Shardai follow my IG!
@shardai_smithh
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I desire to make every word I write draw blood • Black spf & horror author • coming of rage novelist • rep: @clairefriedman8
Joined March 2012
Do not promote AI as a tool for liberating Black people. Black cowboys existed and still exist. Let's support Black archivists in their search for more legitimate photos of Black history instead of promoting the possession of digital Black bodies and revisionist history.
These images, skillfully crafted by Cepéda Brunson using AI, highlight the liberating potential of artificial intelligence in addressing the scarcity of affirming images of black people in historical archives. While African Americans played a pivotal role in shaping the Old West,
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The fact that this is on Tik Tok, out in the open. .
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@Into_the_Never The thing is, the most likely repression they can face will hurt us all. If sjm takes action then more authors will and it's a slippery slope to making fanfiction a financial threat.
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Funny how this completely ignores that they're profiting off not only the fanfic author but the author of the original book whose got so much money behind her.
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I'm really tired of the sympathetic "leave the country" speeches. Get this, I actually want this country to improve. My family is here, my culture is here.
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I hate to say it, but it's because writers know to cut things that don't enhance character or plot. I'm juggling so much that's so important, that the best I could give is a sentence. BUT! there are books where this is more important to the story and thus is prominently featured.
Need to read books where the female lead menstruates. Cause apparently fictional women don't menstruate 🧍🏽♀️.
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If this remains true, then I knew it! When Del Ray said "removed from 2024 line up," they meant they were saving it for another year. It's too much to throw everything away after all this time and MONEY . 😕.
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I'm an author that doesn't profit from other people's work if you wanna check me out!.
BEHOLD, my adult, southern gothic, horror novel that investigates the racial dynamics of book publishing and the intellectual gentrification present in YELLOWFACE and follows in the footsteps of CANDYMAN's Black folklore and the cost of researching Black pain.
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@zorascreation I can't remember but I'm pro writing them, I wrote them, but it's selling them will eventually make all fanfiction illegal and that's scary.
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BEHOLD, my adult, southern gothic, horror novel that investigates the racial dynamics of book publishing and the intellectual gentrification present in YELLOWFACE and follows in the footsteps of CANDYMAN's Black folklore and the cost of researching Black pain.
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Is it just me or does a gender bent Handmaid's Tale. miss the point? It's just trope now?
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I'm gonna go feral. When I say publishers put all their budget into TikTok, this is e evidence of that! They don't pay their workers or their authors. And yet, this still isn't compensation to these booktokers. They didn't get directly paid for this either!
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I'm sorry, but entitlement like this pisses me off. If you're a writer and fundamentally don't understand how unoriginal ideas are, that's on you. This is embarrassing. Delete and apologize.
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BTW I'm officially one semester away from having a MASTER'S IN CREATIVE WRITING!
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For those following the Neil Gaiman situation
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Funny how this completely ignores that they're profiting off not only the fanfic author but the author of the original book whose got so much money behind her.
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Agents shouldn't be allowed to publicly speak about specifics of a query, especially if they aren't thinking of signing said author. This is an unpublished author's nightmare.
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Black people have said this before, but yes, it's a white supremacist tactic to exhaust us and recenter themselves. Whether these white people know they're doing it or not, they've been conditioned and must do the heavy lifting of ending this. Being a "good person" isn't enough.
Realizing very quickly another reason to keep white ppl out of organizing spaces is that they’re a constant emotional drag.
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Don't forget her failure to secure an AI free deal has lead to job loss for many new and unknown actors that refuse to relinquish their likenesses to studios for perpetual use. Fran Drescher failed her most vulnerable and is a zionist.
Fran Drescher on Tyler Perry holding back the expansion of his studio due to artificial intelligence: "I think that he's in a position to hire human beings, so why doesn't he trailblaze that?" | Variety On the Carpet presented by @DIRECTV
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No one said they didn't exist. only that asking librarians to take on more work undervalues the work they do now.
Because nothing is impossible and libraries are amazing community resources that can be anything we want them to be, here's a thread of playgrounds inside of libraries all around the world. Spokane, Washington
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Publishing needs to break down why adults desire YA and find places for it in adult. YA has an air about that it's more than age category and once publishing actually takes the time to think about YA critically, we can move these types of readers into adult.
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YA publishers don't want freshmen in college and Adult publishers don't think college stories are adult enough. I'm going to lose it.
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@lauravidarteg I get knowing that an author isn't a strong enough writer but to admit you've taken the idea from them and publicly ask for someone else to write it. This is a horror story.
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We need more adult books with illustrations. I want full novels with illustrations that fill entire pages! Any adult readers agree?.
Last semester at uni I was working on another book project. I illustrated "The Great Gatsby" by F.S. Fitzgerald. Here are book cover and some illustrations 🍸
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Neil Gaiman and GRRM supposedly host a cruise called "hoe cruise" where they invited young woman and new authors. This was first heard 8 years ago.
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We all Fall Down by Rose Szabo is up next! This book is anti-black, anti-gay, and anti-trans. Attached a review by a white woman praising the book. White readers who willfully miss the racism and homophobia in books are apart of the problem!
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If you're white and you're worried about if YOUR books will get published, I'm side eyeing you really fucking hard.
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Hey, if your fantasy is inspired by a known people, especially a marginalized and previously colonized people, do not say you made it up! Holy shit! Don't do that!!.
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MARGOT NO!.Margot Robbie and Sarah J Maas met. Margot is in her film producer era so this could mean talks of working together on SJM's books. Link in reply.
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1. I did not expect this to go viral. I wanted people to know that selling fanfiction is illegal. 2. Prompting your own work is not morally less than profiting off someone else's work?? Hello?? 3. I wouldn't equate not being published yet to being small time??
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I'm so sorry but to ME!, this is similar to a character going to the bathroom. Those scenes don't even cross my mind since, in MY stories, they aren't important.
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If you're writing an adult novel, please interact 😊.
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Cait Corrain is more worried about being perceived as racist instead of acknowledging their internalized racism. womp womp. And to run this shit during Black History Month??
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The conversation around that book, how it botched Yoruba and is a western interpretation of Nigerian beliefs is why I wrote In Every Line I Write Our Graves. It asks the question, do Black people have a right to a culture they don't directly engage in just because they're Black?
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If publishing supported NA, we could move these "upper YA" books over and stop neglecting 13-15 yr olds.
It's so strange to look at YA novels from the early 2000s and see a good handful of characters that are 14 and 15 years old, but then most of the YA characters today are like 18 to 22 years old.
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AFTER THREE DAYS OF BARELY WRITING, I WROTE 1249 WORDS IN 27 MINUTES! 🙌🏽.
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AGENTS (and editors)! My lovely horror novel will reenter the querying trenches soon. I'm setting aside a list of agents (if you've requested before - I got you!). If you'd like to read my pages, please interact 🖤 #amquerying #MSWL
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An editor at a big 5 said they saw my book cover, thought it was already published, were gald to see that it wasn't, and requested to read it upon submission. Get your bags, people!.
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@d_s_saavedra Nope. I'm so angry this poor author. When we talk about power dynamics, this is it.
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Would it shock you to read a novel featuring a scene with a woman in college having her first kiss?.
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I HAVE A LITERARY AGENT!. I am so happy to announce I am now represented by @clairefriedman8 and @Inkwellmgmt! Her enthusiasm for my novel was immediate and her aspirations surpassed my wildest dreams. I can't wait to work with her and share this book with the world!
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If you write New Adult, please for the love of God interact. I need more NA peeps!.
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My account seems radio silent. If you're a writer or a lover of books, tap in 🩷.
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Commenting "I love your cover. Who's the artist?" on secret AI book covers and wreaking havoc 🥰.
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Agents have called my novel YA and I fear it's because they chat comprehend a 20 something year old that hasn't had sex or past relationships, and yet, often on tik tok, I've seen older women crying because they haven't fallen in love or had these formative experiences.
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Y'all. I got 7 agent likes and an editor wants to read it once I'm on submission!!
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English majors are becoming the most obnoxious people online (and I say this as a creative writing/English degree holder). How y'all beating Business majors at their own game
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Xiran was apparently dropped by their agent and I didn't hear anything about it? Has anyone else or is this just a rumor?.
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All the recs people are offering are by white authors. I can't wait for when we have mainstream gothic stories by authors of color. I want to see women of color loved the way gothic white women are.
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Knowing that Donald Sutherland wrote an essay/letter to the director about the very real politics of The Hunger Games and the inhumane damage someone like Snow can commit makes me admire him more. He knew exactly why he needed to play this character.
rewatching old hunger games interviews and the cast was asked about the political overtones of the movies. donald sutherland had such an excellent response on the lessons he wanted the audience to learn 🎯
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Never once in my time learning about book publishing from publishers did I ever hear about tossing a book completely away. After years of working on this book, it'll come out with a soft launch. No publicity .
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I want an agent to help edit my book but to get an agent I have to write an "imperfectly perfect" story but to write that I need help editing which is why I want an agent to help edit my book but to get an agent I have to write an "imperfectly perfect" story but to write that I n.
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This is your reminder to format your pages into a printable book 🥰
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I'm researching reputable small presses that take unagented submissions. What are some of your favorites?.
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I understand why I loved The Hunger Games and hated the Red Queen. I listened to them right after each other. Suzanne Collins understands that white women don't start revolutions. They fight for those they care about but extending the fight past isn't common.
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I only just found out that the Save the Cat website plans your beats by page when you put in your page count 🥹 I've been doing this manually.
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Is it okay to start writing a story based on vibes? Do you plan your characters or the plot first?.
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Maybe now that I've got some new followers I can ask authors what they're day job is 👀.
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Indie authors, I do not care how inexpensive using AI art is. It's gross, especially when you publish a book using it and continue to profit other of the work of others. The disrespect towards your fellow creatives shouldn't be ignored.
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I can't believe I work in publishing in New York City. Kid me would have exploded
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I've been looking at this tweet just screaming around my house! Taylor has been such a guiding force for me and they are a major reason why I've lasted this long on Twitter. During times I've felt so dejected, their kindness inspired me to persevere. AND NOW THEY'RE MY MENTOR?!😭.
I am SO thrilled to announce my @RT_Mentor mentee, the AMAZING ✨@shardai_smithh✨ . From the moment I started 🩸FROM OUR BLOOD🩸 I knew it was something so special. I can't wait to see what this year brings – and to introduce all of you to determined, decisive, enthralling Ari!
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They couldn't have cast a teenager to play. a teenager??.
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I'm Shardai, dark academic & whimsigothic writer. I'm revising my dark academia examining desire, conformity & whiteness; and drafting my MA novel investigating Black academics, their exploitation of Black communities, & the horrors of generational trauma. #writersoftwitter
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A self published book came out August 1st and already has 11,000+. That's impressive for literally any book but the fact she's self published? Wow.
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If you have someone that you can send your first drafts too, who will sit and talk to you, in depth, about the plot of your book, who you can learn with, and trust their knowledge of plot and writing - I envy you.
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Is it bad that I don't want to read a Black female main character from a white author. .
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This whole thing makes me physically ill. This poor querying writer.
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Did y'all hear about that self-published authors that told a woman that she "should be r*ped and dragged through the streets in front of [her] kids" for supporting P*lestine? Her name is Lauren Wise and in the video she says she wants people to post about her so, here ya go.
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Form rejections on a full (or requested partial) is wild though. If you request, you should take the time to give feedback, even if it's two lines.
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When your agent says she's already got so much editor interest for your debut, so you celebrate by taking photos of your hardcover book!
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DARK ACADEMIA GET OUT x BUNNY. A black girl is accepted into an all-white college and questions the string of missing Black students after a Black body is discovered on campus. All that glitters isn't gold. It's blood & bone. #onsub #YouDeservepIt
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Cait really ruined her career before it even started.
We’re aware of the conversations around the author of our May 2024 book, Cait Corrain. We can confirm that Crown of Starlight will no longer be featured in the May 2024 Illumicrate Box.
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Apparently this is cringe, so enjoy anyway 😊
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Agents and editors, I'll be querying my Black horror in 2024! If you want to champion diverse stories, if you want to champion Black horror, you'll want me in your corner.
I hope we get much more horror in 2024. I want more queer horror, more horror from BIPOC writers, more horror mixed with whatever authors love, more cerebral horror, more horror that doesn't give a fuck about being easy to digest, and more place-specific horror. I want it all.
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Hi i received a good publishing email today 🥰.
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How do I find beautifully written, paranormal or Gothic romance where the romance is intertwined with the Gothic and paranormal?.
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Editors, FROM OUR BLOOD is officially on SUBMISSION! I'm so grateful to those already interested in my Black girl horror 🖤! Don't miss the chance to read my novel and contact my agent @clairefriedman8.#onsub #onsubmission #mswl #booksworthreading #editors
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Also delete this because your snippet is desperately average 😬.
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You know why I think this? Because it's what they do for every series when the first book doesn't do well. They already bought the series, so they'll shrink it down to one sequel and toss that author away.
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Another example of why publishing won't save us.
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When poorly written books get published, it's going to upset people who are being rejected continuously. I know my book is better than books I've seen published, but these realizations prove that publishing looks for what they can sell first, then if that book has other qualities.
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Bethany and Black authors deserve better in this industry. Authors are the heart and soul of publishing and should be respected as such. No one should fear speaking against the treatment they suffered in a supposedly professional manner. Order Bethany's book below!.
after receiving more horrible news from my publisher today, i've reached my breaking point. i don't give a fuck anymore. i'm going to be 100% honest like i've always been: . from 2021 to now, this has been the worst publishing experience of my life.
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Hey, so there's destroying Historical Black colleges. If you're curious what these next four years will look like.
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17. 17 agent likes and 2 editors, both from big 5s. .
Y'all. I got 7 agent likes and an editor wants to read it once I'm on submission!!
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AHHHHH I GOT 16 REQUESTS ON MY #PitBLK PITCHES!!! . This feels like a dream and I'm floating through it 🥰.
#horrorbooks is trending so please behold the greatest thing I've ever created! I hope to start querying my horror novel so that many others can read it soon!
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White women's "messy thoughts" are often things people of color have already thought of, researched, written down, published, and presented on decades ago.
🚨BREAKING NEWS‼️. woman is surprised to learn that not only do BIPOC exist, but they also write books!!
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Some people don't understand that unpopular doesn't mean homophobic, racist, or misogynistic and it shows LOUD and CLEAR.
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My heart dropped the other day because I saw yet another book with a similar premise to mine that's about to publish soon. Hopefully agents and editors will still want a Dark academia book from a Black, female perspective.
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I just saw a deal announcement for a book with the exact same idea I've been working on for a couple years. Like my twist is their inciting incident. Premise is the same 😂 welp thankfully I haven't finished drafting.
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I wish more authors would post which books inspired them or were their favorites so that I, too, can be inspired.
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@andiemillares My grad school only requires 40-60 pages and instead Ive pledged to write, edit, and query an upmarket novel 🙃.
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