#214. Subverting the Mainstream Lens: Writing Stories That Stay True to Your People (With Tiffany Grimes)

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2M ago 35:37

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Learn how to write authentic, diverse characters without over-explaining or fearing criticism.

Writing diverse characters can feel intimidating. You want to include different voices in your story, but worry about misrepresenting them. This leads many writers to either avoid diversity altogether or fall into the trap of over-explaining everything for a mainstream gaze, thereby diluting the power of their story.

In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Grimes, founder of Burgeon Design and Editorial and an MFA-trained editor who specializes in amplifying marginalized voices. After recognizing areas for growth in her own feedback, Tiffany has spent years helping writers shed performative expectations and write with radical honesty.

Here's what we cover:

[05:40] Tiffany's vulnerable experience writing about a Vietnamese character and learning she wasn't the right person to tell that story.

[10:06] The core framework that separates writing "about" a community versus writing "to" your community from the inside.

[18:48] Why you should give yourself permission to write the stereotype first in early drafts.

[20:24] How Jesinia (a deaf character in the Fourth Wing) shows why trusting your audience creates better representation.

[21:20] The protection question that helps you identify when you're diluting your story for mainstream audiences.

[26:53] Understanding emotional clarity and how readers' experience goes deeper than just character representation.

Whether you're writing characters from your own experience or exploring different perspectives, this conversation offers compassionate guidance for creating authentic, powerful stories that honor both your characters and your readers.

🔗 Links mentioned in this episode:

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Chapters

1. Inside vs. Outside the Community (00:00:00)

2. Welcome & Episode Focus (00:01:02)

3. Meet Tiffany Grimes (00:02:02)

4. Defining The Mainstream Gaze (00:02:47)

5. Who Are You Writing For? (00:04:38)

6. A Personal Misstep and Lessons Learned (00:06:01)

7. Expectation vs. Truth (00:08:09)

8. Spotting Translator Mode (00:10:16)

9. Feedback, “Clarity,” and Reader Trust (00:12:03)

10. Practical Strategies to Avoid Overexplaining (00:14:14)

11. Research, Mentor Texts, and Accountability (00:16:45)

12. Emotional Clarity and Reader Experience (00:19:00)

13. Specificity, Marketability, and Impact (00:21:05)

14. Barriers, Mindset, and Tiffany’s Workbook (00:23:08)

15. Where to Find Tiffany & Closing (00:24:40)

235 episodes

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