Stories help us understand our history, ourselves and each other. They not only preserve culture, but shape our conception of the world. They exercise our imaginations and encourage us to see life through different perspectives than our own. That’s why diversity in fiction and media is so important! Diversity encourages us to accept others who…
In the best ways, this book reminded me of Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series. But it does something new with its African inspirations and characters. The orishas are spirits, numbering in the hundreds, that play important roles in several West African religions. In The Gatekeeper’s Staff, every magic user is aligned with a…
I’ve been really enjoying stories set in patriarchal societies lately. Not because I enjoy the patriarchy, but because I appreciate reading about strong women rising up against it. Deka lives in an oppressive world—one in which you’re judged “pure” if your blood runs red and “impure” if it runs gold. And, of course, you can…
Here on the blog, I feature interviews with an expert on how to write about a character with a chronic illness or disability that they struggle with. See a list of all the interviews here! While I still recommend getting a sensitivity reader for your work, use these posts to consider how you can accurately…
Struggling to diversify your characters?
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