The topic of writing is broad, and within these chapters we aim to cover as many parts of writing as possible; those important details that improve a story, as well as a writer's ability to tell it. We want to help you develop your characters, set t...
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A lot of different flowers make a bouquet. - Islamic Proverb
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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, socioeconomic status and religious beliefs, sexual orientation and gender identity, or a disability.
Not only does incorporating diversity 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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Writing 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.
