Gatekeeping is for the Weak
Something that has always baffled me is the idea that you need certain qualifications to like something. Some hobbies are plagued by a subset of enthusiasts that insist on differentiating between ‘true’ fans or participants and ‘band-waggoners’. I don’t get that. Do I need an ID that tells people I like purple? Can I be a licensed Harry Potter nerd? Quick! Someone ask me to name the entire 1986-87 NHL season Philadelphia Flyers player roster! If I can do it, that means I’m a real fan, right?
(Spoiler alert: I can’t do that. But I assure you, I bleed orange and black. Just ask my husband.)
There are collective fandoms where this is more common than in others. Fans of the Harvest Moon games are some of the most accepting people you’re going to meet- most of the time, you’ll be asked about your favourite game and walk away from the conversation with a few good-natured jabs about your marriage candidate of choice. On the other hand, be careful who you tell that you’re a Star Wars fan. If you bring it up to the wrong person, you’ll be subjected to an hour-long Q&A that ends with a mandatory ten-page essay on why Jar Jar Binks is the worst character ever put to screen. These are just examples, and I’m by no means calling out every single member of either of these fandoms, but you get the idea. Sometimes you’re left feeling like you have to enjoy things quietly, or else have your authenticity challenged by someone you hardly know. Why? shrugs.
If you truly love something- be it a movie, a book, or a skill- wouldn’t you want to share it? I would. I do.
In the publishing industry, just like any other, there are ridiculous notions of what’s acceptable and what isn’t. Sure, there’s validity to maintaining industry standards, but it goes beyond that. Are you a ‘real’ author if you write romance? Of course you are! But some authors think that you’re not, or that you’re somehow lesser. Any kind of writing takes skill, and I bet a lot of the naysayers would struggle to write outside their genre, despite how much ‘lesser’ they feel it is. If you write, you’re a writer. If you publish, you’re an author. It’s as simple as that.
Something else that gets talked down a lot is self-publishing. A lot of writers are snooty people (believe me, I’ve talked to enough of them) and very stuck in their ways. This isn’t true of all writers of course; I’ve met many lovely people in this industry and I’m only just beginning my journey. Even still, I’ve repeatedly been confronted with the idea that self-published books aren’t as worthy as traditionally published books, and that’s just not true.
Smarter people than me have done extensive research on publishing trends and the future of reading. Self-publishing is here to stay, whether the traditionalist crowd likes it or not. Is that to say there’s no benefit to traditional publishing? No, absolutely not. Traditional publishing is as valid an option as any other. It’s just not the only option. And, for some people, it’s not the best option either.
The point of this rambling post can be summed up in one simple sentence: Let people like things. If you don’t want to self-publish, then don’t. If you don’t want to write romance, then don’t. If you don’t like watching superhero movies, then don’t. Live and let live. You’ll be a lot happier (and people will probably invite you to hang out more).
