How to Write Authentic Diverse Fictional Characters
Especially if you’re not a diverse writer
Currently, there is a big push for diverse books, especially in children’s and YA fiction. We Need Diverse Books is a non-profit organization pushing for change within publishing. The movement champions fiction that reflects the lived experience of ALL young people.
As a school librarian and someone who identifies as disabled, I strongly believe in the need for diverse books. Every child has the right to see their life accurately reflected in literature. This belief is why I spend a lot of time curating my library collection with great care. Choosing Own Voices fiction makes my job easier.
Own Voices fiction — writers telling a story from their lived experience and identifying with the same minority group as their main character is also popular with readers and publishers.
Can non-diverse writers still write diverse characters?
Each side of the diversity writing argument has passionate people advocating for their point of view. But it boils down to two main streams of thought.
For some writers (and readers), the line is firmly drawn in the sand. For years minority groups have been poorly written, often stereotyped, and used in a token way. Appropriating the culture or lived experience of others denies underrepresented writers the chance to tell their own stories. This leaves no room for a writer with privilege to attempt to write about the other.
On the flip side of the argument is that all writers draw from their experience and others. There are no limitations on writing a character of the opposite gender — why is a diverse character any different? Isn’t this what writers do? They slip on their character’s shoes to tell a story. The key point is to make the character as accurate as possible.
So how do you get it right?
If you decide to write a diverse character, there are some pitfalls to avoid. There’s nothing worse than releasing your book and having it drown in a quicksand of bad reviews.
Emotions are the heart of every story
A vicarious reader all my life, I was fourteen when I discovered a biography written by another person with Cystic Fibrosis. It was a life-changing moment for me. In the many years since, for the most part, I’ve failed to recreate that experience. Although I have found many books with characters with Cystic Fibrosis, these characters remain the token sick person at best. At worst, they are flawed characters with their disability their only defining feature.
There have been a few exceptions. Characters I’ve been able to identify with, not because the medical details were correct — far from it — but because their emotions were on target.
Emotions are at the heart of every story. Pour your feelings and experience into every character you write. What it feels like to fall in love, to be scared, worried, and anxious. Emotions are universal.
Dara nods, biting her lip, to stop it from quivering. Fearless is no longer part of her vocabulary. Why didn’t she play it safe? Her stomach clenches like a vice, and she drops her eyes to the ground where she can see her reflection bounce off the shiny black leather heels the woman wears. — The Great Ned Head Heist (unpublished) by Sandi Parsons
Connect with your readers by engaging their emotions.
Sensitivity readers are essential.
Hire a sensitivity reader to assess your work. Sensitivity readers can point out where your manuscript flounders — the places where you have used hurtful language, made inaccurate claims or depictions. Nothing jars a reader out of a story more than a statement that contradicts their lived experience.
Informally you can seek readers by word of mouth — from within writing groups, community organizations, and even social media. While they may not have editing qualifications, lived experience is the most important aspect when choosing a sensitivity reader.
If you’re looking for a particular skill set, some online directories specialize in sensitivity readers:
- Editors {of Color}
- Firefly Creative Writing
- Sensitivity Reader Directory on Writing Diversely
- University Research Magazine Association
Just as important as gaining the perspective of a sensitivity reader is how you choose to react based on their comments. Comments that deal with facts (medical or historical) should be adjusted. Like any other feedback, if the advice on emotions or language gels, fix it. If you strongly disagree with the comments, seek another opinion. Lived experience of disability, race, culture, and sexual orientation /identity is different for everyone.
Have a reason for including your diverse character
Have a good reason for including a diverse character in your story. Don’t overstuff your fiction with diversity because that’s the buzzword in publishing.
If you include diverse characters, they need to earn their place.
No tropes or stereotypes
Never use tropes or stereotypes for diverse characters. Not only are they insensitive and insulting, but they are a sign of lazy writing.
My trope pet peeve for disability is Inspiration Porn. The character exists to tug on your heartstrings. Often their endearing quality is that they get out of bed each day and face life — aren’t they inspirational? It becomes a double banger if your disabled character teaches others how to live a better life through the goodness of their very existence.
Tropes exist for every type of diversity. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi explains, stereotyping has the potential to create a fixed mindset that leeches into everyday life.
Tropes limit your stories, limit the readers’ experience and create a fixed mindset about others.
Which leads directly into the next point …
Didactic texts go nowhere
Don’t be didactic. If the moral or point of your story slaps the reader in the face with a wet fish, they’re going to stop turning pages. A lack of turning pages is a death keel for your story.
Being overtly didactic never works well in fiction. Fiction exists to entertain. If you need to teach your readers (especially children) a lesson, you need to fold it into your story seamlessly skillfully. The story must always be king.
Nutshell thoughts
- Emotions are the core of every story. If your character's emotions are on target, they will forgive minor inaccuracies.
- Hire a sensitivity reader to assess your work and act on their advice.
- Have a good reason for including a diverse character in your story; they need to earn their place like every other character.
- Never use tropes or stereotypes for diverse characters. Not only are they insensitive and insulting, but they are a sign of lazy writing.
- Don’t be didactic. Instead, aim for a story well told.
