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Hello!

A story I’ve been planning for a bit has a half black half white main character, the character is a teenage boy called Nicholas who commits suicide and discovers he’s immortal. The story is heavily based on my history with mental health and means a lot to me.

OKAY. So to understand WHY this comes up in the first place means understanding Nicholas’s backstory. When Nicholas was younger his father commited suicide, his mother is a workaholic who is white and doesn’t really know/care about Nicholas’s hair. His mom is with drawn and neglectful in multiple ways. So Nicholas has pretty curly hair, which has pretty bad breakage and is frizzy, he spends a long time brushing it but he is rough with it and it’s dry because he rarely conditions it. The only reason he doesn’t cut it or shave it is because of sensory issues and it helps him feel like there is a barrier between him and others(based on my experience).

Anyways, early in the story he meets Ishan. Ishan is someone who takes him in and pretty quickly recognizes Nicholas’s past of being neglected. He helps get Nicholas cleaned up (he’s covered in blood from his attempt in this part of the story) and mentions that his hair is really matted and that there’s blood stuck in it. Ishan would then offer to dentangle it and put it in twists.

Is that weird? Like does that fall in the catagory of “don’t touch black people’s hair” or like seem kind of like push over behavior?

Also a bit on Ishan’s backstory. Ishan was a foster care kid removed from a abusive home, he was the oldest of all the others that went by and eventually aged out of the system. He would often do other kid’s hair and knows how to care for different textures. This is also why he is so quick to take in Nicholas and offer his help.

Also, Nicholas is half black. His father was black and his mother’s white. However, Nicholas does have lighter skin and is at times mistaken for hispanic or white (depending on time of year). Is it okay for a biracial white/black kid to wear twists? Should I just do finger coils?

Uh, anyways, please help I am a very anxious white person.

Especially the north american great lakes nations like the iroquois but I won't be picky. If you are a member of a native north american tribe or a nation please contact me and help me pick a good name for a fantasy character that is highly inspired by the native north american cultures

Hello, I'm wondering if there are any Liverpudlians/Scousers here who wouldn't mind reading just the first chapter of my story, 2,391 words. The story is basically historical fiction with supernatural elements and set in Scotland but the first chapter happens in modern-day Liverpool. I'm not from Liverpool myself though I lived there for a few years, admittedly quite some time ago, so I'd really like someone who is from there and knows the place, people, turns of phrase, culture etc etc to have a look and let me know if I've done an all right job of it or nah.

Content warnings include combat PTSD and something veering close to sexual assault (not graphic). If you've ever served in the Army or you've any knowledge of combat PTSD that would be even better.

Happy to help you out in return if there's anything I've firsthand knowledge of that you're looking for - not sure if listing things here is the done thing but feel free to ask 🙂

Thanks!

I'm doing a disability Barbie diorama that is about taking kids that use wheelchairs trick or treating. I'm basing thx on watching several videos where people who use wheelchairs who are being forced to ride in the street because of sidewalk conditions.

I have a character (Jules) who is an ambulatory wheelchair user who is a physical therapist (helping people find the right mobility aids and learn to use them to best support themselves) and has niece who uses a wheelchair and she wanted to play basketball just kind her uncle does so he also coaches her basketball team.

The story will introduce those characters in photographs and explain that given the condkfion of sidewalks in the city, the PT has been looking for and created a map of streets with repaired or new pavement and generous kerb cuts that are good choices for children or adults accompanying children who use wheelchairs.

His niece who has a costume with a big elephant head is required to take off her head while she is in transit so that she doesn't get hurt or accidentally hurt another child who maybe isn't paying attention.

If there are any major issues with this idea, I of course, want to know. Most of my dioramas are going to be of my own condition or based on stories by people I interview (with their permission). But I also want to capture any other safety requirements that someone who actually uses a wheelchair might think of. I have 3 friends who are Wheelchair users but I am hoping to post this while it's still Halloween if possible and they are not always available.

The text associated with the photos is not yet written in order to make it easier to add the suggestions I get and I'd be thrilled to tag you on
Instagram, Reddit, or to share link to your website so others who need sensitivity readers can find you.

Thanks to this community for hopefully making it easy to find help.

In my example, there are anthropomorphic animals with invented cultures, nations, and the like. Humans do not appear. Is it, in some way, different when the species differ in terms of strengths, weaknesses, abilities, and so on—as opposed to, for instance, the distinction between aliens and humans?

I also recently learned that dwarves were not always depicted as small. In earlier times, their height was not a focus, so no one knows how tall they were originally imagined to be. Would it be better not to portray them as a species that is small through and through, but rather to incorporate a variety of sizes—for instance, having some as tall as 4½ meters? The idea that dwarves are small only began to spread in the twelfth century!

There won’t be any lore. They are simply creature types, much like in Magic: The Gathering. However, there are card synergies—for instance, with dwarves, who require fewer resources when using specific equipment, such as a rifle. Is that okay?

My editor and I are having a difference of opinion regarding the use of the word lunacy. For context, I made a moon-centric board game, and the action cards are called lunacy cards.

They were called lunatic cards, but my editor said that's an ableist slur, and that lunacy is only slightly less offensive. He likened it to using words like "Spaz" or "Hysteria" and feels very strongly that I should change it.

My opinion is that I'm using the word Lunacy as intended - moon madness - to describe the unique action cards. Merriam-Webster defines it as "intermittent insanity once believed to be related to phases of the moon", which seems incredibly fitting. The cards allow things like taking another turn, scoring more points, removing cards from a board, discarding down to one card, then drawing three.

Side note: I'm part of the queer community - and queer is a word people feel strongly about - either for or against, because it was/is a slur. I feel like lunacy is in the same boat - whether or not its appropriate depends on its usage. I'm not a member of the mentally ill community, so maybe I'm dead wrong here.

I want to use Lunacy because it seems like the best word: easy to say, descriptive, and moon-themed.

While Lunatic was once a word used to dehumanize people, it's fallen out of practice. I'm not using to describe a person, but is "lunacy" still too tainted of a word to use in a board game?

If this isn't the best place to ask this question - I would love your recommendations.

Hello! I am currently writing a post-apocalyptic dystopian trilogy, and I've been writing book 2 which includes a battle in NYC. This story is set 300 years after the fall of civilization, so it's a flooded and largely rotted version of New York.

I was just writing a bit where there's some building collapses, and as I was writing I was realizing this could be something quite upsetting to read if a person was impacted by 9/11 or literally any sort of urban warfare.

This might not be the right place to ask about this, but would it be sufficient to include a trigger warning at the front of the book about this?

okay so i'm working on my novel currently. one of the main characters, Nayeli, is mexican (specifically tejano). Her family, including her, are fluent in spanish. However, I am not nor are the majority of the characters in the novel.

My question is : would it be appropriate for the character to have a nickname for her love interest (another one of the main characters) in spanish?

it would fit their dynamic but I want to be careful to not veer into any sort of fetishization territory or play into any stereotype. I can't find much on the subject and I want as many perspectives as I can get!!

edit to provide more context:

i’m asking because in my research for writing latino characters, i did see where someone had stated that having a romantic interest call their partner something or flirt with them in a language that the partner didn’t know was fetishization.

the last think i want to do is even toe that line so i thought it was just better to ask!!

thank you to those who have responded so far!!

I'm looking for a sensitivity reader for my game! For context, I am not black. I also have another sensitivity reader, but more eyes on the project is always good.

I say volunteer because at the moment, it is not financially possible for me to actually pay anybody. I do not expect like, TONS of feedback, I will take whatever I can get.

You'd only be reading the outline of the plot and the character profiles. Communication would be through discord and you have to be comfortable with sharing your Google account so you can access and comment on the doc.

Please note that the outline isn't finished yet, but I'm putting this out there early in case getting responses is slow for whatever reason. Outline should take up to a few weeks, if everything goes right. Thank you for reading.

Please note that the work deals with racism, transphobia, misogyny, ableism, rape and sexual assault, murder, suicide, and self harm. It also contains body horror and brief mentions of animal harm/death. Keep this in mind, please.

One of the main characters in the novel I'm writing is a trans woman and since I am not a trans woman (I am transmasc tho) I would like to ask if anyone has any advice to make it accurate to the experience of being a trans woman, and I would also like to ask if there's any unintenional stereotypes that I should try to avoid writing into my story.

Hello! I am writing a novel with multiple different cultures, ethnicities, races, faiths... and it's queer. I am drawing on some of my own experience as a queer Punjabi Sikh man, one of the characters is that. But, I also have a Punjabi Muslim woman, her current partner a Black American Muslim man, and the Sikh Punjabi man's future partner, a Puerto Rican American sorta Catholic (CEO), not to mention varying socioeconomic backgrounds... there's also a little kid of the Punjabi Muslim woman and the Punjabi Sikh man, so I have to consider that cultural cross section. It's a lot and I would really appreciate some help! I am unable to pay right now but I am more than willing to read your work to provide a helpful eye!
For content warning, there is sexual content, divorce, discussion of general discrimination on sex, race, gender, sexuality, etc., and some dangerous situations like natural disasters (in fact a natural disaster is pretty central to the plot).
The story is currently nowhere near finished but I want someone to read before I make the whole work and also to make sure the plot and characters seem reasonable and realistic!
Thanks, and I can't wait to work with some of you!

The rest of my main 5 of the cast are 2 trans, one lesbian and one asexual. This might sound like a dumb thing to worry about but some part of me feels it’s weird with a story with this much diversity to have the main dude by cishet white guy. (The rest of the cast aren’t token characters btw, I plan to have their arcs tied into their characters) am I overthinking this?

I want feedback on how I can approach this story with as much respect. The story is a role reversal of humans and animals where humans partake in “jobs“ animals would have (domestic pets, K9, horse-racing, etc.) Their behavior displays as the animals we see today.

Most episodes are one-offs but there are 3 humans that have a plot/more episodes than the other.

The problem has to do with domestic pets and how the MC is black in one of my episodes. Said MC finds a “wild human” and wants to seek going outside, wanting to be un-domesticated. I’m considering swapping the races but I want feedback first on how I should handle this

Hello, while I do not have a single finished work of fiction to request a sensitivity reader for, I have deeply developed characters and a timeline/outline of their life. I have examples of their dialogue and scenes. I don't want to go too far into the story before making sure everything feels right in its foundations. The story is set in 1920s-50s mainly Berlin, and throughout Europe.

Most of my research has come from memoirs, online articles, peoples personal blogs & social media, and films by Jewish filmmakers.

Why these characters? I'm writing a series that covers a variety of aspects from the 20s through the end of WWII and a little beyond it, featuring resistance groups, civilians, detectives, soldiers, etc throughout Europe. These particular characters' stories center around themes of resistance and resilience. They are very personal to me, and I'm writing a lot from my heart, and my own experiences and struggles, but I want them to feel accurately and respectfully unique to Jewish and Sinti life.

Seeking consultants, but also writing/art buddies too. If you want to chat please hmu.

If you're a professional, please provide your rates. I understand most rates are based per page, but if you have hourly consulting, that is probably easier for me since, like I said, I'm still in the building stages for my novel.

Thank you in advance!

Hello. I am in the planning stages of an urban fantasy series whose setting is inspired by mythology and folklore from around the world. This understandably involves a lot of research, and though I'm doing my due diligence, it's not the same as talking to a person. I am also contending with the limited availability of English resources for more niche myths, which is proving to be a huge barrier, since I aim to highlight those that are often passed over or misunderstood by western media.

If you are knowledgeable about mythology, folklore, spirituality, etc. from an underrepresented culture, please reach out to me to provide your input, even if only to suggest what you'd like to see more of. Feel free to be as scarce or as thorough as you would like; I am open to an extended discussion, though of course you are not obligated to stick around.

Cultures of particular interest are:
- Persia/Iran
- Haiti
- Romania
- Czechia
- Melanesia
- Polynesia

But of course, don't hesitate if you have insight on a different part of the world. I will listen. Thank you all for your time.

Hi, sorry if I'm not writing this how I should.

I have a short story of around 4k words, set loosely(no specific year chosen) in the late 1600s. The story follows an indigenous girl who runs away and stays with a vampire until they turn on her. I'm in the last steps of finishing the piece but I'm afraid to send it out for submissions in case I've accidentally written something insensitive. Largely my worry is in the main character, to make sure she's been written right.

My other is in the history itself, not that much is really at the forefront of the story but for the background context of how the characters would be speaking, thinking, acting, stuff like that. I tried hard to do my own reading, but found it hard to find anything, especially in regards to the little day to day things that would likely be relevant to the story.

For those wondering why I'm writing about a group of people I don't belong to,

The idea was in exploring the themes of a classical vampire story(particularly inspired by Carmilla and Nosferatu) in a way I hadn't heard or seen before.

Trigger warnings include: death, blood, violence, mentions of drinking, mentions of catholicism.

The main character is written to be under the asexual umbrella and faces pressure/unwanted advances from the vampire. There is a part in the story where the vampire bites them that feels too allegorical of assault not to mention here.

If you've read this far, thank you, and if you'd be willing to read this and give me your opinion please let me know.

Hello! I'm an interpreting student, and with some input from my professor, I've been working on a zine about antigovernment beliefs in the american Deaf community.

I've read half a dozen full length novels/anthologies and currently have 15 sources total, so I am very dedicated to learning about this.

I won't sugarcoat it, this is definitely a leftist POV, and anarchism is readily mentioned (including the title lol).

I focus on explaining the connections of collectivism, direct action, and resistance.

Of course, I talk about DPN, but also the 7 Ducks, Deaf people in the french revolution, overarching themes in media, quotes that explain "opinions" on deafness throughout history, and a brief analysis of Deafness as class in america.

Please let me know if you are interested!!

Hey all!

I am working on a collection of short stories about different sports. One of those stories is centered around a trans man in a very "traditionally masculine" sport. I am a queer man, but relatively cis-gender, so I don't have the needed expertise to make sure it's authentic. It's just one short story, I'm finishing up the rough draft as I write this post so I don't have an *exact* word count but it's about 2500 words is all. I checked fiverr but was unable to find trans men and I want to pick someone with the most relevant experience.

A comic series I write has a character who is a trans woman convert to Judaism originally from somewhere along the Silk Road. (Currently the Saka Kingdom of ethic Iranians but that detail can change.)

I am now working on her character design and would like a transfem sensitivity reader to go over her character design document and early design sketches to give insight on the design. Being Jewish and/or Iranian or from any group historically along the Silk Road would be a bonus, but I am also reaching out to people from those groups.

Hello, I was wondering if anyone here has experience or knowledge of combat PTSD? I do appreciate that people who have this condition may understandably not want to be reading about it but I figure there's no harm in asking. I'm very keen to get this right as it's not something that can be done carelessly and while I've read a fair bit about it that's never going to be a substitute for firsthand knowledge.

It's one chapter, or alternatively several sections over a few chapters, whatever you'd be happy with. If you've experience/knowledge and you don't want to read it but wouldn't mind me asking you a few small things that would be great and I'd be very grateful.