As Library Shelves Empty, Let’s Shout Out Queer Books & Other Art!
A Prism & Pen writers prompt
In 2025, book censorship in the United States is rampant and common. Never before in the life of any living American have so many books been systematically removed from school libraries across the country. Never before have so many states passed laws or regulations to facilitate the banning of books, including bans on specific titles statewide. Never before have so many politicians sought to bully school leaders into censoring according to their ideological preferences, even threatening public funding to exact compliance. Never before has access to so many stories been stolen from so many children.
— from PEN America report, October 1, 2025
PEN America is an advocacy organization run by U.S. authors. Founded over 100 years ago, the group now delivers a dystopia warning. Never before have so many books been banned in so many libraries — school libraries and everyday public libraries.
When I was a closeted gay teenager, novels and texts on the shelves of my high school library helped me understand myself, reject religious condemnation, and even escape conversion therapy. My high school sat smack in the middle of the Bible Belt, but we were nonetheless presumed to have a RIGHT to read books on all subjects — from diverse political and religious perspectives.
This is not the case today in many (possible MOST) schools and public libraries, where religious and political conservatives have normalized censorship. Books by and about queer people are vanishing fast, and as PEN America points out, many librarians have stopped trying to acquire such books.
As Library Shelves Empty, Let’s Shout Out Queer Books & Other Art!
That’s our new Prism & Pen writing prompt. Here are some specific writing ideas:
- What books helped influence and shape YOU? How? Got a story?
- What books do you want to recommend? Let’s see your reading list!
- What about toxic effects of book bans? Got a story to share about how a book ban harmed you, a family member, or a friend?
And don’t forget other expressive art! Let’s write about film, comic books, and television too, about storytelling in general — about the positive effects and/or the poison resulting from censorship.
As Library Shelves Empty, Let’s Shout Out Queer Books & Other Art!
Remember, this prompt is for you. Write anything you like about queer storytelling, whether I’ve suggested it or not. Overturn expectations!
For writers outside the U.S. this prompt is as much for you. Pressure to ban books is widespread, after all, not limited to Trumplandia.
And please remember, while our prompts are issued primarily for queer people, we welcome (and love!) stories from family, friends, and other allies. Today, we solicit stories about queer books and other storytelling art FROM ANYONE, queer or not.
You tell your stories, we’ll help you share them.
Please send in your essays, poems, short fiction, memoir, or history. Don’t forget film, TV, literature and other art reviews.
If you’ve not yet written for P&P, here are our Brand New™ submission guidelines:
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