Doing Diversity in Writing

Doing Diversity in Writing

By Bethany A. Tucker & Mariëlle S. SmithSociety & CultureArtsBooksFiction
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Doing Diversity in Writing episodes

  • Season 1 - Episode 2 – Diversity and Representation in Fiction

    Episode 2 – Diversity and representation in fiction

    In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—explain why a conversation about diversity and representation in fiction is necessary. 

    We also talk about: 

      • the fact some characters are overrepresented while others are severely underrepresented in fiction
  • positive, and less positive, examples from our childhood and adult reading 
    • Mariëlle’s #ownvoices project My Voice, My Story
  • some of the reasons our literary canon is the way it is, even though things are slowly changing
  • how representing diverse characters is not just about quantity, it’s also about the quality of those representations

    • Some quotes from this week’s episode:

    “It’s about being able to recognize yourself in the people around you, whether you meet them on the page, on the screen, in the park.”

     

    “Are there no books that made you open your mind to something or turned your whole world upside down? Stories that made you feel understood, that made you feel less alone, that helped you keep going when you didn’t know how to?”

     

    “Not seeing something can create a void, but if we do see something and that something is a negative or highly stereotypical, then there we have another problem.”

     

    Here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:

    • Brené Brown interviews Gabby Rivera: https://brenebrown.com/podcast/brene-with-gabby-rivera-on-superheroes-storytelling-and-joy-as-resistance
  • The “Are you a princess of Wakanda?” article: https://www.lovewhatmatters.com/are-you-a-princess-of-wakanda-her-eyes-grew-so-big-i-crossed-my-arms-over-my-chest-chadwick-boseman-black-panther
  • Mariëlle’s My Voice, My Story anthologies: https://mswordsmith.nl/anthologies
  • Ash Roberts’s website: https://ashrobertsdragoneer.com
  • and all the places you can purchase Ash’s book Royal Dragon: https://books2read.com/royaldragon

    • And you can find this week’s bonus material here: https://representationmatters.art/2021/10/07/episode2/

    To be the first to know when our next episode drops, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8

     

    1 hr 35 min
  • Season 1 Episode 1 - Introduction

    In this first episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany A. Tucker and Mariëlle S. Smith—talk about why we started this podcast, what our goals are for the show, and what topics we will be discussing in our first season and beyond.  

     

    We also talk about: 

     

    • who this podcast is for—fiction writers wanting to write characters who aren’t like them in one or multiple ways
  • our personal experiences with diversity and how these influenced both our writing and editing 
  • why we need to have a conversation about writing diversity in fiction
  • why we believe anyone can write about diverse characters
  • the privilege of not having to care about diversity and why this is exactly why you should take up your pen and join the cause
  • how our podcast will help you work through any fears around writing diverse characters you may have

    • And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:

    • You can find our website at https://representationmatters.art
  • You can find Bethany’s Edit Your Novel’s Structure (the brilliant book that made Mariëlle want to work with her on diversity and representation) at https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors
  • The Minorities in Publishing podcast can be found at https://www.jennifernbaker.com/podcast
  • 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 

    •  

    To be the first to know when our next episode drops, subscribe to our newsletter here: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 

    46 min

About Doing Diversity in Writing

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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?