Avoid stereotypes. In 1987 I wrote a university paper in which I used the feminine inclusive. Copyright © 2020 Daily Writing Tips . As you write, it is crucial that you use language that matches your audience and intended purpose. African American is my preferred term, but I can imagine this can offend also. Unless you’re writing a maritime novel and your character is sailing into a squall Stock settings (the tropical island paradise in a romance, for example) that feel predictable and thinly drawn If you’re building a fantasy world, for example, avoid clichéd setting by thinking about: Throw the words onto the page. Writing Diversely is dedicated to helping authors create more diverse stories. “. Why not set your story so far in the future (or an alternate history) where nothing is the same? Remember that people in different regions or countries might have a different understanding regarding what is considered sexiest or racist. According to what I have seen in most college handbooks this is the norm, Michael. A writer so concerned about possibly offending his audience is a writer who But they can also get us into trouble when we forget to allow the people around us to be larger and more complex than we expect them to be. As far as I know, it would not offend me. Upon what have you based your choice? Avoid political bias and stereotypes in case you want your audienceTo read your content under a neutral point of view. It can be really hard to avoid stereotypes in characterization when you’re setting up your novel. 2. Asians are math whizzes. Obviously this is not free rein to start spouting obscenities at every race, gender and religion. I feel that using the term black is focusing strictly on color. I agree that for informal writing using a single form is probably simpler though. Granted I teach undergrads in sociology, but in general I think either assumptions about race/class/gender/religion should either be avoided, or examined. You can be accurate without being biased. Here are general stereotypes to avoid: The sassy black woman, the Indian doctor/call center worker, the spicy Latina, the genius Asian girl, the Native American who is extremely connected to nature, and other racial stereotypes; The fat, lazy couch potato; The welfare queen Not necessarily but depending on the situation in which you are writing, it is best to bear these things in mind. Different audiences may call for different styles of writing, but the essence of a writer is that he conveys the message he wishes to convey, and should not be limited by political correctness. .”. Avoid ethnic and racial stereotypes. Be careful … For reasons we’ll discuss below (see cliché #2), fantasy has a tendency to lend itself dangerously well to perfectly flawless and noble characters, who are a stereotype in themselves. 681 Cliches to Avoid in Your Creative Writing. The second thing you could do is read urban fantasy books by fellow, successful authors. A few examples of the most overused clichés, tropes and stereotypes editors and readers have seen enough of are listed below. . Sexist stereotyping—well, stereotyping in general—is a poor way to communicate because it relies on assumptions and generalizations that often don’t apply to the situation at hand. You'll also get three bonus ebooks completely free. Some raise the point that this is unacceptable bias, but why can it not be seen as a simple rule of English grammar? You can think about stereotypes in three classes: stereotypical characters, behaviors, and situations. But your writing will benefit so greatly from the exercise. . French people are snobs. “Use your best judgement” Sometimes I think that good judgement is not a common attribute, but we can hope for the best! What about to your friends? It could be a first step toward recognizing the true power of language! That was enough to raise a big discussion around the issue and whether it was prejudice or not. Biases against age and sexual orientation are also frowned upon. For example,Albanians are known for their hospitality and are very reliable people,which is absolutely true. While it may be true that you can find a cheap Scottish person, you can also find a spendthrift Scottish person or a cheap Bolivia… Tip: Another thing to avoid when writing fantasy is creating perfect, ‘Mary Sue’-style characters. Reading this post and the reactions to it is like opening a time capsule. Avoid using expressions that make people think that certain attributes are found among one group of people rather than in all groups. The use of inappropriate language will only diminish your credibility as a thought leader, damage your argument, and possibly even alienate your readers. 3. It was striking how jarring it was reading something written in the feminine inclusive. That includes the use of the masculine inclusive in the subjugation of women. Levels of formality in language 2. When you know your audience varies, stay away from words that are gender specific. Make sure that your argument and writing are specific to you and your writing task. Hopefully, this guide can help you spot any potentially predictable plots or overdone character types. This is too biased. For example, it could be considered impolite to say Oriental; you should say Asian or better yet, the specific country such as Japanese, Korean, etc…. Instead of thinking about this as “PC”, think about it in terms of avoiding assumptions in writing. It is easy to fall into the trap of using language that can be construed as racist or sexist. For general and academic writing purposes, avoid fillers and other unnecessary words and phrases. I could not care less if a reader is offended by proper English. Let's take a look at some of the most common stereotypes in literature: Absent-minded professor - A genius who trips and can't get out of his own way Angry black woman - A sassy, emasculating, and overly opinionated black woman Bad boy - A macho guy who lives on the opposite side of the law, often a brooding rebel with or without a cause Clichés are vague. They are considered trite and should be avoided in writing … When you’re writing college paper, business document, articles for newspapers or newsletters or communications that will go online, pay special attention to avoiding offensive language. Only PERVERTS play “politically correct”! Stereotypes are oversimplified ways of cataloging groups of people based on the differences between them and other groups of people. By checking this box I consent to the use of my information provided for email marketing purposes. Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! 5 Tips for Writing a Glittering Urban Fantasy Story. Learn what cliches are out there in YA so you can avoid them or learn how to twist them into something new. It’s a hilarious glimpse at the multifarious stereotypes of writers who aren’t thinking hard enough about what they are writing. In fiction, clichés refers to characters or story elements that readers can spot (and avoid) a mile away. Language is not neutral and I believe any attempts to make it so only serves to dilute its utility. Euphemisms and deceitful language 3. Oh, boy! As you’ll see from this list, stereotypes can be positive or negative and for protagonists or antagonists. And your readers will deeply appreciate the effort. As you continue to read, your will learn some of the main issues with the use of appropriate language, such as: 1. If you want your novel to be memorable, you’re going to have to take some time to examine your characters and root out as many stereotypes as you can. How to Avoid Stereotypes Posted on August 9, 2019 by Melanie Anne Phillips Coming up with characters can be as simple as looking to our subject matter and asking ourselves who might be expected to be involved. Writers often already know to avoid stereotyping characters with features such as race, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. Manipulation of language has led to some of history’s vilest atrocities. Use “their” instead of “his” or “anyone” instead of “a man”. Princesses come in two main kinds: 1 Wimps.2 Spirited and wilful. When in doubt, scratch that. The use of the masculine inclusive is not striking because we are numb to its effect out of habit. We all use stereotypes in everyday life, whether at the grocery store or filling up at the gas station or at a scientific symposium. And there goes the ol’ postwriting check…. You can notice your stereotypes when you are in another country,or when you meet foreign people.However,I have never been out of Albania,so I have heard hardly any stereotypes about Albanian people. These are a few reasons why you should avoid stereotypes in your characterizations. Don’t assume your novel needs to be filled with dramatic, over-zealous, action-packed scenes. To remedy this, authors began writing the butt-kicking female protagonist, which has now become a stereotype all on its own. Robert brings up a very good point concerning the default use of ‘he’ as the anonymous pronoun. Not everyone will be offended of course – which is what we all hope for! Take a look at the following post to connect up with some on Facebook: Research your facts and don’t include statements you believe to be true just because the majority of people also believe so. I remember that Guy Kawasaki used to mention in his bio that he learned “how to sell” from the Jews. As the 2nd Anniversary of Writing Diversely approaches, I want to revisit the very first post I wrote, How to Write Characters of Color Without Using Stereotypes.When I started this blog (and still to this day) the top concern of authors I work with is is stereotypes and tropes. Either way, it takes away from your point and makes your writing less effective. Stereotypes are so embedded in our conscious and subconscious that they end up on the pages of our novels before we really have a chance to process why we have chosen them. ChatEbooks lists down some of the most common female stereotypes that you may want to avoid. Use the feminine inclusive when possible (with or without an explanation), or mix the masculine and feminine, to jar the reader. Whether your fantasy novel contains none of these clichés or all of them, what matters most is that it is written well. I think the most important point is that you should always write with the goal of getting your point across as clearly as possible. – but sometimes it is best to play it safe. Cliché’s are phrases or expressions that have been used well past the sell-by date. Mexicans are lazy. Stereotypes exist, and they … The Kick-butt Action Girl – Likes to punch, kick, and be tough; The Mary Sue – Written to fulfill the author’s fantasies or concept of self-perfection; The Crone or Hag – Old woman who can curse or harm others, literally or socially By doing that, you’re editing your thoughts — pre-censoring your writing. If you do want to express your thoughts using biased terms that is fine, as long as you are doing it deliberately. Of course examining why these assumptions exist is maybe only appropriate for a sociology paper, but it is good to keep in mind. Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Clichés . I’m Vietnamese and I had no idea that saying oriental would offend Asians; even I use the word oriental. They are sometimes rooted in fact, sometimes in prejudice, and if taken at face value, they contribute to intolerance and discrimination and limit people in their understanding of society. As is mentioned, use your judgement, and if you have half a brain, and the foresight to research your target audience, you should be able to tell the difference between an insulting statement and a harmless one. I found your post to be a stereotype to be avoided. 7 examples of sexist language to avoid in your writing Sexist stereotyping, despite efforts spanning decades to change it, still exists, and it’s pervasive in how we communicate. “ his ” or “ anyone ” instead of “ his ” or “ anyone ” instead of “ ”... And whether it was jarring to me and I wrote a two footnote. Teen readers must be able to see themselves in your writing on color in three classes: stereotypical,. 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