The Sensitivity Reader Podcast

On this episode, Erin Servais of Dot and Dash LLC and I compare and contrast beta and sensitivity reading, and discuss their work with Dot and Dash LLC and the Minneapolis writing community. We focus on some of the nuances of being a sensitivity reader, self-advocacy, and use make a case for sensitivity readers to increase their rates. Links: Guest: Erin Servais* Dot and Dash, LLC. expert author services for women https://www.dotanddashllc.com/ *2024 Update: Erin now teaches copyediting for UC San Diego's editing certificate program, and runs AI for Editors: https://www.aiforeditors.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dot_and_dash_llc/   Twitter: https://twitter.com/GrammarParty   Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dotanddashllc/ Dot and Dash Writer's Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dotanddashllc/ The Big Five US Trade Book Publishers: https://almossawi.com/big-five-publishers/ Editorial Freelancer's Association's Editorial Rates Chart: https://www.the-efa.org/rates/?fbclid=IwAR2AbYAZj44XKJbe8xk7pX7CwMtq2eN2VDq4rlup7Cp6W6BdQxKfQCYxdSQ Confidentiality agreements for writers & authors: https://www.everynda.com/blog/confidentiality-agreement-writers-authors/ More info about this podcast and Sydney's sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

 "Science fiction is not predictive; it is descriptive."  -Ursula K. Le Guin, from the Introduction to The Left Hand of Darkness Speculative Fiction includes anything and everything that pushes the boundaries of reality: surrealism, fabulism, horror, science fiction, fantasy, horror, magical realism and more! Join author Courtney Morgan and I for a discussion on blurring the boundaries between the real and the unreal and what literature can do to help us understand oppression and marginalization.   As a special treat, Courtney reads an excerpt from her story, "Womb, Feather, Bone" from her book, The Seven Autopsies of Norah Hanneman.    Links: Visit Courtney's website: https://www.courtneyemorgan.com/ for information about her mentorship and workshop offerings and sign up for her newsletter to get rituals and writing prompts based on the moon cycle sent directly to you! The Thought Erotic Literary Journal: https://thethoughterotic.com    Get a copy of The Seven Autopsies of Norah Hanneman   Courtney also teaches writing workshops at Lighthouse Writers Workshop: https://www.lighthousewriters.org/ Reading List and Mentions: Gabriel García Márquez Isabel Allende Jamaica kincaid Edwidge Danticat Marcia Douglas Aimee Bender Karen Russel Helen Oyeyemi EBook version of "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Film: Mary Shelley, (2017) EBook version of Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft (Godwin) Shelley EBook version of  A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft J.R.R. Tolkien Ursula K. Le Guin More info about this podcast and Sydney's sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

Join Eneri "Netty" Rodriguez and I for a discussion of representation in the 2019 experimental film, Knives and Skin directed by Jennifer Reeder. We talk feminist cliches, teen angst, and the power of representation in movies. Netty is an expert on gender, race, and horror and you do not want to miss this episode! Links: Follow Eneri "Netty" Rodriguez https://www.instagram.com/nettythebakingbetty   Knives and Skin, (2019), director, Jennifer Reeder  Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy at Metropolitan State University of Denver GITA Hold Of Yourself Podcast 2 Fat 2 Furious Podcast Trailers and Mentions: Candyman, 1992 Netflix's Hannibal Bela Lugosi's Dracula Free version of Bram Stoker's Dracula Bessie Griffin's version of "Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child" A fan tribute to David Lynch's films if you want to get a feel for his style Teeth, 2007 Netflix's The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina Nightmare on Elm Street 2 (Freddy's Revenge), (1985) Sleep Away Camp, 1983 Rise of Skywalker, 2019 Color Out of Space, 2020 Black Christmas, (2019) Jeremy Renner Gillian Anderson  Jordan Peele More info about this podcast and Sydney's sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

Description: Part 2 of 2: South Asian writer and attorney, Maha Kamal and I talk about self-advocacy  and creating and participating in alternative publishing platforms. Then we cover the importance of a strong writing community for marginalized people. Maha uses her background in diversity, equity, and inclusion work to suggest ways that the publishing industry can improve representation and accessibility for #ownvoices writers. Check out some of Maha Kamal's writing and visual art here: www.mahakamal.com Links: Latinx criticism of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings Denver Women's Press Club The Word: A story telling sanctuary Good news! the [margins.] conference is on! It will take place remotely, August 1-2, 2020 because their kickstarter was more than fully funded Note: Since my conversation with Maha, Tattered Cover released a statement in response to the Black Lives Matter protests. That letter and a community response from writers of color and community leaders can be found here. Book Bar is a Denver independent book store to support instead of Tattered Cover Bobby LeFebre is Colorado's 8th poet laureate and the first person of color to be named poet laureate in the century that the state honor has existed.  More info about this podcast & sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

Description: Part 1 of 2: South Asian writer and attorney, Maha Kamal talks about the short story collection she is working on. Including, what led her to write speculative fiction and the themes and characters in her stories. Other topics in this episode are: autofiction, historical figures in India and Pakistan, what it is like to be a south Asian writer submitting to contests. We wrap up Part 1 with the necessity of researching when writing about identities other than your own. Remember to check out Part 2 for the rest of my conversation with Maha. Check out some of Maha Kamal's writing and visual art here: www.mahakamal.com Links: NPR, "Back When I was Older" More information about Muhammad Ali Jinna and his wife, Ratanbai Jinnah White Mughals: Love and Betrayal in Eighteenth-Century India by William ­Dalrymple Fun fact- "autofiction" was the term Truman Capote used to describe his novel, In Cold Blood The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer Black Mirror The Friday 500 events at Lighthouse Writer's Workshop (currently on hiatus due to Covid-19) You can read "The Story of Your Life" by Ted Chiang here NYC Midnight short story competition Latinx criticism of American Dirt by Jeanine Cummings More info about the #Ownvoices movement Maha Kamal's writing and visual art here: www.mahakamal.com More info about this podcast and Sydney's sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

In this episode, we discuss representation and tropes of trans women in books and television.  In addition to talking about common tropes, Cara and I discuss what's missing from trans women's characters. We also talk about best practices for using pronouns and previous names in character flashbacks and backstory and where the line is between authenticity and tragedy porn. Hire Cara for audio visual services including podcast editing and videography: https://caratucker.com/ Bonus: Listen all the way through for a sample of Cara's chiptunes arrangement of Beethoven's 7th Symphony. Links:  Some links include spoilers. Laverne Cox who plays Sophia on Netflix's Orange is the New Black. Here is an article about the trauma / tragedy porn in the show (spoilers and triggering content about racial violence, police brutality, incarceration, and transphobia). I want to acknowledge that in my conversation with Cara, we did not include the Sense8 created by the Wachowski sisters, Lana and Lilly, who also directed The Matrix Wendy Carlos- a musician and composer who helped develop the Moog Synthesizer which was the first commercially available keyboard instrument. Lynn Conway- the computer scientist whose task efficiency system is still used in most computers today. Battleblock Theatre Star Wars: Clone Wars- Darth Maul's back story (spoilers) An article from the New Yorker about the backlash to Star Wars Episode 8: The Last Jedi More info about this podcast and my sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Music arrangement and podcast editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Seriously, he's amazing. You should see what he can do with embroidery floss. Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journey coach and podcast editor.

In this episode, I focus on dealing with mental illness in times of crisis as a creator and how to write more authentic mentally ill characters. I talk about my own mental health challenges and those of a character in my novel in progress. There are some mentions of suicidal ideation and medical neglect in this episode. Please take care of yourselves. Links: The Red Hand Files- Nick Cave's Newsletter (it's amazing and I encourage you to sign up!) Lighthouse Writer's Workshop Remote Youth Writing Classes -I'm teaching a ton of workshops this week and next The Book Project-  A competitive two year writing program at Lighthouse Writer's Workshop Brene Brown and the differences between shame and guilt Complex PTSD From Suriviving to Thriving by Pete Walker Midsommar, 2019  This is a horror film / thriller and the trailer contains gore Unlocking the Magic edited by Vivian Caethe More info on the Sensitivity Reader Podcast and Inqueery, LLC. sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Audio editing and music arranged by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected] Shout out to Nikita Burks-Hale, M.Ed. at Journeygurlmagic.com for all of her support in getting this podcast off the ground. Nikita is a journeycoach and podcast launch specialist

In this episode, I am joined by Jesaka Long for a discussion on sex and sexuality in YA fiction. How explicit is too explicit? When is it okay to "fade to black" on a sex scene? Get answers to these questions and more as well as practical tips to improve your writing craft when it comes to sex for the next generation on this week's episode! Stay up to date with Jesaka Long: jesakalong.com Media mentioned: Jack of Hearts (and Other Parts) by: Lev A.C. Rosen Judy Blume Our Own Private Universe by: Robin Talley PG by: Courtney Summers  Cherry by: Lindsey Rosin This is Kind of An Epic Love Story by: Kheryn Callender and Kacen Callender The Snow Child by: Eowyn Ivey Squad by: Mariah MacCarthy GLSEN guide to No Promo Homo laws in some states in the U.S. More info on the Sensitivity Reader Podcast and Inqueery, LLC. sensitivity reading services: Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: Facebook and Twitter Audio editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ and JourneyGurl Magic https://www.journeygurlmagic.com/ Music arranged by Cara Tucker Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss the business and subtleties of sensitivity reading with our guest and fellow sensitivity reader, Joe Ponce. We talk about everything from when and how to credit a sensitivity reader, the costs and benefits of using one, and discuss different approaches to completing a sensitivity read. Hire Joe on Fiverr: https://www.fiverr.com/josephmponce Media mentioned in this episode: The 0ffice,Season 02 Episode 09T The author who originally pulled her book due to backlash after an early release was Amelia Wen Zhao: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/31/books/amelie-wen-zhao-blood-heir-ya-author-pulls-debut-accusations-racism.html The book, Blood Heir, is now out https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42359583-blood-heir The now defunct Writing in the Margins sensitivity reader database: https://medium.com/@justinaireland/goodbye-sensitivity-readers-database-e1cbc53044a9 Website: www.sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: www.facebook.com/sensitivityreader https://twitter.com/thesydneyfowler Audio editing by Cara Tucker https://caratucker.com/ and JourneyGurl Magic https://www.journeygurlmagic.com/ Music arranged by Cara Tucker Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected]

In this episode, we discuss disability representation in web comics and various other forms of media with special guest, Tab, The Happy Zoologist. Find Tab on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappyzoologist/ Media mentioned in this episode: Out of the Blue by Ari https://tapas.io/series/OutoftheBlue The 12:37 podcast https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/alma-rodagil/the-1237 Love and Luck podcast https://www.loveandluckpodcast.com/ Hurt Go Happy by Ginny Rorby https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/196560.Hurt_Go_Happy The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/69136.The_Book_of_Lost_Things Website: Sensitivityreader.com Email: [email protected] Social Media: facebook.com/sensitivityreader  https://twitter.com/thesydneyfowler Audio editing by Cara Tucker and Journey Gurl Magic https://caratucker.com/ https://www.journeygurlmagic.com/ Music arranged by Cara Tucker Logo design by Leonard Pollard, commissions open: [email protected]