Writing Challenge Tuesday: Representation

So, for a small departure from my standard writing challenges, I wanted to pose one of a more broad quality. I talk usually about specifics - Doppelgängers or mirror universes, failure and success, that sort of thing for an established protagonist.

Last night, though, I got to talking about representation in writing with a fellow author friend. We were chatting about what makes good representation, what one has to do to achieve it, and how you make that leap. I know from my own experience that it’s easy to fall down (as I mentioned before with my ill-step concerning sex workers) but it matters how you approach it from there. It also matters how you go into a situation, and if you can see when you don’t have the perspective to be ultimately aware of how best to handle something.

So how do you handle representing something you yourself don’t identify as? Beta readers, research, talking to people? Those all sound good to me, but again, I don’t have all the answers. So for this week’s, I want you to answer my question: How would you go about writing something you aren’t? If you’re straight, how would you make sure to portray a gay character well? If you’re white, how would you check your work on portraying a POC character? I’m honestly interested to know, because there’s a lot of tips and hints on the internet for how to actually do it, but less on how to check yourself.

(Mind you, they exist, I just would prefer to engage with my own people and get feedback rather than rattle off a list. Trust me, I’m reading those too.)

So let me know. How do you make sure you’re portraying something you personally aren’t without being disrespectful, or feeding stereotypes, or giving a bad name? Who do you ask for help, and how do you ask them in a healthy and respectful way?

In case it’s not clear, this is more about the conversation than about ‘right’ answers. If this isn’t something you want to get into, I take no umbrage. See you all on Thursday for another Inspirations post!