Looks like Joanne Harris is facing a vote

[Imnobody4]

Joanne Harris is facing a vote by Society of Authors members on whether she should stand down as chair alongside demands for a review of how the organisation protects free speech.

Read here: t.co/rxchlOKHku t.co/FaeROzAVoG
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twitter.com/thebookseller/status/1584461833288548352?t=0p2Cj6OIsmJ--PAa4EzpUg&s=19

I don’t think the people that raised the resolution did themselves any favours on twitter beforehand. While I actually agree with their broad points around JH and the way she conducts herself, they made themselves look a bit over the top as today drew closer. I suspect the damage to the SOA has been done by the people who don’t speak out about these things - ironically due to what they see happen to people who do.

Although - if the JH resolution had been passed - I think the martyrdom would have been strong. This way, maybe we’ll see which way she goes behaviour wise now that her conduct has been basically ‘appproved.’. I suspect it could be interesting.

To clarify above - I don’t mean that the people who don’t speak out have done damage - I mean that those people seeing this happen will just silently choose to leave / not join / not seek help / not write about things they wish to.

The whole thing seemed a bit misguided from the start. I think JH is a terrible chair but the truth is that the SoA is fully woke and can't come back without some radical changes that no one is willing to male.

So I'm just advising authors to join the Free Speech Union. I'm going to suggest they set up a writers' wing within FSU.

Well, that's me never ever joining the SoA. But I've just googled Free Speech Union so thanks for that steer.

I'm glad it's happening. But I'm not hopeful that they will honestly uphold the freedom of speech element.
I'm sick of these women with power shitting the hardest on us.
Betraying vile scumvags

Both resolutions failed by approx 80:20.

The other thing about the SoA is that it's phenomenally expensive to join. Over £100 pa, I seem to recall.

"The big problem is children's books, which has totally sold out to gender ideology."

And I hope they will be held to account when today's children get older and wonder why the hell the adults in the room weren't acting like adults. A couple of weeks ago Macmillan Childrens books have literally said in The Bookseller that they will be using 'influencers' as part of their 'extensive' multi-pronged campaign to push an upcoming cartoon book aimed at teenagers by a FtoM transitioner.

Yeah set up something new. JH and her flock will spiral into mundane flattened story time for their hollow eyed followers. How shit would a novelist have to be to follow them now?
Society of wankers.

I attended the meeting and voted. It’s (one hopes!) a fair democratic outcome and if the membership want to keep JH as chair and oppose freedom of expression in principle, well that’s what they want. I’m worried about it and also questioning myself in depth, but I have to continue to base my views on evidence and logical arguments, that’s all I can do.

As discussed earlier in the thread, I do agree that some of those who brought the two motions 6 and 7 have also behaved badly and in the current climate that makes it easier to smear them as a hate group/transphobic, and a good proportion of the membership will still be badly misinformed on the issues this blew up around, but it’s still the will of the society.

JH defended herself as of course she has every right to do, but to my ears seemed quite petulant and said a lot of this was about people simply not liking her - as if that is just random luck. If I was in her position and felt people disliked me and it was causing division, I’d stand down and make way for someone more neutral. The meeting had a stroppy, arsey vibe, on both sides.

I’m now considering whether to leave, I’m not sure what’s best - to jump ship or stay and be a quiet part of a rump who oppose groupthink and monoculture.

I suppose it depends on your integrity.

I suppose it depends on your integrity.

I suppose it does, but even I don't know which way integrity should lead me, if I do have any. I don't gain very much from the SOA - the main benefit to me is one perk of membership which I could pay for elsewhere. I have been thinking about leaving for a while. So it's not about not wanting to leave because I'd lose out. It's about the hope that this will turn around as more evidence that gender ideology is harmful comes to light/becomes more generally understood, and that speaking against it is not bigotry or transphobia and should not be classed with racism, homophobia and the like. Therefore, part of me thinks that it's important that the SOA continues to contain those who are prepared to think independently.

I think the SoA is done for. They'll hang on as a little clique for a few years but authors are not going to pay to be hung out to dry, cancelled and ignored.

Join the Free Speech Union - they won't help with publishing contracts but they will defend your right to write whatever the fuck you like.

I get it BatCheese. My membership had lapsed and I so nearly rejoined to vote, but I'd forgotten how expensive it was and I was pretty sure which way the vote would go, so guessed that it would be a waste of money. As I posted upthread, my feeling is that the rot goes too deep in that institution for reason to prevail now. I think the best way to make your opposition felt is to leave their purist, partisan organisation and let their numbers dwindle until only the party faithful remain.

Out in the real world common sense is starting to take hold and the dominoes are falling. Lots of the people that I have one to one conversations with in publishing are aware exactly what's going on and where the poison is coming from, but know that challenging it publicly is pointless and destructive. There's nothing to be gained by doing battle on Twitter. Let the SoA remain in their rainbow bubble, looking increasingly batshit and out of touch and focus your feminist energy in areas where it will make a difference.

I wonder what this result means for things like the Scottish Book Trust ‘morality clause’ situation - I suppose not good.

I’m now considering whether to leave, I’m not sure what’s best - to jump ship or stay and be a quiet part of a rump who oppose groupthink and monoculture.

I understand entirely Batcheese. I had the same issue with the Green Party.

I don't think it's about integrity tbh - more about a pragmatic asking of what the SoA membership actually does for one.

I think WinterTrees is correct. Quietly leaving and joining other groups that are prepared to fight for freedom of speech as well as author's rights etc seems more fruitful in the end.

Well - this is interesting and unfortunate. Tim Tate's resignation letter regarding the process used for reviewing complaints. The second page of the letter regarding Subject Access Requests is... well... an interesting suggestion.

timtate.co.uk/category/blog/?anchor=553

Thanks, DogsAkimbo.

Shocking - I hope that the complainants put in SARs so that they (and we) can see what has been going on. The SoA's problems are not behind them after yesterday's votes after all, it would seem.

Yes. It's one (unacceptable) thing to try to paint the people who raised the motions as 'bigoted, transphobic..' etc - but now these internal types of issues are going to be harder to wave away.

What a car crash. I assume that next step will be the monstering of Tim Tate.

I'm sorry if that sounded harsh, wasn't intended. It's something I'm constantly having to reckon with myself in my own work. So far I've been able to navigate it but I don't know how long that will continue.

Cripes. Sounds like a horrible environment, all round.

I think I can hear the sound of many SARs being typed up as we speak.

They might attempt it, but I love the way he has given guidance about the next step he thinks the complainants should take in his resignation letter! I think they may find they have picked on the wrong person here.

Ouch. I've been listening to the Blocked and Reported podcast and the YA writing world features frequently. It's been a bit of an eye opener.