How An Author Can Diversify Their Characters And Enhance Their Story

There's been a huge push recently for more diversity in books, movies, and TV shows. But I think sometimes we get bogged down in what constitutes diversity.

 

It isn't having a list you reference. When you get down to it, diversity is realism. It's creating real characters in the real world. Or, in this case, the fictional world.

 

Diversity is more than race or sexual orientation. It also includes body types, physical and mental disabilities, and even religious diversity.

 

No two people are exactly the same. Shocker, I know. We all have different experiences, different morals and values, and different things that turn us on. And as a writer, that should be looked at as a blessing. There is nothing more boring than one dimensional characters.  

But what if you write science fiction or fantasy?

 

People, at their core, are still people. Even if you're writing aliens you want readers to be able to relate to, then they need to have their own unique personalities--their own backstories--their own problems and challenges. They aren't a monolith.

 

So how do you include diversity in your story?

 

It's not as complicated as you might think.

 

Several of my books contain some level of diversity. In my Finding Anna series, Brianna is suffering from a mental illness. In Behind Closed Doors, Elizabeth is a curvy woman who has body image issues. My hero in Longing for His Kiss has a limp from a combat injury.

 

These are only a few examples of how a writer can diversify their characters and enhance their story. Humans are complex creatures. You characters should be as well.

 

The first step when writing should always be to get to know your characters. Some writers go as far as writing character profiles before they begin the first chapter. Others, like myself who write by the seat of our pants, get to know our characters backstories as the story unfolds. We peel back the layers one at a time and build on that until we have a well rounded character.

 

Either way, getting to know and understand your character's history and motivations are key. If someone has body image issues, you may want to explore what led to those issues. When talking about sexual preference, addressing when the character first noticed their changing desires helps increase the connection a reader feels to the character.

 

In my BDSM stories, I almost always mention how one or both of my characters discovered they enjoy kink. This can be as detailed as it needs to be, but if a character feels strongly about something, no matter what it is, it's a good idea to give the reader a way to understand.

 

This goes beyond the topic of diversity, of course. If a character detests avocados to the point where they are running out of a room at just the sight of one, then explaining that reaction is a good idea. 

 

Don't leave your reader hanging. Bring them into the character's world. Let them experience what the character has experienced. Tap into those emotions. Make the story come alive.