The original #BlackSpecFic Report launched in 2016 by Fireside Magazine served as a catalyst for the creation of FIYAH, by revealing that Black writers represented less than 2% of the field of published short speculative fiction. We like to think we’ve come a long way since then, though exactly how far remains to be seen.
This fall, FIYAH will release the first iteration of the report since 2017, examining the 2021 publication year whose numbers should reflect the pledges and promises made during the BlackLivesMatter summer of 2020. We will be combining it with our BSF Writer Survey, which aimed to provide context for the #BlackSpecFic Reports and rob dissenters of their excuses for why the field was failing Black writers. The report will accompany a larger study also led by L. D. Lewis, which will examine the authorship and on-the-page presence of a number of demographics (racial/ethnic, LGBTQ, and disability representation) across the entirety of the traditionally published SFF field including adult, young adult, and middle grade categories.
The survey is now live through March 4th.
We invite Black SFF writers to submit information about their practices and insights on submission to SFF short fiction markets with a focus on the 2021 calendar year, as well as the impact of and experience with special offerings made during the summer of 2020. The responses we receive will allow us to:
- Quantify the existence of Black speculative fiction writers seeking publication.
- Provide submission context to existing publication data.
- Expose the impact of current events on Black writers.
- Enable markets to pinpoint their failings in attracting or publishing Black writers.
