Two things happen when we never talk about certain body issues. One of them is a lack of understanding. Another is shame. For some reason, we avoid talking about perfectly normal, everyday bodily functions because they are “inappropriate,” when openly discussing them could remove stigmas and reduce shame. Here are five things we should start…
Each month, I feature an interview with an expert on how to write about a character with a chronic illness or disability that they struggle with. While I still recommend getting a sensitivity reader for your work, use these posts to consider how you can accurately portray disabled characters. Today’s feature is Fibromyalgia with Shelley…
I had an appointment with a specialist recently, but I could have been replaced by a blank wall, because she didn’t listen to anything I was saying. “I’ve been seeing a naturopath for almost a year, but the treatments haven’t been helping,” I said. “Well, it seems like you and your naturopath have those symptoms…
People look for themselves in the stories they watch, read, and hear. That’s why it’s been so exciting to see more people of colour, more females, and more sexual identities represented in books and TV. Similarly, people with disabilities and illnesses yearn to see themselves in their fictional heroes. Representation is important, but writers often…
