GC Agent Fired

Apart from in MN, I don't see any signs within the industry that it has been captured; neither authors talking about how they are transing their books, nor editors and agents asking for transed books, etc. I know exactly two authors who are GC, and only one of them is openly so and outspoken about it. Everywhere else, there is silence. Even at the height of the JKR kerfuffle, I didn't see authors etc discussing it. But then again, I don't go out into the world much -- but who does, these days?

But in being captured, I mean a lot more than a trans character appearing in contemporary books, or trans being made an "issue" in itself in a novel (Jodi Picault tends to write such "issue" novels -- has she touched on this? I don't know.)

What I meant was, the language of novels has not been captured. Authors are not being told to use transinclusive language. We don't have to talk about "assigned at birth" and fictional women are still called women and expected to have vaginas: even if their vaginas are never mentioned, it's assumed that they are "that" kind of woman.

That, for me, would mean being fully captured: when we have to use forced language. And I don't see it happening, realistically, because where would you stop? Would all the classics have to be edited for inclusive language? I don't think so. If it ever happens, it will only ever be in contemporary novels set in big Western cities.
That means I'm safe... but I think so are hordes of contemporary women's fiction writers, because their readers wouldn't like it.

I know the kind of books Agnes is talking about: these books and their readers all adhere to the basic principles of sexed bodies. It's what female readers demand, and what publishers want to give them. They're not like M&S, easily bullied in spite of what their customers prefer. Reader approval is easily determined -- they's write scathing reviews, they'd return books, they'd vote with their debit cards.

I don't read YA, but I've heard that market is pretty much captured by hordes of bullies with pitchforks,
The nearest I've come to trans in literary fiction is the sample I downloaded of Evaristo's novel. But I never finished it, so... and I agree that literary fiction is a good breeding ground for the ideology, but in the end I believe that it's grown women readers who will decide in their numbers. Let's hope.

I looked up The Tobias Literary Agency (previously pinned) tweet ’The Seven Fundamental Tenets’

and it seems it belongs to The Satanic Temple

from Wiki en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Temple
Orientation Activism, protest, lobbying
Spokesperson Lucien Greaves
Region North America, Europe
Headquarters United States
Founder Lucien Greaves
Malcolm Jarry (pseudonyms)
Origin 2013
The Satanic Temple is a nontheistic religious group based in the United States.[1][2][3][4] The Temple is recognized as a church for the purposes of tax exemption,[5] with chapters in 16 US states, as well as two in Canada and one in the United Kingdom.[6] The group uses Satanic imagery to promote egalitarianism, social justice, and the separation of church and state. Their stated mission is "to encourage benevolence and empathy among all people". The group was co-founded by Lucien Greaves, the organization's spokesperson, and Malcolm Jarry.[7] The Satanic Temple has utilized satire, theatrical ploys, humor, and legal action in their public campaigns to "generate attention and prompt people to reevaluate fears and perceptions", and to "highlight religious hypocrisy and encroachment on religious freedom".[8][9][10][11]

From their website thesatanictemple.com/pages/about-us
The Mission Of The Satanic Temple Is To Encourage Benevolence And Empathy, Reject Tyrannical Authority, Advocate Practical Common Sense, Oppose Injustice, And Undertake Noble Pursuits.

If The Tobias Literary Agency was part of this ‘church for tax reasons’ I wonder if they’ll find themselves ‘parting ways’ for not adhering to the the 7 tenets, and clearly flouting the ‘reject tyrannical authority’ part of the mission statement?

I also looked up Lane Heymont (President) who I believe put out that rather craven apology - under is bio
“He has been the #1 agent for horror on Publishers Marketplace and in the Top Ten for women's fiction and romance.“ Women Lane, really?

Just as a reminder:

’The Seven Fundamental Tenets’

I
One should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason

II
The struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions.

III
One’s body is inviolable, subject to one’s own will alone.

IV
The freedoms of others should be respected, including the freedom to offend. To willfully and unjustly encroach upon the freedoms of another is to forgo one's own.

V
Beliefs should conform to one's best scientific understanding of the world. One should take care never to distort scientific facts to fit one's beliefs.

VI
People are fallible. If one makes a mistake, one should do one's best to rectify it and resolve any harm that might have been caused.

VII
Every tenet is a guiding principle designed to inspire nobility in action and thought. The spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word

Did anyone else think their official statement sounded spiteful? As if it was written by someone who could hardly contain their glee at being able to announce that the evil T*RF had been defenestrated, and they'd got the company to agree to a series of grovelling penances in a vain attempt to exculpate their guilt by association?

Well, it becomes even more fascinating when you read what used to be their pinned tweet. They took it down after several people pointed out the glaring discrepancies between their guiding principles and they way they actually behaved at the first sign of crisis.

Authoritarianism and literature don't go hand in hand.

What authoritarianism produces is propaganda.

Any half decent writer should be backing Shriver all the way on this.

YA does seem to be particularly toxic and narrow-minded, and not just on trans issues. See
jessesingal.substack.com/p/ya-twitters-victims-and-critics-speak

Though it's not the agent who commissions books, it's the publisher. But maybe she knows GC editors?

Great idea. What do you think, Helmet?

Agree, queen of knives. A general 'chilling effect'.

If someone knows this agent and/or how to get in touch with her, here's an idea: She should set up her own shop and commission a book of essays by gender critical trans people.

I think maybe I'm trying to express that it's more than just the presence or absence of trans characters, but the stifling of the imagination and the limiting of fiction to certain approved topics, modes or attitudes. I think that is what I'm seeing (and better writers than me have discussed it thoughtfully - Zadie Smith and Lionel Shriver are two that spring to mind.) It's not that books are being stuffed with trans characters necessarily (though in YA I'd argue they really are) but the deadening effect the capture of the industry is having on individual writing and books and the project of fiction as a whole. I think you are right it affects different genres in different ways but I think it is coming for everyone.

I sound so pessimistic! I don't mean to. I think and hope there will be a new wave of fiction that overturns these imposed morals and limitations. Either that or they'll start locking us up like they're always trying to do with Elif Shafak.

I guess our perspective is naturally skewed to the area in which we work. I'm women's commercial fiction, and I'm very aware that supermarkets offer far and away the best opportunities for big sales. The shelves in Tesco and Asda are always well stocked with a constantly rolling supply of cupcakes/cafe titles and also clogs and shawls. Individual authors might not have the star clout of big names like JKR but as a sector those genres shift an awful lot of books.

But I agree with you 100%. The industry itself has been well and truly captured.

Elly Griffiths had a transwoman character who made a brief appearance. I had the impression the character was positioned to appear in subsequent books, but they disappeared after the one book, afair. Griffiths fairly frequently notes the sex of skeletons, quite unambiguously.

I expect as the subject remains in the public eye more characters will pop up. Although it is one of those subjects where one isn't apparently allowed to write unless one has personal 'lived experience'.

Fiction gets more predictable by the day.

What about Marian Keyes? She writes contemporary fiction that's massively popular. (But I haven't read her book with the trans character so I've no idea how she treats them... she's not been cancelled so I assume she is uncritical. Or maybe just not been caught out.)

Also, literary fiction (which is generally not about showing off) may be a small market but it's hugely influential in terms of where the conversation goes, so I wouldn't underestimate it. Also I disagree that SF/F or YA are small sectors - they are huge, and growing. Most people have heard of JKR, George RR Martin etc. There's surely a lot more money in that than cosy cupcake/seaside tales (I have to admit complete ignorance of those genres so maybe I'm underestimating the market share - just going by the bestseller lists, I would expect to see a lot more YA and fantasy).

I don't know. I'd like to think you're all right and I'm seeing stuff that isn't really there. But I still see it. Trans has captured publishing and bookselling almost completely - I can't see how books themselves will be unaffected.

queenofknives:

Wow I too wish to know who the out GC agent is! I'm guessing it's a man...

She's a woman!!! And her tweets are a joy to behold.

I think the pressure to include trans characters will only ever touch a small sector of the book market, in a few genres - show-off literary fiction, YA, sci-fi - and in reality those are fairly small sectors. The saga market is HUGE in the uk, as is the cosy cupcakes/seaside cafe market, and I can't see the readers of either of those genres (typically women, who pick the books up in the supermarket after only a cursory glance at the cover) getting up in arms about the lack of trans representation in the mills of Victorian Lancashire or at the beachside cafe in Made-Up-On-Sea.

It's a tiny, vocal minority doing the shouting and huge numbers of sensible, good-story-seeking, biology-believing women who don't even have twitter accounts keeping the market going by buying books. Publishers need to keep that firmly in mind.

I heard John Irving talking about why he always includes trans characters in his books. He said it started from a deep empathy for women who were treated as a weird non-default minority despite being most of the world. And he grew his empathy to include other groups including gay and trans people. I would have done the same until I got to learn about some of the motivations for a trans identity. Gender Dysphoria is one thing (although it cannot make you a woman) but there is often more to it than that cases as well all know on here but are not allowed to spell out.

There’s a trans character in World According to Garp but I’ve only seen the film not read the book.

There’s no issue having trans characters in your books if you want but tokenism (which all this sounds like to me, an outsider) isn’t going to lead to great novels.

You’re not actually a martial artist just cos you play Mortal Kombat.

I've never had a trans character in a book of mine and none of the books I've read to date have trans characters. It's just not a thing yet and I hope it never will be.

I've only ever come across one book with a trans character, one of Val McDermid's Tony Hill books - the transwoman was the serial killer. Guess that wouldn't be allowed today.
Interestingly enough the killer wanted to be a girl because his mother wouldn't let him do "girly" things like baking.

Couldn’t see their statement on here.
Here it is, in all its grovelling glory....

I'm taking comfort from the pile of shit the agency will have to wade through after inviting manuscripts.

I can't imagine that being very good for book sales.

Well it's not, is it? Hasn't The Second Shelf gone out of business now? I mean all these companies think that twitter is real life and go for what they think is going to make them popular - but in reality, people don't go into your bookshop if you call them names. And people don't buy books on the basis of identity politics... although the wider book discussions kind of are all about this. There's a huge pressure to conform and I think booksellers and librarians are also part of this big push towards wokeness in all its forms. It would be nice to think that genuinely good writing would come through no matter what, but that's not what I see happening at the moment. A bit like TV - so many new shows are painfully woke now. New shows are not getting made unless they nod towards trans stuff. There's always something.

www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8661809/Woman-sacked-literary-agency-anti-trans-comments-Twitter.html

Mail link.