The reason it's thriving is because of gatekeepers. Authors are tired of the antiquated submissions process and agents saying they want diverse voices but not signing them. I say take out the middle man.
I used to love @potterybarn but never ordering from them again. I got chairs, a table top, but no pedestal. How do you lose something that weighs 110 pounds???
I've been trying to find an writer's agent to rep me for 10 years. Dedication is emotionally and mentally draining. Maybe I'm wasting my life, maybe it's just a matter of my work falling into the right hands but discouraged is definitely the word of the day. #writersoftwitter