Unfortunately in recent years we’ve seen authors, editors and other literary professionals losing their livelihoods due to harassment and abuse. Then there are the constant headlines of booksellers and librarians hiding books from the public. We’re concerned this is damaging our collective reputation and has created an unhealthy working environment, one that stifles creative expression, and we’ve had enough. So, starting soon, we’ll be organising occasional non-virtual networking events in central London where you’ll be able to meet other literary and publishing professionals such as authors, booksellers, agents, editors, publishers and librarians. If you’re involved in the literary or publishing world and support our aims, then you’re welcome to come along.
Principles
- Freedom of Expression: We advocate for freedom of expression without harassment within the law in writing, production, publication, sales, lending, and all other aspects of the literary and publishing world.
- Intellectual Diversity: We believe that the literary and publishing world must support pluralism and should promote thoughtful engagement with a range of views. Organisations should not adopt institutional positions on contested issues.
- Civil Discourse: We encourage open, honest, courageous, and reasoned discussion of controversial ideas, inside and outside of organisations, in a spirit of having respect for people even when one does not necessarily respect their beliefs. We oppose harassment and discrimination against all literary and publishing professionals, including on the basis of their beliefs and lawful expression of their views. We support the right to protest and criticise but oppose attempts to obstruct the freedom of others to express their lawful views or hear others doing so.
Members of FLAPP are united only in our support for these founding principles. Supporting these principles does not necessarily imply support for any other position, including any issues of concern we may raise to campaign for. FLAPP seeks to promote free inquiry, including debate on the best way to promote the principles of literary and creative freedom.
What we do
- Visibility: By providing a place for London literary and publishing professionals to publicly endorse the principle of freedom of expression, we demonstrate the strength and breadth of support for freedom of expression within literary and publishing organisations.
- Social events: By holding non-virtual networking events, we make it easier for literary and publishing professionals who support freedom of expression to find each other and work together towards shared goals in their respective organisations, disciplines, and beyond.
- Knowledge development and sharing: We will develop resources to support literary and publishing professionals in influencing their organisations' policies and practices to promote freedom of expression. We will disseminate information and participate in consultations that relate to our mission.
Register now
If you agree with our principles, please join us by registering your support. You can choose whether your details appear on this website and can optionally request to receive our occasional newsletter.