No one is innately an expert on stereotypes, either within their own identity or as an outsider. Proximity and membership do help, but they don’t automatically make you cognizant of the harmful ways people like you are depicted in the media.

Let’s learn how to identify and subvert modern iterations of stereotypes together.

You may have seen both "authenticity reading" and "sensitivity reading" thrown around blogs, social media posts, and other writing spaces, but what is the difference between the two, and which one do you need?

The deaf community is highly diverse it is therefore perhaps not surprising that it can be hard to find consensus about Deaf or deaf!

The simple fact is that we can never truly know what someone else’s life is like. This is true, of course, of literally anyone, but there is a greater risk of harm when you’re writing characters with marginalized identities that you don’t personally have. For that reason, I think you have a greater responsibility to do everything in your power to get it right.

Write the character as a person, not a diagnosis. We’re complicated, interesting, and main characters in our own right.

This isn’t a review of "American Fiction”. Instead, this post helps examine what we as writers and publishers can learn from this film that holds up a mirror to see the choices made when writing and publishing historically marginalized characters.

While their entire personality shouldn’t be dictated by their Autism symptoms, here’s some insight on how to describe an Autistic character.

"Should I even write this?" This series of open ended questions can help you determine if you should write that project.

From Jinn to Islamic principles, what to consider if you want to write Muslims in magical worlds.

As a writer with severe arthritis, productivity can be a struggle. These are the things I wish I’d known when I first started writing.

Now that you've received feedback from your sensitivity reader, this helpful guide can get from comments to revisions.

Here are three warning signs you can use to determine if you should “avoid that Black character.”

What does identity mean for biracial characters? Especially when how they look doesn't align with society's expectations.

Is your disabled character a fully realized person or simply a prop?

There's more to your nonbinary characters than pronouns and coming out stories. Read tips on how to write well-rounded nonbinary characters.

Let’s talk about some common horror cliches, how they are rooted in bigotry, and some tips on how to not perpetuate them.

A hijab is more than just a piece of cloth. Components of religion, culture, and agency must be considered when writing this character.

Here you are, writing the death scene for one of your marginalized characters. Have you considered the impact of this choice?

Do me a favor. Open up your manuscript and search for the word "dark." What do you notice? Are you using it literally as a physical descriptor? Figuratively, as a way to describe a mood or tone? Perhaps both? Are you noticing any trends, patterns, or maybe some problems with how you're using the word?

Sensitivity Readers from the Writing Diversely Directory shared their favorite #ownvoices books and why they love them.