Diversity in writing: the No Excuses edition
Or rather, don’t let your fear keep you from writing diverse characters whose experiences are not your own.
From Superheroes in Full Color on Tumblr:
“I believe it’s okay to get cultural details wrong in your first draft. It’s okay if stereotypes emerge. It just means that your experience is limited, that you’re human.
Just make sure you iron them out before the final draft. Make sure you do your homework. Make sure your early readers include people who are a part of the culture you’re writing about. Make sure your editor has the insider knowledge to help you out. If they don’t, consider hiring a freelance editor who does.
Also, it’s okay if stereotypes emerge in the first drafts of your colleagues. Correct them – definitely correct them – but do so in a spirit of generosity. Remember how soul-wrenching the act of writing is, how much courage it took for that writer to put words down on a page.
…
Let your fear drive you to do your homework. But no matter what, don’t ever let your fear stop you.”
Author Gene Luen Yang on writing diverse characters
