When I write, my characters just appear in my head and I write them as they come. I don't typically describe any skin tones (I don't call out my white characters as being white, so it feels off-balance to call out POCs). I don't want people to whitewash but I describe hair and eye colors and let readers make their own inferences and insert their own images. (For example: curly red hair and bright green eyes; stringy, dark brown hair and blue eyes; thick, black hair and hazel eyes; fine medium brown hair and deep brown eyes, etc. In my head, the first two are white, the second is African American, and the third is Japanese).
Lately, though, from reading the AW forums and through my own reading/bookstore perusing, I have noticed the lack of diversity in current literature (specifically YA because that's what I write) and I'm wondering if I should be more intentional in making the POCs in my stories obvious to show the diversity I see in my head?
This question came up particularly because I have a POC who is a pretty main character in a WIP. She's pretty and popular and helps draw my loner MC out of her shell (as well as saves her butt a few times--it's an Urban Fantasy). She's also kind of punky, with several piercings and green hair (which throws a kink in my typical describe the eye and hair color style). Basically, other than the fact she's African American in my head, and personal mannerism differences that every character has, I don't draw any distinctions between her and my MC (who is of Irish decent).
My question is: should I? Not being a POC myself, are there issues etc she might face that I need to make part of her? I don't want to stereotype in any way, but a person is a compilation of their experiences and I want to make sure I'm seeing the whole picture and not missing anything important. (Oh, and I did read the stickies, sorry if this is there somewhere and I missed it).
A bit of background on the character, Veronica: The people in my story all have genetic special abilities. Veronica's family's abilities are the transmutation of matter and telepathy. The family is from the mid-western United States, although their work (with a group of "specials") requires they travel a lot. People with more than one ability are rare. My MC has three--one of which, telepathy, just presented itself.
Veronica can transmute matter and changes her hair color, etc at will. She's also telepathic, but like my MC, keeps it secret. I'm toying the with idea of making additional abilities the result of a hereditary disease. I think I'm going to give my MC Haemochromatosis, which is more common in those of Celtic decent. If I go this route, I'm would give Veronica Sickle Cell. (In part, I want to go this way to draw attention to these conditions. My little sister is a dwarf and attends a camp every summer for kids with special needs. She usually goes during their Sickle Cell week because there isn't a dwarfism week, and I have a friend with Haemochromatosis. I think people need to be more educated about hereditary conditions, but that's another topic for another day, haha).
Initially, Veronica and my MC don't get along. Like I said, Veronica is smart, pretty, popular, and kind of a know-it-all, while my MC is a loner who doesn't speak (she's mute) and tries really hard not to be noticed. They're in a training program of sorts together. Veronica stumbles upon the MC's telepathy and they find a connection and become friends. (If I go the disease route, Veronica will be aware of her disease, and the MC will learn of hers near the end).
Any guidance would be appreciated. Above all, I want to make sure my characters are real people. Thanks!
Lately, though, from reading the AW forums and through my own reading/bookstore perusing, I have noticed the lack of diversity in current literature (specifically YA because that's what I write) and I'm wondering if I should be more intentional in making the POCs in my stories obvious to show the diversity I see in my head?
This question came up particularly because I have a POC who is a pretty main character in a WIP. She's pretty and popular and helps draw my loner MC out of her shell (as well as saves her butt a few times--it's an Urban Fantasy). She's also kind of punky, with several piercings and green hair (which throws a kink in my typical describe the eye and hair color style). Basically, other than the fact she's African American in my head, and personal mannerism differences that every character has, I don't draw any distinctions between her and my MC (who is of Irish decent).
My question is: should I? Not being a POC myself, are there issues etc she might face that I need to make part of her? I don't want to stereotype in any way, but a person is a compilation of their experiences and I want to make sure I'm seeing the whole picture and not missing anything important. (Oh, and I did read the stickies, sorry if this is there somewhere and I missed it).
A bit of background on the character, Veronica: The people in my story all have genetic special abilities. Veronica's family's abilities are the transmutation of matter and telepathy. The family is from the mid-western United States, although their work (with a group of "specials") requires they travel a lot. People with more than one ability are rare. My MC has three--one of which, telepathy, just presented itself.
Veronica can transmute matter and changes her hair color, etc at will. She's also telepathic, but like my MC, keeps it secret. I'm toying the with idea of making additional abilities the result of a hereditary disease. I think I'm going to give my MC Haemochromatosis, which is more common in those of Celtic decent. If I go this route, I'm would give Veronica Sickle Cell. (In part, I want to go this way to draw attention to these conditions. My little sister is a dwarf and attends a camp every summer for kids with special needs. She usually goes during their Sickle Cell week because there isn't a dwarfism week, and I have a friend with Haemochromatosis. I think people need to be more educated about hereditary conditions, but that's another topic for another day, haha).
Initially, Veronica and my MC don't get along. Like I said, Veronica is smart, pretty, popular, and kind of a know-it-all, while my MC is a loner who doesn't speak (she's mute) and tries really hard not to be noticed. They're in a training program of sorts together. Veronica stumbles upon the MC's telepathy and they find a connection and become friends. (If I go the disease route, Veronica will be aware of her disease, and the MC will learn of hers near the end).
Any guidance would be appreciated. Above all, I want to make sure my characters are real people. Thanks!
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And definitely think through situations as if she really were African-American (so you should get good betas). I don't think you have to make an 'issue' plot at all (for lack of a better word 
