Chocolat author Joanne Harris starting a hashtag on Monday called #ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear, with stories ranging from casual to blatant sexism she faces as a woman writer. The hashtag was quickly amplified by many female authors on Twitter, including V.E Schwab, Cheryl Strayed, and Jodi Picoult:

Premiere of CHOCOLAT. Famous (male) author pushes past me without a glance to congratulate my (male) publisher. #ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear — Joanne Harris (@Joannechocolat) April 17, 2017

“I’m so glad I didn’t know you were a woman. I never would have picked up your book.” #thingsonlywomenwritershear — Victoria/V.E. Schwab (@veschwab) April 18, 2017

peak mansplaining:

#ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear

Me: ::writes alternate history::

Dude: “Do you know how it REALLY happened tho? Very interesting, really…” — Cherie Priest (@cmpriest) April 18, 2017

because while wit in men is desirable, in women it is something to ‘handle’, yes?

I’ve got one, from after I gave a lecture: “How does your husband handle your wit?” #ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear — Joanne Freeman (@jbf1755) April 18, 2017

ah yes, “boy books”

“That’s not really a boy book.” —English teacher discussing novel with male narrator but written by lady.#ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear — gayle forman (@gayleforman) April 18, 2017

I thought scrolling through the hashtag was infuriating and distressful by itself, but meet the people who think this is “victim mentality” and uncalled for:

#ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear <– this is pure victim mentality — Krystle Schoonveld (@TarheelKrystle) April 18, 2017

Here’s a grant because you’re a girl #ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear — Ralf Lopios (@RalfLopios) April 18, 2017

“You do have a pretty strong social media following, so that’s a plus.”#ThingsOnlyWomenWritersHear pic.twitter.com/MshndRezyu — Aaron Ward (@drawnoraa) April 18, 2017

Dear book people on the internet, here’s the thing. When a group of people who have been there and done that tell you that they face a certain, rampant problem in publishing, and have been, their entire careers, you do not belittle their concerns. You do not label it as whining, you do not tell them that things like grants, meant to empower, are privileges. You do not try to convert their rage into something meaningless. I can guarantee you that women would absolutely love to not have to be at the receiving end of insults and harassment and underhanded snark.

Dear women who are criticizing this as victim mentality, you break my heart. Recognize the fact that in the case that you have not yourself faced any of these issues, you are one of few lucky, privileged souls. Your nationality, or race, perhaps, shields you from this ugliness. Listen to those who don’t have it this easy. Amplify their voices. Follow #WhatWoCWritersHear (started by L.L. McKinney, @ElleOnWords), because let’s face it, if white women are receiving comments that make them feel invalidated, women of colour have seen and heard worse from white literary agents and editors because the world is a garbage fire.

“Just self-publish, because writing brown characters is niche, and no one will buy that.”#WhatWoCWritersHear — Shveta શ્વેતા (@ShvetaThakrar) April 18, 2017

“That name is too hard to pronounce.” I didn’t know how to say Hermione for five fuck’n years. #WhatWoCWritersHear — L.L. McKinney (@ElleOnWords) April 18, 2017

“Why aren’t there more white characters in this book?”#WhatWoCWritersHear — Justina Ireland (@justinaireland) April 18, 2017

“Why can’t this take place in her OWN country?” #WhatWoCWritersHear — Mina Li (@CodenameMinaLi) April 18, 2017

“She’s Black and queer? Aren’t you afraid of including too much diversity?”#WhatWoCWritersHear — Justina Ireland (@justinaireland) April 18, 2017

Editor’s note: this post was updated to credit the creator of the #WhatWoCWritersHear hashtag