Eventually, though, he stopped being defensive and acknowledged something important. A few of his authors dropped out, as happens (see: any ficathon ever). And he turned to his friends to make up the difference. People he knew in the business. People he hung out with.

People who were all white men, just like him.

That’s a bias, one he hadn’t noticed until challenged on, and one that many people don’t notice. If I want something done, I, too, turn to my friends – most of whom are white women, with a slightly more racially, ethnically, and nationality-diverse group online. Of course anything I start is going to end up primarily run by Nice White Ladies Like Me – unless I actively work to do something about that.

And working like that is haaaaaaaard.