Hey, I saw your post about tagging white!reader and as a non POC I have a few questions about inclusive writings and I really hope I'm not intruding or annoying or so. If I apologize:
As a sign of embarrassment or flattery, is using "(Y/N) face/ears get hot" OK?
Writing anything with hair is not inclusive, like saying "(Y/N) put their hair out of their face with a certain hairdo"?
I'm really unsure regarding those subjects and I'm reading about it and try to educate myself to write my own fics as inclusive as possible, but I'm afraid as a non POC my fics always will be white coded
So sorry for the late response, but you’re not intruding or being annoying. Thank you for taking the time out to ask and learn how to be inclusive in your writing. I promise you it’s not really that hard.
Your first example is perfect. Instead of choosing to describe the physical act of changing a color, you just described the feeling. Other examples are, “you felt your entire body flush with warmth” or you can simply write “you looked (whichever direction —I like down) in embarrassment”. As long as you’re describing the feeling you’re on the right path.
Anything with hair, just maybe needs to be avoided if you’re describing it for the reader or keep it pretty vague. “A tired hand runs across your head” instead of “Running a tired hand through your hair”. Absolutely, no messy buns. That right there is not inclusive. I personally have a looser curl pattern and keep my hair silk pressed in the colder months (except I live in FL and there really aren’t that many cold months 😒). But even then I can’t achieve a messy bun. So just think of my fellow beautiful girlies that have tighter, natural curl patterns (think type 4). Or again, keep things vague and don’t go into heavy describing.
Now there are some non-POC authors that I follow who tries to be inclusive, and I can see that the effort is there. As long as you’re trying and taking advice without getting defensive then you’re on the right track. Like you coming to me and asking about trying to be more inclusive. We’re not asking you to be an expert at it, we just want you to try.