Crave a change-of-pace that pays you and helps your fellow authors produce high-quality narratives? As a member of a marginalized community, consider sensitivity reading for that marginalization. A sensitivity reader “reviews unpublished manuscripts to spot cultural inaccuracy, representation issues, bias, stereotypes, or problematic language.” (Reedsy) The ranks of sensitivity readers include beta readers, writers, and editors, and their clients may be authors or publishers. Several professional sensitivity readers recently offered us some advice via electronic interview.
Crystal Shelley of Rabbit with a Red Pen Editorial Services helps authors depict Chinese culture and Asian American experiences. Effective sensitivity reading goes beyond your cultural view of the book. “It can require much more in-depth work and reflection. We must know the limitations of what perspectives we can offer, as well as what we are or are not willing to read.”
Jenna Fischtrom Beacom assists with portrayal of deaf characters and culture. “It can be hard to be as honest as necessary, but my job is to give writers and editors the information they need to make their representation as authentic as possible.”
Importance of Sensitivity Reading
The sensitivity reader’s help can be as simple as ensuring non-English words are used correctly, as Crystal has done, to more complicated issues. “Deaf characters are often written as being able to easily and effectively lipread,” Jenna says. “This widespread misconception leads to situations in which a deaf person is unable to communicate, such as when a doctor or hospital doesn’t want to pay for an American Sign Language interpreter; they think the deaf person should just be able to lipread. Inauthentic representation can have serious real-life consequences.”
Good communication with the author is key. Crystal explains, “If we’re unable to communicate in a way that allows the writer to make actionable changes, our feedback and suggestions will likely be ignored.”
Writers want help with the “lived experience in a given marginalization.” Jenna believes “Nobody should offer a sensitivity reading for something that is outside of their own lived experience.” And while no group is a monolith—all members in agreement on every issue—have “your finger on that pulse” of your community, so the feedback you offer is as complete and helpful as you can make it.
Practical Steps to Start Your Business
So, you have the lived experience and motivation to help writers. What’s next? Update your social media profiles and reach out to various editorial databases, associations, publishers, and websites. A few examples: Writing Diversely, Fiverr, Writing The Other: a Facebook Group, and the National Association of Independent Writers And Editors. Your own website, of course, should sell your sensitivity reading services.
Email and phone/Zoom calls are sufficient for most business transactions. Signing a short contract or letter of agreement to your service terms and conditions is good business practice. Sensitivity readers provide the client a comprehensive report and manuscript comments; they may discuss their assessment with the client routinely or as requested.
And, of course, get paid! You’re offering a valuable service and may find yourself reading material that demonstrates harmful attitudes or even describes personally triggering events. As Jenna says, “My job is to get past this and still offer a kind, professional report, but that’s part of what makes it a job.” The Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) provides industry-standard rates, although these may vary in actual practice. EFA cites $0.01 to $0.019 per word as average. Bear in mind the sensitivity reader need not provide proofreading or line editing unless specifically hired for those tasks. A webinar and a booklet on becoming a sensitivity reader are available the EFA’s website.
Sensitivity reading is hard, but rewarding, work. You’ll need finely honed communication skills, diplomacy, and, at times, a thick skin. But it is a great way to make a positive impact on the publishing industry and mentor your fellow authors who want authentic representation of all the characters in their work.
Bio:
Speculative Fiction with a Historical Twist! Kathy L. Brown lives and writes in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. Her hometown and its history inspire much of her fiction. When she’s not thinking about how haunted everything is, she enjoys hiking, crafts, and cooking for her family. Her first novel, The Big Cinch, will be published by Montag Press in 2021. She has three novellas available: Wolfhearted, The Resurrectionist, and Water of Life. Her blog and other musings live at kathylbrown.com, and she lurks on the usual social media platforms.
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