How the Evolution of Writing Might Lead to the Extinction of Gatekeepers

There are many paths to publication and we cover them all in this conversation (really!)

Walter Rhein

and

Courtney Sender

May 07, 2025

Transcript

Hello Friends!

This was a fantastic discussion about literary gatekeepers with

Courtney Sender

. We come at this topic from completely different angles. Our perspectives largely overlap, but I think I’m most delighted about the instances where we had differing viewpoints. Although, even in those cases there’s so much overlap that it might be the disagreement that’s the illusion.

I feel like I can go through this interview and write long articles on 5 or 6 important topics. These discussions often leave me feeling both inspired and exhausted. After Courtney speaks, I always have so many things I want to say that it takes all my mental energy to remember them all. Even then, I forget most of them (even when I try to write them down).

Ultimately, I think I’d like to see all writers feel more empowered to exert an influence on the literature we consume and how we feel about it (read and review independent books). I’m past the stage where I need validation from literary gatekeepers. I get my validation from all of you.

Courtney argued the position that gatekeepers are not necessarily visionaries, I posed the question that maybe they’re deliberately malicious. Please leave your opinion in the comment section below. This is the start of a larger conversation—we’re not done!

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this inside look into the realities of trying to write for a living. I appreciate conversations like this! I feel like it gave me some insight into new worlds that I have to explore.

Thank you

, and many others for tuning into my live video with

Courtney Sender