Writing the Other | Online Writing Classes and Workshops

Representation is fundamental to writing great fiction. Creating characters that reflect the diversity of the world we live in is important for all writers and creators of fictional narratives. But writers often find it difficult to represent people whose gender, sexual orientation, racial heritage, or other aspect of identity is very different from their own. This can lead to fear of getting it wrong–horribly, offensively wrong–and, in the face of that, some think it’s better not to try.

The hard truth is this: Representation and Diversity are too important to ignore.

It IS possible to write characters who represent the “Other” sensitively and convincingly. Through our classes, workshops, and seminars and the resources available on this site and elsewhere creators can get a solid foundation in how to craft characters from any background, no matter how different they are from you.

Recent Classes

Clarion West In-Person Weekend Workshop: Writing the Other

October 30, 2019Writing the Other

Authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford are giving an in-person, 2-day Writing the Other workshop for Clarion West! Join us in Seattle for a weekend of lectures, discussions, and hands-on writing exercises. [...]

Deep Dive Into Building Inclusive Worlds

September 20, 2019November 5, 2019

Deep Dive Into Dialogue and Dialect | a Writing the Other class

June 8, 2019September 1, 2019

A Writer’s Guide to Research for Fiction

May 23, 2019July 8, 2019

Available Any Time: On-Demand Webinars

Writing Deaf and Blind Characters | On Demand Master Class

January 21, 2019January 7, 2019Writing the Other

Partially deaf and partially blind writer and editor Elsa Sjunneson-Henry walks writers through the process of researching and understanding both conditions for fiction writing. [...]

Writing for Trans and Non-Binary Narratives | On Demand Master Class

November 22, 2018November 22, 2018

Writing Native American Characters: How Not To Do A Rowling | On Demand Master Class

July 24, 2016March 21, 2018

More than Eunuchs and Extraterrestrials: Writing Positive Portrayals of Asexual Characters | On Demand Master Class

July 24, 2016March 21, 2018

News & Events

Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford in Conversation at Seattle’s University Book Store

October 30, 2019October 30, 2019Writing the Other

November 23, 2019 at 6 PM – Come hear authors, editors, and partners in crime Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford interview each other about craft and creativity. [...]

Support the Writing the Other Sentient Squid Scholarship

April 27, 2019October 30, 2019Writing the Other

Are you interested in helping us help writers learn how to combat cultural toxicity? To create fiction that is inclusive, and that better represents and reflects the world? Yes, it’s possible. But we need your help to make it happen for more people. [...]

Custom Writing the Other Seminars for Agencies and Publishing Houses

June 30, 2018January 24, 2019Writing the Other

Agents, Editors, Publishers: Do you want to help your clients and authors create representative, inclusive fiction without inadvertently using damaging tropes or outdated [...]

Podcasts and Videos

Family, Culture, and KidLit – a Conversation with Shveta Thakrar

October 9, 2019October 8, 2019Writing the Other

A conversation with YA author Shveta Thakrar about writing YA and Middle Grade families outside of the WASP or Western family framework pushed by most media and literature. [...]

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Yes, You Can!

June 4, 2019September 1, 2019Writing the Other

If you’ve heard from agents or editors that writing books that aren’t #OwnVoices isn’t something you can do, listen to us dismantle that idea and give advice for how you can go forward. [...]

Writing Fat Characters – An Interview With Marianne Kirby

April 27, 2019April 15, 2019Writing the Other

Tempest interviewed Marianne about fat characters, why she uses the term Fat, non-conforming bodies, and stereotypes to avoid and representations she’d like to see. [...]

What our students say about us

Going into the workshop I had a particular story I was burning to learn how to tell without being inappropriate. I was terrified I was writing it (and anything else involving characters of color) like an out-of-touch white dork. Ms. Shawl and Ms. Bradford were compassionate and emotionally generous while being very straightforward. Their class both eased my mind and made me realize how clueless I’ve been; it has started me on a lifetime learning project that can do nothing but make me a better writer.

― Ellen Saunders, a Weekend Intensive student

The conversations and community that emerged over the course of the Writing the Other intensive was as valuable as the issues discussed within the readings and exercises, if not more so. So glad I did this!

― Fran Wilde, Nebula Award-winning author of Updraft

This is a very good, condensed, well balanced and presented mix of information and practice on writing about difference.

― SK on the Classic Seminar

This class mentally stimulates thoughts about what it is to live in an alternative, minority worldview. It also provides opportunities to discuss issues surrounding character development of unique non-mainstream characters which could engender qualities of heightened realism and color to your story, thus triggering greater understanding of minority issues in the broader culture.

― Sonja Bolon, Creative Therapist, on the Classic Seminar