When it comes to creating diversity in a story, it is essential to incorporate a range of characters that reflect different backgrounds, cultures, beliefs, and experiences. By including diverse characters, you are not only mirroring the real world but also providing representation for a wide range of readers. Diversity in storytelling allows you to explore various perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and create rich and dynamic narratives that resonate with a diverse audience.

One way to ensure diversity in your story is by being mindful of stereotypes and avoiding tokenism. Tokenism is the inclusion of a character from a marginalized group simply to fulfill a quota or appear inclusive, without giving them depth or agency. Instead, aim to create well-rounded characters with complex personalities, motivations, and arcs. Research and sensitivity are key when portraying characters from different backgrounds; seek out diverse perspectives, consult with sensitivity readers, and strive for authenticity in your storytelling.

Diversity isn’t about sprinkling in one Black, Asian, queer, or disabled character just to look inclusive. It’s about writing stories that reflect the real world — full of different voices, backgrounds, cultures, and lived experiences.

Don’t reduce characters to one label like “the Black friend” or “the gay sidekick.”
They should have:

• Hobbies
• Flaws
• Opinions
• Family, culture, faith, or language
• A reason to be in the story beyond supporting the main character

If the only thing you can say about a character is their race, gender, or sexuality — you haven’t fully written them yet.

2. Let Them Lead the Story

Put marginalized characters in the center, not the background.
Let them:

• Drive the action
• Make big decisions
• Mess up, fall in love, be the villain, or save the day

Black, brown, and queer characters should get to be complicated, funny, scared, powerful, petty — just like anyone else.

3. Avoid Clichés and Trauma-Only Stories

Not every story about a diverse character needs to be about racism, homophobia, or suffering.

• Diversity is not a trauma plot.
  Your Black character doesn’t have to be fighting racism to be valid.
  Your gay character doesn’t need a painful coming out arc to exist.
  Your Muslim character doesn’t need to be navigating Islamophobia to belong on the page.

What to Focus on Instead

You can write characters who are:

• Black and in love
• Trans and solving a mystery
• Queer and leading a fantasy rebellion
• Muslim and being the nerdy genius in the group
• Disabled and chasing their dreams

Let them:

• Be messy
• Be funny
• Make bad decisions
• Fall in love
• Have hobbies
• Want things that have nothing to do with identity politics

Their identity should be part of who they are — not the entire plot.

Avoid These Common Pitfalls

• Making every story about oppression or trauma
• Only writing diverse characters as background support to a white or straight main character
• Using identity only to “teach a lesson” instead of building real human depth

Write joy. Write softness. Let your characters exist without constantly explaining or defending who they are.

Example: A Black teen in a horror story doesn’t always have to “die first” — let her survive. Let her win.

4. Do the Research

If you’re writing outside your identity:

• Listen to real stories
• Follow creators and voices from those communities
• Read books written by people with that lived experience

Approach it with humility, not fear. You don’t need to be perfect — just honest, respectful, and open to feedback.

Avoid This: The “Supportive Black Sidekick” Trap

Too often, Black characters are written only as background support for a white main character. They're cast as the “funny friend,” the “wise bestie,” or the “loyal protector” — but they don’t have their own goals, dreams, or emotional depth.

Here’s what to watch out for:

Don’t Make Black Characters Just the Sidekick

• If their entire purpose is to hype up, protect, or save the white main character, that’s not representation — it’s tokenism.
• They deserve their own agency, story arc, and voice.

Bad example:

The Black friend who’s always aggressive or “tough” to protect the white bestie, but we never get to see why he’s that way, what he wants, or how he feels.

Don’t Use Stereotypes to Fill in Personality

Being “loud,” “sassy,” “angry,” or “street smart” aren’t real character traits — they’re lazy shortcuts if that’s all you give them.

Black characters are more than:

• The tough best friend
• The comic relief
• The voice of reason
• The “cool” or “edgy” background filler

Do This Instead:

• Let Black characters be messy, soft, quiet, insecure, romantic, curious, or scared.
• Give them their own motives and choices that affect the plot.
• Make them main characters — not someone else’s emotional crutch.
• You don’t have to write perfect Black characters. Just write real ones.

Lesson Summary

Creating diversity in storytelling is crucial for representing a wide range of backgrounds and providing meaningful representation for different readers. Here are some key points to consider:

• Include characters that reflect various backgrounds, cultures, and beliefs.
• Diversity allows for exploring different perspectives and creating dynamic narratives.
• Avoid tokenism by developing well-rounded characters with depth and complexity.
• Research and sensitivity are vital when portraying characters from diverse backgrounds.
• Characters should have hobbies, flaws, opinions, family, and reasons for being in the story.
• Avoid reducing characters to one label based on race, gender, or sexuality.

Tips for portraying diverse characters authentically:

• Put marginalized characters at the center of the story.
• Avoid clichés and trauma-only narratives.
• Allow characters to lead the storyline and have a variety of experiences beyond identity-based struggles.
• Focus on writing diverse characters with complexity, humor, and individuality.

Common pitfalls to avoid include:

• Avoid making every story about oppression or trauma.
• Avoid using identity solely for teaching a lesson rather than building real human depth.
• Research thoroughly if writing outside your identity and avoid falling into stereotypes.

When writing Black characters, steer clear of the "Supportive Black Sidekick" trope and strive to give them autonomy, depth, and individuality:

• Avoid making Black characters mere sidekicks or stereotypes.
• Give Black characters their own agency, story arc, and voice.
• Avoid using lazy shortcuts and instead portray Black characters as multifaceted individuals.
• Let Black characters be main characters with authentic motives and choices that drive the plot.