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Using Memoir to Inform Fiction Writing

The Rules of Minimizing Marginalized Identities

Renee Harleston

Jun 13, 2018
3 min

The Rules of Minimizing Marginalized Identities

Once I worked with an author who intentionally veiled the race of several of her characters. She thought she was being clever. To her having no race means the reader could just see them as human beings and not be categorized. She had good intentions but I advised against it. But it wasn't the first time I've had to field the question, Does this character's race really matter? If you're wrestling with the question regarding race, sexuality, or any other identity keep these th

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Don't Forget Privilege

Renee Harleston

May 27, 2018
3 min

Don't Forget Privilege

Recently I've sensitivity read manuscripts and I've been noticed characters with unacknowledged privilege and it needs to be addressed. Privilege extends far beyond the advantages of being a "straight white male." Class, able-bodiedness, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, and so many more categories can be areas where people benefit from privilege. It's important for writers to understand and address privilege in their stories because literature is as a mirror

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Accents & Dialects: How to Write Characters of Color Without Using Stereotypes Part 2

Renee Harleston

Feb 10, 2018
3 min

Accents & Dialects: How to Write Characters of Color Without Using Stereotypes Part 2

Authentic character voice can really propel your story from good to great but things can get complicated if your character has an accent or would speak in dialect, especially if you're writing something outside of what you're familiar with. You want your character's voice to be realistic but you don't want to offend anyone by getting it wrong either. So how do you write accents and dialect that won't make your readers cringe? Be honest, does your character really have to tal

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Tips on Writing Authentic Characters

Renee Harleston

Jan 21, 2018
3 min

Tips on Writing Authentic Characters

I conducted a poll on twitter (follow me!) to try to understand what authors are the most concerned about when they're writing characters outside of their own identities. More than half of the voters said "overall authenticity" concerned them the most so I want to address what authenticity is and what steps you can take to make sure your characters are authentic to your readers. Authenticity is tricky, even if you share the same identity with your character, and even harder

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Honest and Diverse Queer Character Writing

Dec 17, 2017
4 min

Honest and Diverse Queer Character Writing

Note from Renee: This is a guest blog by my very good friend, social worker, and queer activist Nathaniel Gray. I invited him to write a post because it is important for Writing Diversely to be inclusive of all types of diversity, I am not LGBTQ+, and I believe giving fellow marginalized people voice. He was and still is my level headed, open-hearted, and empathetic teacher and advisor about LGBTQ+ matters. I hope you enjoy! Honest and Diverse Queer Character Writing I’m so e

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History Always Matters