INTRODUCTION:
There’s been a lot of talk about adding diverse characters to fictional books. Most of the time, this is about including people of color if you’re a Caucasian writer, but all writers can add diverse characters to their books. And why stop at race? In this series, I’m going to list all sorts of diverse characters.
Note: I'm not knowledgeable about all types of people, so I'm skipping my usual tips in favor of letting others share their knowledge. See below
**I won't be able to list them all, so here's a list of ethnic groups...with a list of even more lists at the bottom of the page. lol
Here are the diverse characters for H:
Homeless Individuals
Hondurans (Individuals from Honduras)
Here are the diverse characters for I:
Haitians
Hawaiians
Hebrews
Hillbillies
Hindus
Hillbillies
Hindus
Hispanics
Homeless Individuals
Hondurans (Individuals from Honduras)
Icelandic Individuals
Immortals
Immortals
Indians (India)
Indonesians
The Irish
Iranians
The Irish
Iranians
Islamic Individuals
Israelis
Italians
Italians
Here are the diverse characters for J:
Individuals from Jakarta
Jamaicans
Jamaicans
Japanese Individuals
Japanese Americans
Jehovah's Witnesses
Japanese Americans
Jehovah's Witnesses
Jewish Individuals
Jordanians (Individuals from Jordan)
Jordanians (Individuals from Jordan)
SHARE: If you can come up with more diverse characters that start with H, I, or J, let me know and I will add them to my list.
QUESTION: Do you have tips or Do's/Dont's for one of the characters I mentioned above? Share your advice for writing about those characters in your comment.
Have you written about a character from my list?
*All images are free to use.
How about someone from Jakarta? I have a friend whose parents were stationed there for a while and he said the whole country has a supernatural air about it.
ReplyDeleteJakarta. That's a good one. I'll add it. Thanks!
DeleteI've used hillbillies a time or two at our zoo. Never went to Deliverance level though lol
ReplyDeleteHillbillies would be interesting characters.
DeleteLOL, love that you included hillbillies, been called that a time or two!
ReplyDeleteYou? A hillbilly? I can't picture it. :)
DeleteIncas? Inbreds? Better than iguanas I guess.
ReplyDeleteI'll add South American Indians under S for Incas/Inkas. Thanks!
DeleteThe only ones I've written are immortals. I think when you write about those you can usually make up your own rules!
ReplyDeleteI've written about immortals, too. Fun!
DeleteLove that you included hillbillies and immortals. :)
ReplyDeleteOf course! :)
DeleteAll very classic examples of H,I,J. Also loved the Hillbilles.
ReplyDeleteLoved the read Chrys.
Yvonne.
Thanks, Yvonne!
DeleteI've written about a young Hindu girl in South India because my husband is from there and we've visited the family many times, during which I fell in love with India. My only advice would be: become familiar with anyone you want to include as a character. Do your research or talk to people or call on visits and encounters and then get feedback from those very people. A conference I attended in April had a panel discussion on that very topic, and I loved how they phrased it: "When you write out of your lane . . ." and their advice was the same: Know your stuff, avoid stereotypes, do your homework; it can be done. Nice topic, Chrys.
ReplyDeleteI love to read stories about Hindu girls.
DeleteSeeing and experiencing India is on my bucket list.
I am not sure the woman in front of the Taj Mahal is Hindu. The Taj was built by a Muslim ruler of that part of India (they'd invade India early on) who built it for his wife, so the Taj Mahal wouldn't be Hindu. Although Christian, I find the Hindu religion to be fascinating.
ReplyDeleteHmm... thanks. It is hard to find images free to use...maybe she was traveling. lol
DeleteI find the topic of ethnicity fascinating because I would often have qualified as a "diverse" character when I lived other places. Now I'm just an ordinary anglo.
ReplyDeleteYou're not ordinary at all, Lee!
DeleteI like this topic of diverse characters, but we always want to keep in mind (as well) to 'write what we know.' So, if we decide to include an ethnicity, religion, or culture that is one we haven't lived we just need to make sure we're educated enough about it. That's always my biggest concern.
ReplyDeleteAlex's comment - #snort ;)
Research, knowledge, and understanding are important.
DeleteI have Hispanic characters in one of my books. Not too hard for me to do because my husband's family is Hispanic.
ReplyDeleteThat's great! You already know a lot and have people you can go to if you have any questions.
DeleteI guess the trick is to not write their story, but to have them participate in yours.
ReplyDeleteThat would be a good trick.
DeleteThat's a great list actually and I can't think of any others but they would all be good. I worked with a Jehovah Witness....it was...interesting:)
ReplyDeleteI imagine that would be interesting.
DeleteGreat list, Chrys! I was a little nervous about the diversity in my books, but no one has yet to call me on it. Whew! I always do my best to be respectful and stay away from stereotypes.
ReplyDeleteGood for you for adding diversity to your books!
DeleteYou could have posted a pic of Jed Clampett for the hillbilly. Let's see, our last name starts with H. And where we live, it definitely conjures up certain ideas. Seriously, as a reader all I care is that the characters fit in the story and that they are portrayed true to life, not as a caricature.
ReplyDeleteVisit me at Life & Faith in Caneyhead. :)
LOL! Darn, I missed out on that, huh? :P
DeleteThe characters fitting the story is definitely the most important thing.
That's what I think in my humble opinion. I am not a writer, and Lord knows I'm not politically correct.
DeleteI'm a bit leery of using cultures I'm totally unfamiliar with. I'd hate to be offensive in my ignorance.
ReplyDeleteSo would I, but fear of doing that could stop us from creating amazing cultural stories.
DeleteI think someone else mentioned it, but I love that you have hillbillies and immortals on the same list :-)
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteThis is a great list, Chrys. I really should consider a diverse character in the novel I'm working on now.
ReplyDeleteThat would be awesome!
DeleteI've got several Western Hindus among my characters, as well as italians and Israelis. My secondary writing goal, after the Nobel Prize, is to win the Sydney Taylor Book Award for Jewish youth literature. I personally only create various levels of observant Jewish characters, instead of secular, assimilated lox and bagelers. Hollywood depicts a 99% intermarriage and interdating rate, and makes it seem like only the elderly and out of touch fanatics care about being religious, so I want to do my part to provide an alternate perspective. To be blunt, Judaism hasn't survived so long without the Temple because of warm, fuzzy, nostalgic memories about matzah ball soup and klezmer music. It was because people kept the Torah and created Jewish homes.
ReplyDeleteYou always have so many diverse characters in your books, Carrie-Anne. That's awesome.
DeleteGreat list! My brain is tired right now- but I will try thinking of some more to add to the list. :)
ReplyDelete~Jess
We both have tired brains. :)
DeleteHomosexual characters can add to a story, as well, as long as they aren't just walking stereotypes (true for anything outside one's culture, of course). And I appreciate that I was for folks from India. :D
ReplyDeleteI had gay characters under G and will have lesbians under L. :)
DeleteThis is something I need to do for my next novel. Thanks for the reminder that we live in a world of various types of people and our books should show that. Thinking now, about my new characters.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Beverly!
DeleteGreat list. Diversity in books is important and a list like this helps people consider many options they may not have. Diversity isn't limited to simply writing about people who are different than you, it's about bringing awareness to under-represented peoples an cultures. It's not easy, but it's oh so important.
ReplyDeleteGreat point, Toi! It is very important.
DeleteExcellent list!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Delete