Doing Diversity in Writing Bethany A. Tucker & Mariëlle S. Smith

In this first episode of Season 3 of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—discuss how to write hair and head coverings.  

 

Here’s what we talk about:

That hair, hair care, and head coverings are often ethnically dictated and gendered
That there is no such thing as “ethnic” hair: we all have ethnicity!
How to describe different natural hair colors
How to describe different hair textures
Whether dreadlocks are cultural appropriation
Who wears wigs and weaves, and for what reason
That head coverings for men and women come into play in many ways that go beyond religion and what one’s culture dictates 
How you can use descriptions of hair and head coverings to add layers to your POV characters 



And here are the (re)sources we mentioned on the show:

“Untangling the Symbolism of Art History’s Most Famous Redheads” by Sarah Dotson: https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-untangling-symbolism-art-historys-famous-redheads 
“Seeing red: why we need to be sensitive about using the word ‘ginger’” by David Marsh: https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/jan/24/mind-your-language-red-hair 
“3 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Address Redheads As ‘Gingers’” by Kali Hanson: https://www.howtobearedhead.com/3-reasons-why-you-shouldnt-address-redheads-as-gingers 
“Writing About Hair: The Thick and Thin of Descriptions” by Sharla Rae: https://writersinthestormblog.com/2014/07/writing-about-hair-the-thick-and-thin-of-descriptions 
“The East Asian women + colored hair trope” by Jess: https://writingwithcolor.tumblr.com/post/101115852994/the-east-asian-women-colored-hair-trope-an 
“The Ultimate Black & Natural Hair Glossary” by Joanna Samuels: https://afrocenchix.com/blogs/afrohair/the-ultimate-black-natural-hair-glossary 
How to Write Black Characters by Salt and Sage Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B087ZSJ9BN 
“Dear white people with dreadlocks: Some things to consider” by Emanuella Grinberg: https://edition.cnn.com/2016/03/31/living/white-dreadlocks-cultural-appropriation-feat/index.html 
“Once in a Lifetime: The village of Huang Luo in China’s Guangxi Region is famous for the dramatically long hair worn by its female residents” by Linn Yaeger: https://www.vogue.com/projects/13548460/women-of-huang-luo-china-long-hair-tradition 
“Niqab, How Does It Work? | THE BASICS, how to wear the niqab” by Niqabi Nextdoor: https://youtu.be/KAbsPFS8gus 
“What are the differences between a niqab, a chador, an abaya, a burkha and a hijab?”: https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-differences-between-a-niqab-a-chador-an-abaya-a-burkha-and-a-hijab 
“Women’s safety clothing not fit for purpose” by Matthew Gunther: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/womens-safety-clothing-not-fit-for-purpose/1010138.article 
“Employers Exposed When Women’s Safety Equipment Doesn’t Fit” by Fatima Hussein and Jaclyn Diaz: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/safety/employers-exposed-when-womens-safety-equipment-doesnt-fit 
Tina from Glee: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1327801/characters/nm3206118 
Mako Mori from Pacific Rim: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1663662/characters/nm0452860 
GoGo Tomago from Big Hero 6: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/characters/nm1512166 
Einayim Petukhoth or Eyes Wide Open: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1424327
Unorthodox: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9815454 
Crazy Rich Asians: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988 
Steel Magnolias: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098384 
Luke Cage: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3322314 
Barbershop: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0303714 
Coming to America: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094898 
The Boondocks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Mly_Zj6gg
Hair Love: https://youtu.be/kNw8V_Fkw28 
Tamora Pierce’s work: https://www.tamora-pierce.net 
Mulan: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120762 
V for Vendetta: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0434409 
The Boys: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt11906

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—bring our season on Race and Ethnicity to an end by delving into some lingering some questions. 

 

What we talked about

If and how to use racial slurs in our writing
When and how to acknowledge our characters’ racial history
Whether authors are allowed to write POV characters belonging to a different community
Co-writing with BIPOC authors as a white author
The representation of Asian masculinity in Western media
Being accused of being too political when including a diverse cast in our books
How to make your cast more diverse when your characters aren’t human



(Re)sources mentioned on the show

The Marvel Cinematic Universe: https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline 
The Ocmulgee Mounds National Historical Park in Macon: https://www.nps.gov/ocmu/index.htm 
Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9376612 
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3748528 
Crazy Rich Asians: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3104988 
Nora Phoenix’s White House Men series: https://noraphoenix.com/my-books/ 
Finding Nemo: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0266543 
Mariëlle’s 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: https://mswordsmith.nl/journal

 

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/04/07/s2e12

 

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 

 

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires. 

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36 

 

Website: https://representationmatters.art

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw 

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—scratch the surface of an incredibly broad topic: writing interracial and intercultural relationships. 

 

What we talked about

That writing relationships between characters of different races and cultures is really not that different from writing relationships between characters who are not exactly the same for other reasons
Questions to ask yourself and things to keep in mind when crafting interracial and intercultural relationships in your writing
A ton of examples in which interracial and intercultural relationships are depicted well and convincingly



(Re)sources mentioned on the show

Payne Erskin’s The Mountain Girl: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/11084308-the-mountain-girl 
Disney’s Pocahontas: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114148 
Stargate SG-1: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118480
The Karate Kid (1984): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087538
The Karate Kid (2010): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1155076
Kim’s Convenience: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5912064
Bend It Like Beckham: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0286499
Blinded by the Light: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8266310
Sarfraz Mansoor’s Greetings from Bury Park: Race, Religion, and Rock N Roll: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001V7U6LE
The Grand Budapest Hotel: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388
Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give: https://angiethomas.com/the-hate-u-give
Benjamin Alire Saenz’s The Inexplicable Logic of My Life: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23447923-the-inexplicable-logic-of-my-life
Kim Dare’s Axel’s Pup: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21522467-axel-s-pup
The Marvel Cinematic Universe: https://marvelcinematicuniverse.fandom.com/wiki/Timeline 
Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunter series: https://shadowhunters.com
Never Have I Ever: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10062292
Bright: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5519340
Bridgerton: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8740790 
Young Royals: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14664414 
Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors

 

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/03/29/s2e11 

 

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 

 

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires. 

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36 


Don’t forget, you can find us at https://representationmatters.art, on https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting, and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—talk about naming our fictional characters. 

 

What we talked about

General things to look out for when picking our characters’ names
All the different aspects that might influence which names make sense for your characters
Where to look for names
How to verify whether these names are appropriate for your characters or not



(Re)sources mentioned on the show

Think Baby Names: http://www.thinkbabynames.com
Behind the Name: https://www.behindthename.com
Behind the Surname: https://surnames.behindthename.com
Mariëlle’s 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: https://mswordsmith.nl/journal

 

This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/03/24/s2e10

 

Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 

 

As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires. 

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5

 

Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36 

 

Don’t forget, you can find us at https://representationmatters.art, on https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting, and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—interview Clare Sager about building different worlds in our fiction.


 


Clare Sager is an office lackey turned full-time author. With both a bachelor of arts and a masters of arts in Creative Writing, she is now living her life-long dream of writing fantasy adventure stories of swoon-worthy, troublesome men and strong, sassy women who can handle them.


 


When she's not writing or master planning her next book, she's an editor, outline coach, and formatter. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, sewing, and lifting weights at the gym (she’s as shocked by the latter as anyone). Her stationery addiction knows no bounds, with a washi tape and fountain pen collection to rival that of a stationery store. She loves to spend time chilling out with her planner plotting world domination. She likes cats, coffee, and cocktails, and speaks fluent sarcasm. 


 


What we talked about


Why Clare felt compelled to build a different world for her fictional characters

How consistently asking yourself “What if…?” will help you build better fictional worlds

How to use a coin (or dice!) to populate your world with a wide set of characters 

That diverse characters are just like any other characters

The importance of being curious about the world and remaining open to what there is to learn





(Re)sources mentioned on the show


All about Clare: https://claresager.com 

Clare’s books: https://claresager.com/books 

Clare’s author services: https://services.claresager.com 

The Decolonial Atlas: https://decolonialatlas.wordpress.com

Writing the Other Tumblr: https://writingtheother.tumblr.com

Ann Leckie, author of Ancillary Justice: https://annleckie.com 

Kalynn Bayron, author of Cinderella Is Dead: https://www.kalynnbayron.com/books

Jessica M. Butler, author of Sweet Pear: https://www.jessicambutler.com 

May Sage: https://www.goodreads.com/maysage 

Bethany’s Editing Your Novel's Structure: Tips, Tricks, and Checklists to Get You From Start to Finish: https://theartandscienceofwords.com/new-book-for-authors/


 


This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/03/17/s2e9


 


Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 


 


As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires. 


 


Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5


 


Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36 


 


Don’t forget, you can find us at https://representationmatters.art, on https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting, and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw

In this episode of Doing Diversity in Writing, we—Bethany and Mariëlle—take a pause to talk about what to do when hiring professionals to better your writing is not an option (yet). 


 


What we talked about


That there’s privilege in being able to advice others to do it right or not do it at all

That not everyone has the same resources going into publishing their work

What options are out there for authors with limited or no budgets





(Re)sources mentioned on the show


“The different kinds of editing explained” by Mariëlle: https://mswordsmith.nl/editing-tips-tricks-different-kinds-editing-explained

The Salt & Sage Books Incomplete Guides: https://books2read.com/ap/8Vy9vl/Salt-Sage-Books

The Writers for Diversity Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/779217692216226

The Writing the Other website: https://writingtheother.com

Writing the Other: A Practical Approach: https://writingtheother.com/the-book

CritiqueMatch: https://critiquematch.com

Scribophile: https://www.scribophile.com

Mariëlle’s 52 Weeks of Writing Author Journal and Planner: https://mswordsmith.nl/journal


 


This week’s episode page can be found here: https://representationmatters.art/2022/03/10/s2e8/


 


Subscribe to our newsletter here and get out Doing Diversity in Writing Toolkit, including our Calm the F*ck Down Checklist and Cultural Appropriation Checklist: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/r3p6g8 


 


As always, we’d love for you to join the conversation by filling out our questionnaires. 


 


Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Writer Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/UUEbeEvxsdwk1kuy5


 


Our Doing Diversity in Writing – Reader Questionnaire can be filled in at https://forms.gle/gTAg4qrvaCPtqVJ36 


 


Don’t forget, you can find us at https://representationmatters.art, on https://www.facebook.com/doingdiversityinwriting, and on https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtHfIaeylIgbAWVy3E66lmw