This is a sensitive subject for me to admit because I wasn’t raised to make excuses. If I fail…the last thing I ever want is to say is, it’s because the system is rigged against me. Sounds like a cop-out, an excuse to make you feel better for your own lack of talent, determination, or ability.
But…now that it’s 2026 and becoming a best-seller isn’t my “everything” the way it used to be, I think it’s about time to speak up on an issue I’ve known for well over ten years.
With the exception of Non-Fiction Books (think self-help, biographies, books on religion, politics, and psychology, etc) the Book Publishing Industry favors Female Authors and is biased Against Men.
Some of you already know this, but there are those who don’t and those who deny it. I’m talking to those people.
Points Discussed:
- How is it Biased Against Men?
- Men Pretending to Be Female Authors
- Literary Agents – The Gatekeepers
- Most Literary Agents Are Liberals?
- Why Do Authors Need Literary Agents?
- Are Literary Agents Really Diverse and Inclusive?
- Would I Still Be Saying This If I Got Published?
- So then…Why do YOU Write?
- There’s an Untapped Audience of Readers:
How is it Biased Against Men?
Back when I first started my publishing career in 2012, almost every Agent’s “Wish-List” of stories they were looking for were about Women Issues (gynocentricism), or they wanted a story with a “Strong Female Character”.
But still…I didn’t say anything. I didn’t complain. I simply said, “Challenge Accepted,” and chose my next projects with the market’s demands in mind.
But year after year, it became obvious. You don’t want to believe what you’re seeing with your own eyes because…again, that’s not how I was raised.
In the above video, I have it queued up if you click on it, the speaker points out the imbalance in the industry.
He lists the winners of various top writing competition over the years and how most of them are women, all talking explicitly about women’s issues like pregnancy, intimacy, LGBTQ stuff, and intersectional identity politics…things most men really don’t care about.
It’s almost as if the industry is trying to say, “Books aren’t for you men! It’s for us women. This is our club, so go kick rocks!”
Men Pretending to Be Female Authors
In Serbia, there’s a guy named Miloš K. Ilić who apparently came to terms with this reality…and he more or less hired a woman to stand in for him under the name, “Ana Miloš,” a pseudonym to get his works published. And suddenly, he found success. (picture below is of both of them)
Now…right away, people can be quick to say this is nothing new.
Once upon a time we had authors like George Eliot, George Sand, and A.M. Bernard…who were all women but took on male pseudonyms to bypass gender discrimination in their own era.
But the thing is…no one is denying that this bias existed for Women. Anyone can look back in time and say, “Yes. That’s awful. That shouldn’t have happened. Women shouldn’t have had their works scoffed at just because they were women.”
Can we say that now? Are we allowed to? This video has well over 3,000 comments of people, men and women, authors and readers alike, all saying the same thing.
I think a lot of hopeful authors are afraid of speaking up about this because they risk shooting themselves in the foot and ruining the sliver of a chance they have at finding an agent.
And if it makes you feel better, one could argue that the Publishing Industry isn’t the only industry that’s dominated by one gender over another. Fashion favors women over men. Anime might favor men and we definitely know Hip Hop is biased against female rappers.
But when it comes to the Publishing Industry, this is one arena that should be more balanced among the genders because it relates to reading comprehension and education (as I’ll explain later).
If you go to Youtube, you’ll find some female Content Creators speaking up (albeit sardonically) on how “Men don’t like to read” or “They’re only interested in non-fiction” or “There aren’t any more male authors anymore” but none of them land on the crux of the problem.
Literary Agents – The Gatekeepers
If you walk into a Barnes and Noble and see nothing but female authors on the shelves…you could think, “Wow! It must be because women dominate the industry. They must be better writers with the best stories.”
But what if I told you that there are books out there by male authors with amazing stories…but there’s a group of people who just don’t want you to see it.
To be clear, I’m not saying that Men are better writers than Women. What I am saying is that, in the Publishing Industry, there’s a group of people whose jobs it is to pick and choose which books to promote to publishers so they can land in your local bookstores.
Those people are called Literary Agents. And from what I’ve seen, most Agents are not only women, they’re Liberal Women.
If you’re an agent, correct me if I’m wrong. I’d love to hear that you yourself are not liberal. And not just to come in saying, “I know plenty of conservative agents” just to discredit the point while you yourself are Liberal.
Most Literary Agents Are Liberals?
Why am I calling out the “Liberal” aspect?
Well…if you’re in a position to pick and choose what’s shown to the masses…in effect, you have the power to shape and influence culture. Let’s stop acting like what we see, read, and watch plays no part all in that.
If an Agent is all about prioritizing women, Feminism, DEI, and LGBTQ stuff, but someone pitches them a book about characters who act like traditional men and women with barely any left-leaning ideologies, that agent is likely going to pass on the book because it doesn’t fit the world they want to promote.
The obvious solution is to find a different agent, right? Problem is, as I said…most agents are Liberal.
“But Rock. It’s a business. It’s not the Agents’ fault that this is what Publishers are demanding.”
If Agents talked more about this issue and portrayed it as a serious problem that they wished they could change, I’d be right there next to them calling out the Publishers.
But from what I’ve seen, that’s not the case. Here’s an example of how one agent from a major agency describes what she’s looking for:
“She is particularly interested in representing a diversity of voices from around the world, and in fresh voices telling stories we haven’t heard before. She is fond of immigrant tales and stories concerned with race, sexuality, cross-cultural themes, and notions of identity.”
I’m not saying these stories shouldn’t be published…but if most agents are prioritizing this and rejecting anything that goes against “the message,” of course you’re going to get people speaking out against it.
“Why do you even need a Literary Agent? Didn’t you publish your own book a couple of years ago?”
Why Do Authors Need Literary Agents?
Fair question. For those who don’t know, allow me to share how it works. (fellow authors, feel free to correct me if I’m wrong)
First, a writer (male or female) writes a book/novel/story. They spend years polishing it in re-writes and editing until they have a completed “manuscript”.
From there, a writer can choose to go the route of self-publishing through channels like Amazon, which is what I’ve done in the past…
But if you really want to sell thousands of copies (instead of 50-ish to your friends and family)…then you need to get published traditionally like with one of the Big Fives: Penguin Random House, Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster.
There, you have a higher chance of getting a paid advance and there’s marketing funds invested in your project, which means more people will know it exists.
To get published through one of these Traditional Publishers, however…you need an agent, a Literary Agent, who vouches for your project and “represents” you to those publishers to handle negotiating contracts for the best book deal.
If you don’t have an agent, I’m not saying it’s impossible to get published…but it’s rare and highly unlikely (there’s usually nepotism or you already know someone in the game).
To be clear, I think we need these Gatekeepers. They serve a value, and I can be honest when I say, I’ve written plenty of books where I would’ve passed on myself because my prose was garbage, or my query was amateurish at best.
So, I don’t blame them for that.
What I blame them for…is the echo chamber. What do I mean?
Are Literary Agents Really Diverse and Inclusive?
Elephant in the room: A lot of people claim they’re diverse and inclusive, but they’re not. Below is an image of a “team” of Literary Agents from a top agency.
Some people think just because they associate with a wide range of races, ethnicities, and genders then they’re diverse and inclusive. But I’d argue that what they lack is diversity of thought…which is 10x more important when it comes to a story.
This is a problem because these individuals end up thinking their worldviews and opinions are 1) the only ones that matter, 2) are morally correct, and 3) anyone outside of their echo chamber is not just wrong, but evil, oppressive, and stupid.
And when you think like that, you feel justified in your bias. Because, hey…what you’re really doing is fighting against evil.
That’s not diverse and inclusive. That’s not “tolerance”. And I’m not saying a person NEEDs to be diverse and inclusive. But at the very least, stop claiming that you are.
This is a problem when it comes to the entertainment industry because when you live in that echo chamber, you assume everyone else in the country thinks like your group. Or worse, they think their established audience is the only audience that exists (or matters).
Thus, you get the same stories, the same themes, the same characters, and slush. They’ll gas-light you and claim it’s about money or doing what sells. But that’s only part of the truth and one they like to hide behind to conceal their own bias.
Really, it’s about the “MESSAGE” and a lack of courage when it comes to offending the “loud minority” at the risk of seeing what else is out there (which is why Youtubers are making bank right now and taking away Hollywood’s money)
How many times have people said, “Hollywood can’t come up with any new ideas” or “the Publishing industry is nothing but filth.”
It’s easy to blame writers if you think those are the only writers that exist.
But really…There are NEW STORIES. There are awesome characters you’ve never heard of. New perspectives that are still relatable, entertaining, and leaves a lasting impression, making you feel like you experienced something new.
“But, Rock! You can’t compare Hollywood to the Publishing industry. The two are different!”
Both promote and push stories. Fiction is the story business. Let’s move on.
Would I Still Be Saying This If I Got Published?
“This is crap, Rock. You’re just jaded and butt-hurt. I bet you wouldn’t be saying any of this if you do finally end up getting published.”
That’s fair criticism. Afterall, I can’t say that NO male authors are getting published. And if you must know…I have had a Literary Agent before (two of them).
So, if I do end up getting published and my books somehow become best-sellers, would I still have these opinions?
Yes! That’s the thing.
It’s sort of like how, I’m married now. It doesn’t change the fact that it took over 20 years since graduating. The mainstream and feminism has made it difficult for our dating culture. Those opinions still stand.
The same goes for my thoughts on the Publishing Industry. I’d feel fortunate and blessed to have made it, but it wouldn’t change my opinions on the journey.
“But Rock! What if an agent or publisher sees this essay!? What if they like your work, but they’re offended or see you as problematic, and this is the reason why no one will represent you?”
I’ve thought about that. I asked my wife, “Would you care if I never became a best-seller?”
She hugged me and said, “I only care that you stay a good person.” (for those who don’t know, to us, good and bad isn’t determined by humans, but by God through his Word the Bible)
Let’s be honest. Too many people have been bought out to shut up. Too many stay silent for fear of missing out, of losing what they have.
Ladies, think of the MeToo movement.
It’s great that perpetrators have been called out and held to account. But wouldn’t it have been better if the first victims spoke up and took action years ago even at the detriment of their own reputations and careers if it meant saving future victims from what they went through?
I’m not a victim, but I am a leader. This isn’t about me saying “HEY! It’s not fair! I want people to pity me!” This is about me encouraging other up and coming authors.
I’d tell them, “Hey man…you’re not crazy. What you’re seeing is actually happening exactly as you see it. They’ll say it’s just in your head or it’s because you’re no good. And maybe there’s some truth to that because there’s always room for improvement. But don’t take it personally when you see others getting published ahead of you.”
I’d tell the millions of young writers out there who have amazing stories to tell, “Yes, the odds may be stacked against you. Yes, others might want to see you fail and you’re striving to succeed in a world that doesn’t align with your traditional values and Christian worldview. But that’s alright. Challenge accepted!”
Seriously! Don’t let that stop you. Do your due diligence. Hone your craft. Play their game to win if you can. But never stop writing. Never stop getting better. And when you think it’s ready, when you’ve polished it up to be the best it can be, don’t wait too long to publish it yourself.
Remember the “main” reason why you’re doing it.
Notice, I said the MAIN reason. Money is great. Awards are awesome. Recognition is a beautiful thing. But that’s not the main reason why you write, is it? If it is, then yeah…you’re more or less a slave to the system and this video talks about the hazards associated with that.
The worse thing that can happen is you getting into a car accident, passing away, and no one would ever know that Shakespeare, Lord Byron, and Stan Lee had nothing on you. That you were better than them all.
“Is that why you write, Rock? Because you think you’re better than them all?”
So then…Why do YOU Write?
Because…it’s fun!
Seriously, my brain is wired differently because what others call work, I call fun. It’s simply the greatest thing in the world for me to fill pages with nothing but my imagination. It’s like I always say. Some of my best memories are the ones I created.
When I was a kid, I used to wish I had the power to show my brothers my dreams, the stories, the action and adventures I experienced every day. Books and screenplays allow me to do that.
And more than anything…
There’s an Untapped Audience of Readers:
What I’m about to say might embarrass myself (if I haven’t already) but when I was a kid…I used to hate reading in school. I was the worst in my class in Language Arts, Reading Comprehension and I barely passed 12-grade lit to graduate high school.
But notice how I said I hated reading… “in school”.
I actually loved reading stories that I was interested in, not just picture books…but the Clue Mysteries, thick volumes of the Iliad and Odyssey in 6th grade. And of course, I didn’t even know you could read good action choreography in books until I read Dale Furutani’s “Kill the Shogun” in 10th grade.
However, the “classics,” the poetry like Robert Frost, the stories that they made us read in school to test our literacy rate and reading comprehension skills…I thought they were boring. It felt like work to get through pages of stuff you don’t care about to reach what you really want to know.
If you go through the school system having been forced to read stories that were boring to you, about characters you don’t relate to, and powering through pages of flowery language in which nobody talks like that…yeah…you’re going to equate reading to work and shoo away from it.
There’s a lot of things wrong with Black Culture in the United States right now, but I truly believe my books and stories can truly change our literacy rate and intelligence by showing them faster paced stories, characters reacting honestly, with realistic dialogue, cinematic action, and dilemmas most people can relate to.
Literary Agents like to talk big about how they want “voices” we haven’t seen. How about we focus on readers we haven’t targeted yet?
And no…stories centered around Racism, Oppression, and Victimhood, isn’t targeting the Minority Audience because not all black people see themselves as victims.
Some of us grew up with strong male figures who taught us that not everybody’s gonna like us and that’s alright. We still persevere. We keep our heads up. We don’t bitch and moan. We fight for everything we got and strive to be the best, win or lose.
That’s why so many of us can relate to a character like Goku, regardless of our race and ethnicity.
Everybody’s different. I’m not saying the classics are bad. And believe it or not, I’m glad the Liberals and Feminists have their pick of books to grab from…but I’ll end it with this.
In 2023, when I self-published “The Perennial War of Paramours.”…one of my dad’s co-workers (a black middle-aged woman) saw it on his desk and took it upon herself to read it.
She called me from my dad’s phone and what she said about my book floored me:
“It’s so good! I feel like I’m really there. I really appreciate this because there aren’t a lot of good authors anymore. But this book is so good, I can’t put it down. I’m supposed to be at work, but I can’t help reading it. I can see this being some kind of movie!”
Stage In The Sky 