Inclusive writing is a way of communicating that respects and values the diversity of your audience. It avoids stereotypes, biases, and harmful language that might exclude or offend some groups of people. Inclusive writing can also help you build trust, credibility, and rapport with your readers. Here are some tips on how to make your writing more inclusive.
Before you start writing, think about who you are writing for and what their needs, preferences, and expectations are. Do some research on the demographics, culture, and background of your target audience. Try to use language that is appropriate, respectful, and relevant to them. Avoid making assumptions or generalizations about your audience based on their identity, experience, or situation.
The best way to be more inclusive is to speak with people from different backgrounds within your target audience. Sometimes, this is hard, or there is no time to research appropriately. In that case, you can use the power of the internet: Find those people online, ask for an interview or a short chat session if they are more comfortable, and ask for advice. A faster way is to go on forums and groups on social media and read the threads. Try to understand their worries and the language they use and adjust your writing to that. You may even open a thread yourself and ask for tips politely and respectfully.
To make your writing more inclusive you must be strong and ready to make them exclusive first. You are not writing for everyone and that should be the first thing on your mind while choosing your topic and sitting down to write about them. By first knowing who you are addressing you can speak to this person directly and relate more to their emotions. This person must look around the room and realize that they are the only person the writer is addressing and by that, it gets their attention and have them hooked on whatever piece you have them reading. People want to feel like they are being pinpointed from the crowd or mass and give them that they become hardcore fans
Considering your audience is pivotal for inclusive writing. Understand their diverse backgrounds, perspectives, and sensitivities. Use language that resonates universally, avoiding assumptions. Incorporate inclusive examples and diverse voices to ensure your writing is relatable to a broad audience. Regularly seek feedback to refine your approach, encouraging a writing style that embraces and reflects the diversity of your readers.
Gender-neutral language is a way of writing that does not imply or assign a specific gender to people, things, or concepts. It can help you avoid excluding or misrepresenting non-binary, transgender, or gender-diverse people. For example, when referring to a person whose gender is unknown or irrelevant, you can use singular they/them pronouns instead of he/she or his/her. Additionally, terms like person, individual, or human should be used when talking about a generic or collective group of people instead of man, woman, or mankind. When talking about someone's relationship or family status, terms like spouse, partner, or parent should be used instead of husband, wife, or mother. Moreover, terms like chair, firefighter, or server should be used when talking about someone's occupation or role instead of chairman, fireman, or waitress.
This holds true for phrases as well! So, instead of "no man is an island," switch it up to "no person is an island." It's the little things that can make a big difference.
Biased or harmful language is any word or phrase that expresses or reinforces prejudice, discrimination, or oppression against a group of people based on their identity. This type of language can include slurs, insults, stereotypes, or jokes that mock or demean a group of people. To avoid using biased or harmful language, use respectful and accurate terms to describe a group of people and their identity. Furthermore, avoid terms that imply inferiority, deficiency, or abnormality. Additionally, avoid terms that imply blame, guilt, or responsibility. Lastly, avoid terms that are vague, euphemistic, or misleading. By following these guidelines and using clear, honest and factual terms you can ensure that you are not using language that is biased or harmful.
The use of proper language reveals the character of writers more than it does the characters in their writing. The significance of inclusive language in writing cannot be overstated, underscoring its formidable influence. Through my evolving understanding, I've come to recognize that employing inclusive language transcends mere reader engagement; it concurrently fosters a sense of safety for those consuming your written work. Hence, it is imperative to wield language judiciously, ensuring its appropriateness and inclusivity. This dual commitment serves not only to create a sense of safety for existing readers but also acts as a magnet, drawing in a broader audience to engage with your work.
Trying your best to avoid biased or harmful language requires a heightened sense of awareness and a conscious effort to scrutinise your language and biases. It can take some educating and re-educating to look at avoiding harmful stereotypes, cultural insensitivities or potential discriminatory terms. Be cautious of unintentional biases and continuously monitor evolving language norms. It really comes down to ensuring that you ensure your writing promotes inclusivity and that you lead with an empathetic and respectful communication style.
Examples and scenarios can be a great way to illustrate your points, engage your readers, and show your expertise. However, they can also unintentionally exclude or alienate some readers if they are not diverse, relevant, or realistic. To ensure inclusivity, you should use a variety of names, pronouns, and characteristics that reflect the diversity of your audience. Additionally, the examples and scenarios should be relatable, applicable, and meaningful to your audience; current, accurate, and realistic; respectful, positive, and empowering. Moreover, they should be balanced, fair, and representative; avoiding stereotypes, biases, or judgments; and acknowledging the complexity of your audience.
Including everyone in your writing is essential, and one of the best ways to achieve this is by seeking feedback and learning from others. Ask people who are part of the groups you’re writing about or for, or those with expertise or experience in inclusive writing, for their opinions. Additionally, take advice from other writers who practice inclusive writing, or from resources that offer guidance and tips. When seeking feedback, make sure to inquire about the language, tone, and content of your writing. Ask if the examples and scenarios you provide are diverse, relatable, balanced, fair, respectful, positive, and empowering. Additionally, ask for suggestions on how to make your writing more inclusive and effective while avoiding any errors or mistakes. Finally, look for resources that can help you learn more about inclusive writing.
Being inclusive in your writing depends largely on what you are writing. For fiction, generally, you can't. Period. Your writing will be based on your experiences, education, upbringing, perspective, all of which are unique to you. You can, of course, research your characters and the situations in which you have placed them but, in the end, you are still coming from your perspective. Enlisting the aid of people whose life experience better reflect those of your characters is probably the best way to truly represent that particular group, culture, tradition, society or nation. My advice; write your story your way, from your perspective. Then bring in focus groups to help you incorporate what the character's perspective should be.
To make your writing more inclusive, prioritise taking on varied perspectives, use gender-neutral language, and be mindful of cultural sensitivities. Embrace inclusive pronouns, avoid leveraging stereotypes, and validate experiences. It’s also important to welcome feedback and correction as things are always evolving and we continue to learn and foster an inclusive and welcoming environment.