Doing Diversity in Writing

By Bethany A. Tucker & Mariëlle S. Smith

How do we write diverse characters in fiction? What are the do’s and don’ts of writing race, gender, ethnicity, class, sexuality, religion, origin, ability, age, appearance, and so on?

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FAQs about Doing Diversity in Writing:

How many episodes does Doing Diversity in Writing have?

The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.

Doing Diversity in Writing episodes:

February 10, 2023DDW - S3 Ep8 - Writing Non-binary Characters
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany and Mariëlle discuss the dos and don’ts of writing non-binary characters.

Here’s what we talk about:
- What non-binary means
How diverse the non-binary community is
How to handle characters who are questioning their gender identity
Pronouns and how to use them in our writing
Naming characters beyond the binary

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- “Tweens and teens explore the power of pronouns” by Matt Vilano: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/02/19/health/pronouns-guide-for-parents-wellness/
“How to Create Nonbinary Characters” by Jules: https://allwritealright.com/how-to-create-nonbinary-characters/
“Six tips for writing genderqueer and nonbinary characters” by Eris Young: https://www.scottishbooktrust.com/articles/6-tips-for-writing-genderqueer-and-nonbinary-characters
“How to Write Non-binary Characters: a three part guide” by D.N. Bryn: https://brynwrites.tumblr.com/post/190062852159/how-to-write-non-binary-characters-a-three-part
“How to Write Non-binary Characters: Part II” by D.N. Bryn: https://brynwrites.tumblr.com/post/190062852159/how-to-write-non-binary-characters-a-three-part
“How to Write Non-binary characters: Part III” by D.N. Bryn: https://www.dnbryn.com/2020/01/18/how-to-write-non-binary-characters-part-iii/
“List of nonbinary identities”: https://nonbinary.miraheze.org/wiki/List_of_nonbinary_identities
“List of uncommon nonbinary identities”: https://nonbinary.miraheze.org/wiki/List_of_uncommon_nonbinary_identities
The Love Language series by Reese Morrison: https://www.goodreads.com/series/288294-love-language
The Adelaide series by Mustang Rabbit, one of Bethany’s pen names: https://www.goodreads.com/series/301418-the-adelaide-series
Onesies and Ouijaboards by Jamie Sands: https://www.witchyfiction.com/books/onesies-and-ouijaboards
Sex Education: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt7767422
Supernatural: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0460681
Dialogue: The Art of Verbal Action for Page, Stage, and Screen by Robert McKee: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/27416067-dialogue

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2023/02/10/s3e8

For those who want to stay in touch, this is where you can find us:

Bethany:

Website: https://theartandscienceofwords.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100076459593900
Goodreads (Bethany A. Tucker): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20948950.Bethany_A_Tucker
Goodreads (as Mustang Rabbit): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20130552.Mustang_Rabbit
Goodreads (as Ciara Darren): https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8186590.Ciara_Darren
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theartandscienceofwords

Mariëlle:

Website: https://mswordsmith.nl
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mswordsmith
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18455235.Mari_lle_S_Smith
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mariellessmith
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariellessmith
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtnYOpjmj83mvMM2L348F1w
Diving into Writing podcast: https://divingintowriting.com/

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
1h 31min
February 07, 2023DDW - S3 Ep7 - Writing Trans Characters
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany and Mariëlle talk about how to write transgender characters.

Here’s what we discussed:
- Who gets to write trans characters
Which stereotypes and tropes to avoid
Other things to avoid when writing trans characters
The things we SHOULD be writing about when writing trans characters

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- “The Do’s and Don’ts of Writing Transgender Characters” by Alice Thomas: https://properz.medium.com/the-dos-and-don-ts-of-writing-transgender-characters-15ae8fbfab6b
- “How to Write About Trans People” by Eli Cugini: https://electricliterature.com/how-to-write-about-trans-people/
Quora forum: https://www.quora.com/What-should-a-cisgender-author-remember-to-take-into-account-when-writing-transgender-characters
“Writing Better Trans Characters” by Cheryl Morgan: http://strangehorizons.com/non-fiction/articles/writing-better-trans-characters/
“Writing Trans Characters” by Alex DiFrancesco: https://www.aerogrammestudio.com/2016/11/08/writing-trans-characters/
“How to Write Transgender Characters” by Michael Brewer-Berres: https://www.theodysseyonline.com/write-transgender-characters
“Before you write about a transgender character, read this” by Casey Plett: https://www.cbc.ca/arts/before-you-write-about-a-transgender-character-read-this-1.3919848
“Transgender People” in the GLAAD Media Reference Guide 11th Edition: https://www.glaad.org/reference/transgender
“Glossary of Terms: Transgender” in the GLAAD Media Reference Guide 11th Edition: https://www.glaad.org/reference/trans-terms
“Trans 101: glossary of trans words and how to use them” by Gender Minorities Aotearoa: https://genderminorities.com/glossary-transgender/
Disclosure: https://www.disclosurethemovie.com/about
Sense8: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431438/
Dreadnought by April Daniels: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30279514-dreadnought
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52339313-cemetery-boys
Silence of the Lambs: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102926
Tootsie: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084805
Mrs. Doubtfire: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107614
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston: https://www.caseymcquiston.com/red-white-royal-blue

This week’s episode page can be found here:
representationmatters.art/2023/02/08/s3e7

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get our Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
1h 18min
October 01, 2022 DDW - S3 Ep06 - Exploring Mental Health with Eric Mills
In this sixth episode of Season 3 of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany—Mariëlle is still on vacation—has guest clinical mental health counsellor Eric Mills on the show to discuss mental health. Together, Bethany and Eric explore mental health services, both as it might show up in our stories, and how we can help ourselves as we write. (The first half of this episode was previously published as a Part 1. This is the full and complete interview.)

Here’s what we talk about:
What professionals exists in mental health services and their different roles
Some modalities of therapy and what they are used for
How writers can keep therapy scenes simple for themselves
When would an author need to do more research to write a believable situation
How to recognize when we might be having a stress response to our own topics of writing
Some approaches to supporting ourselves when engaging in topics that carry personal trauma
What we need to do when writing topics other people close to us may not want us to be writing about

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
Please write to [email protected] if you’d like more information on equine therapy.
If you have more questions for Eric Mills, please also email the podcast at the above email and we’ll put you in touch.
Some terms that were used in this episode:
Clinical Psychologist
Psychiatrist (can subscribe medication)
Clinical Mental Health Counsellor
Clinical Social Worker
Equine Therapy (horse therapy)
Puppy Therapy
Play Therapy
Shame
Compassion Work
Eric Mills also quoted from Quanita Roberson. You can find more about her by searching your podcast app with her name. She has appeared as a guests on several different podcasts.

Promotions:
Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors/
Mariëlle’s Kickstarter starts October 10th! Follow it here! https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mswordsmith/grow-your-creative-mindset

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
2h 36min
September 05, 2022DDW - S3 Ep05 - Writing Men - Part II
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany and guest host Louvie Tucker talk about writing better male characters. This is the second part of a two-part episode on the topic.

Here’s what we talk about:
- Physical representation of male characters
Derogatory language often applied to men and how we might handle it in fiction
Representation in media that we’ve found encouraging
Touch and intimacy (primarily nonsexual)
Using name calling as world building and character communication

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- Tough by Terry Crews
The Mask of Masculinity by Lewis Howes
The Art of Manliness
White Rage by Carol Anderson
Reading biographies and memoirs in general.
Youtube Channel Writing with Jenna Moreci has two good videos on “10 Best Tips for Writing Male Characters”. We sincerely recommend her channel and these episodes in particular.
“How to Write a Damn Good Man” by Robert Wood: (this is the article quoted at the very end of the podcast recording) https://www.standoutbooks.com/writing-male-characters/

Films and novels we reference:
- The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
BBC’s Doctor Who (the current series)
BBC’s Sherlock series
The Visitor by Louvie Tucker
The Queen’s Enforcer by Ciara Darren

Find Louvie Tucker’s novel, The Visitor, here. Available in eBook and print form on Amazon, and as an eBook in most online stores.

This week’s episode page can be found here: ?????

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
2h 9min
July 31, 2022DDW - S3 Ep04 - Writing Men - Part 1
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, Bethany and guest host Louvie Tucker talk about writing better male characters. This is the first part of a two-part episode on the topic.

Here’s what we talk about:
- Masculinity in terms of definition
How class affects definitions of masculinity
Deconstructing arrogance, emotionality, and protective instincts assigned to male characters
Should we write all male characters with straightforward personalities?
The male character, lust, and ego
Making room in our stories for male characters who aren’t leaders or in search of power
The myth of the capable gentleman
The effects of wish fulfilment writing on men

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- May 10th, 2022 Video Tiktok by @marcusterritory “When I stopped identifying with the label ‘man’”: https://www.tiktok.com/@marcusterritory/video/7096216725351337222?is_copy_url=1&is_from_webapp=v1
“The Selfishness of Altruism” by Loretta G. Breuning: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/your-neurochemical-self/201604/the-selfishness-altruism
“Men and Things, Women and People: A Meta-Analysis of Sex Differences in Interests” by Rong Su et al.: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/38061313_Men_and_Things_Women_and_People_A_Meta-Analysis_of_Sex_Differences_in_Interests
“How to Write a Damn Good Man” by Robert Wood: https://www.standoutbooks.com/writing-male-characters/

Articles that we found problematic but useful for conversation:
- “How to Write a Male Character” by Josh Prior: https://www.jeuneauthors.com/post/how-to-write-a-male-character#:~:text=Even%20if%20you%27re%20writing,what%27s%20in%20it%20for%20him.
“On Writing Convincing Male Characters” by Randy Ingermanson: https://www.advancedfictionwriting.com/blog/2010/08/13/on-writing-convincing-male-characters/

Films and novels we reference:
- The Indiana Jones franchise
Gladiator starring Russel Crowe
The Lord of the Rings trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien
The Hunger Games series written by Suzanne Collins
John Wick 1, 2, & 3
The Visitor by Louvie Tucker
The Queen’s Enforcer by Ciara Darren

Find Louvie Tucker’s novel, The Visitor, here. Available in eBook and print form on Amazon, and as an eBook in most online stores.

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/07/31/s3e4/

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
2h 15min
June 30, 2022DDW - S3 Ep03 - Writing Women We Want to Read - Part 2
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—talk about writing better female characters. This is the second part of a two-part episode on the topic.

Here’s what we talk about:
- Words and descriptions to avoid when describing women
Words and description to deeply consider before using them
Gendered words to avoid or consider when writing about women
The ridiculous misconceptions there are about the female body and how to describe the body and bodily functions right
How the (male) author’s Point of View can skew descriptions and characterizations of female characters
Making sure your own POV won’t get in the way of your female characters’ POVs
Some final thoughts about the “strong female character” and how we should expand our definition of “strong”

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- “In response to boob plate” by Sam the Sword: https://samanthaswords.tumblr.com/post/62968403257/in-response-to-boob-plate
“Women are sharing how little the men in their lives know about reproduction” by Brittany Wong: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/women-are-sharing-how-little-the-men-in-their-lives-know-about-reproduction_l_627e8906e4b0eb0f0711cb80
Tweet by Sabrinafon about her ex boyfriend’s beliefs about periods: https://twitter.com/Sabrinafon/status/1521981744668454913
Alice Oseman’s work: https://aliceoseman.com/
Kana Akatsuki’s Violet Evergarden: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violet_Evergarden
“21 words we ONLY use to describe women” by Nadia Khan: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/21-words-we-use-only-describe-women-nadia-khan/
“Shrill, mumsy, bossy…” by Roshan McArthur: https://togetherband.org/blogs/news/words-that-describe-women
“11 words we need to stop using to describe women” by Suzannah Weiss: https://www.bustle.com/articles/150273-11-words-we-need-to-stop-using-to-describe-women-because-housewife-doesnt-capture-anyones-job
“Everyday misogyny: 122 subtly sexist words about women (and what to do about them) by thaliakr: http://sacraparental.com/2016/05/14/everyday-misogyny-122-subtly-sexist-words-women/
“7 words you should avoid using about women in the workplace” by Hayley Gleeson: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-01/words-you-should-avoid-using-about-women-in-the-workplace/7467848
“Don’t say I’m ‘dramatic’” by Jessica Bennett: https://www.bitchmedia.org/article/feminist-fight-club/almost-z-list-words-avoid-when-talking-about-women-sexist-language
“Half of Brits don’t know where the vagina is – and it’s not just the men” by Victoria Waldersee: https://yougov.co.uk/topics/health/articles-reports/2019/03/08/half-brits-dont-know-where-vagina-and-its-not-just
“I Don’t Want to Be the Strong Female Lead” by Brit Marling: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/opinion/sunday/brit-marling-women-movies.html
Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors/

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/06/30/s3e3

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
1h 16min
May 31, 2022DDW - S3 Ep 02 - Writing Women We Want to Read
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—talk about writing better female characters. This is the first part of a two-part episode on the topic.

Here’s what we talked about:
- That, in the US, women are estimated to buy 70–80% of fiction books
There are way more male than female leads in children’s books
That novels, on average and across the board, only have one female character to four male characters
But that many readers FEEL like there are way more female protagonists these days than there are male protagonists
That women writers also have a tendency to write male characters, and that women are not exempt from perpetuating problematic female representations
What kind of roles women tend to have in fiction
A selection of tropes to avoid or seriously consider when writing female characters
Some of the most persistent narrative structures that disempower and/or harm women
Why it is important to write female characters better, even if books with badly written women are selling well

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- “How many books per year do Americans read?” by Jamie Ballard: https://today.yougov.com/topics/lifestyle/articles-reports/2018/08/14/reading-books-men-women
“Gender in twentieth-century children’s books” by Janice McCabe: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241647875_Gender_in_Twentieth-Century_Children%27s_Books
“It’s a Man’s (Celluloid) World, Even in a Pandemic Year: Portrayals of Female Characters in the Top U.S. Films of 2021” by Dr. Martha M. Lauzen: https://womenintvfilm.sdsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2021-Its-a-Mans-Celluloid-World-Report.pdf
“Women Buy Fiction in Bulk and Publishers Take Notice” by Trip Gabriel: https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/17/business/women-buy-fiction-in-bulk-and-publishers-take-notice.html
“AI study finds that males are represented four times more than females in literature” by Maya Abu-Zahra: https://viterbischool.usc.edu/news/2022/04/ai-study-finds-that-males-are-represented-four-times-more-than-females-in-literature/
“Male leads in fiction sell 10 million more books on average than female leads” by Kelly Jensen: https://bookriot.com/male-leads-in-fiction/
“A new study shows that girls write fewer female characters as they get older” by Walker Caplan: https://lithub.com/a-new-study-shows-that-girls-write-fewer-female-characters-as-they-get-older/
RWBY TV Series: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3066242/
“The Problem with Female Protagonists” by Jo Eberhardt: https://writerunboxed.com/2016/08/06/the-problem-with-female-protagonists/
“Discussion Time: Why are there More Female Protagonists than Male?” by Beth: https://readingeverynight.wordpress.com/2017/11/04/discussion-time-why-are-there-more-female-protagonists-than-male/
7 Figure Fiction by T. Taylor: https://7figurefiction.com/
“It is time to kill the cool girl trope” by Raha Murtuza: https://thermtide.com/14279/popular/it-is-time-to-kill-the-cool-girl-trope/
Gone Girl – Cool Girl: https://youtu.be/0o4heKCLeTs
“Name That Trope: She’s hot! She’s cool! She’s one of the guys!” by Kelsey Wallace: https://www.bitchmedia.org/post/name-that-trope-the-super-hot-bro-girl
How to Write About Sexual Assault: An Incomplete Guide by Salt and Sage Books: https://www.amazon.com/How-Write-About-Sexual-Assault-ebook/dp/B08DHHN82D
Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Pérez: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41104077-invisible-women
How NOT to Write Female Characters by Lucy V. Hay: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41739262-how-not-to-write-female-characters
“10 MORE SEXIST Tropes in Science Fiction and Fantasy” by DZA: https://youtu.be/oiooafKkVMI
“I Don’t Want to Be the Strong Female Lead” by Brit Marling: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/07/opinion/sunday/brit-marling-women-movies.html
“10 Best Tips for Writing Strong Female Characters” by Writing with Jenna Moreci: https://youtu.be/nz88MxBtuqc
“How Not To Write Female Characters” by Kitty: http://impishidea.com/writing/how-not-to-write-female-characters
“How to Avoid Creating Female Character Stereotypes in Your Writing” by wikiHow and Lucy V. Hay: https://www.wikihow.com/Avoid-Creating-Female-Character-Stereotypes-in-Your-Writing
“Men Writing Women Characters – Never Make These Mistakes!” by Richie Billing: https://richiebilling.com/writing-tips/men-writing-women-5-mistakes-to-watch-out-for
“Men, Don’t Make these 6 Mistakes When You Write Female Characters” by Denisa Feathers: https://medium.com/the-brave-writer/men-dont-make-these-6-mistakes-when-you-write-female-characters-c3f98a5b5e54
Mariëlle’s 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: https://mswordsmith.nl/journal

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/05/31/s3e2

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
...more
1h 9min
May 01, 2022DDW - S3 Ep01 – How to Write Hair and Head Coverings
In this first episode of Season 3 of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—discuss how to write hair and head coverings.

Here’s what we talk about:
- That hair, hair care, and head coverings are often ethnically dictated and gendered
That there is no such thing as “ethnic” hair: we all have ethnicity!
How to describe different natural hair colors
How to describe different hair textures
Whether dreadlocks are cultural appropriation
Who wears wigs and weaves, and for what reason
That head coverings for men and women come into play in many ways that go beyond religion and what one’s culture dictates
How you can use descriptions of hair and head coverings to add layers to your POV characters

And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:
- “Untangling the Symbolism of Art History’s Most Famous Redheads” by Sarah Dotson: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-untangling-symbolism-art-historys-famous-redheads
“Seeing red: why we need to be sensitive about using the word ‘ginger’” by David Marsh: https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/jan/24/mind-your-language-red-hair
“3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Address Redheads As ‘Gingers’” by Kali Hanson: https://www.howtobearedhead.com/3-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-address-redheads-as-gingers
“Writing About Hair: The Thick and Thin of Descriptions” by Sharla Rae: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/writing-about-hair-the-thick-and-thin-of-descriptions
“The East Asian women + colored hair trope” by Jess: https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/post/101115852994/the-east-asian-women-colored-hair-trope-an
“The Ultimate Black & Natural Hair Glossary” by Joanna Samuels: https://afrocenchix.com/blogs/afrohair/the-ultimate-black-natural-hair-glossary
How to Write Black Characters by Salt and Sage Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087ZSJ9BN
“Dear white people with dreadlocks: Some things to consider” by Emanuella Grinberg: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/31/living/white-dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-feat/index.html
“Once in a Lifetime: The village of Huang Luo in China’s Guangxi Region is famous for the dramatically long hair worn by its female residents” by Linn Yaeger: https://www.vogue.com/projects/13548460/women-of-huang-luo-china-long-hair-tradition
“Niqab, How Does It Work? | THE BASICS, how to wear the niqab” by Niqabi Nextdoor: https://youtu.be/KAbsPFS8gus
“What are the differences between a niqab, a chador, an abaya, a burkha and a hijab?”: https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-a-niqab-a-chador-an-abaya-a-burkha-and-a-hijab
“Women’s safety clothing not fit for purpose” by Matthew Gunther: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/womens-safety-clothing-not-fit-for-purpose/1010138.article
“Employers Exposed When Women’s Safety Equipment Doesn’t Fit” by Fatima Hussein and Jaclyn Diaz: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/safety/employers-exposed-when-womens-safety-equipment-doesnt-fit
Tina from Glee: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327801/characters/nm3206118
Mako Mori from Pacific Rim: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/characters/nm0452860
GoGo Tomago from Big Hero 6: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/characters/nm1512166
Einayim Petukhoth or Eyes Wide Open: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424327
Unorthodox: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9815454
Crazy Rich Asians: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988
Steel Magnolias: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098384
Luke Cage: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322314
Barbershop: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303714
Coming to America: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094898
The Boondocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Mly_Zj6gg
Hair Love: https://youtu.be/kNw8V_Fkw28
Tamora Pierce’s work: https://www.tamora-pierce.net
Mulan: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762
V for Vendetta: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409
The Boys: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1190634
The Wolverine: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1430132
The Princess Diaries: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0247638
Jason Elliot’s An Unexpected Light: Travels in Afghanistan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Unexpected_Light
Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors/

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/04/30/s3e1

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
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1h 25min
April 07, 2022DDW - S2 Ep12 - Using Racial Slurs, Acknowledging Characters’ Racial History, and Other End of Season Thoughts
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—bring our season on Race and Ethnicity to an end by delving into some lingering some questions.

What we talked about
- If and how to use racial slurs in our writing
When and how to acknowledge our characters’ racial history
Whether authors are allowed to write POV characters belonging to a different community
Co-writing with BIPOC authors as a white author
The representation of Asian masculinity in Western media
Being accused of being too political when including a diverse cast in our books
How to make your cast more diverse when your characters aren’t human

(Re)sources mentioned on the show
- The Marvel Cinematic Universe: https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon: https://www.nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9376612
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528
Crazy Rich Asians: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988
Nora Phoenix’s White House Men series: https://noraphoenix.com/my-books/
Finding Nemo: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266543
Mariëlle’s 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: https://mswordsmith.nl/journal

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/04/07/s2e12

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Website: https://representationmatters.art
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
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1h 1min
March 31, 2022DDW S2 Ep11 – Writing Interracial and Intercultural relationships
In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—scratch the surface of an incredibly broad topic: writing interracial and intercultural relationships.

What we talked about
- That writing relationships between characters of different races and cultures is really not that different from writing relationships between characters who are not exactly the same for other reasons
Questions to ask yourself and things to keep in mind when crafting interracial and intercultural relationships in your writing
A ton of examples in which interracial and intercultural relationships are depicted well and convincingly

(Re)sources mentioned on the show
- Payne Erskin’s The Mountain Girl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11084308-the-mountain-girl
Disney’s Pocahontas: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114148
Stargate SG-1: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118480
The Karate Kid (1984): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538
The Karate Kid (2010): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076
Kim’s Convenience: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5912064
Bend It Like Beckham: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499
Blinded by the Light: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8266310
Sarfraz Mansoor’s Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion, and Rock N Roll: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V7U6LE
The Grand Budapest Hotel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388
Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give: https://angiethomas.com/the-hate-u-give
Benjamin Alire Saenz’s The Inexplicable Logic of My Life: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23447923-the-inexplicable-logic-of-my-life
Kim Dare’s Axel’s Pup: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21522467-axel-s-pup
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline
Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter series: https://shadowhunters.com
Never Have I Ever: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10062292
Bright: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5519340
Bridgerton: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790
Young Royals: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14664414
Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/03/29/s2e11

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires.

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36

Don’t forget, you can find us at https://representationmatters.art, on https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting, and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw
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1h 16min

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The podcast currently has 32 episodes available.