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

Cultural Appropriation: What It Is & How To Avoid It

April 3, 2020Writing the Other

Most writers want to avoid Cultural Appropriation but worry that they don’t fully understand what it is or how to ensure their work does not include it. In this 3 hour online seminar, we’ll give you the resources you need. In this three week craft-centric class, authors Nisi Shawl and K. Tempest Bradford dive deep into these language and description pitfalls and how to avoid them. [...]

Deep Dive Into Description

February 9, 2020April 3, 2020

Writing the Other In-Person Retreat @ Hollyhock

November 28, 2019March 20, 2020

Deep Dive Into Diverse Characters

November 27, 2019January 28, 2020

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

Purchase Gift Cards for Classes

March 31, 2020Writing the Other

Writing the Other now has an easier way for people to gift our classes to writers. Gift cards are available through GiftUp! and can be used for any of the classes we teach with ticketing through Eventbrite. [...]

Help Us Help Writers Isolated Due To COVID-19

March 20, 2020Writing the Other

If we can raise $5,000 we’ll be able to offer more scholarship spots in upcoming classes and also create some free or donation-based webinars. [...]

Support the Vonda N. McIntyre Sentient Squid Scholarship

November 20, 2019March 22, 2020Writing 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. [...]

Podcasts and Videos

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Being an Ally

April 5, 2020April 5, 2020Writing the Other

Erin Roberts joins Tempest, Piper J. Drake, and Dongwon Song to talk about how to be an ally to members of marginalized groups. [...]

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Writing Characters With Physical Disabilities

December 11, 2019Writing the Other

Nicola Griffith joins Tempest, Piper J. Drake, and Dan to talk about how to faithfully represent people with physical disabilities through the characters we create. [...]

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. [...]

What our students say about us

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

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

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

― SK on the Classic Seminar