What Can The Mystery Writers Of America Learn About Discrimination From The Sneetches
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Writing Speaking -> subcategory Writing.
Lessons on Discrimination: What the Mystery Writers of America Can Learn from The Sneetches
Introduction
The Mystery Writers of America (MWA) prides itself as the leading organization for mystery authors, professionals in the crime writing field, aspiring writers, and enthusiasts of the genre. However, their list of "approved publishers" and strict membership criteria have sparked controversy. These rules inadvertently discriminate against authors published by companies not on their approved list, and this approach is being increasingly adopted by conferences and contests.
The Sneetches Parallel
This situation echoes Dr. Seuss's story about the Sneetches. In Sneetchland, Sneetches with star-marked bellies considered themselves superior to those without. The Star-Belly Sneetches excluded the Plain-Belly ones from events and social circles. Similarly, traditionally published authors seem to exclude self-published or independently published authors from full participation in conferences.
MWA's Criteria
Under MWA’s guidelines, achieving "author status" at conferences requires that a book not be published by a company with which an author has a personal or financial connection. Furthermore, the publisher must be on the MWA's approved list?"requiring businesses to fulfill a lengthy set of criteria such as operating for at least two years and publishing a minimum number of outside authors annually.
The Defense
Defenders of this list argue that conference participation is not a right; it’s based on meeting specific standards. They compare it to job requirements, like needing two years of experience for employment.
The Call for Reform
Reformers counter that the criteria should focus on the individual merit of books. Quality should be assessed directly and not assumed based on the publisher's status. Assuming a book lacks quality because it isn’t traditionally published is discriminatory, as it excludes works based on group identity rather than merit.
The Sneetches Solution
In the Sneetches story, a character named McBean offers a service to add or remove stars for a fee, leading to chaos as Sneetches try to establish who’s superior. Eventually, they learn that stars don’t matter, realizing no Sneetch is better than another.
A New Perspective
What if the MWA did away with its list of approved publishers? Conferences like Left Coast Crime and Mayhem in the Midlands would need to consider all authors and allow any mystery book in their dealer rooms. Just like the Sneetches, perhaps it's time for the MWA and related conference organizers to understand that the distinction doesn’t matter, and no method of publishing is inherently superior.
Conclusion
The story of the Sneetches teaches us that perceived differences shouldn’t define worth. As self-published and small independent press books gain quality, it becomes harder to see a divide. Hopefully, the MWA and others will reconsider their criteria and embrace diversity in publishing.
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