dogketcham-blog
asked:
As a hopeful writer, I was hoping you could give me some advice. You're white, but your main character is not. I think there should be more diversity in media, esp in main characters, but I'm worried as a white guy I'll fuck up writing a minority character, either the character acting and talking like a white guy or the other extreme of making a stereotype. Do you have these worries, how do you deal with them?
This is a tricky question to answer because I think so much of it depends on the way we live, and not just how we write! As a writer you can research a lot of time periods and locations and aesthetics, but when it comes to people there is no substitute for experience. Memorable characters come from a place of empathy, I think. The best one can do is write from observation, from talking and (more often) listening, from knowing and loving people from different walks of life. And I’d never encourage anyone to do this just for the sake of their writing. It’s a process that takes a lifetime.
That said, don’t be paralyzed by your fear to try. If this truly worries you, show your work to trusted friends first. A good idea in general!