Listen to the complete audio interview by clicking here.
Eight years ago, publishing veteran Edwina Perkins planned a sensitivity reader workshop for a writer’s conference. Nearly 400 writers attended the conference that year. No one attended her workshop.
“The conference director at the time said to me, ‘Edwina, don’t be discouraged. One day people will want to hear what you have to say.’”
That time has come. Christian publishing has renewed its commitment to increase the number of diverse titles as well as diverse representation on retail shelves. However, accurate representation must be a priority. As the newest co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference, Edwina has developed a new resource for writers called Sensitivity Between the Lines (also known as Sensitivity BTL). The goal of this resource is to ensure that books featuring diverse characters or content offer an authentic portrayal of marginalized communities.
On our Books & Such blog, we want to equip you with resources to support your writing career. Today’s topic is an important conversation for all writers, no matter your background. I’ve excerpted highlights from my recent conversation with Edwina in this post and our complete audio interview is linked here. At the end of this post, I’ve included additional resources as well.
Edwina, why did you create Sensitivity Between the Lines?
The goal of Sensitivity Between the Lines is to facilitate the authentic portrayal of marginalized communities.
To do this, I match authors with someone in a marginalized community. In this relationship, the author can learn and ask questions. It’s a safe environment for those who are just stepping into this concept for the first time.
What is the difference between a project that was reviewed by a sensitivity reader versus a project that wasn’t?
I have two words for you: authenticity and believability.
When a diverse reader picks up a book that includes a narrative about their culture or community, and the writer says something that doesn’t line up, two things are going to happen: First, the reader will probably put the book down, and second, they’re not going to encourage their friends to read the book.
What are common stereotypes that writers should eliminate from their storylines?
Not all African-American young men are angry or jailed for doing drugs. Not all Asians possess IQs of 200. Likewise, not all Latinos or Hispanics* are loud and emotional. These are a few of many common stereotypes that writers should be careful to avoid.
Can you give an example of a book that needed a sensitivity reader?
YES! There was one children’s book that was published in–well, I’m just going to say the 2010s–about slaves celebrating their master’s birthday. Their master happened to be George Washington. I asked, “What slave– who is owned–wants to celebrate their master regardless of who he is?”
I wish there had been a sensitivity reader. If so, that book wouldn’t have made it to an editor. But, if it got to an editor, then a sensitivity reader still could have been used and that book wouldn’t have made it to the shelves.
Other than writers, who else needs a sensitivity reader?
Anyone in the publishing industry who works with marginalized communities needs a sensitivity reader.
I had a lot of respect for an editor who asked me to read a book that he was attempting to edit. The writer was African-American, and he was using terminology and phrases that this editor knew nothing about. The first thing the editor said to me was, “I have no idea what Juneteenth is.”
That’s really cool, Edwina! I love that the editor looked at the content, and there was a spark in the editor’s mind that said, “This would be worth me stopping to get some trained feedback on it to make sure we are conveying a message that really honors people.”
Okay, here’s a tough question: What are some of the objections to using a sensitivity reader?
Sometimes people are reluctant because they don’t want their writing censored. Another reason can be lack of willingness to learn why the writing doesn’t work for diverse communities.
I wonder if there are writers who feel overwhelmed and avoid writing diversity. Yet, what are we losing, especially in Christian publishing, if our books don’t include diverse characters or content?
What we’ll have is an unrealistic view of the culture and times that we’re living in. If the statistics are correct, by the end of 2020, there were more children under the age of 10 coming from diverse homes than not.
Without diversity, we are not accurately representing our world.
Edwina, let’s talk about your new resource, Sensitivity Between The Lines. Tell us more about how a writer can begin the process.
First, this resource falls under the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Writers can contact me at SensitivityBTL@gmail.com and provide a brief synopsis of their book. I’ll provide the full guidelines about the process and send a questionnaire. Based on that information, I’ll connect them with a sensitivity reader.
Sensitivity readers are men and women with expertise, so this is a paid resource. The cost will be spelled out in the contract.
Finally, Sensitivity BTL isn’t limited to race. One of our sensitivity readers is Asian and blind, so we also want to provide sensitivity reading for those writing about disabilities.
How is Sensitivity BTL going so far?
I’ve connected a number of readers and writers. It’s been positive all the way around. The readers are excited to offer their expertise and that someone wants to learn about their community.
READERS, IT’S YOUR TURN! JOIN TODAY’S CONVERSATION: What are your takeaways or questions from Edwina’s interview? If you’ve used a sensitivity reader, we’d love to hear about your experience. Finally, do you have any experiences to share about including diverse characters or voices in your writing projects?
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:
- Sensitivity Between the Lines, Writing Diversity with Authenticity by Edwina Perkins
- Writers Need Sensitivity Readers–a podcast interview with Linda Goldfarb and Edwina Perkins
- “Should You Use a Sensitivity Reader” by Rachelle Gardner
*There’s a lot of discussion about the various terms associated with Latin identity such as: Latino, Latina, LatinX or Hispanic. We acknowledge the diverse opinions around the different terms as well as the lack of consensus in the Latin community so for now, we’ve used the traditional identifiers.
About Edwina Perkins…
Edwina Perkins is an award-winning writer, freelance editor, speaker, and a sensitivity reader. She is the Managing Editor of Harambee Press—an imprint that seeks to publish ethnic writers—with Iron Stream Media. As the newly-named co-director of the Blue Ridge Mountains Writers Conference, Edwina loves the excitement of writers and watching them develop in their craft. She serves on the Word Weavers International Advisory Committee and is also a freelance writer for Guideposts Magazine. After thirty years away, she loves calling North Carolina home again. Edwina is a wife, mother of four adult children, and grandmother of two.
Five Ways to Wrangle Dialect
I guess sensitivity is a good thing, but I sure didn’t grow up that way…but in the verbal (and sometimes physical) rock-fights, something grew…something of value.
You may know me as direct,
I’m not a PC man,
but what else would you expect
from a heir of Genghis Khan?
I grew up as “Hey, Chink!” or worse
(and ‘zipperhead…but why?),
but to me this was no curse,
and I let the words slide by
and crafted insults of my own
(all’s fair in love and bigotry),
and found I did not stand alone
in gaining respect’s victory,
for in that place of verbal strife
we found a laugh, and found shared life.
Andrew, you sly guy! Today, I learned a lot about you that I didn’t know about your life and background. Thank you for not only today’s creative response, but sharing yourself with us as well. Blessings to you!
This is so amazing, Barb! You really pulled me into Edwina’s story with imagining her empty classroom and feeling her heartbreak. Not just that no one cared to listen, but the realization of what that meant to Christian publishing on a greater scale. I think that people get confused and pushed away by terms sometimes. Hearing “Sensitivity Reader” might scare some folks off, but isn’t it simply asking someone who actually knows. Writers do that all the time. We interview people who have ridden a burro down the grand canyon, who have actually hopped onto a moving train (yep, my grandfather learned this skill during the great depression), or who know what wildflowers should never be picked in the setting we are trying to describe. It shouldn’t be so scary to ask people who actually know when we try to describe a different culture or experience. I think much of the reluctance is a fear of failure. In my case, I set out to write an Asian American heroine. Since I have several Asian American friends I asked for help. After much back and forth, I realized that my writing ability was not up for the task yet. I wrote the character to the best of my ability, gave a few subtle clues, but never clarified her race for the reader. Was I wimping out? I’m not sure, but it was clear that the story needed a different approach than my first few attempts. A subtle touch worked better for my skill level. I also have a manuscript set in Mexico. I gave it to my aunt who is Mexican American and enjoyed much laughter and help from her parents as they translated long passages into Spanish. Her brother who is in academia and publishes non-fiction in Spanish gave me a bit of help as well. My aunt’s folks called my story “Drama en Ingles” which was fun and also gave me a clue that perhaps the story was not quite ready yet, ha! But I have not given up on it. We can get better at every aspect of writing and so I press on. About two years ago I enjoyed a delightful interview with the Special Education Director of our local public school system. Our dog, Princess Leia Freyja, enjoys visiting classes at his encouragement and I found out that he had worked at a camp that specialized in making any and every camp experience possible for every camper. He worked incredibly hard to do this. Was there a camper in a wheelchair who wanted to ride a horse, go off the diving board, swim un-aided, take a sea kayak out onto the lake … not a problem! He made all of these adventures possible and more! Yes, he actually strapped a wheelchair to the top of a kayak for a multi-day trip. Amazing and so cool! He also went skiing with a friend who was blind. Two buddies would ski on either side of this man and shout out where the perils were. The problem, his friend was such a fast skier that at times he would get to the bottom of the slope before his spotters! A really fun character came out of this conversation and I am so glad that he still works in our community and is willing to take a look at my stories. Anyway, all of this is to say that yes, I have been afraid of asking an expert before and yes, I think it comes from wondering if there are skills I have yet to develop that will take even more time and effort. But that is no reason to quit learning and growing. We can make Christian fiction and non-fiction more inclusive, there are simply new skills to learn. But gracious, what have I been doing for the last 20 years? Learning new writing skills, that’s what!
Kristen, you’ve provided a wonderful gift today in your comment to readers who’ve wondered what it’s really like to explore writing about diverse characters of all kinds. Thank you for sharing your experience, what you’ve learned and how you really captured by stating that it’s really about “asking someone who actually knows.” Nailed it!
Edwina, the writing community is so fortunate to have you!
DiAnn, I am so grateful for your enduring support and your commitment to embracing diversity and inviting authors of all backgrounds to be a part of what Christian publishing has to offer.
Wow, thank you so much for sharing with us about this amazing resource, Barb and Edwina! Reading about the lack of attendance at Edwina’s workshop eight years ago aches my heart, yet doesn’t surprise me remembering how things were eight years ago…I hope we are indeed making some progress, despite the division that continues.
I have what I now realize were beta readers for my manuscripts that involve Navajo and African-American characters, since I have close friends and a critique partner from those communities, but I now realize a paid sensitivity reader would also be a good idea to explore. I listened to the whole audio interview and it was wonderful. Thank you ladies so much again, and may the Lord continue to grow this way of better connecting, listening to, and learning from each other.
Hi Kiersti, thank you for joining the conversation and sharing your experience as well as how you’ve processed beta-readers versus sensitivity readers. Your example will be so helpful for others1
This was a very educational and enlightening interview. Although I’d heard Ms. Perkins mention sensitivity readers before, this interview afforded me the opportunity to truly grasp the concept and necessity in the Christian publishing industry. Ms. Perkins epitomizes authenticity and believability. She has a wealth of experience in the industry, however, her candor is what is so magnetic. As a Christian author working on my own manuscript, I will definitely be more sensitive to the characters I write about, and will not shy away from utilizing this resource when introducing diversity. It is definitely my desire to unite in the Body of Christ and not offend marginalized communities.
Robin, we’re so glad that you found the interview valuable and useful for the work that you care doing. Thank you for sharing your heart’s desire to reflect diversity in your writing in a way that honors the entire Body of Christ.
Thank you for making this resource available, Edwina.
Hi Cathy, thank you for stopping by the blog and sharing your comment on this tough topic!
Thank you both! In 2015 I took my school’s valedictorian-to-be to the Mt. Hermon conference. She was already writing novels, and frankly, I wasn’t sure what more I could teach her in my creative writing class. She took a sci fi or speculative fiction track, and while she learned about technique, she came away a bit disheartened. An African-American young woman, she asked me, “Mrs. McHenry, why aren’t there more novels with black characters?” I told her I couldn’t really answer her, but I did say, “Hang in there. There will be.” I’ve lost track of her; she went on to study creative writing at UC Berkeley. May God use and bless this service, Edwina. Thank you, Barb.
Beautiful story, Janet! I love that you invested in your student and took her to Mt. Hermon to make important connections. That was a real gift to her! I hope that one day soon, there will be more authors and characters that will look like your talented student.
What was ultracool is that several school organizations pooled together to pay her full way to the conference. And mine!
This is such a great interview, Barb! I love that Adwina includes sensitivity readers who have disabilities. I’ve had three authors ask if they could talk to me because one of their characters had a sight limitation. Each author was a bit relunctat to ask me (almost apologetic), until they discovered how much I appreciated that they wanted to create an actuate picture of what it was like to live with a vision limitation. With each experience, I was surprised by the things I pointed out or suggested that the author had no idea about. They ended up being wonderful conversations for both of us! So having a sensitivity reader is not only an opportunity to improve our writing. It’s also an opportunity to grow and learn what life is really like for those outside our experience bubble.
Oops, I just realized that I misspelled Edwina’s name. Sorry!
What a great example! Jeanette, thank you for sharing your experience, especially as one who sat in the role of a sensitivity reader/consultant for those writers. At the end of the day, sensitivity readers want stories to be authentic and to support authors who really want to do the real work of representing authentic diversity.
I think this is great, but I think it’s important to point out that if you are a white author, or if you don’t belong to a marginalized community, those are not your stories to tell (even with a sensitivity reader). Having a side character is one thing, telling our stories is another. White authors tend to write for the white gaze because it’s what they know. The culture and community and lived experiences cannot be truly understood unless it’s your lived experience. The perfect example is “American Dirt” loved and lauded by white readers yet those of us who are Mexican or Latinx know how problematic and unrealistic the book is. It’s not a Christian book, but nevertheless is shows what BIPOC authors are against — that someone would rather publish a white author who used a sensitivity reader to tell the story of a marginalized character, rather than a member from that community tell the story. I wish the Christian publishing market was instead focusing on publishing BIPOC authors. At a Christian writers conference several years ago I attended a workshop on writing for children. Later, when I met the presenter she asked me what type of books I wanted to write. I told her I wanted to write books with Latine characters, I wanted kids like me to see themselves represented in stories, to see themselves in the covers of books. She told me, “oh don’t do that, those books will never sell, you’ll never get them published.” This is where the conversation should start, in the fact that we do need diverse books by diverse authors in Christian publishing. It’s sad to me that the support I got as a writer didn’t come from the Christian spaces where I wrote for years, but it came from members of my community through Las Musas.
Ellen, thank you for joining the conversation and sharing your lived experience. I hope that today’s blog visitors read your comment and consider the conversations that need to be had on so many levels.
Ellen, thank you so much for this post. This is exactly what I have been thinking for awhile now. More people of other cultures and races need to be contracted to write their books. We all will read them, but want them to be authentic. They are the ones to write those books.
You have said lot.
Characters with Special Needs are in all of my books. Even if I don’t originally plan for them, they appear anyway because I’ve had so much experience with people who have Special Needs.
Such an excellent interview. While I fear this is a difficult conversation for many, it is an important conversation to have. We began serious discussions on diversity, equity, and inclusion this year in one of our associations. The challenge is you don’t know what you don’t know, and just because you don’t purposely “exclude” doesn’t translate into people being included. Embracing these opportunities and having our work reflect the true world in which we live will be better for all of us.
I believe this is a resource we need. I would love to see this material in a book so, as a writer, I could study it. I’ve written a number of books with Latino or African-American characters. I’m white, so with two of these books, I asked for input from Latino and African-American authors that I know. I wanted to do it right. Years ago when I spoke on human trafficking, I had two good friends (both African-American) that would let me know if I might be “off-base” or offend anyone in my audience. They were wonderful. I did not have the same reaction from Latino or African-American authors. Only one or two responded to my request to look at my books and give me feedback. Now I didn’t offer to pay them at the time. Never thought of it, but neither did anyone request it. I did have one Latino author who read my novella and gave it a nod, but that was all. So, there is a real need for input. But if the cost is too high, many authors will drag their feet. A book would be a great addition for those who can’t afford the time or cost of conferences. One last comment, I just finished a biography of Phillis Wheatley (a slave in the 1700’s). She did have a different lifestyle from many slaves, but she also gave us–through her many writings–her perspective of her life at that time. From what she wrote, she loved God and her white mistress. She knew she wasn’t free, even though she led a “privileged” life for a slave. I had read another biography of a slave a long time ago. One who also loved God. The person who wrote about George Washington maybe had references to these two women or others when she wrote her book. Slavery was, is–has always been–a horrific thing one human being did to another and still does in some places. Our sensitivity to each other–black, brown, white, yellow, red, no matter the color of our skin, our race, culture or religion–is something we can all use.