Writing character diversity - resources

[Ashkuri]

Representation/Diversity can be a charged issue when it comes to writing characters, both in fiction in general and in this hobby. Some people never write outside their own experience, due to comfort levels or for fear of getting it wrong. Some people do write characters from a background different to their own, and that either goes well – and adds something to the game imo – or is uh… reductive and problematic. To say the least.

Writing the Other is maybe 20 years old at this point but it’s useful and fairly inexpensive if you’re interested in digging into this stuff.

They also have a number of articles and essays and other resources on the site, some of which are free and some of which are paid webinars and stuff.

Worth looking into if this subject is something that interests you!

[Roz]

I’ve had this post bookmarked for a long time: Writing with Color.

[Gashlycrumb]

Soooo… can we have story hour?

Back in the early 1990’s I played a Jewish character and made some comedic mistakes about traditional Jewish weddings.

The guy who played Blaze the infamous gay werewolf played gay characters who almost certainly would have been offensive in the hands of a straight player. But by and large I’ve not encounted badly done MU characters who belong to demographics I share. How about you?

[Pavel]

When it comes to writing, I’ve always held that one can write whatever kind of character they want, but they cannot write whatever kind of story they want. A straight person can write a gay character, for instance, but can’t tell a gay story as they lack the kind of lived experience and personal connection that lends authenticity to those stories.

Translating that to MUing, though, is tricky.

[Faraday]

@Pavel said in Writing character diversity - resources:

as they lack the kind of lived experience and personal connection that lends authenticity to those stories.

While I agree that experience and personal connection can deepen a story, I don’t think it’s a prerequisite to authenticity. Imagination is central to writing. There have been plenty of compelling stories of people with differing genders, ages, cultures, etc. as the author. Even non-human characters.

Whether an author should attempt to tell a diverse story not their own is a touchier question, and not one that I feel has an easy answer.

[Pavel]

@Faraday said in Writing character diversity - resources:

I don’t think it’s a prerequisite to authenticity

And I disagree, which is fine. Though I imagine it depends on how we define authenticity. A story being compelling isn’t the same as a story being authentic, for instance.

ETA: We could have this discussion for months, but as it applies to MUing I’d say simply that one should be careful they aren’t using their diverse character to speak over, or for, the people said character represents.

[Faraday]

@Pavel said in Writing character diversity - resources:

Though I imagine it depends on how we define authenticity.

Totally. For me it just means that readers from that group would generally feel that it captures the essence of their experience. Which, of course, is not a guarantee even if the person writing the story IS from the group in question, because humans have differing experiences. I’ve seen it done in groups that I am a part of, but it’s certainly hard. I agree with you that it should be done with caution.

[Pavel]

@Faraday said in Writing character diversity - resources:

because humans have differing experiences

Nuh uh! All sub-categories of people are monoliths, and each individual is an exemplar.