Righting your trans writes

Transphobia is on the rise across UK society. It’s evident in the restriction of access to gender-affirming care, in the discrimination faced by trans people in housing, work and sports, and in our increasingly hateful media landscape.

It is also prevalent in UK publishing. Individuals openly hostile towards trans people hold positions of significant power within the industry, are given prominent placement in bookshops, prize lists and literary festivals, and are even offered publishing deals for the express purpose of spewing their hateful rhetoric. In 2021, The Bookseller published an open letter from individuals within publishing that warned that ‘transphobia was still perfectly acceptable within the book industry.’

There are clear institutional barriers for trans authors looking to break into the industry, but there are a ton of agents and editors working today who would love to see their work. But I fear this hateful atmosphere has created a barrier, where trans people may feel there is no place or way in for them in today’s literary landscape.

As a small act of solidarity, I would like to offer an editorial assessment to a different aspiring trans author each month, completely free of charge. This would include a report on your book as it stands, as well as a one-hour follow-up call. This would be your opportunity to receive feedback on your work from an experienced editor, and ask any questions you might have about breaking into the industry. In the grand scheme of things, I know this is very little, but I hope it can go some way to making UK publishing a more welcoming place for trans people.

To apply, please email a 2000-word sample of your work, a brief synopsis of your project,and the total word count to jordanmulliganfreelance@gmail.com. I will be choosing the recipients of the assessments based on the projects which most interest me, and which I believe I can bring the most useful insight to.

I will endeavour to let you know within the month if you have or have not been selected for the editorial assessment. If you have been selected, I will be in touch to organise an initial chat about your project either over email or via a phone or video call, depending on your preference.