K Tempest Bradford .@tinytempest Description, Language, and Writing Inclusive Fiction #WXR18
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Exercise: shows two pictures of two women and asks us to describe what they look like. Describing people who don’t look like you is another craft skill. Identity markers that students don’t usually touch on: race, class, religious status.
Exercise: shows two pictures of two women and asks us to describe what they look like. Describing people who don’t look like you is another craft skill. Identity markers that students don’t usually touch on: race, class, religious status.
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Describing the “Other”. Talking around the physical characters that mark race. This is partially style: don’t discard the things that you use to show character. It’s okay for your narrative to mark race and other differences from the dominant paradigm.
Describing the “Other”. Talking around the physical characters that mark race. This is partially style: don’t discard the things that you use to show character. It’s okay for your narrative to mark race and other differences from the dominant paradigm.
.@tinytempest #WXR18
In any culture, dominant paradigm: the ‘normal’ for the culture, the invisible. (nothing is ‘normal’ but it’s a shorthand). In America: white, male, Protestant, cis-gendered, heterosexual
In any culture, dominant paradigm: the ‘normal’ for the culture, the invisible. (nothing is ‘normal’ but it’s a shorthand). In America: white, male, Protestant, cis-gendered, heterosexual
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Why is this so haaaard? “If you notice race, you are racist!” Noticing is not a problem, it’s actions that act on it is a problem. Thoughts =/= actions
Why is this so haaaard? “If you notice race, you are racist!” Noticing is not a problem, it’s actions that act on it is a problem. Thoughts =/= actions
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Step One: State what is there for everyone. Whether they’re part of the dominant paradigm or not. What your character notices about the character can be a useful tool for character building or for plot purposes.
Step One: State what is there for everyone. Whether they’re part of the dominant paradigm or not. What your character notices about the character can be a useful tool for character building or for plot purposes.
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Finding the right words. Don’t reach for the easy, e.g. using food metaphors for describing people of colour, tired and reduced to commodity. Resources: on Discord, on the mailing list.
Finding the right words. Don’t reach for the easy, e.g. using food metaphors for describing people of colour, tired and reduced to commodity. Resources: on Discord, on the mailing list.
.@tinytempest #WXR18
But what about poetry?? If you’re going to use food metaphors, use them for everyone. Make considered choices, don’t go for the easy. @tithenai: “If you’re going to eat one person, you should want to eat everyone.”
But what about poetry?? If you’re going to use food metaphors, use them for everyone. Make considered choices, don’t go for the easy. @tithenai: “If you’re going to eat one person, you should want to eat everyone.”
.@tinytempest #WXR18
e.g. Almond eyes. Asian people don’t have almond eyes! Some white people have almond-er shaped eyes. Claire Light's post: clairelight.typepad.com/seelight/2006/…
e.g. Almond eyes. Asian people don’t have almond eyes! Some white people have almond-er shaped eyes. Claire Light's post: clairelight.typepad.com/seelight/2006/…
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Comparison & POV: does your viewpoint character think their appearance is the default? if so, or not so, what makes them think that? How would they describe themselves? How do they think about and describe how other people look?
Comparison & POV: does your viewpoint character think their appearance is the default? if so, or not so, what makes them think that? How would they describe themselves? How do they think about and describe how other people look?
.@tinytempest #WXR18
By them marking other people’s skin colour, you define what your character looks like, even in first person. People who are further from the dominant, notice people who are closer to the dominant paradigm because they’re protecting themselves.
By them marking other people’s skin colour, you define what your character looks like, even in first person. People who are further from the dominant, notice people who are closer to the dominant paradigm because they’re protecting themselves.
.@tinytempest #WXR18
Hammer it home! Readers expect the dominant paradigm and may forget about the skin colour if you only mention it once. Mention other aspects of the character that speak to their identity multiple times.
Hammer it home! Readers expect the dominant paradigm and may forget about the skin colour if you only mention it once. Mention other aspects of the character that speak to their identity multiple times.
