How Do I Write Non-Sexist Sex Scenes?
How can I write sex scenes where the woman enjoys herself without seeming sexist? – Anon Read more »
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Social Justice
A Field Guide to Six Infectious YA Clichés
Dear YA novelists of all shapes and sizes: there is an infestation spreading through the ranks of our beloved genre. Distorted by centuries* of grotesque overexposure and abhorrent inescapability, these clichés have wormed their way into even the best-intentioned novels. Watch out! They may be … read more »
203 – Writing a Different Gender
Gender is a complex thing, and writing a character whose gender is different than yours can seem a daunting task. This is especially true for writing a gender less privileged than yours. Don’t worry, we’re here with sage advice. This week, we discuss how to … read more »
Can I Craft a Setting Without Bigotry?
First off, I love this whole website with my whole heart. Second, my question is: Is it possible to write a story/craft a fictional world where bigotry and discrimination is completely nonexistent? I think in terms of racism, sexism, heterosexism, etc. it is entirely possible … read more »
Five Common Storytelling Mistakes in the Pursuit of Social Justice
Social justice is intrinsic to storytelling. Fiction has a long history of championing the oppressed, and spec fic fans are particularly proud of that tradition. We love to pontificate about how Star Trek portrayed a racially diverse bridge crew like it was no big deal … read more »
Five More Good Stories That Turned Creepy
I’ve said it before: pointing out creepy or otherwise problematic content in bad stories is easy. Bad stories are less likely to have legions of defenders, but more importantly, we’re more inclined to see harmful elements in stories we already dislike. But critics and fans alike … read more »
Five Common Harmful Representations of Disability
Disability is an extremely common human experience. Many people of all ages have disabled bodies, divergent minds, or chronic illnesses. Almost everyone who lives to old age will eventually experience some form of disability. This is why disability is an important experience to include in … read more »
Five Reasons Not to Write a Persecution Flip Story
So you’ve read through all the articles tagged “social justice,” and you’re convinced: Bigotry is wrong. It’s evil. And it leads to lousy writing. You want to do your bit to fight bigotry with your stories. That’s highly commendable. Now you’ve come up with an … read more »
Five Stories That Don’t Understand Power & Privilege
Mythcreants veterans can tell you that I talk about the dynamics of power and privilege a lot. It’s important that real people understand these dynamics, because if they don’t, they end up blaming problems on the oppressed instead of the oppressor. People operating under this misapprehension … read more »
Eight Absurdities We Force on Female Characters
Have you ever noticed how many more articles there are about writing female characters than there are about writing male characters? Are women such strange and unusual creatures that we need an ever-growing number of articles to tell us how to write them? Read more »