Ok but also don’t judge a story solely on how many minorities it contains please and thank you
What are you trying to say here? That diverse characters don’t make a story automatically good, or that people shouldn’t write off a story as one that doesn’t interest them because it lacks diverse characters?
Tumblr has a habit of thinking that diversity automatically makes a story good, and a lack of it automatically makes it evil and bad beyond redemption. That’s what I’m referring to.
Yes, you should have diverse characters of varying backgrounds and such, but I’m afraid that a lot of young authors are focusing all their energy on stuffing as many minorities as they can into their stories, instead of actually making their stories good.
Remember, it should be diversecharacters,not diversecharacters.
Sorry for hijacking your post, Agent Black, but I really want to have a discussion about this, so I’ll answer everyone who has reblogged and sent in asks about this here.
“Tumblr has a habit of thinking that diversity automatically makes a story good, and a lack of it automatically makes it evil and bad beyond redemption.”
That’s been the gist of a lot of the commentary, but I don’t actually see that happening altogether that often. What I do see often are some other sentiments:
“I’m not reading this because it lacks diverse characters.” / “Ugh another book with a cis/straight/white/abled protagonist.”
I believe that this comes from a place of being tired of not being represented. I want diverse books. I put my money where my mouth is, and actively try to support authors who write diverse books so I’ll put that extra effort into searching for and buying diverse books. I’m not very interested in reading books which lack diversity. Does that mean I think books which lack diversity are evil beyond redemption? Absolutely not. But I’m probably not going to bother actively supporting them either.
Read this book!!! It has an [insert type of diversity] protagonist!!!
It’s because some groups so rarely see themselves represented in fiction that when it’s done correctly, of course they want to share it around with other members of their community. The book may be lacking in other areas (prose, structure, etc.), but that good representation may mean enough to someone that they’ll be willing to forgive the parts that are lacking and consider the book to be “good” overall.
What the hell the lack of diversity is straight up inaccurate
If someone sets a story in a high school in a multi-cultural city and everyone is straight/white/cis/neurotypical/able-bodied, then it does not reflect real life. Simple as that. Does the inaccuracy make it a “bad” book for some people who have been erased from that setting? Probably.
“Historical Accuracy”
If someone sets their story in a fantasy world then cries “historical accuracy” when being called out on their lack of diversity, then sorry, but they deserve every bit of judgement they get. They created that world. Somewhere along the line, they made the choice to exclude certain groups from that world. Similarly enough, there’s also an issue with people setting their real world stories in what they think a time/place looked like, rather than what it actually looked like, and chalking it up to “historical accuracy” when in reality, pretty diverse groups lived in that time/place.
I also see some people send in asks to writing advice blogs along the lines of “I’m uncomfortable writing diverse characters because….” and they’re met with some anger/hate/criticism. I don’t think that they should get hated, but I just don’t get it. Are they looking for reassurance that they don’t need to write diverse characters? With the Tumblr attitude, what else would they expect? People that they feel “uncomfortable” writing will see that post, and get justifiably angry/upset at being told that they’re not worth the effort.
I do agree that with diverse characters, the focus should be on quality over quantity. No one should be pressured to write every type of diversity and intersection thereof into their novel, and that may very well be a side effect of Tumblr discourse, but if there is no diversity at all in someone’s story, then I do think there is cause for concern.
‘Hey bastard this store is already closed oh wait you’re hot
never mind please do come in’ AU
‘I’m on the verge of tears because of a rude customer and
you step in and stand up for me’ AU
‘I can feel you silently judging me as you ring up my
purchases I swear I’m not using these for their intended purpose’ au
‘Why does this cost TEN DOLLARS THIS IS AN OUTRAGE’ AU
Hairdresser
AU
‘You’re my
regular customer and I’m in love with the feel of your hair’ AU
“Rumor has
it that you’re a hairdresser with magic fingers and you can fix any bad hair
day so that’s why I’m here’ AU
Gift store AU
‘Why the fuck are you choosing that for a gift to your crush’ AU
‘You walk in and offer to pay me to wrap your gifts’ AU
Florist AU
‘I work as a florist and every day you walk in, buy one flower
and give it to me’ AU
‘I work part-time in a flower shop and you keep asking me about
what this flower means in flower language and I honestly don’t know so you end
up giving me a lesson’ AU
Jewellery shop AU
‘You walk in and ask for the most expensive piece are you
loaded to the gills what the fuck man’ AU
‘I’m the employee and this is the first time ever I’ve met
you but you buy me a necklace saying the gem compliments my eyes’ AU
Coffee Shop AU
I write a bad pick up line on your cup every time I’m your
barista’ AU
‘You’re the customer and you get back at me for all the
times I’ve spelt your name wrong by mispronouncing my name in increasingly
horrible ways’ AU
‘You’re really short and cute and you buy a cup of black
coffee every morning but you make weird faces as you sip it and you never
finish your drink are you trying to look mature or something’ AU
‘Should I be concerned about how much caffeine you’re taking
in’ AU
Bakery AU
‘Your love of strawberry shortcake really doesn’t match your
appearance but i still think that’s really cute’ AU
‘Every morning you walk in and inhale deeply then walk back
out seriously just buy something already’ AU
Drug Store/Chemist AU
‘You embarrassedly place your items into the counter so I
call a price check just to make you feel more awkward, but it turns out one of your
items were actually overpriced’ AU
Bartender AU
‘You’re the bartender and you catch someone slipping
something into my drink’ AU
‘I ask you to concoct something from all the ingredients on the list i gave you and it
ends up tasting so horrible and wrong that i can’t stop laughing’ AU
Teacher AU
We’re both teachers and at the end of the year we compare how
many gifts we’ve received from students and you’ve won for the past three
years’ AU
‘Romeo and Juliet of the math and english dept. in school’
AU
Writer AU
I’m a writer and when it gets close to my deadlines I neglect
taking care of myself so you’ll pop in my house every so often to make sure I’m
doing okay’ AU
Fast food Chain AU
‘You just ordered a smile and I look at you like you’re
batshit insane before bursting out into laughter’ AU
‘You’re an employee and I have a crush on you so when you
hand me the soft serve I accidentally grab it by the ice cream instead of the
cone’ AU
‘We have a free refill policy for soft drink and you’ve
prepared several empty bottles what the fuck’ AU
Corner Shop AU
‘I see you come in here every day to buy the same drink and
one day I leave a message on the bottle’ AU
‘You run in looking really panicked and you ask for 6
gallons of milk why’ AU
Restaurant AU
‘You’re a famous critique and I’m a server and I get so
nervous that I trip and spill the dish all over you’ AU
‘You’ve always been a good cook so I encouraged your start
your own restaurant and seven years down the track you own one of the most successful
businesses’ AU
Idol/Manger AU
‘I’m your manager and holy shit you have crazy fans’ AU
‘You’re an idol and you got the lead role in a romance drama
and you practice at my expense’ AU
‘Can you please act appropriately do you know just how many
of your fuck ups I’ve had to cover up last week’ AU
Firefighter AU
‘You’ve just been saved from a burning building and you’re
begging to go back in to save your pet cat’ AU
“No that’s impossible
how the fuck did you manage to get it to catch fire?!” AU
Sex Line Operator AU
‘I called you because I was curious and wow you have a very
soothing voice can you please sing me to sleep’ AU
‘I have a very
cute neighbour and very thin walls and
one day I call you and err your moans
are very synchronised with my
neighbour’s’ AU
And Finally:
You’re a drug lord and I think I’ve just walked into your
drug den’ AU
gabrielarava said to fixyourwritinghabits: Hi! I’m in the process of outlining a young adult novel and am very adamant about avoiding cliches in the genre, especially romantic ones. What are some of the most common cliches in YA romances?
Truthfully, I’m a real sucker for a good romance my in YA novels. I’m also quite picky about what I read and ship. I feel like somewhere along the line, this answer turned into “all-the-things-I-hate-about-YA-romance,” but here we go!
The Love Not-Triangle. I don’t mind love triangles, as long as they actually are triangles, not something that looks vaguely like this from the start:
A “love triangle” that adds no suspense because we know by the end of chapter one that A is going to eventually end up with B, and B and C have no relationship other than their competition for A’s affections. It doesn’t matter how great C is, or how badly B treats A, A will end up with B.
Write a love triangle that actually has the reader guessing who your protagonist will end up with. Write a love triangle with fleshed out characters that includes other complicated non-romantic relationships interfering. Write a love triangle that is memorable.
Not-Plain Heroine. A heroine that is plain only to her eyes. Often with brown hair. Extremely pretty when she dresses up. Love Interest finds her beautiful all the time.
The Eternally Smiling White Knight in Shining Armour and the Brooding Baddest Baddass also known as your typical male love interests. Please, give the White Knight some flaws and the Brooding Baddass some reasons for being brooding. Less cardboard cutouts, more rounded characters.
Tragic Backstory. Everyone needs a backstory, but sometimes it goes too far. Sometimes, backgrounds with abuse and other very serious things are taken lightly and used for the sake of a flashy tragic backstory, to make a “broken” character that can be simply “fixed” by love.
“I’m dangerous/I’m not good for you/Stay away from me.” Please no. If they really have that level of self awareness, and really are as good as the book later makes them out to be, then they should have made the effort to stay away. If someone said that to me, I’d give the creep a look and walk away.
Unnecessary and easily solved conflict. If the problem can be solved through an easily do-able 2 minute conversation or a text, then it does not need to be dragged out into 5 chapters of angst.
Romantic Stalking. I don’t know why this is a thing. Stalking is never romantic, it’s a creepy invasion of privacy. Overly “protective” and possessive guys are not romantic, they’re abusive.
First Love at First Sight/Insta-Love. Well, we’ve all seen this one. People get crushes, people fall in lust, but two people do not fall in a deep, maddening, meaningful and heathy love within five minutes of meeting.
The Jealous Third Party who exists for no reason other than to tear the main couple apart. Usually horrible, vapid and shallow. No character development other than to hate the protagonist more and more.
Straight, cis and white. Not exactly a cliche, but you get the idea. You see a lot of YA out there with straight, cis and white people falling in love, and I’m getting a little tired of it. Of course, writing about other genders/sexualities/cultures takes a lot of work and research, but I highly encourage you to do so!
The Magical Healing C***. Sex heals wounds. Falling in love cures you of depression. Your relationship means an end to any mental illness you’ve been struggling with. Please, stop right there. Just no. Stop. Don’t do it.
Is it alright if I contribute some?
Relationship Tunnel Vision. The plot forgets about or purposely pushes away relationships with the protagonists family and friends so that the only shoulder they have to lean on is the love interest’s. Doubly creepy if the love interest has a hand in these relationships diminishing.
The Lady and the Knight. It’s not a bad cliche at all, I just think it’s kinda predictable. It’s the one where romance blooms between a noble lady and her knight or other sort of bodyguard. Taking it more vaguely, it can also be any situations where a male love interest is in charge of the female protag’s safety. Consider ways to make it a little less formulaic.
My Destined Love. I see it a lot in fantasy romances where a fantastic race (It’s very common with werewolves actually) has this thing where they magically know their mate the moment they meet (Sorta love at first sight, enforced by plot magic). It’s an excuse to skip directly to the part where they have chemistry instead of building their relationship properly.
Masculine Guy Feminine Guy. With regards to LGBT romances, you often see one of them get characterized with masculine traits and the other with feminine traits. Mixing up traits that are usually gendered unnecessarily is great, just be careful you aren’t subconsciously applying heteronormative traits to LGBT relationships.
Anti-Empowerment Romance. If you have a female character who is ultra capable and powerful, don’t you dare diminish that so she can be a damsel for her love interest. Her love interest’s abilities should compliment hers, not just do what she does but better. Let her keep her agency even if the love interest needs to step in to help.
because sometimes what’s left to the imagination is much more terrifying.
“Are you feeling alright? You don’t look it.” “I just heard something… Something bad…” “Why didn’t you tell me about this?!” “What’s all this blood?!” “Will you tell me what the fuck is going on?” “Don’t give me that look! It wasn’t my fault!” “You should probably sit down for this.” “Please tell me you forgive me!” “I can’t live without you!” “Oh god, It was a mistake coming here… I’m sure of it.” “What the hell happened to you?!” “Where have you been?! I’ve been waiting for hours!” “You promised you wouldn’t do this anymore!” “I knew not to trust you!”
“What’s that in your bag…? Is that–? Tell me it’s not!” “Is this what a dislocated shoulder feels like?!” “How could you do this to me?!” “Wake up! Wake up!!! You’re having a nightmare!” “I feel weird… what was in that drink…?” “I don’t want to leave you, but you’re not really giving me another option.” “Please… you’re scaring me…” “Ssh, I heard something again. How aren’t you hearing it? It was loud… and getting closer.” “Are you okay in there? You’ve been so quiet.” “I came as soon as I could! Did he/she get to you already?” “I don’t know whether I want to do this. I don’t know whether I CAN do this.” “Do you remember anything?” “You have to tell me who did this to you!” “No, no, I’m not alright. I’m definitely not alright.” “What’s your fucking problem?!” “Are you crying?” “You’re freaking me out! Please calm down!” “I’m leaving. And I’m not intending to come back.” “You… are dying?” “Did you drink the whole bottle while tripping? Seriously?” “Do you have a deathwish or something? Jesus!” “Ever been held at gunpoint? Want to know what it feels like?” “Stop screaming! Shh, calm down! You have to keep quiet!” “When’s the last time you slept?”.
because sometimes what’s left to the imagination is much more terrifying.
“Are you feeling alright? You don’t look it.” “I just heard something… Something bad…” “Why didn’t you tell me about this?!” “What’s all this blood?!” “Will you tell me what the fuck is going on?” “Don’t give me that look! It wasn’t my fault!” “You should probably sit down for this.” “Please tell me you forgive me!” “I can’t live without you!” “Oh god, It was a mistake coming here… I’m sure of it.” “What the hell happened to you?!” “Where have you been?! I’ve been waiting for hours!” “You promised you wouldn’t do this anymore!” “I knew not to trust you!”
“What’s that in your bag…? Is that–? Tell me it’s not!” “Is this what a dislocated shoulder feels like?!” “How could you do this to me?!” “Wake up! Wake up!!! You’re having a nightmare!” “I feel weird… what was in that drink…?” “I don’t want to leave you, but you’re not really giving me another option.” “Please… you’re scaring me…” “Ssh, I heard something again. How aren’t you hearing it? It was loud… and getting closer.” “Are you okay in there? You’ve been so quiet.” “I came as soon as I could! Did he/she get to you already?” “I don’t know whether I want to do this. I don’t know whether I CAN do this.” “Do you remember anything?” “You have to tell me who did this to you!” “No, no, I’m not alright. I’m definitely not alright.” “What’s your fucking problem?!” “Are you crying?” “You’re freaking me out! Please calm down!” “I’m leaving. And I’m not intending to come back.” “You… are dying?” “Did you drink the whole bottle while tripping? Seriously?” “Do you have a deathwish or something? Jesus!” “Ever been held at gunpoint? Want to know what it feels like?” “Stop screaming! Shh, calm down! You have to keep quiet!” “When’s the last time you slept?”.
because sometimes what’s left to the imagination is much more terrifying.
“Are you feeling alright? You don’t look it.” “I just heard something… Something bad…” “Why didn’t you tell me about this?!” “What’s all this blood?!” “Will you tell me what the fuck is going on?” “Don’t give me that look! It wasn’t my fault!” “You should probably sit down for this.” “Please tell me you forgive me!” “I can’t live without you!” “Oh god, It was a mistake coming here… I’m sure of it.” “What the hell happened to you?!” “Where have you been?! I’ve been waiting for hours!” “You promised you wouldn’t do this anymore!” “I knew not to trust you!”
“What’s that in your bag…? Is that–? Tell me it’s not!” “Is this what a dislocated shoulder feels like?!” “How could you do this to me?!” “Wake up! Wake up!!! You’re having a nightmare!” “I feel weird… what was in that drink…?” “I don’t want to leave you, but you’re not really giving me another option.” “Please… you’re scaring me…” “Ssh, I heard something again. How aren’t you hearing it? It was loud… and getting closer.” “Are you okay in there? You’ve been so quiet.” “I came as soon as I could! Did he/she get to you already?” “I don’t know whether I want to do this. I don’t know whether I CAN do this.” “Do you remember anything?” “You have to tell me who did this to you!” “No, no, I’m not alright. I’m definitely not alright.” “What’s your fucking problem?!” “Are you crying?” “You’re freaking me out! Please calm down!” “I’m leaving. And I’m not intending to come back.” “You… are dying?” “Did you drink the whole bottle while tripping? Seriously?” “Do you have a deathwish or something? Jesus!” “Ever been held at gunpoint? Want to know what it feels like?” “Stop screaming! Shh, calm down! You have to keep quiet!” “When’s the last time you slept?”.
Just click a button when you pull up an article and it will automatically save it to your library
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Just download it and you won’t have so many urges to kill everyone in sight while writing a research paper
Thank you so much!
Guys, I cannot stress how amazing this program is.
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But that’s not the best part, the best part is that you can access your articles ANYWHERE. Literally anywhere. Forgot your laptop and at a public library? No worries! You can go to the Mendeley website and ACCESS ALL YOUR ARTICLES WITH YOUR NOTES ONLINE. You don’t even have to download the program to access it! It is a life saver and I suggest everyone in academia use it!
AngelMihe 