisting of human beings, it’s crawling slowly but steadily through the streets of San Francisco, a hybrid of political activists and people who want to party, in most cases both at the same time. […] The sensational, dazzling, iridescent spectacle is unfolding right before me. I see demonstrators with self-made placards or huge banners on which they’ve written their demands, hopes and dreams.”
From my novel Returning Home to Her
Hi everyone,
It’s Pride Month, Audiobook Month and Queer Reading Month! 🏳️🌈📚👂📖🥳🎉
And as sad and infuriating as it may be, in times like these, reading and listening to LGBTQIA+ literature is a revolutionary act in some countries.
So don’t hesitate to read and listen to as many good queer books as you can, talk about them and share your insights with other readers!
For example, you could read my own novels, which are very diverse, but always lesbian / sapphic / queer: 👭👩❤️👩🌈
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
My three English books and some of my German books are on sale over the course of June. 💸
Stay tuned! ❣️
Happy reading and HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! 📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈
From my novel Returning Home to Her
Hi everyone,
It’s Pride Month, Audiobook Month and Queer Reading Month! 🏳️🌈📚👂📖🥳🎉
And as sad and infuriating as it may be, in times like these, reading and listening to LGBTQIA+ literature is a revolutionary act in some countries.
So don’t hesitate to read and listen to as many good queer books as you can, talk about them and share your insights with other readers!
For example, you could read my own novels, which are very diverse, but always lesbian / sapphic / queer: 👭👩❤️👩🌈
https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jutta-S...
My three English books and some of my German books are on sale over the course of June. 💸
Stay tuned! ❣️
Happy reading and HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!! 📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈📖🏳️🌈
