Hey, everyone!
Last week, I made a video talking about gender in science fiction and fantasy, and how as authors, we can be more diverse with our characters by representing members of the LGBTQ community.
The week before that, I made a video talking about the need for racially diverse characters in fantasy and science fiction novels. It is a part of the “#WeNeedDiverseBooks” theme that I’m doing over the next few weeks. If you haven’t heard of this social media movement, go on twitter and do a search for it. You’ll see tons of conversations happening–conversations that are trying to change our books to better reflect the diverse creatures that human beings really are.
So yeah–there’s a big movement out there trying to bring more diverse characters to books. I am a part of it, and that’s why I wanted to make this video. When writing characters with mental illness, physical disability, or a mental disability, you need to make sure that you’re doing so in a way that isn’t ignorant. My book of short stories, Dysmorphia, is rooted strongly in these subjects, and I invite you to read it if you enjoy contemporary fiction.
In this video, I talk about the need to really connect with people about their experiences with disability and metal illness, and I give some examples of books and movies that I think represent these types of characters well. This subject is a really important one to me. I think that it’s our jobs, as creators of fantastic and improbable worlds, to make sure that we include space for all kinds of people–not just the people who traditionally appear in books.
If you’re looking for a more structured, instructional series about writing, why not try my podcast? I am not talking about the #WeNeedDiverseBooks subject there, but I certainly have a handful of other tips for being a better author and marketer!
Oh, and don’t forget to subscribe!
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