Should Authors Write Characters Different From Themselves?

Discussions of diversity in literature, media, and narrative often boil down to a version of this basic question: Should white creators write characters of color? Should cisgender creators write trans characters? Should abled creators write characters with disabilities? Should heterosexual creators write LGBTQIA+ characters? The list goes on.

Though framed as a yes or no question, the answer is complicated and complex. Yet it’s the same one for every permutation that gets asked. In this webinar, authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford will give you the answer.

In this webinar you'll learn...

• Why representation is important for all creators of narratives.

• The effects of bad representation on minority and marginalized groups and people.

• How to avoid harmful representation while also staying in your lane.

• What to do if you get it wrong (and how to avoid social media pile-ons).

The webinar is appropriate for all writers (fiction, plays, comics, TV, movie, and games included) from all backgrounds and any skill level.

This video is not only for white writers, or cis writers, or men, it is for any writer who wants to take steps toward writing more inclusive, representational narratives.

Accessibility: Both videos include closed captions and there are transcripts included in the downloads.