Bubble Tea Writers Network: ESEA Writers and Publishing: Beyond the immigrant story
Maisie Chan and Winnie Li
Zoom
Free
Getting a book deal is challenging to begin with, but is there an obligation, real or perceived, for ESEA authors in the UK to write about immigration, identity struggles, and heritage? How do individual authors write into or against a conventional immigrant narrative? And what if we want to write fiction about something else entirely?
In this panel discussion, ESEA authors and publishing industry professionals will discuss the challenges, realities, and strategies around getting published as an ESEA writer. Does the ‘burden of representation’ mean that we make certain creative choices in the writing we produce? Do we feel restricted as ESEA writers in terms of what we can write (and publish) in the future? We often talk about ‘gatekeepers’ in the publishing industry: this panel will feature the voices of ESEA individuals on both sides of that gate (writers, as well as editors and agents) for a unique cross-section of insight.
Chaired by author Winnie M Li, with novelist Melissa Fu, and other guests (TBC). The panel will include readings from the authors’ forthcoming books, as well as a Q&A session at the end.
Twitter @winniemli @melissaLFu
Instagram @winniemli @melissafuwriter
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