A Personal, Post-Election Manifesto for My Writing Life

Dear women, POC, immigrants, LGBTQIA+ folks who are feeling the impact of being disenfranchised and distanced after the election, please know that there are still people who see you, still people who support you, still people who love you, still people who are your allies, and still people who will fight for you. 

I'm one of them.

I say that as an old, white, straight man who personally loses nothing thanks to the election. Technically, I'm still golden. 

Except I'm not because it's not about me. It's about you. 

So...

Viva la revolución! As long as I believe the ideals written in the flag image below, I guess I will now be considered #TheEnemyWithin.

Don't worry. It won't be hard to find me when you need to report me to the Gestapo for continuing to support and fight for:

• Women's reproductive rights at the national level
• Equal marriage protection for lgbtqia+ 
• Acceptance for my trans brothers and sisters
• Open paths to citizenship for documented and undocumented immigrants and migrants
• Restrictions on weapons designed to kill many quickly
• Safe schools where active shooter drills become a footnote in our history
• Restrictions to keep convicted felons out of public office
• A world where we embrace kindness over bullying and name-calling
• A world where we choose humility over braggart hyperbole
• A world where facts, research, and expertise actually matter
• Presidents who don't use hateful rhetoric to incite insurrections

If you follow my writing, you'll know my work has always leaned into multiculturalism and diversity and empowered female leads in terms of plots and characters. I think from this point on, my work needs to take a much sharper turn into Woke themes.

It's not like it's gonna hurt my sales. (Ha! Heck, it might actually help.) 

• My trans psychic detective in the 60s with the ghost of a lesbian go-go dancer as her sidekick? I'm almost done with that novel. 
• More BLM themes in Rick Ruby and his black world? I'm just getting started. 
• Racist/misogynistic Thulist fascists behind the big bad in my Golden Amazon and Tribunal stories? Just you wait. 

Am I losing you as a reader when I say that? 

That's okay. Now isn't the time to back down. Now is the time to stand our ground and say proudly, "We are not going back." Even if we lost the election. This fire may not be the hottest on the block, but it's burning strong. 

I will be loud. I will be outspoken (even more) in my support for those who need their allies to be more vocal. 

Because I am and will continue to be...

#TheEnemyWithin