thinking about #OV stories today and the whole “who can write what” debate and I just want to say this: there’s a middle ground between “I’M gonna tell YOUR story and we’re gonna call it representation” and “I’m not gonna write any marginalized people at all” (1/6)

it’s called “acknowledge diversity exists in your world without speaking over those voices”. it’s including other races and sexualities and religions but never presuming to write about struggles or experiences in those roles (2/6)

I can acknowledge that people who are different from me exist in my work without reducing them to a stereotype or speaking over the real people they’re meant to represent (3/6)

Even in fantasy, I can create multiple diverse cultures based off real world diversity (without using harmful stereotypes to build those cultures, of course). Rep isn’t just about who your MC is, it’s also about your worldbuilding. Who’s visible? Who exists in your work? (4/6)

So no, I don’t think ppl should tell stories centring on experiences outside their marginalization. I don’t think marginalized ppl should be limited to writing ABOUT their marginalization either. (5/6)

But the options aren’t a limited to “tell someone else’s story” or “exclude them from the narrative entirely”. It’s not a dichotomy. There’s a range. Work within it. (6/6)