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- You can either write and seek feedback. Or
- You can research and then write.
Will say just write them as a person, but depending on the context (region, time period, systemic barriers) there will be different ways with how they must adapt to their environment
But typically done in a way that’s subtle and not a sledgehammer to the face sort of way; but also just make sure they’re not a walking checklist of stereotypes or cliches
Stay in your lane… but… write diverse characters.
I think there are books about “writing the other” if that might help.
I spent a long time in a diverse city, so I’m pretty comfortable writing characters that reflect my reality. But I can understand it feeling weird if your life experience is all in homogeneous neighborhoods.
Yes I agree. I've lived in an extremely diverse city for most of my life, so I guess I often take for granted the kind of insight it gives me into the many interesting layers of all the different cultures.
Do the research. Here's a great place to start:
People are people. Race or skin color doesn't matter.
That's why Martin Luther King famously said
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
Because seeing it the other way, that race or skin color defines someone, is racist.
Your current train of thought is running the wrong way.
You’re right I’m sorry. It’s just that I worry that people will think I’m writing my characters as talking white because I don’t want to write their dialogue in stereotypical ways
Now is a great opportunity to dig into what you think 'talking white' means!
Well that is entirely their problem and not yours.
There are no stereotypical ways if you just relax, and write your characters as people you need for your story. Your characters serve the story and plot first and foremost.
Whatever happened in the past 10 years to the discussion about racism and sexism, is heading the wrong direction.
What exactly is a character of race? 😂
People of ethnicity like black, Indian, all that jazz. I’m sorry if my wording is wrong
Your wording is so wrong I recommend you avoid writing human characters altogether.
But seriously.
The phrases “characters of race” and “people of ethnicity” are a perfect illustration of one of the most common racist (or at least ignorant) views encountered in both writing and everyday life: the idea that white people are the norm, like they’re the standard-issue human beings, while non-white people are not, by virtue of their race or ethnicity.
Race is a social construct blah blah blah. But c’mon, think about it, surely you realize that white people are also a race, and that every white person also has an ethnicity or ethnic origin.
So I’m saying all this with tongue half in cheek, because my own belief is that you should write whatever you want.
But if this was a real question and not a troll, I’d say the usual advice being offered here will not cut it, and that you have a serious, extra, remedial amount of actual learning and work to put in.
I probably sound mean, but I mean well.
You’re right, I’ve misspoke.
I see. Well, I personally personally try to base my characters off of people I know, and sometimes, I'm embarrassed to admit, off other characters I've enjoyed from media etc... my current series has a fairly important character who is an African American Jew, and he's based off the cat from red dwarf (one of my favourite characters of all time) so maybe that gives you something to go off. Maybe not, idunno 😆
I have similar issue with writing a female character. They suggested me: Write characters as a blob. Write background and thoughts of your character. Then work on them.
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