In my last post, I made my disclaimer and introduction about writing multicultural fiction.
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Some writers express difficulty writing from a child's eye view.
Still others rely on cliches when they write about other cultures, other races, and other ethnic groups.
A character often begins in my mind's eye.
I started life as an artist, so gender, race, and body type comes first.
I see the character's height, hair color, and often how they may sound.
If I want to get more technical, actual measurements, the texture of their hair, the shape of their eyes, I figure out through exposition. Hand size and facial shape comes through with physical characterization.
You may ask what does this have to do with writing multicultural characters?
Well, I often think about the people around me.
Culture may not come into play until after.
I have to know who this person is first. If I'm confusing anyone, sorry.
In a nutshell, to begin thinking multicultural, think about the individual FIRST.
This is why writerly advice often stresses that you write as much and as often on your Work-in-Progress.
Writers often put undue stress on ourselves.
We cannot know EVERYTHING about our WIP: plot, story, characters, style... But what we do know is that, through the process of writing, something is revealed.
Get to know your character through the relationship of writing.
