Diversity in christian fiction: why we need it and how you can help

Diversity is a hot topic lately, but it's an important one. Here at the Fearless Type we are proud to be third culture kids, but this background has always allowed us to be aware of an unfortunate lack of diversity in Christian fiction.  Fiction in general needs more diversity, but Christian fiction is especially empty of well-written diversity. This isn't to say that there aren't any-- but that there should definitely be more, and it should be something on the mind of all Christian writers. Why? Keep reading to find out why we need it and how you can be a part of changing the Christian book world.

Why we need diversity in Christian fiction: 

1. Books show who we are. Your writing tells a lot about you. Every book carries a picture of it's author within it. So, what image do you want to share? Diversity not only opens up your book's world and the eyes of your reader, but it can also shape you as an author and show who you are.
2. Books help us learn about and get into the shoes of others. Not only can books help you connect to characters like you, but they can also help you realize how similar you are to characters unlike you. You can learn more about other people, and get the chance to step into their world. This not only broadens the mind, but it can also help us understand others and have more compassion for the world around us.
3. Books portray messages about what is important and a priority in our lives. Whether you realize it or not, every story conveys a message about what you prioritize and find important. We need more diversity in books, because if it's important to us in our regular lives, we ought to see it in our fiction too. Not only that, but many people live in a world where diversity is the norm-- so why should our books not represent that?
4. Books help us share thoughts, truths, and realities that need to be shared. Thoughts, truths, and realities are present in every book. Like we said above, books convey messages. Stop and think about what messages the books you write portray. Not only do we need to include diversity for diversity's sake alone, but sometimes, there are lessons to be learned from other people that we couldn't learn on our own. Having a diverse cast of characters allows for more truth to be told.
5. Books are designed to be relatable, with characters we understand. At it's core, books open up worlds to us where we can connect to and relate with the characters. Imagine never reading about someone who was similar to you? When your narrative is erased from stories, it can feel like you are also erased. If books show who we are, we need more books showcasing everybody. 

What it would look like: 
So we can agree that there needs to be more diversity in Christian fiction, but what would that look like? How would that be presented in a book?

1. A cast of characters that are each unique and carry different qualities. The simplest answer is to have a cast of characters that celebrates their own uniqueness and allows the reader to celebrate that as well. This is just good writing, if we're going to be honest-- nobody wants a cliched cast or a group of characters that all are carbon copies of each other.
2. More main characters that allow for other narratives to be told. Diverse side characters are becoming more popular, perhaps, but how about more diverse main characters? This gives the chance to tell new narratives, stories from various view points that aren't represented as much, and more. Besides all that, we just need to see more books with main characters that are different, unique, and diverse.
3. More ethnicities portrayed. Most people probably think about ethnicity first when they hear the word diverse, and it's true-- it's an important piece to consider. We live in an amazing world, and many places are already somewhat diverse in Western areas. To see that in a novel would truly be refreshing. Let's appreciate people for who they are.
4. More cultures brought to life. Along with ethnicity is culture. Even within one country, culture can vary wildly. Books that showcase various cultures allow for different viewpoints, different struggles, different mindsets and more.
5. Third culture, multi-cultural/multi-racial, and cross-culture individuals. Especially in this day and age, more and more people are actually a mix of cultures. Cross culture is a wide term to describe someone who grew up in a culture that was a minority in the culture of their society. Multi-cultural/multi-racial indicates a person born into a family with parents of different culture or ethnicity, while third culture individuals are those who spend a large part of their formative years in a country (or countries) that differ in culture from their parent's and their original or "passport" country. Cross-culture individuals can also include immigrants, refugees, international adoptees, minorities, and even what is called "domestic" third culture-- when you've moved between very different cultures in one country.
6. Characters with disabilities, chronic illness, or accurately depicted mental health struggles. Having characters with disabilities, chronic illnesses, mental health struggles, or developmental disorders is important because we need to hear their stories too, especially told accurately and realistically.
7. An authentic view of diverse societies. Most of the western world lives in societies made up of all kinds of people, so why don't we portray that in our books? Having a novel with an authentic view of diverse societies is so important, not only because it shows how life really can be, but also because then you can incorporate diversity as just a part of life, like it should be.
8. Celebrating stories from all parts of the world and all walks of life. Diversity means that other parts of the world need their stories told as well as people from all walks of life. Thinking outside your box can help you write better stories that can reach and make an impact on more people.
9. Digging deeper into history from various viewpoints. This is especially for historical fiction authors, but really anybody should keep this in mind. If you haven't taken the time to research history and dig a little deeper from other viewpoints, you need to do that now. Having the big picture is crucial to writing historical fiction, and even just knowing history from a different pair of eyes can really help you keep your mind open as you write. It may even give you inspiration.
10. Telling the stories that haven't been told yet. At the end of the day, just start by looking for those stories that need to be told but haven't yet. Whether it's legends from other countries, history of other cultures, or even a story from the news, look for the stories that need to be out there but aren't. 

​How you can incorporate diversity in your own writing:

1. Be more conscious of how you represent people, and if you do at all. You may not have really given much thought to diversity in your books up to this point, and if you haven't, now is the time to start. Perhaps, though, you have made a commitment to diversity in your books. Either way, take the time to really stop and think about how you are representing people, and if/what you could do better.
2. Don't use stereotypes, derogatory terms, or portray people with a narrow mind. It's not positive diversity if you only bring in stereotypes or are rude in how you write people. Diversity is not about writing caricatures. It's about writing people, and that's it. Even if you think you are portraying history or society correctly, stop and reflect if your view is uplifting or just going to cause harm. Before you begin putting characters in stereotypical roles, consider the whole story. This is especially important for those of you writing historical fiction or books based on realistic current events. History is messy, and we're often taught a black-and-white bad guy/good guy version of things. Show true discernment by being willing to understand all angles and write your characters as humans, and with respect.
3. Be willing to learn and listen to other people's stories. Part of incorporating diversity in your own writing is being teachable. Just because someone is different doesn't mean they are wrong or weird. Be willing to honestly learn and listen. You can't represent diversity properly if you don't first seek to understand.
4. Create multi-dimensional characters and don't rely on clichés or flat characterization. When you include people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, disabilities and more, be absolutely certain you're not relying on clichés, stereotypes or cardboard cutouts. It's especially important when creating characters that are quite different from you to make sure you aren't subconsciously reverting to stereotypes. While culture etc. can definitely impact a character, they are still a unique individual. Want to know how to craft amazing characters? Check out this post.
5. Celebrate everyone's uniqueness with equality. No one is better than anyone else. Equality isn't always present in our world, unfortunately, but you have the power in your writing to treat every character with equality as you write them. Don't go putting down people in your books-- instead, promote your character's differences as part of their unique makeup.
6. Search for new stories that need to be told. Sometimes you just need to look outside your own comfort zone to find new stories that need to be told. If you put in the effort, you will not only be able to write a story about something entirely new, but you will also be sharing stories that have been hidden under the radar for too long.
7. Do your research thoroughly, and if possible, speak to people who are similar to your characters. Research is always important, but if you're writing about something you're not as familiar with, it's even more critical. Just like you wouldn't attempt to write a historical novel without doing your study first, or you wouldn't just make up scientific knowledge as you go, you need to make sure you are representing people properly. If you can, try talking to or reading up on people who are similar to your characters! Whether you're writing about someone with Autism or someone from Bangladesh, research is vital to your novel's success.
8. Support writers of all kinds. Part of encouraging diversity in books is to encourage diversity in writers, as well. While at first you might not know where to look to find diverse authors, keep an eye out and try to connect with others. Not only does this support help them, but it is also a good way for you to grow as an author and person.
9. Read books that include diverse casts of characters. Often what you read influences what you write, so make a point of finding and reading books that include diverse casts of characters. Not only does this allow you to expand your horizon a bit, but it also helps you see how other authors write diversity-- what to do, and maybe even what not to do.
10. Write about people. Ultimately, just write about people. No matter how many differences there may be from one person to the next, on the inside we all have beating hearts and living souls. Write your characters in the same way-- as humans. All perfectly unique, and important, and with a story to tell.

So there you have it! We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments, and if you have a favorite Christian/fiction book that has a diverse cast of characters, let us know!

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