Just remember that representation is a good thing. By itself. Not as a PC goal or to boost reader numbers. Because I hate that. That is waaay worse than no representation. Lookin At you Rick. For instance, I was starting with this protag Daniella Jacobs. I started her out blank template style. That meant white and long brown hair. Then I thought “Hey! Let’s be more original!” And now she’s an American Arab which I think is great.
I agree with the first half, but I disagree with that last part because it inherently means that white is the default, blank template human, which always bugs me because there is no default human. It gives the idea that any sort of thing that isn't white, straight, athiest, healthy, etc. is an add on or afterthought instead of who the character inherently is, and that's where a lot of that obviously just for PC "diversity" comes from, even if the intentions are good.
Not saying I like it, but if there is a character whose ethnicity isn’t mentioned, most people think they’re white etc. But we can all work on our minds to make that not the case. I like that you disagree.
Or that there is no such thing as familial love! This pisses me off because there’s a dude I love very much, but in this society everyone would assume we are gay! Not to mention the numerous girls I love that I have absolutely no romantic interest in!
(This is from the things you want LESS of in books. But you get the idea.)
Just remember that representation is a good thing. By itself. Not as a PC goal or to boost reader numbers. Because I hate that. That is waaay worse than no representation. Lookin At you Rick. For instance, I was starting with this protag Daniella Jacobs. I started her out blank template style. That meant white and long brown hair. Then I thought “Hey! Let’s be more original!” And now she’s an American Arab which I think is great.
I agree with the first half, but I disagree with that last part because it inherently means that white is the default, blank template human, which always bugs me because there is no default human. It gives the idea that any sort of thing that isn't white, straight, athiest, healthy, etc. is an add on or afterthought instead of who the character inherently is, and that's where a lot of that obviously just for PC "diversity" comes from, even if the intentions are good.
Not saying I like it, but if there is a character whose ethnicity isn’t mentioned, most people think they’re white etc. But we can all work on our minds to make that not the case. I like that you disagree.
Also another thing is GIVE MINORITY CHARACTERS TRAITS THAT STEM FROM THINGS OTHER THAN WHAT MAKES THEM A MINORITY!
- Religious characters who actually practice their religion. I feel like a lot of characters get a religion, but don't actually practice it. Mention them going to mass, or to a temple. Mention them having ashes on their foreheads from Ash Wednesday, or fasting for Ramadan, or not eating meat on Fridays during Lent, or taking breaks to pray/praying before meals, celebrating Hannukah and not Christmas, etc.
- Religious characters who are LGBTQIA+ and don't constantly struggle with being both.
Aren’t those paradoxical since it’s the radical religious people that are more willing to accept? (Or at least the ones who don’t follow the traditional beliefs.)
@"The Althalosian" True, unfortunately. I just don't like that that's the case. I think that if writers point out when characters are what's usually seen as "the default" then it might help things along. So instead of mentioning that darker skinned characters are darker skinned but not saying anything about the skin tones of lighter skinned characters, we should mention both instead of none.
- Religious characters who actually practice their religion. I feel like a lot of characters get a religion, but don't actually practice it. Mention them going to mass, or to a temple. Mention them having ashes on their foreheads from Ash Wednesday, or fasting for Ramadan, or not eating meat on Fridays during Lent, or taking breaks to pray/praying before meals, celebrating Hannukah and not Christmas, etc.
- Religious characters who are LGBTQIA+ and don't constantly struggle with being both.
Aren’t those paradoxical since it’s the radical religious people that are more willing to accept? (Or at least the ones who don’t follow the traditional beliefs.)
I didn't mean for both, I meant them as more of both are requests stemming from religion and put them in the same comment
- Monsters that are actually monsters and not super hot and buff guys
Please, PLEASE no more of the buff hot guy monsters
(Ironically, in Frankenstein, the Monster is actually described as being made of attractive parts but when put together, unappealing and with freaky eyes.)
And being frickin yellow.
Injuries that actually have repercussions, specifically in stories with a lot of action and injuries. I want to see a character who's still got a slight limp from a sword slash to the leg, a good amount of time later. Not just, "oh, they got over it," and they're fine within a couple of days. Which leads me to say stuff about healing magic. It's wonderful for having more gruesome fights, but I still would love to see a few consequences resulting from the injury still.
Additionally, with this whole topic, do your research.
I agree!
I actually made a list for my war stories to mark down each injury characters get so that I can make sure they act accordingly.
- Elderly characters who aren't just there to be the grandparent that dies tragically, the jerk that doesn't accept the protagonist, or spout out wisdom that sounds like it was found inside a fortune cookie
14 of the 18 major characters in one of the books I'm writing are elderly and each one is a different personality and soul, so boy oh boy do I have a story for you.
True….but I want moooooore!!!
Developing the main antagonist to make them crisp and the greatest
Why is it that all main characters seem to love math?
Yeah, I fucking hate math
I love reading!
Same here, math can go die in a hole. (Sorry if I've offended anyone)
Never apologize for speaking the truth, Spiderman.
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