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Women in Horror

11 February 2011 7 Comments

Although my (rather unpopular) opinion is that there are less women submitting to magazines and publishers for the horror genre, I don’t think they’re necessarily being hedged out or glass-ceiling’d. I firmly believe the same goes in reverse for say, the romance or erotica genres. Less men there…seemingly. *shrug*

My experience within the bounds of the horror genre, as an editor and publisher, are limited to say the least. I’ve only been working this field within the fringes of horror for about six years, I think (time loses meaning in New Bedlam). Prior to, I was focusing on non-fiction and the occasional paranormal/romantic/fantasy fiction. I formed my opinion based solely on my own experiences in various slush-piles, including those during my tenure at Apex and LBF Books/Lachesis Publishing. There were less submissions by women. However, at Apex – where the focus is science fiction and horror – there were significantly more than anywhere else I’ve read.

And within those, the women were far more likely to have believable science in their horror, rather than the men.

(I should be wearing asbestos lined undies for this, I just know it…)

In any event, the numbers are growing, slowly, but they are growing. The query ratio for horror submissions at Belfire is actually more women than men – but – only a two of those women actually then submitted their work for consideration, while ALL of the men did. TNBP and Necrotic Tissue seem to have similar numbers in their favor: one woman for every five men. Or so. These aren’t exact numbers because I’m not really focusing on who is submitting, I’m focusing on what is being submitted.

But you know what? There are a lot of us out there. I only listed five yesterday, and that really was just the tip of my personal horror goddess iceberg. And what about those that work behind the scenes, not just the writers? There are a lot of editors, too. Some do both.

Check these ladies out (in no particular order, but my lovies first! lol)…you won’t be disappointed. :)

Louise Bohmer – Tracy DeVore – Giovanna Lagana

Natalie L. Sin – Zoe E. Whitten – KV Taylor

Jaym Gates – Jezzy Wolfe – Damien Walters Grintalis

Ellen Datlow – Lisa Morton – Alethea Kontis

Monica O’Rourke – Deborah LeBlanc – Deb Kuhn

Kate Jonez – Michele Lee – Sarah Langan

Barbara Custer – Bailey Hunter – Yvonne Navarro

Lisa Manetti – Karen Koehler – Cinsaerae Santiago

And there are so many, many more… like all the ladies in Ladies of Horror coming soon from Library of Horror Press! ;)

7 Comments »

  • Cate Gardner said:

    “I don’t think they’re necessarily being hedged out or glass-ceiling’d.” YES. I have never felt my being a girl was a problem when submitting or querying etc etc. In fact, until recently, I never even considered it would be a problem. Heck, I’m sure 99% of the time it’s not.

    # 12 February 2011 at 2:24 am
  • Katey said:

    Thanks for the mention, darling! I agree with the glass ceiling point too. Right from the off I’ve felt just as welcome as I would’ve had my sex been unknown. I have been in situations at conferences where I was the only woman at the table, and occasionally that made me think twice–but I didn’t find it to be a boys club in the LEAST. Though the men who surrounded me were heavy hitters in some cases, I was always treated as an equal, and it seemed irrelevant that I was a woman.

    I do feel a certain surge of glee when I find a new woman in horror, of course. And from a slush-reader perspective, I’d really, really like to see more. But I think it’s going that way. :D

    # 12 February 2011 at 10:57 am
  • Damien Walters Grintalis said:

    Thank you very much for the mention! I think some of it is perception. I’ve had a family member tell me I was ‘too pretty to have such dark stuff” in my head. As far back as I can remember, I’ve loved grim and darkness. I read books based on the content of the work, not the gender of its author, but I know there are some who do judge a book by the curve, or lack thereof, of the author’s hips.

    And I suspect there are people who don’t think women can write convincing horror, because we’re just all sunshine and rose, don’t you know? To which I just shake my head.

    When I started sending work out into the world, I knew my traditionally masculine first name might make people think that I was a man. To combat that, I put Ms. in front of my name on submissions, not because I thought being a woman would be a hindrance (or a help), but because I prefer to get responses addressed to Ms. not Mr. Grintalis.

    If someone chooses not to read my work because of my gender, so be it. I can’t control the actions of others; I can only control my own.

    # 12 February 2011 at 11:43 am
  • JodiLee (author) said:

    Thanks for commenting ladies – and Katey, you are most welcome!

    I think there are a lot more women out there that are ready to ‘come out’ as a writer of horror. Even if they’re crossing or blending genres, I think it’s a step forward. Horror’s not dying – it’s just getting a new outfit. ;)

    # 12 February 2011 at 12:27 pm
  • JodiLee (author) said:

    You’re very welcome Damien! :)

    And a very good point – if someone chooses not to read a book because of the writer’s gender, that’s their loss. I hadn’t exactly thought of it from that perspective before… :)

    # 12 February 2011 at 2:53 pm
  • Natalie L. Sin said:

    I can honestly say, no one has ever made me feel like I have cooties ; )

    # 14 February 2011 at 2:25 pm
  • JodiLee (author) said:

    Nat – we’re too scared of you for that! ;)

    This is why I guess I don’t really understand the whole Women in Horror month stuff. No, we’re not as out there as the guys, but really are we being discriminated against? I don’t think so. *shrug*

    Let’s have a men without shirts in horror month. *nodnod*

    # 20 February 2011 at 10:08 pm