I’m angry today, at the literary academic establishment. Specifically, I’m mad at AWP and Yaddo.
Last week I called Yaddo (nicely) to ask about residencies for authors of kidlit. I was told that I should apply with a submission of my adult work, and that then I could work on whatever I like if I got in. But they cannot fund children’s books, no matter the artistic merit of the work.
Grrrrr. How incredibly stupid is that?
Then, yesterday, I found out that the panel I was on for AWP was declined, a panel about literary fictioneers and poets who also write books for kids. Not shocking I guess. How else will they make room for another panel about (insert boring topic here)?
I’m really disappointed about this. It was an amazing group of writers, and we had a lot of good things to say. Not to mentin being something NEW.
But it’s no surprise, in a climate where many MFA programs refuse to apply kidlit publications to tenure. Because those morons will never realize that some of the most innovative writing– the most genre bending, creative, crazy work– is being done for kids.
GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!