June 19, 2017

Diverse Characters - K + L + M



INTRODUCTION:

There’s been a lot of talk about adding diverse characters to fictional books. Most of the time, this is about including people of color if you’re a Caucasian writer, but all writers can add diverse characters to their books. And why stop at race? In this series, I’m going to list all sorts of diverse characters.

Note: I'm not knowledgeable about all types of people, so I'm skipping my usual tips in favor of letting others share their knowledge. See below 

**I won't be able to list them all, so here's a list of ethnic groups...with a list of even more lists at the bottom of the page. lol



Here are the diverse characters for K:


Kenyans (Individuals from Kenya)

Kings

Knights

South Koreans

North Koreans

Kurdish Individuals

Kymophobics (people with the fear of waves)


Here are the diverse characters for L:

Latinos

Laotians (Individuals from Lao)

Lebanese Individuals

Lesbians

Leprechauns (fantasy)

Lithuanians

Little People (Individuals with Dwarfism)

Lutherans

Lygophopics (people with the fear of darkness)


Here are the diverse characters for M:

Macedonians

Malawians 

Malaysians

Mennonites

Mexicans

Mexican Americans

Mermaids

Military Members

Middle Easterners (Individuals from the Middle East)

Missionaries

Mormons

Monacan Indians (Monaco)

Mongolians

Moroccans 

Individuals with Multiple Personality Disorder

Mute Individuals 

Musicians





SHARE: If you can come up with more diverse characters that start with K, L, or M, let me know and I will add them to my list.

QUESTION: Do you have tips or Do's/Dont's for one of the characters I mentioned above? Share your advice for writing about those characters in your comment.



Have you written about a character from my list?



52 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing that, adding character diversity to written works is a wonderful idea indeed and one that should be seen more often. Warm greetings and have a splendid week!

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    Replies
    1. There does need to be more books with diverse characters. Thanks for commenting!

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  2. Wonderful examples of diversity Chrys,
    Have a great week, very hot here.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's hot here, too. Have a great week, Yvonne!

      Delete
  3. I've used leprechauns a time or two. Does Looney's count for L or is that not PC? lol

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  4. Every one I could think of you already had listed.

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  5. Lyuba, the female protagonist of my Russian historicals, has an aunt and uncle who were missionaries in East Prussia. They proselytised for Eastern Orthodoxy in a largely Lutheran, Calvinist, and Roman Catholic province.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'll add Lutherans.

      Did you know Lyubas are female woolly mammoths? :D

      Delete
  6. I write using diverse characters, but that's just a personal choice. It was difficult finding books with protagonists I could fully relate to from a cultural standpoint.

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  7. The character in my new WIP is Mexican. But I am too, so, you know, write what you know.

    Maybe I'll throw in a Lebanese lesbian because that's a fun tongue twister.

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  8. I'm with Beer. You can't more diverse than that!

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  9. I was thinking that I don't use much diversity in characters until I read your list. Gosh, diversity covers a lot of ground, but I guess that is as it should be.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Diversity does cover a lot of ground. We are diverse in so many ways than just skin color. :)

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  10. This is a very moving post, Chrys. I love your list. Thank you.

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  11. Yes, writing about diverse characters is becoming more important, thankfully, given the diversity of readers. My husband was Mexican-American and my daughter is Chinese, so it's been easier for me to use diverse characters in my writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the diversity of readers is definitely bringing more diverse characters. And also because we're curious. I love to read books about diverse characters because I learn a lot. :)

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  12. I thought multiple personality disorder was now called DID (dissociative identity disorder).

    I must mine my Lebanese relatives for some stories. Too bad most of them are no longer with us.

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    Replies
    1. It is...but I needed something for M. lol And people still know of it as MPD.

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  13. Hi Chrys - what a great list of potential characters for us to use in stories ... Macedonians ... and others from ancient history ... today others from Africa, Asia etc ... fascinating to think about - cheers Hilary

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  14. Some good suggestions as always :-) I like the idea of a story with leprechauns and mermaids.

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  15. So I got nothing, but I do love the list as always. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

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  16. I look for new and different things. Thanks for sharing and giving others some ideas.
    sherry @ fundinmental

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  17. In the 80s there was a group from Japan called "The Pink Ladies" so I had to smile at the Korean group (as Koreans in general detest the Japanese for having conquered their country and the way they were treated during WW2 (which lasted a lot longer for them than for us).

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    Replies
    1. I've read some great books by Pearl S. Buck about the Koreans and what happened with the Japanese.

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  18. Can't say I've incorporated those individuals into my books yet...unless Egyptians count as Middle Eastern, and I don't think they do. Great list!

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    1. I don't think so either, but I'd like to write about Egyptians.

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  19. Love your picks. Musicians; now there are some truly diverse characters. Almost as diverse as Authors.

    Thanks for the nod to Military women. And Mermaids :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So true!

      Of course. I couldn't forget Military women. :)

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  20. I especially like the mermaid! Have to consider that one. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I want to write about a mermaid now, too! LOL

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  21. Right!? Why not sneak a mermaid into your mystery suspense? ;) As the publishing world calls for diversity, it really seems all they want are two specific categories of people. Which kind of drives me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. When it comes to mermaids, why the heck not? :P

      I have to agree with you on that. There's a lot more diversity out there.

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  22. Hi, Chyrs,

    I used several different difference characters in my second novel. Marine Corp Captain dad, a Blind student who befriends the MC and helps him during his brutal attack by his dad. So, as you say, there is tons of diversity and not just with characters of color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, skin color is just one part of diversity. :)

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  23. A fear of waves? Wow, I never heard of that. I wonder if people avoid places like California or Hawaii for that reason. I'm just afraid of the usual stuff, like heights, spiders, and the possibility that Trump will get re-elected.

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    1. They'd most certainly avoid the beaches, that;s for sure.

      HAHA! I share your final fear. :P

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  24. I never thought about diversity, but my latest YA novel, Princess Breeze, has a main character that's a prince on a tropical island and speaks Spanish. I guess that's diverse. This is the sequel to Just Breeze. Interesting.

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    Replies
    1. That is diverse. If he was Spanish, that'd be even more diverse. ;)

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  25. I'm surprised I have no written more stories with mermaids. In fact, I haven't written any! I freaking love mermaids and wanted to be one when I was a kid. Why am I writing about vampires????? LOL

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    1. You should write a mermaid story! The market isn't saturated with them like it is with vampire stories. And people love mermaids!

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