I’m a writer blog

Guidelines for writing Poems, Stories and Tales

How do I respectfully write black characters in a 1930s Arizona setting?

How do you write a racially diverse character?

Make ethnicity your character’s biggest attribute.



Don’t make your characters so bland (and unrealistic) that you stop at ethnicity. Give every one of your characters a full life so their experiences, past and present, can inform their desires, their motivations, and their behavior.

How do you respectfully write a POC character?

The Do’s of Writing People of Color: Describe Your Characters

  1. Physical descriptions – You can describe hair, skin tone, and facial features to create a picture for readers.
  2. Culture – Cultural elements can seamlessly indicate race.
  3. Social issues – What social issues directly affect the character?

Is it OK for a white author to write Black characters?

While people may argue that white authors shouldn’t write characters of color due to their limited understanding of their culture, doing so anyway can be beneficial, as it increases the much-needed representation of people of color in the media.

How do you write the main Black character?

Give Black characters the same psychological and moral complexity as white men are given by default. Make sure that you don’t write a Black character as happily subservient to a white character. Understand and show that you understand that Black characters don’t exist to be the caretakers of white characters.

What is the meaning of blackwashing?

Noun. blackwashing (uncountable) (derogatory) The revisionist portrayal of something as belonging to a black race of people. quotations ▼ The application of a coating of blackwash.

How do you describe a black character in a script?

You describe a black character in a script by bluntly describing their race. Example: A curious-looking black woman waved from the back of the crowd. This is the best way to let your future producers identify that the character you’re describing should be black.

How can we avoid stereotypes in writing?

As writers, we’ve all written to stereotype.



6 Ways to Avoid Character Cliches in Your Writing

  1. Focus on Your Character’s Origin Story.
  2. Go In Depth With Character Description.
  3. Give Your Characters a Range of Emotions.
  4. Give Your Character a Sense of Motivation.
  5. Give Your Character Fears and Flaws.
  6. Give Your Character Strengths.


Can I use POC in my essay?

People or Person of Color (POC)



The AP Stylebook does recognize the phrase people or person of color but does not approve the use of the abbreviated POC, although this phrasing is often used colloquially.

How do you describe skin tone in writing?

Some words to describe shade or tone:

  1. Light.
  2. Dark.
  3. Pale.
  4. Deep.
  5. Fair.
  6. Pallor.
  7. Ruddy.
  8. Rich.

How can a white person write diverse characters?

How to do it well — 7 do’s and don’ts to writing diverse characters

  1. Seek the feedback of sensitivity readers.
  2. Don’t be ambiguous about race and identities.
  3. Don’t compare people’s skin to coffee or any other food.
  4. Understand the difference between race and ethnicity.
  5. Don’t fall into savior narratives.

What are examples of racial diversity?

Race diversity



Race has to do with a person’s grouping based on physical traits (despite the dominant scientific view that race is a social construct and not biologically defined). Examples of races are Caucasian, African, Latino and Asian.

What are diverse characteristics?

Diversity refers to all of the ways in which people differ, including primary characteristics, such as age, race, gender, ethnicity, mental and physical abilities, and sexual orientation; and secondary characteristics, such as nationality, education, income, religion, work experience, language skills, geographic