June 19, 2017

Diverse Characters - K + L + M



INTRODUCTION:

There’s been a lot of talk about adding diverse characters to fictional books. Most of the time, this is about including people of color if you’re a Caucasian writer, but all writers can add diverse characters to their books. And why stop at race? In this series, I’m going to list all sorts of diverse characters.

Note: I'm not knowledgeable about all types of people, so I'm skipping my usual tips in favor of letting others share their knowledge. See below 

**I won't be able to list them all, so here's a list of ethnic groups...with a list of even more lists at the bottom of the page. lol



Here are the diverse characters for K:


Kenyans (Individuals from Kenya)

 Kings

Knights

South Koreans

 North Koreans

 Kurdish Individuals

Kymophobics (people with the fear of waves)


Here are the diverse characters for L:

Latinos

 Laotians (Individuals from Lao)

 Lebanese Individuals

Lesbians

Leprechauns (fantasy)

Lithuanians

 Little People (Individuals with Dwarfism)

Lutherans

 Lygophopics (people with the fear of darkness)


Here are the diverse characters for M:

Macedonians

 Malawians 

 Malaysians

 Mennonites

 Mexicans

Mexican Americans

Mermaids

Military Members

Middle Easterners (Individuals from the Middle East)

Missionaries

 Mormons

 Monacan Indians (Monaco)

 Mongolians

 Moroccans 

Individuals with Multiple Personality Disorder

Mute Individuals 

Musicians


SHARE: If you can come up with more diverse characters that start with K, L, or M, let me know and I will add them to my list.

QUESTION: Do you have tips or Do's/Dont's for one of the characters I mentioned above? Share your advice for writing about those characters in your comment.
Have you written about a character from my list?



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52 comments:

  1. BlogorattiJune 19, 2017 at 9:21 AM

    Thank you for sharing that, adding character diversity to written works is a wonderful idea indeed and one that should be seen more often. Warm greetings and have a splendid week!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 19, 2017 at 12:14 PM

      There does need to be more books with diverse characters. Thanks for commenting!

      Delete
  2. nashvillecats2June 19, 2017 at 10:17 AM

    Wonderful examples of diversity Chrys,
    Have a great week, very hot here.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 19, 2017 at 12:16 PM

      It's hot here, too. Have a great week, Yvonne!

      Delete
  3. Pat HattJune 19, 2017 at 10:33 AM

    I've used leprechauns a time or two. Does Looney's count for L or is that not PC? lol

    ReplyDelete
  4. L. Diane WolfeJune 19, 2017 at 10:41 AM

    Every one I could think of you already had listed.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Carrie-AnneJune 19, 2017 at 11:56 AM

    Lyuba, the female protagonist of my Russian historicals, has an aunt and uncle who were missionaries in East Prussia. They proselytised for Eastern Orthodoxy in a largely Lutheran, Calvinist, and Roman Catholic province.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 19, 2017 at 1:21 PM

      I'll add Lutherans.

      Did you know Lyubas are female woolly mammoths? :D

      Delete
  6. Jay NoelJune 19, 2017 at 12:45 PM

    I write using diverse characters, but that's just a personal choice. It was difficult finding books with protagonists I could fully relate to from a cultural standpoint.

    ReplyDelete
  7. A Beer for the ShowerJune 19, 2017 at 1:07 PM

    The character in my new WIP is Mexican. But I am too, so, you know, write what you know.

    Maybe I'll throw in a Lebanese lesbian because that's a fun tongue twister.

    ReplyDelete
  8. cleemckenzieJune 19, 2017 at 1:13 PM

    I'm with Beer. You can't more diverse than that!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Arlee BirdJune 19, 2017 at 5:06 PM

    I was thinking that I don't use much diversity in characters until I read your list. Gosh, diversity covers a lot of ground, but I guess that is as it should be.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 20, 2017 at 2:46 PM

      Diversity does cover a lot of ground. We are diverse in so many ways than just skin color. :)

      Delete
  10. Joylene Nowell ButlerJune 19, 2017 at 7:30 PM

    This is a very moving post, Chrys. I love your list. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Natalie AguirreJune 19, 2017 at 8:39 PM

    Yes, writing about diverse characters is becoming more important, thankfully, given the diversity of readers. My husband was Mexican-American and my daughter is Chinese, so it's been easier for me to use diverse characters in my writing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 20, 2017 at 2:47 PM

      Yes, the diversity of readers is definitely bringing more diverse characters. And also because we're curious. I love to read books about diverse characters because I learn a lot. :)

      Delete
  12. Liz A.June 19, 2017 at 9:01 PM

    I thought multiple personality disorder was now called DID (dissociative identity disorder).

    I must mine my Lebanese relatives for some stories. Too bad most of them are no longer with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 20, 2017 at 2:47 PM

      It is...but I needed something for M. lol And people still know of it as MPD.

      Delete
  13. Hilary Melton-ButcherJune 20, 2017 at 3:41 AM

    Hi Chrys - what a great list of potential characters for us to use in stories ... Macedonians ... and others from ancient history ... today others from Africa, Asia etc ... fascinating to think about - cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  14. The Cynical SailorJune 20, 2017 at 7:52 AM

    Some good suggestions as always :-) I like the idea of a story with leprechauns and mermaids.

    ReplyDelete
  15. emaginetteJune 20, 2017 at 11:32 AM

    So I got nothing, but I do love the list as always. :-)

    Anna from elements of emaginette

    ReplyDelete
  16. Juneta keyJune 20, 2017 at 12:07 PM

    Good job, great picks.

    ReplyDelete
  17. sherry fundinJune 20, 2017 at 1:15 PM

    I look for new and different things. Thanks for sharing and giving others some ideas.
    sherry @ fundinmental

    ReplyDelete
  18. sageJune 20, 2017 at 5:53 PM

    In the 80s there was a group from Japan called "The Pink Ladies" so I had to smile at the Korean group (as Koreans in general detest the Japanese for having conquered their country and the way they were treated during WW2 (which lasted a lot longer for them than for us).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:44 PM

      I've read some great books by Pearl S. Buck about the Koreans and what happened with the Japanese.

      Delete
  19. J.H. MoncrieffJune 20, 2017 at 11:08 PM

    Can't say I've incorporated those individuals into my books yet...unless Egyptians count as Middle Eastern, and I don't think they do. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:45 PM

      I don't think so either, but I'd like to write about Egyptians.

      Delete
  20. dolorahJune 21, 2017 at 2:21 AM

    Love your picks. Musicians; now there are some truly diverse characters. Almost as diverse as Authors.

    Thanks for the nod to Military women. And Mermaids :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:45 PM

      So true!

      Of course. I couldn't forget Military women. :)

      Delete
  21. Lisa ThomsonJune 21, 2017 at 12:10 PM

    I especially like the mermaid! Have to consider that one. Great list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:45 PM

      I want to write about a mermaid now, too! LOL

      Delete
  22. Crystal CollierJune 21, 2017 at 4:05 PM

    Right!? Why not sneak a mermaid into your mystery suspense? ;) As the publishing world calls for diversity, it really seems all they want are two specific categories of people. Which kind of drives me crazy.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:54 PM

      When it comes to mermaids, why the heck not? :P

      I have to agree with you on that. There's a lot more diversity out there.

      Delete
  23. Michael Di GesuJune 21, 2017 at 7:25 PM

    Hi, Chyrs,

    I used several different difference characters in my second novel. Marine Corp Captain dad, a Blind student who befriends the MC and helps him during his brutal attack by his dad. So, as you say, there is tons of diversity and not just with characters of color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:54 PM

      Nope, skin color is just one part of diversity. :)

      Delete
  24. Neurotic WorkaholicJune 22, 2017 at 12:29 AM

    A fear of waves? Wow, I never heard of that. I wonder if people avoid places like California or Hawaii for that reason. I'm just afraid of the usual stuff, like heights, spiders, and the possibility that Trump will get re-elected.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:55 PM

      They'd most certainly avoid the beaches, that;s for sure.

      HAHA! I share your final fear. :P

      Delete
  25. Beverly Stowe McClureJune 22, 2017 at 4:24 PM

    I never thought about diversity, but my latest YA novel, Princess Breeze, has a main character that's a prince on a tropical island and speaks Spanish. I guess that's diverse. This is the sequel to Just Breeze. Interesting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 22, 2017 at 6:56 PM

      That is diverse. If he was Spanish, that'd be even more diverse. ;)

      Delete
  26. AnonymousJune 23, 2017 at 5:02 PM

    I'm surprised I have no written more stories with mermaids. In fact, I haven't written any! I freaking love mermaids and wanted to be one when I was a kid. Why am I writing about vampires????? LOL

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Chrys FeyJune 27, 2017 at 5:03 PM

      You should write a mermaid story! The market isn't saturated with them like it is with vampire stories. And people love mermaids!

      Delete

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