‘So to Speak’ podcast: Does your book need a sensitivity reader?

Do books need a special editor who reads for offensive content? And who gets to decide what’s offensive anyway?

This week we are joined by authors Kat Rosenfield and Vesper Stamper to discuss censorial trends in book publishing, including the rise of so-called “sensitivity readers” and the sometimes successful campaigns to get books canceled before they are even published.

We also explore adjacent debates: Is it appropriate to write outside of one’s identity or lived experience? And can authors write about people who do bad things without endorsing the bad things they do?

Show notes:

• Podcast transcript
• “The Toxic Drama on YA Twitter” by Kat Rosenfield
• “Berliners” by Vesper Stamper
• “No One Will Miss Her: A Novel” by Kat Rosenfield
• New York Times: “Sundance Liked Her Documentary on Terrorism, Until Muslim Critics Didn’t”
• “You Must Remember This: A Novel” by Kat Rosenfield

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Have questions or ideas for future shows? Email us at sotospeak@thefire.org.