5 Considerations When Adding Diverse Characters to Historical Romance
Award-winning author Lisa Rayne shares the typical responses she received when she shared her novel idea with people, and five things authors need to consider when adding diverse characters to historical romance.
In my first-ever historical romance, Never Cross a Highlander, we follow a brash, Highland warrior of African descent carrying on a secret mission that leads him to inadvertently kidnap a feisty servant lass in a classic enemies-to-lovers tale. When I first shared my desire to write a historical romance featuring a Black Highlander, I often received one of two responses: (1) “There weren’t Blacks in Scotland during that time period” or (2) “Were there Blacks in Scotland back then?”
Honestly, neither of these comments surprised me, but it’s time we broaden our notions about where and when Blacks (and persons of all other races, ethnicities, and cultures) lived and definitely how they loved. As more and more authors share stories meant to display the diverse populations of their local societies and the world at large, committing these diverse characters to the page can present some challenges. Here are my top five considerations for those wanting to give it a try.
1. Expand your notion of what’s possible.
What you have been taught about where and when persons of color have lived and what they have achieved throughout history is likely extremely limited. Simply because you have never learned about it, heard about it, or seen it before does not mean that it did not exist or that it could not possibly have happened.
Many Americans live with huge voids in their understanding of the history and movement of persons of color and indigenous populations. The inclusion of such persons in U.S. history textbooks and school curricula is limited at best and often delegated to minor sidebar snippets. Accordingly, it’s important to expand your notion of what’s possible.
If you can imagine a time and place, go ahead and imagine that time and place with a diverse population. The size of those diverse populations may vary depending upon the locale, but the specifics of the demographics and socioeconomics can be filled in with research.
2. Don’t over explain.
There is a tendency for writers to over explain cultural or ethnic-specific references in their stories. These extra explanations result in the glaring otherization of diverse characters. Sometimes a deeper understanding of heritage or culture can be woven into characterization using dialogue, or clothing descriptions, or details such as shared meals. This is important and can make a story richer when done well.
However, explanations included simply because you feel the urge to spotlight a particular aspect of a character’s culture or heritage that has no true significance to the plot, character arcs, or central romance will feel forced. It’s like waving a red flag: “Hey, look! I added a diverse character right here!”
Trust your reader to understand your cultural references or to have the curiosity to do their own homework if necessary. If you would not explain a particular choice, habit, food preference, hairstyle, etc. for a white character, consider whether it’s truly necessary to explain such a reference for a diverse character. Usually, the answer is no.
3. Be mindful of character descriptions.
Don’t identify race if you don’t for all your characters or if it’s not necessary for the storyline. When an author goes on for pages and chapters describing characters with only hair color, eye color, and maybe complexion or height then gets to a character who’s specifically identified as “Black” or “Asian” or “fill-in-the-blank,” it can give a reader pause.
When the only characters who are so identified are from a traditionally marginalized demographic, it makes whiteness the story world’s default. If we want to reflect inclusivity and not simply diversity in our stories, then character descriptions should be done equitably.
Also, be careful with body, complexion, and hair descriptions. Particularly if you are not from the culture you are writing about. Avoid terminology that fetishizes the looks or anatomy of characters. In addition, be mindful that the phraseology you use does not have negative connotations. If you need help with this, do everything in your power to get it.
4. Be honest with yourself about your purpose.
In recent years, a nationwide spotlight has been shined on the abysmally low percentage of books released by traditional publishers that are written by authors of colors and feature main characters of color. One of the results of this spotlight has been to motivate many mainstream authors to start adding diverse characters to their books.
While this is great in theory, it has opened the door to a plethora of books featuring stereotyped, one-dimensional, and/or fetishized characters. The intended goal of the spotlight was to encourage the traditional publication of more romance books featuring authentic characters written by diverse authors whose stories those characters reflect.
If this isn’t you, please ask yourself why you want to add a main character–or any character–of a race, ethnicity, or culture other than your own. And be honest with yourself. If it’s just to do the “in” thing or you “feel like” you should, you may want to wait. If it comes from a genuine, authentic place, however, then you have a responsibility to represent those characters with respect, dignity, and authenticity.
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5. Do your research.
Most aspects of Considerations one through four above can be solved by doing conscientious and thorough research. However, when writing cross-culturally or outside your race or ethnicity, more than academic research will be necessary. It’s important to have intimate knowledge of the culture, race, or ethnic group you want to write about.
It helps to have friends in the applicable demographic but note that one or two such friends is not enough. You need inside, intimate knowledge that comes from significant and long-term interactions: hanging out at their houses, dinners on weekends, vacationing together, and so on. Even then, it may not be enough.
At this point, it’s time to hire a sensitivity reader and/or engage beta readers who reflect your characters. And yes, that’s readers plural, because people’s experiences and worldviews can vary even within cultures and racial groups, so you’ll want several perspectives.
Remember, every true romance novel ends with a happily-ever-after, and every person from every walk of life should have the opportunity to see themselves reflected in that bliss … even if it’s only on the page.
An award-winning author, Lisa Rayne graduated from college with a bachelor’s degree in Comparative Literature and went on to obtain a law degree before becoming a romance writer. Always looking to try something new, Lisa’s excited to put her sexy, banter-laden spin on historical romance. Lisa lives in the Midwest, where she serves as track mom to two collegiate daughters.
