This started out as a reply to a blog post on Legends of Windemere (Writing Characters from Maligned and Abused Groups), but it struck a chord with me, and I ended up writing my own post about it.

The original blog post is about writing from perspectives other than your own, and doing it sensitively. If your character has a disability, for example, and you don’t, you need to know how that affects your character in their day-to-day lives, how it’s shaped their personality, how it affects their relationships, and their perspective on the world. It requires research and understanding of how real people with that particular disability think and feel.

I completely agree that writers should include characters from all walks of life. I also think there is a place for including minority groups without making a big deal about it. I’ve read so many books that…