The Wattys Boot Camp Mentorship Program is back for 2022! Did you write a story that you plan to submit to the Wattys? If the answer is yes, you've come to the right place. This program helps you prepare your submission to make it the best it can be...
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The world is diverse, and readers want to see that diversity reflected in the stories they read. This could be racial and ethnic diversity, as well as socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, gender identity, and varying levels of disability. Not only does it push us to tell unique stories with varied casts, it means more people will see their own experiences reflected in their favorite novels. That's not to say writing diverse characters is always easy, and many well-meaning authors can do more harm than good if they aren't careful. We're here to help you explore the process of including diverse characters in your stories and do it mindfully.
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How to Write Characters Who Don't Look or Live Like You
> Read and research - Read the stories that feature the types of diverse characters you want to write about, as well as the communities in which they live. And not just fiction stories, read up on the history of these communities, be they ethnic, racial, or religious. This is your character research, and it will allow you to write lifelike, multi-dimensional characters.
> Remove limitations - We want to create realistic characters, but in doing so, we don't want to limit who our characters can be. A character of the Muslim faith can be an opera singer, and a person with a disability can be a brilliant athlete. Storytellers have the opportunity to impact the world in a positive way, creating an uplifting representation of that group for others to learn from. And they can do this by simply including diverse characters who aren't limited by their particular identity.
> Consider their world - If your diverse characters live in a world that treats them poorly or restricts what they can say and do because of who they are, they will travel a harder path to achieve their goals, and their life will be different because of it. Don't forget the external forces that affect your diverse characters when taking them through their journey.
> Describe them thoughtfully - Create realistically diverse characters through subtle yet clear descriptions. While some authors take the route of keeping their characters' identities vague, readers appreciate character descriptions they can easily recognize. When you leave race and ethnicity open to interpretation, you reduce the power of your diverse character's story. This doesn't mean stereotyping, nor does it mean reminding the reader about a singular part of a character's identity, like the color of their skin. Simply mention these characteristics when they come up organically, and trust that your readers will register and remember them.
> Leave food out of it - Don't use food to describe your character's race. That means don't compare your Black character's skin to cocoa, nor your Indian character's to coffee or caramel. Many BIPOC communities find it fetishizing and dehumanizing. Instead, try basic and complex colors, undertones, or nature. For example: "She was tall and slim, her skin a smooth, sandy complexion."
