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

Deep Dive Into Building Inclusive Worlds

September 20, 2019September 18, 2019Writing the Other

Worldbuilding for speculative fiction can be a daunting task, even moreso for authors who want to create inclusive cultures filled with diverse characters. This class offers writers a deep dive into key aspects of building inclusive worlds. [...]

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

Deep Dive Into Description | a Writing the Other class

April 14, 2019June 6, 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

Interviews and Discussions

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. [...]

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Latinx Representation

April 16, 2019April 15, 2019Writing the Other

Julia Rios joins Tempest on Writing Excuses to talk about writing characters who come from one of the many Latin-American cultures or subcultures. There’s a LOT of discussion of food (yum!) [...]

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

Many writers live in fear of making offensive mistakes. This workshop is crucial for understanding how that fear can lead to marginalization or elimination of characters that challenge the status quo. And it’s fun, too.

― A Seattle student on the Classic Seminar

What an incredibly valuable class. This course provided a thoughtful and supportive place to dig deep into tricky issues and questions, and to examine our own context and assumptions. The resources were incredible, and I know I’ll come back to them over and over. The discussion was illuminating and my approach to my writing has already changed. I’d recommend the four week Writing The Other course to any author without hesitation.

― Amie Kaufman, author of the Starbound Trilogy

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