Writing While Black

This past weekend was Bouchercon, a world mystery convention for lovers and writers of mystery and crime fiction. During the convention, the Anthony award, one of the most prestigious awards presented in the world of mystery writers, was awarded to Kellye Garrett for her first novel, Hollywood Homicide. While the book was every bit as exciting and fun to read as many critics, bloggers, and everyday lovers of mystery have said. It was her speech that has many people talking and my head spinning. 
During her speech Kellye Garrett quoted this fact taken Frankie's List on the Sister's in Crime website. https://www.sistersincrime.org/page/FrankiesList
There are less than 200 people who are traditionally-published and not straight and white. Just 81 black writers, 22 Latinx writers, 9 Native-Americans writers, 19 Asian American/Asian writers, in the mystery genre. Just let that sink in, less than 200.
As an aspiring black writer of thrillers, that stat was a stone in my heart. To be honest it made me question the viability of me continuing my pursuit of traditional publishing. But, it also gave me hope. It said, maybe, just maybe, the doors of publishing are squeaking open, just a hair. It also gave me hope that times really are changing.
Once upon a time, any writer who had any hope of having a career in writing had to find an agent, extraordinarily hard to do with everything in your favor. Next to impossible when most agencies don't have even one black agent, which is more than a skin color issue.
Love of story along with knowing how to sell the story is among the top reasons an agent gives as to why they choose a manuscript and offer representation to a writer. Any bookworm will tell you, the reason we fall in love with a story is because of our ability to relate to the characters and their experiences. So with agencies filled with a majority of white women, who may not be familiar or comfortable with the world of the non-white writer, what's a non-white writer with writer's dreams to do? So many things. Don't quit!
That is the number 1 piece of advice offered by NY Times Bestsellers, agents, and aspiring writers, alike. Go anywhere on the internet and you'll here the tale of J.K. Rowling who submitted to countless agents, none of them brilliant enough to see her gift, until she laid the biggest of golden eggs, and now the literary world bows at her feet.
You may even know a writer or two who have made it through those magical doors of agented, published writer. They'll tell you their own stories of despair and nearly chucking it all in for their couches and tales of what could have been, but instead chose to push on until that magical day came when they found, the One, and got the Offer, and lived happily ever after,
But if your skin is not white, and your story is not seen as universal, you may need a little more than persistence, you may feel like you need a miracle and wine, lots of wine. In between your tears and sips of vino, make sure you keep writing, and building your writing family.
Join or form a writer's group. Make sure it's as diverse as the writing you want to share. Go to writer's conferences, especially when you're feeling at the end of your rope. If it's a good one, like Killer Nashville, held every year in Nashville on the 3rd week of August, you'll come home crackling with inspiration, desperate to try again, and with a whole new group of writing family that will push you and remind you that you are great, even if the industry hasn't discovered it yet. Keep learning, and reading, and most of all writing.
And if you get to the point where you're willing to take another route, know that self-publishing is more popular than ever before. There are writers who have found amazing success in self-publishing and so can you.
As publishing is fighting to add more diversity, and authors like Kellye Garrett are kicking in the door. We black writers of all genres need to be bold and make sure our stories are being told, until when asked, anyone can name as many writers of color as not. After all, there is plenty of room for all of us.