#44: Writing Beyond Your Own Experience — Respectfully Portraying The “Other” The Confident Fiction Author podcast

#44: Writing Beyond Your Own Experience — Respectfully Portraying the “Other”

4d ago 28:21

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Have you ever had a story idea that included a character or culture outside of your own—and then hesitated?

You wondered, What if I get it wrong? What if readers call me out?

In this week’s episode of The Confident Fiction Author podcast, I talk about how you can respectfully and confidently write beyond your own experiences. Because if we only ever write from our personal worlds, our stories will be flat, limited, and missing the depth readers crave.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

Why authenticity matters, even in fiction—and how readers connect when they sense it.
Practical steps for writing “the other” with depth, respect, and realism.
Why you should use caution with sensitivity readers (I did an entire podcast episode on this topic alone. You can listen to it here.)
How to balance shared humanity with unique cultural identity for authentic characters.

Writing beyond your own experience isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. And when done with care, it builds trust with your readers while giving them richer, more immersive story worlds.

And if you’d like to go deeper, I created a digital course called Fiction Writing American Indians, where I teach you step by step how to bring Native characters to life with authenticity and respect. You can also grab my free guide, Five Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing Native Americans, at FictionCourses.com/AmericanIndians.

In this live masterclass, Choctaw author and writing instructor Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer equips fiction writers to include Native American characters in their stories with accuracy, respect, and confidence. Through clear examples and practical strategies, she shows how to avoid common missteps, replace fear with understanding, and build trust with readers.

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Free resources for you:
The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit
Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation
Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide
5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

44 episodes

Have you ever had a story idea that included a character or culture outside of your own—and then hesitated?

You wondered, What if I get it wrong? What if readers call me out?

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

Why authenticity matters, even in fiction—and how readers connect when they sense it.
Practical steps for writing “the other” with depth, respect, and realism.
Why you should use caution with sensitivity readers (I did an entire podcast episode on this topic alone. You can listen to it here.)
How to balance shared humanity with unique cultural identity for authentic characters.

Writing beyond your own experience isn’t just possible—it’s powerful. And when done with care, it builds trust with your readers while giving them richer, more immersive story worlds.

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#44: Writing Beyond Your Own Experience — Respectfully Portraying the “Other”