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.

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Writing Revolution: How To Create Believable Resistance Movements with Helen Gould

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023WtO Admin

Stories about rebelling against an unjust system or a tyrannical ruler have always been popular, often becoming lucrative franchises (A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…). However, they also frequently portray a simplified narrative about how resistance works or avoid the nuances of what it means to fight an oppressive force. This one-day workshop will establish an understanding of the building blocks that can be put in place for a realistic foundation for a dystopian society, oppression, and rebellion. Instructor Helen Gould will cover real-world examples of political resistance from around the world, discuss the morality of important issues like the use of violence, and explore what kind of characters you might need in a story about revolution. [...]

Crafting Diverse Relationships: Family and Friends, Lovers and Life Partners

May 19, 2023May 20, 2023

Write Characters Your Readers Won't Forget Header

Write Characters Your Readers Won’t Forget Webinar and Workshop

May 6, 2023May 8, 2023

The Heroine’s Journey – The Other Ancient Story Structure

May 6, 2023May 7, 2023

Available Any Time: On-Demand Webinars

On Demand Webinar: Cultural Appropriation – What It Is & How To Avoid It

November 16, 2021Writing 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 On Demand webinar, we’ll give you the resources you need. [...]

On Demand: Writing Fat Characters | Master Class

November 14, 2021November 15, 2021

On Demand: Should Authors Write Characters Different From Themselves?

November 13, 2021November 15, 2021

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On Demand: Writing Deaf and Blind Characters | Master Class

January 21, 2019November 4, 2021

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

November 22, 2018November 4, 2021

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

July 24, 2016November 4, 2021

News & Events

Holiday Sale: 25% Off On Demand Classes

November 25, 2022Writing the Other

To celebrate the holiday season we’re offering 25% off all On Demand videos starting today and ending December 31, 2022. [...]

Building Inclusive Worlds Scholarship Fundraiser

July 11, 2022July 9, 2022Writing the Other

As you know, Bob, fighting oppression and colonialist frameworks happens on multiple fronts, including in art. Narratives are one of the most powerful ways to shape how humans view and interact with each other, for good or for ill. We’re invested in “for good”. [...]

Special Offer: $150 Off Building Inclusive Worlds & Research Skills Classes

July 8, 2022July 8, 2022Writing the Other

Worldbuilding for speculative fiction and games can be a daunting task, especially when it requires research in order to avoid replicating colonialist structures and viewpoints. That’s why we’re offering a special discount on our next two courses. [...]

Resources

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Crafting Chinese-American Characters

March 1, 2021May 26, 2023Writing the Other

Yang Yang Wang joins Tempest, Piper J. Drake, and Dan Wells for a discussion of language, food, and a whole raft of other cultural elements critical to crafting Chinese-American characters. [...]

K. Tempest Bradford and Sheree Renée Thomas on the Glitchy Pancakes Podcast

February 27, 2021February 18, 2021Writing the Other

K. Tempest Bradford and Sheree Renée Thomas do a deep dive into Own Voices fiction, why it’s so important, and how it fits in with Writing the Other. [...]

Writing the Other on Writing Excuses – Researching for Writing the Other

February 24, 2021May 26, 2023Writing the Other

Nisi Shawl and Silvia Moreno-Garcia join Tempest, Piper J. Drake, and Dan Wells to talk about how writing stories which feature people who are not like you is, in a word, difficult. [...]

What our students say about us

This class was eye-opening and world building for me as a writer. The content was amazing, the guest speakers impressive, and the exercises broadened my thinking. If you want to build worlds in your writing (and after the class I would argue that worlds get built in all fiction) you need to take this class. It will give you the knowledge, courage and community to take risks, to be inclusive in ways you’d not yet thought of, and to change the world by building a better one.

― Michelle, a Building Inclusive Worlds student

Taking this deep dive class connected me to a lot of wonderful people and resources. It helped me pinpoint several immediate problems in my current works in progress, gave me specific strategies to address those flaws, and ways to analyze my work in the future to better tell the inclusive stories that I imagine. I would not have been able to take this class without the scholarship.

― A Building Inclusive Worlds student

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

The class on worldbuilding provided many valuable insights into how to include a diverse cast of underrepresented groups, demonstrating how to break out from traditional hierarchical and normative presentations with solely focused on privileged groups. Rather than a prescriptive list or an approach that focused on performative and manipulative “wokeness” the class offered insight and an opportunity for dialogue on true worldbuilding and the art of crafting secondary worlds that are inclusive and avoid accidental usage of analog cultures and otherization. Lessons on research, criticism, and varied frameworks left me well prepared with a toolbox to tackle issues of inclusiveness for today, tomorrows that may or not may not be, and histories that never were.

― B Phillip York, a Building Inclusive Worlds student