Have you ever tried to cast the perfect person for your character of color only to see the same couple of face claims over and over again? Well I have a solution for you!
Face Claim Diversity Presents: The Face Claims of Color Directory!
Face Claim Diversity is brand spanking new, fresh off the lot, state-of-the-art blog dedicated to providing resources just for face claims of color. For the past few months, I’ve been working on the directory and the themes and I’m ready to show-case it!
The directory is easy to use, features tons of people of color (though it’s still very much a work-in-progress!), has plenty of options to narrow down your search, and has a guide in case you need help. I’ve tried to find lesser-known models, actors, and musicians to feature in the directory, though there still are some familiar faces. When you hover over the pictures, more information will show up.
As time goes on, I will add to the directory. But, since I am in school full-time and work, much of my time is taken up. To make things go faster for me, submit a face claim for me to add if you’d like! Also, if you’re interested, please consider rating the blog so I can make it the best it can be. You can also be a part of this project by sending me a message to apply to be a mod!
Please reblog this post if you’d like and to spread awareness! I’d appreciate it!
So you’re thinking of writing a character as asexual? Great! Maybe you’re asexual yourself, or maybe you’re a non-asexual person trying to portray it accurately.
Being asexual can affect a person’s life and personality in many ways; I know that I, at least, would have grown up to be totally different if I weren’t asexual and aromantic. Your asexual characters’ personalities should reflect asexuality without being completely defined by it. And this holds true regardless of whether you’re writing original fiction or fanfiction.
If you’re not asexual, it may be hard to think of ways that asexuality could affect your characters’ lives, and how you can portray it in a sensitive and realistic way. So I’ve compiled a list of character-development questions to help you. There are no right or wrong answers, as long as you treat your characters’ sexual orientations as real, and not as something to be “fixed” by falling in love or having good sex. These questions will help you get an idea of all the options open to you as a writer, and prepare you to write your asexual character in a consistent way. You may even get some good ideas for plots and conflict from this list. And if you are asexual, then this list might be helpful to you, too.
…Because interrupting the narrative to turn it into Asexuality 101 is not always a good idea.
It may be easier to implement these ideas if you’ve also read my asexual character development question list. You can also get more ideas from reading and answering those questions.
Note: Most of these ideas will also work for gray-asexual and demisexual characters, because they tend to have a lot of experiences in common with asexuals.
Say it outright.
The only way to be 100% certain is for the character to identify themself as asexual in the story’s text. Everything else I suggest here, at most, can only hint in that direction. If you intend to actually represent asexuality in your story and not just imply it, you must state it explicitly at some point. Otherwise, you’re just doing the asexual equivalent of queerbaiting (acebaiting?), which is infuriating because asexual people have almost no fictional representation in the first place.
Your characters might use the word “asexual,” or they might say something else that means the same thing. When doing this, remember that there is a difference between being asexual and being celibate.
Examples:
“I’m asexual.”
“I’ve never been sexually attracted to anyone.”
“I do not lust after other people.”
“I’m not attracted to anyone, and never have been.”
“I don’t have any urge for carnal pleasures.”
Drop hints about it in dialogue.
Think about your character’s attitude toward sex. Are they sex-repulsed, sex-indifferent or sex-enjoying? When they think about sex in general, do they find it boring, gross, annoying, creepy, amusing, weird, or just meh? Most asexual people do not enjoy sex or seek it out, but they aren’t outright afraid of it either. When you write dialogue, think about your asexual character’s opinions, feelings, and expectations about sexuality, and look for opportunities to suggest that they’re not on the same wavelength as everybody else.
Examples:
“I’m not interested in anybody.”
“I’m not planning on getting married.”
“Dating is overrated.”
“I hate it when movies have sex scenes.”
“Wait, people actually find it hard to be celibate?”
You can also subtly suggest that a character is asexual by writing them as oblivious to or disturbed by innuendo, dirty jokes, flirting, and/or conversations about sex. Some asexual people have a hard time picking up on these things, or will assume everything is platonic unless it’s explicitly spelled out as sexual. Others might be so repulsed by sex that they don’t even like hearing about it. And then again, some asexuals find the subject hilarious or interesting, and will be very explicit or detached when talking about it, to the point of making non-asexual people feel awkward.
Develop an asexual backstory, and mention it in the text.
Think about the ways that your character was affected by growing up asexual, and how their youth may have differed from other people’s. Maybe they always winced and turned away at kissing scenes in movies. Maybe they couldn’t be bothered to date anyone in high school. Maybe they tried having sex, just to see what all the fuss was about, but regretted it or were disappointed. Maybe they spent years wondering what was wrong with them because they didn’t like sex. If the character is old enough, think about how asexuality may have affected their dating life in the past. If your character knows they’re asexual, you should also think about the experiences that led them to realize it.
Adjust the way that the asexual character speaks.
If your character uses words and concepts that are rarely heard outside the asexual community, it’s a big fat sign that they identify as asexual, or are at least very familiar with asexuality. The asexual community thinks about love, attraction and relationships in a different way than mainstream culture does, and our language reflects that. I’ve compiled a nice glossary of words and concepts that your asexual character may use in conversation. You can also try dropping references to asexual culture, such as a black ring on the right middle finger, or the colors of the asexual flag. (I advise staying away from the cake jokes, though.)
Some asexual people avoid describing other people as “hot” or “sexy,” because those words may imply sexual attraction.
Show how asexuality affects the character’s romantic and/or sexual relationships (or lack thereof).
Some scenarios that asexual characters may encounter:
They are virgins well into their 20s, or even later.
They have sex, but find the experience underwhelming, disgusting or disturbing.
Their relationships become strained because their partner wants sex but they don’t.
They avoid dating entirely because the prospect of having sex with someone makes them uncomfortable.
They feel like they have to fake being sexually attracted to someone.
They’re afraid their partner will leave them for someone more interested in sex.
They can’t find a partner because they don’t want to have sex.
They do find a partner who doesn’t mind having a sexless relationship.
They choose to have sex for different reasons than most people do, and these reasons are not related to sexual attraction.
They want to “wait until marriage” but are secretly dreading having sex after the wedding.
Their relationship with their romantic partner is not taken seriously by other characters because it does not involve sex.
They form a queerplatonic relationship instead of a romantic relationships.
Their partner agrees to become celibate, or they work out a compromise on what kinds of sexual activities they’ll do together.
They set up an open or polyamorous relationship so their partner gets sexual satisfaction elsewhere, while still remaining happily together.
They seek medical treatment for not being as sexually interested as they think they’re supposed to be.
They don’t think that they need birth control or STD protection because they are celibate.
I’m undoubtedly forgetting a lot more.
Make the character’s hobbies, lifestyle, goals, and entertainment choices reflect their asexuality.
Keep in mind that asexual people are diverse, and the ideas listed below do NOT apply to all, or even to the majority of asexual people in real life. But they can be good starting points for sparking discussions about asexuality in your story, or as additions to an asexual character who is otherwise well-rounded. They can also be good ways to foreshadow that a character is asexual.
The following are just a few examples of how asexuality can affect someone’s lifestyle:
They choose to avoid media that contains graphic depictions of sex.
They don’t have a porn collection.
They avoid romantic movies, or movies with sex scenes in them.
They avoid going to bars, nightclubs, strip clubs, raves, or other places with sexually charged atmospheres.
They tend to avoid collecting art and music that have sexual content.
They do not try to dress up so as to appear attractive to the opposite sex.
They don’t enjoy hanging out with non-asexual friends who talk about sex or sexual attraction a lot.
They avoid casual sex or one night stands entirely.
They never want to get married.
They expect to spend their future and old age single.
They aren’t very interested in having sex, and need a strong reason before they’ll consider it.
Make other characters curious about the asexual character’s dating life or sexual orientation.
In real life, if a person between the ages of 16 and 50 goes for years without having or seeking a sexual relationship, people often get nosy. They may ask why the asexual person isn’t married yet, wonder if something is wrong, or even spread rumors about that person.
Asexual people are not heterosexual, and often do not fit in well with a culture of heteronormativity and compulsory sexuality. Think about how your asexual character’s words, attitudes and lifestyle will be perceived by other people, and what those people are likely to say and do in response.
Use another character as a foil.
By writing another character who differs from your asexual character in behavior, attitudes or sexual priorities, you can show just how distinct the asexual character really is. Consider putting the characters in similar situations and having them react differently, or making different choices. The foil character doesn’t need to be a super-horny, oversexed, socially aggressive extrovert; in fact, it’s often more effective to write a person of average libido and sexual activity, and who is portrayed as “normal” and typical by the narrative, because this highlights just how unusual and different asexuality is.
Be careful that you do not portray the foil character’s sexuality as a negative trait, or else you may risk putting slut-shaming, misogynistic or homophobic implications into your story. They can be a villain, but unless they engage in sexual coercion, rape or other Very Bad Sex Acts then their villainy should be unrelated to their sexuality.
Don’t your make foil character a rapist. Just…don’t do it. It’s very difficult to pull this off without making the overall tone of the story to be sex-negative, and it puts asexuality at odds with sexual violence while leaving little room for consensual, healthy sex.
Read blogs and websites written by asexual people.
You can get a lot of ideas by reading about how individual people experience asexuality. (If you ARE asexual, of course, you can draw on your own experiences.) Asexual bloggers talk about unusual or interesting things that happen to them as a result of being asexual, how asexuality affects their relationships with other people, what kinds of things they want, like or dislike because of asexuality, and more. Every person’s experiences are unique, and while they may not represent all asexual people, they are real and worth considering. Think about how you can adapt some of those experiences into a fictional context. There are many asexual bloggers on Tumblr.
This is timely, because I literally just was working on a friend’s resume who does commissions on tumblr, and I wrote it like this:
Freelance Artist • Created custom artwork for a variety of domestic and international clients. • Communicated effectively with customers in order to facilitate and execute their visions according to their individual needs. • Invoiced and processed payments via PayPal processing service. • Met deadlines, sustained a high level of customer satisfaction, and cultivated a database of clients. • Used social media to find and connect with customers.
Never underestimate the work that you’re doing!
Oh, yes, my friends. The earlier you learn to sell yourself with unmitigated bullshit, the better off you’ll be.
Sure, having a king/queen is simple, but have you ever tried:
Democracy
Multiple nobles and they all have the same amount of power (lot of conflict potential)
You can become ruler by defeating the current ruler in a fight
The merchants run everything
A noble and a parliament rule
The most intelligent people rule
…
There are thousands of possibilities, be creative!
Older post, but I highly encourage it! Try out the weirdest stuff! Try things you think would never work in the real world because this is your world and if you say (insert political system believed to not work) works then it does
Here’s a list of Society and Government types I’ve stolen directly from the worldbuilding section of some rulebooks:
Anarchy: the social conscience maintains order, but there are no laws
Athenian Democracy: Every citizen can vote on every new law
Representative Democracy: Elected representatives form a congress or government
Clan: Pretty much whoever is older is in charge, traditions are strongly adhered to, and society as a whole is split cross many tribes that are generally similar (and usually allied) but with their own quirks and traditions
Caste: A lot like a Clan structure, but each clan has a set role in society that usually renders them co-dependent. These Castes usually follow a social heirarchy
Dictatorship: One person controls everything, and they will later pass the right to rule to someone else, whether by inheritance, election, duelling, or some other method. Not all dictatorships are bad, especially if they are formed in times of crisis or rebellion, but even those started with the best intentions may quickly corrupt.
Plutocracy: Whoever has money is in charge.
Technocracy: A group of scientists and engineers have complete control and do everything they can to run the country at maximum efficiency. The more competent they are, the more likely this is to be viewed as a good thing.
Thaumocracy: Like a technocracy, but run by a science-like form of magic (like wizards and arcanists rather than shamans and witches)
Theocracy: The Church controls everything, and their religious law is civil law. Whether this religion is real, is fake but knows it, or believes its own lies is up to you.
Corporate State: Powerful mercantile organisations have taken control of entire regions. This is a lot like a Technocracy, but with a corporate structure and a focus on maximum profitability (and no-one else is going to set them a minimum wage)
Feudal: A lot like a dictatorship, but subsidiary lords are assigned their own local power and can enforce their own law without notifying the larger state.
***VARIATIONS***
Bureaucracy: Government runs very slowly and the public has effectively no control. There is a lot of red tape and taxation is high.
Colony: Government is dependent on a mother society
Cybercracy: A computer system is the state administrator. Hopefully the programmers did a good job…
Matriarchy: Positions of authority are female-exclusive.
Meritocracy: Positions of authority require rigorous testing to qualify for.
Military Government: The Military control everything, usually but not always totalitarian
Monarchy: The person in charge may call themselves king or queen, but fundamentally this is either a dictatorship or a feudal society.
Oligarchy: A small organisation is in control, and it elects its own members.
Patriarchy: like a matriarchy, but for guys. what a novel idea
Sanctuary: A society that protects the people other societies hunt (that may be considered criminals or terrorists by other nations)
Socialist: The government directly manages the economy, education is easy to get, the government intervenes to get everyone possible a job. This is likely to collapse quickly without good technology or magic to assist it.
Subjugated: The society as a whole is completely controlled by an outside force.
Utopia: A perfect society where everyone is satisfied and nothing sinister is happening behind the scenes we swear.
PSA to all you fantasy writers because I have just had a truly frustrating twenty minutes talking to someone about this: it’s okay to put mobility aids in your novel and have them just be ordinary.
Like. Super okay.
I don’t give a shit if it’s high fantasy, low fantasy or somewhere between the lovechild of Tolkein meets My Immortal. It’s okay to use mobility devices in your narrative. It’s okay to use the word “wheelchair”. You don’t have to remake the fucking wheel. It’s already been done for you.
And no, it doesn’t detract from the “realism” of your fictional universe in which you get to set the standard for realism. Please don’t try to use that as a reason for not using these things.
There is no reason to lock the disabled people in your narrative into towers because “that’s the way it was”, least of all in your novel about dragons and mermaids and other made up creatures. There is no historical realism here. You are in charge. You get to decide what that means.
Also:
“Depiction of Chinese philosopher Confucius in a wheelchair, dating to ca. 1680. The artist may have been thinking of methods of transport common in his own day.”
“The earliest records of wheeled furniture are an inscription found on a stone slate in China and a child’s bed depicted in a frieze on a Greek vase, both dating between the 6th and 5th century BCE.[2][3][4][5]The first records of wheeled seats being used for transporting disabled people date to three centuries later in China; the Chinese used early wheelbarrows to move people as well as heavy objects. A distinction between the two functions was not made for another several hundred years, around 525 CE, when images of wheeled chairs made specifically to carry people begin to occur in Chinese art.[5]”
“In 1655,Stephan Farffler, a 22 year old paraplegic watchmaker, built the world’s first self-propelling chair on a three-wheel chassis using a system of cranks and cogwheels.[6][3] However, the device had an appearance of a hand bike more than a wheelchair since the design included hand cranks mounted at the front wheel.[2]
The invalid carriage or Bath chair brought the technology into more common use from around 1760.[7]
In 1887, wheelchairs (“rolling chairs”) were introduced to Atlantic City so invalid tourists could rent them to enjoy the Boardwalk. Soon, many healthy tourists also rented the decorated “rolling chairs” and servants to push them as a show of decadence and treatment they could never experience at home.[8]
In 1933 Harry C. Jennings, Sr. and his disabled friend Herbert Everest, both mechanical engineers, invented the first lightweight, steel, folding, portable wheelchair.[9] Everest had previously broken his back in a mining accident. Everest and Jennings saw the business potential of the invention and went on to become the first mass-market manufacturers of wheelchairs. Their “X-brace” design is still in common use, albeit with updated materials and other improvements. The X-brace idea came to Harry from the men’s folding “camp chairs / stools”, rotated 90 degrees, that Harry and Herbert used in the outdoors and at the mines.[citation needed]
“But Joy, how do I describe this contraption in a fantasy setting that wont make it seem out of place?”
“It was a chair on wheels, which Prince FancyPants McElferson propelled forwards using his arms to direct the motion of the chair.”
“It was a chair on wheels, which Prince EvenFancierPants McElferson used to get about, pushed along by one of his companions or one of his many attending servants.”
“But it’s a high realm magical fantas—”
“It was a floating chair, the hum of magical energy keeping it off the ground casting a faint glow against the cobblestones as {CHARACTER} guided it round with expert ease, gliding back and forth.”
“But it’s a stempunk nov—”
“Unlike other wheelchairs he’d seen before, this one appeared to be self propelling, powered by the gasket of steam at the back, and directed by the use of a rudder like toggle in the front.”
Give. Disabled. Characters. In. Fantasy. Novels. Mobility. Aids.
If you can spend 60 pages telling me the history of your world in innate detail down to the formation of how magical rocks were formed, you can god damn write three lines in passing about a wheelchair.
Signed, your editor who doesn’t have time for this ableist fantasy realm shit.
i really like the advice “write marginalized characters but don’t write about marginalization unless you experience it”
absolutely i think cis people should expand their horizons and write trans characters, but they shouldn’t write stories about being trans. likewise i think allistic / NT authors should write about autistic characters! but not stories about being autistic.
represent us. absolutely. but don’t tell our stories. let us do that.
This is an excellent way of exploring/explaining that division, which is hard to express succinctly. Brilliant. 👏🏼
Im sorry if this comes across as transphobic (so please call me out if this is) but if we want to write trans characters with
A) Having struggles with being trans be one part of their character arc
Or
B) Not having to struggle with being trans but still wanting to clearly indicate that they are trans.
What should we do? Do research and then have trans people review it?
Stressed, Depressed, and Story Obsessed 