As writers, we are all told to write what we know, but what if I told you it’s time to expand your horizons? Too often, writers get caught up on what they can and cannot write about, or rather what they’re qualified to write about. I say, there isn’t anything that we should be barred from when it comes to our authorship.

If fiction is about capturing the human experience, why should we stop at our own? Wouldn’t it get boring to only write about what you’ve lived? Would there be any escapism in that? Would it be realistic if every character you wrote lived the life you did? No. So how do we fix this? By writing about the experiences of others, obviously. But how do we do this in a way that is respectful? Especially when it’s the experience of a minority group that you’re not a part of? The best thing you can do is ask questions.

It’s important to remember that we as writers are not isolated on our own little islands. We are a community, and more often than not, we are willing to reach out and help each other improve our craft. In this specific case, it means lending life experiences and anecdotes to those wishing to write outside of their own societal or lived norm. For example, it’s understandable to believe that a white American author may be hesitant to write about the life of a Black American main character. What could they possibly know? What gives them the authority to speak about such a topic? Well, if they went in blind, with no knowledge, or refused to learn more, their ignorance would shine through in a way that paints them in a very unflattering light. But if that white author went to fellow authors with roots in the background they hope to portray (in this case, Black American) and asked for guidance, they would be far more educated than where they started. I do believe it is important to talk to multiple people before deciding on your characters' experiences; however, one person cannot possibly account for the experience of an entire demographic of people, and it’s important to have multiple people to pull from.

Now you’ve written whatever piece of fiction is most alluring to you, whether that be a novel, a movie, a play, etc. You’ve done everything you can to represent the group your character(s) represent, whether that's their racial background, sex, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, etc. You believe you have done your best work, and people applaud you for it. However, you face criticism in some areas for your representation work. Do you scrap ever going outside your comfort zone again? Absolutely not! When met with a critique like this, it is most important not to get defensive (as is with most critiques) and instead evaluate where you could improve next time. Representation is a sensitive subject, and not everyone will be satisfied no matter how researched you are. Take these criticism as inspiration for your next work, rather than an excuse to close yourself off from writing outside of your personal lived experience. And always remember, for every person that wasn’t pleased, there is another who was, and maybe they saw themself in your work.