Fully Booked EP75: Crafting Authentic Characters: Writing Beyond Our Lived Experience
They often say, "Write what you know," but what happens when our stories demand characters who are vastly different from ourselves? In today's episode of Fully Booked, author Katie Marie joins us to help discuss the challenges of creating diverse characters that push the boundaries of our own experiences.
Katie is the perfect guest for this topic, after defying expectations by crafting a novella featuring an elderly gentleman with dementia, despite being in her 30s when she wrote it. Through that experience she learned about the complexities of writing characters so distinct from ourselves, and she is careful to highlight the crucial role of research, empathy, and humility that should be used in capturing their essence.
Katie offers valuable advice on how authors can authentically portray characters outside their own lived experiences, emphasizing the significance of stepping outside our comfort zones to create rich, diverse narratives. The important thing is to avoid stereotypes, conduct thorough research, and seek input from knowledgeable sources. By doing these things, authors can expand their creative horizons and craft characters that resonate with readers from all walks of life.
Katie Marie
Hidden Gems
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