I think that because the white male controlled everything for the last several centuries, they haven’t become a genre. And they have suffered because of it in recent times. People want to hear something from someone who thinks like them, more than someone who looks like them. But it is easy to find that ‘someone’ if you imagine an author who has lead a similar life.

When there is so much competition for the attention of a reader, the shortcut is to write for a market wholesale — living that lifestyle, being that author and appealing to that audience. Your audience have such a choice that it is ‘easier’ for them to just go for what they expect. A female author for a female audience — now that makes sense.

In modern life we look for theses shortcuts everywhere, so it should be no surprise to us that author pull on a persona and write for an audience without necessarily being from that audience themselves.

Steven Thompson Author

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Author of David’s Goliath and InitiAl. I am here to help you write your novel. I give ideas and confidence in the writing process so you can tell your story.