Resource Library
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.
How to Avoid the Well-Meaning Microaggression
You have a character of color, a homosexual, and/or a gender fluid character in your story, is that enough? Well, no, and I suspect you know that or you wouldn't be on this blog. Since you've taken the step to be more inclusive in your writing, you've probably tried your best to avoid anything overtly offensive but it's important to think about microaggressions in your writing, as well.
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!
The White Savior Complex
The "White Man's Burden" referred to now as the White Savior Complex is when a white person swoops in to save the day of a non-white person in a way that seems altruistic but is based on the belief that only a white person could have helped.
Tips on Writing a Bigot
Writing a bigoted character needs to be done with special consideration for your marginalized readers. Here are some things to think about as you're planning and writing a bigot.
Avoiding a Trope: The Magical Negro & Friends
"The Magical Negro," a phrase made famous by Spike Lee and "The Noble Savage" are essentially side-kick characters included in a story to create the allusion of diversity, a token. There are some serious problems with this trope.
How to Write Characters of Color Without Using Stereotypes
Creating characters that belong to a different racial group than you are can be down-right difficult. In response to that apprehension I often see authors avoid it, they take the easy way out and you don't describe them at all, but is that what's best?
Coming Soon
Diverse Writing Prompt Group
This group is designed for any fiction writer looking to practice writing diversely without stereotypes or tokenism. You don’t have to be a particular identity or write a specific genre in order to join this group.
The prompts are designed to spark creativity and help members practice writing outside their identities with guidance and support from a sensitivity reader. Work is not to be critiqued.
The group meets virtually for 75 minutes, once a week for five weeks. At each meeting members will typically have two twenty minute rounds to write. Each round is followed by an optional opportunity to share.
Cost: $35