Herd Immunity Is The Idea That If Enough People Get Immunized Against A Disease, They’ll Create Protection

Every day a story about why they’re killing you

— Khaled Mattawa, from "Occupation: An Index," Fugitive Atlas

Writing x Characters When You Aren’t x, A Masterlist

x: a variable used to represent something unknown.

We’ve seen an influx of questions about how to write stories based around characters of color, disability, non-binary, etc. when the author does not fall into these categories. Rather than have these posts take over the site, we’ve decided to compile a list of resources to help our fellow writers become more educated about writing what they do not immediately know. However, this list is not the end-all-be-all of knowledge; one should always try to learn from someone with first hand experience in any topic. The world is constantly growing and changing, and because of that, there will always be more to learn. The admins at Plotline Hotline want to help writers form respectful, informed, and realistic characters that broaden the narrow range we see in literature today. 

*Be wary that some of the topics listed below contain sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.* 

As always, the links I found to be especially apt will be in bold. Topics are listed alphabetically, excepting the “other” section.

Culture

Appropriate Cultural Appropriation

What is Cultural Appropriation? [1,2,3]

Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Voice Appropriation & Writing About Other Cultures

Diversity, Appropriation, and Writing the Other [List]

Disability

Writing Disibilities [1,2,3,4,5]

Guides to Writing Deaf or Hard of Hearding People

National Association of the Deaf - Resources [List]

World Federation of the Deaf

Using a Prosthetic Device

Prostehtic Limbs (Character Guide)

How NOT to Write Disabled Characters

A Guide to Disibility Rights Law (United States)

Timeline of Disibility Rights in the United States

Social Security Disability: List of Impairments, Medical Conditions, and Problems [List] (United States)

How to Write Disabled Characters: An Opinion Piece

Artificial Eye Resources [List][Various]

Adapting to the Loss of an Eye

Misconceptions and Myths About Blindness

Blind Characters: A Process of Awareness

Writing Blind Characters [List]

Types of Learning Disabilities [List]

Diversity

A Guide to Spotting and Growing Past Stereotypes

How to Prepare to Write a Diverse Book

The Diversity of Writing

Why Diversity Matters for Everyone

Writing a Driverse Book [1,2,3,4,5]

Diversity, Political Correctness and The Power of Language

Diversity Book List [List][Books]

Basic Tips To Write Subcultures & Minority Religions Better 

Basic Tips to Avoid Tokenism

Gender

GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender

Creating Well-Written Trans Characters

A Few Things Writers Need To Know About Sexuality & Gender Expression

Trans (Character Guide & Bio Building)

A Non-Binary Person’s Guide to Invented Pronouns

Gender Neutral Writing [List]

Keeping a Trans* Person a Person  

Suggestions for Reducing Gendered Terms in Language [Photo]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

Writing Characters of Different Genders [List]

Understanding Gender

Gender Spectrum Resources [List]

Gender History

Illness 

Writing Chronic Illness [1,2]

The Spoon Theory - Also pertains to disibility

About HIV/AIDS

Sexually Transmitted Diseases [List]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sex and Gender Differences in Health [Study]

All Chronic Illness Topics [List]

Coping with Chronic Illness

All Cancer Types

A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide/Health Coach

Fiction Books With Chronically Ill Main Characters- Not Cancer [List][Books]

Neurotype (Including Mental Health)

Writing an Autistic Character When You Don’t Have Autism

Depression Resources [List]

What to Consider When Writing Mental Illness

Stanford Psychiatric Patient Care

Inpatient Psychiatric Questions and Tips

Don’t Call Me Crazy [Documentary]

(Avoid) Romanticizing Mental Illness [1,2]

A Day in the Life of a Mental Hospital Patient

State-run vs. Private Mental Hospitals

Mental Disorders

Mental Hospital Non-Fiction [List][Books]

National Institute of Mental Health - Mental Health Information [List]

Writing Autistic

What Causes PTSD?

Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia

ADHD Basic Information

What is a Learning Disability?

What is Neurotypical?

Race

Writing Race: A Checklist for Authors

Transracial Writing for the Sincere

Is my character “black enough”

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Challenge, Counter, Controvert: Subverting Expectations

Writing With Color: Blogs - Recs - Resources [List]

Writing People of Color (If you happen to be a person of another color)

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make

Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

Religion

Religion in Novels: Terrific or Taboo?

How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The Religion

Writing About Faith And Religion

From Aladdin to Homeland: How Hollywood Can Reinforce Racial and Religious Stereotypes 

Sexuality

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [List]

Writing Gay Characters [1,2,3]

American Civil Liberties Union - LGBT+ Rights

LGBT+ Rights by Country or Territory

History of Gay Rights

Gay Rights Movement

LGBT+ Culture

Gay Myths and Stereotypes

LGBT+ Studies Web Sites [List]

LGBTQ Youth Issues

LGBTData.com

Overview of Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care (United States)

Other

How Doctors’ Offices—and Queer Culture—Are Failing Autistic LGBTQ People

Five Traps and Tips for Character Development

Developing Realistic Characters

I hope that this list will provide topics a writer may not initially think to research when writing. If there are any resources that you think would be fitting for this list, please let us know! We want to have as many helpful sources as possible to maximize learning opportunities. 

Stay educated,

xx Sarah

Link to the Go Fund Me for Leneal Frazier:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-raise-money-for-leneal-frazier?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer

gofundme.com

Help raise Money for Leneal Frazier, organized by Lisa Clemons

Please help A Mother's Love raise funds to help Cheryl Frazier raise money to help c… Lisa Clemons needs your support for Help raise Money

the day that tumblr learns that it isn’t progressive whatsoever to shame people for being attracted to men is the day the world heals. there’s nothing progressive about shaming gay and bisexual men using homophobic tactics and spreading biphobia toward bisexual women.

I genuinely mean this, I hope all 5 of those Supreme Court members who voted Yes have to live their lives getting harassed and are extremely bothered till their last dying breath.

Bother them, make their lives miserable, make them not want to leave their homes.

I really hate doing this but I'm desperate. My cat Grayson injured himself and cannot walk on his back legs. We went to the emergency vet today and they charged $500 and we have no answers as to what happened to him other than "it might be a spinal issue". $180 just to walk in and the rest went to bloodwork. He's on an antibiotic and steroid medication for the time being, but still needs X-rays and possibly an MRI.

Unfortunately, this visit maxed out my credit card and I cannot afford any more medical care for him, so I'm asking if you can, to please subscribe to my Patreon to help us out. Even if it's just a one-time donation, I would be so grateful and so would my baby boy. I have nothing left and would literally rip my heart from my chest if it meant Grayson could be happy and healthy. This plea is my last resort.

I got Grayson years ago when he was nine months old, a scared little boy who came from a home with over 30 other cats. He was tiny, neglected, and terrified of everyone and everything. It took so long to gain his trust and even now, ten years later, he still has anxiety and runs and hides when scared. Until now, he has always been a healthy cat who enjoys playing with wand toys, catnip, and his favorite Temptations treats. I can't stand seeing him in pain like this.

If you are able, please please consider donating or subscribing to my page so we can hopefully help this sweet little guy out. The link is here.

Art by Maurycy Szymczak

we may not have been able to save brandon. but the fight is far from over.

this is dustin john higgs.

in 1996, he was convicted of kidnapping and murdering three women and was sentenced to death.

this conviction is entirely false. he didn’t murder anybody.

he has been found not guilty of the crime. at this point, the only reason he remains in jail is because he was at the scene of the crime. the court also claims that he bullied willis hayes, the man who actually did murder the three women, into killing them. however, willis hayes has come forward and has admitted that dustin DID NOT commit the crime, and he’s also even confessed that dustin never bullied him into murdering the trio of women. but the court won’t accept it.

DUSTIN JOHN HIGGS IS SCHEDULED TO BE EXECUTED ON JANUARY 15, 2021. HE IS GOING TO BE EXECUTED FOR A CRIME HE DID NOT COMMIT AT ALL. WE CAN’T LET THIS HAPPEN AGAIN.

Change.org

Sign the Petition

To get Dustin John Higgs off death row

@esspress0depress0 @thesevenumbrellas @real-tua-facts @thetrueihaveaname @youngsamberg @umbrellas-be-falling @peterbparkers @amystiago @stranger-umbrellas @glitched-coffee @letsgoravendors @kakakuroo @klaus-is-the-real-number-1 @itty-bitty-rampaging-committee @mariarreynolds @benhargrieves @number5theboy @millicent-is-goose @caseoftheblues @27-umbrellas @the-aro-ace-arrow-ace @the-umbrella-academy-confessions @studentlifeproblems @sunriseseance here’s another chain post for you. you guys know the drill, please make sure to tag anybody you can think of to make sure this message gets somewhere.

Fuck knowledge and ideas