Noah asked Mary Robinette Kowal:

Do you have advice on how to include diversity in one's works without screwing up or unintentionally having a ton of cultural appropriation?

Mary Robinette Kowal I have a ton of advice, but I'm going to limit it to one thing or I'd be writing for days.

People will tell you to do your research. That's true. But while doing that it is incredibly important to read work written by your target group for your target group. We all have short hand, jargon, and in-group conversations that we don't have with people who are out of group. Like when you say, "Inconceivable" and someone responds with "I do not think..." you know that person is part of your group.

So-- if you want to write about a group to which you do not belong it's important to read fiction and non-fiction that they are writing for themselves. It's also important, when writing historical works, to also read commentary written in the present day so you know what the current conversation is, which will help avoid 101 mistakes.

Finally... you're going to screw up. Cultures are made up of individuals. Every individual will react differently. So will have different perceptions of what is "right." You just need to accept that you will make mistakes, and accept responsibility for that. When you are called out on a mistake, own it, apologize for it, and don't make it again.

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