Resources for Writing the “Other”
With May being AAPI Heritage Month (and this Friday’s World Day for Cultural Diversity) it’s a good opportunity to bring up a real challenge for writers – writing the Other. “Other” can be anyone whose identity you don’t share, whether through gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, race, age, disability, etc. Writers have come under much more scrutiny these last few years in their attempts to create a diverse cast of characters in their work, and with good reason: while representation is important, equally important is accurate representation that avoids stereotypes. This is especially true for marginalized populations who historically have not only been under-represented but misrepresented in many ways.
If you are writing #ownvoices and are part of the group you are writing about, then you are considered to have the authority to write about them, even if you do not, obviously, represent all possible views or experiences of the group in question. However, you still have to be careful – I recently read a review of a fantasy book that seemed to take inspiration from a mishmash of “Asian” cultures, and although it was written by an Asian-American, the reviewer questioned whether that gave them the right to plunder all Asian cultures. To be fair, I’ve never heard of a European-descended writer being accused of the same in regards to European cultures (although some Russian readers criticized Leigh Bardugo’s use of Russian motifs in her Grisha series). Yes, even when you are writing fantasy, you have to be careful whose cultures you use as a template.
Note, this has been different in the past – many fantasy authors have taken inspiration from other world cultures, and it’s rather a murky area. Who is to say where the lines are drawn between the inspiring culture and the world drawn up by the author? You can, to some extent, get away with, “well, this is how things are in my world.” But still, if there are recognizable elements, it pays to be aware of how you are using them.
In realistic fiction, however, you have to be accurate. If you don’t want to people your books entirely with those who are exactly like you, you must avoid tacking on identity markers just for diversity’s sake. Even for minor characters, you have to beware of stereotypes or errors that someone from that identity would instantly recognize as false.
So what is a sensitive writer to do, to avoid making a mistake that could at best result in never getting published or at worst, destroy your career? (Even well-known authors are not immune – if I were to go into all the authors who have gotten in trouble for misrepresentation, this post would be a lot longer).
Below are some resources that may be helpful:
Writing the Other: A Practical Approach – Nisi Shawl and Cynthis Ward. This book is an excellent introduction to writing different characters with skill and sensitivity. Includes exercises that are useful for teachers of writing as well as writers themselves. There is also a website, https://writingtheother.com, that offers classes, articles, and other resources.
How to Write Black Characters: An Incomplete Guide – Salt and Sage Books. I haven’t read this one, but it seems to be getting a lot of good reviews, and https://www.saltandsagebooks.com is a hub for writers who are seeking sensitivity readers, editors, and other professional writing services.
Sensitivity readers can be important to help writers ensure that they are representing any characters accurately. They should be someone from that group who can read your book and point out inaccuracies and stereotypes. Of course, if you have a character with intersecting marginalized identities, you will need multiple types of readers (e.g., a character who is Black/gay/disabled; one who is trans/neurodivergent; a woman who is from Mexico – not “Hispanic” – and first-generation immigrant who has a child with cerebral palsy). How many should you use? Ideally, at least two or three, since opinions will vary. In addition to Salt and Sage above, there are:
Quiet House Editing – editorial and sensitivity reading services
WritingDiversely.com – lots of resources on writing diversity
Editors of Color has a database of sensitivity readers from a variety of backgrounds
Sites such as Fiverr and Upwork also have readers for hire. And of course, if you know someone personally, that can be ideal, as long as they are willing to give you honest critique.
You can also reach out to professional, support, and other groups where people from the groups you are writing about may be represented. Whoever you approach, it’s important, of course, to explain what you are writing about and why, and that you are seeking sensitivity readers out of respect for their experiences. You may have specific questions, or you may want a general reading where the person points out anything they feel may be inaccurate or harmful.
You should expect to pay for their services. Some may decline payment, but generally speaking professionals may charge $30-60 per hour or more.
Naturally, you could hire 20 diversity readers and they may have different opinions on what is problematic or not. People are individuals, after all, and not merely cardboard identity cutouts. In that case, you will have to go with your gut. But in this day and age, there is no excuse for misrepresenting characters whose backgrounds and experiences differ from your own. By all means, include a cast of characters that represent the world around us, but make sure you do your due diligence in representing them accurately.
