Doing Diversity in Writing

DDW - 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

DDW - 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

DDW - 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

DDW - 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

DDW - 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

DDW - 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 

DDW - 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

DDW - 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 

DDW 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

DDW - S2 Ep10 - Naming Our Fictional Characters

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—talk about naming our fictional characters. 

 

What we talked about

• General things to look out for when picking our characters’ names
• All the different aspects that might influence which names make sense for your characters
• Where to look for names
• How to verify whether these names are appropriate for your characters or not

(Re)sources mentioned on the show

• Think Baby Names: http://www.thinkbabynames.com
• Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com
• Behind the Surname: https://surnames.behindthename.com
• 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/2022/03/24/s2e10

 

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