Well I like your story! I'm about 1/4 of the way in, and I expect the sequel to be ready by the time I'm done, so get to it 😏.
Sadly the other author has a point. If you wanted money or recognition, you wouldn't tell the Truth, you would simply tell them what they want to hear in a slightly "novel" way (like using a non binary buzzword buzzword black Muslim woman in a wheelchair with they/them pronouns), no need to think too hard, just write the tired same old story, but with a fresh dab of woke paint.
The thing about Fiction is that you can really tell how the author looks at the world, it shines trough in the way the characters interact with each other and the way the fictional world works.... And this is the reason you can really tell most "diversity" is horribly forced in modern books. It's so out of place that it's borders on the ridiculous, and it's usually used in an offhanded way so that it doesn't distract from the actual story (like having a side character with they/them pronouns who only appears twice in the story... for no reason). Some authors are more brazen and try to use it as a gimmick for their main characters (like making him/her gay), but it never quite works out... Cause get this... It's not interesting, turns out that if romance isn't the point of the story (or well put together at all) you are better off not having it in the first place. No one cares that the main character is gay if it has no relevance to the story, and it very much alienates MOST of your audience. And I say this being gay myself, I loathe fake people, if you don't like me, tell it to my face. Cause I sure as hell will.
Well I like your story! I'm about 1/4 of the way in, and I expect the sequel to be ready by the time I'm done, so get to it 😏.
Sadly the other author has a point. If you wanted money or recognition, you wouldn't tell the Truth, you would simply tell them what they want to hear in a slightly "novel" way (like using a non binary buzzword buzzword black Muslim woman in a wheelchair with they/them pronouns), no need to think too hard, just write the tired same old story, but with a fresh dab of woke paint.
The thing about Fiction is that you can really tell how the author looks at the world, it shines trough in the way the characters interact with each other and the way the fictional world works.... And this is the reason you can really tell most "diversity" is horribly forced in modern books. It's so out of place that it's borders on the ridiculous, and it's usually used in an offhanded way so that it doesn't distract from the actual story (like having a side character with they/them pronouns who only appears twice in the story... for no reason). Some authors are more brazen and try to use it as a gimmick for their main characters (like making him/her gay), but it never quite works out... Cause get this... It's not interesting, turns out that if romance isn't the point of the story (or well put together at all) you are better off not having it in the first place. No one cares that the main character is gay if it has no relevance to the story, and it very much alienates MOST of your audience. And I say this being gay myself, I loathe fake people, if you don't like me, tell it to my face. Cause I sure as hell will.