Recognition is an important thing. And two projects are addressing gaps in recognition of two groups of writers – that is two groups that aren’t white straight males.

The first one is a current hot topic; the invisibility of women in SF.  In a positive response Ian Sales has launched - SF Mistressworks Project and it’s aim? Well…

…I am hoping this blog will comprise reviews of sf books by women writers, reviewed by divers hands (yes, volunteers needed!), sf books which are as good as, if not better, than those by male writers which appear in Gollancz’s SF Masterworks series. This site, it is hoped, will be a resource dedicated to books by women sf writers.

They always say in writing it’s better to show and don’t tell and I think that holds true here. I’m looking forward to seeing this project grow and to read some of the books.

The second one I’ve mentioned recently: The Green Carnation Prize – a prize to promote and celebrate the best of LGBT writing in 2011.

The 6th June starts the 3 months of build up to the longlist on the blog, which I’m helping out with, and with luck not only will there be interviews with the judges but also recommendations of earlier works that would have been included in shortlists past if thee prize was around.

The  key dates are:

• Longlist 2011 Announced – 1st September 2010
• Shortlist 2011 Announced – 1st November 2010
• Winner 2011 Announced – 1st of December (to coincide with World Aids Day)

There are still gaps. Novels in translation especially SFF novels. Crime from the EU is gaining momentum  but I don’t see much of any genre from outside the EU. Also non-white writing is still a gap but hopefully these projects are just the beginning of wider awareness of the diverseness of writing available as well as were publishers are missing a trick by not brining these types of books to the masses.