[stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

[Bridgit Pollpeter]

This is what I do unless it's specified like with magazines for
disability. If we truly believe blindness is more a characteristic, than
why mention it? If some accommodation is needed like with a job, than
mentioning it is probably recommended, but especially in a bio for a
magazine or novel, it doesn't seem relevant.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Homme,
James
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 10:57 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV


Hi,
I'm going to play devil's advocate. What if you took references to
blindness out of your bio, then hit them with that aspect of you at some
later point?

Jim



-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of
Applebutter Hill
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 6:40 PM
To: 'Writer's Division Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

Chris,
I hope so too, and the fact that the writer had a blind father is
encouraging. He also said he didn't want it to be a portrayal of blind
people in general, which I don't really know how to interpret - since
when are any TV characters that generalized?

I also hear you about the mainstream publishing industry. Blind is a
dirty word. I have spoken with other blind women who say they were
actually told that their blind female characters were "unrealistic."
We're supposed to be helpless and carry our burden of sightlessness with
a quiet dignity.

I actually removed any mention of it from my book descriptions online.
I'll probably get some flack for that, but the truth is that "blind"
doesn't sell books, and if you are a blind writer, one of the biggest
hurdles is getting someone to review the book like they'd review any
other. It takes a lot for people to get past how amazing you are for
being a blind writer.

My hubby has really been trying to get me to think about the reality
that the book isn't all about blindness. I do, of course, talk about it
when I'm targeting niche markets like education professors, blindness
rehab counsellors, schools for the blind, etc. But for the general
public, I don't think it works at this time.

Maybe someday soon, people will see blind as the new black and want to
hear our stories, but my experience is that you really have to back-door
the issue, and that's not an easy thing to do. I just hope people will
find the description interesting and not read too far down into my bio.
Donna

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chris
Kuell
Sent: Wednesday, February 12, 2014 8:47 AM
To: Writer's Division Mailing List
Subject: Re: [stylist] New Book, blindness on TV

Donna,

I'm generally skeptical by nature, but I really hope they do a good job
with this show. It's exactly what we've been talking about here--an
opportunity to crush the stupid stereotypes and let the public see a guy
who is interesting, and just happens to be blind. If it does a good job,
and if the public enjoys it, it could open the door to more blind
characters in the arts. Personally, I feel certain that the reason books
like yours and mine aren't getting read by agents and traditional
publishers is because we have blind protagonists. An agent, or more
likely, an agent's assistant reads my query and thinks--a blind
protagonist? Nobody is going to buy that. It's too outside mainstream
experience.

Hopefully, the times, they are a changing.

chris


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