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[learning-writer-blog]

Something I forgot to mention! You should probably do research on spoon theory!

Writing characters with disabilities

A note as I begin this. I suffer from mental illness which will be on another topic altogether for this. Simply because of the controversy over it. Also to note I am mostly speaking of an ignorant mindset, while I do know a few people with disabilities, including my mother that has a nerve disorder. I am and will not pretend to be an expert on any of the following topics. So if your disabled or caretaker and would like to add something to the list go ahead!

The following is made with the help of a few other tumblers. @so-over-ableism @knittingspoonie @disabledartist @dragonsatmidnight @the-line–was–always-blurred

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[learning-writer-blog]

Writing characters with disabilities

A note as I begin this. I suffer from mental illness which will be on another topic altogether for this. Simply because of the controversy over it. Also to note I am mostly speaking of an ignorant mindset, while I do know a few people with disabilities, including my mother that has a nerve disorder. I am and will not pretend to be an expert on any of the following topics. So if your disabled or caretaker and would like to add something to the list go ahead!

The following is made with the help of a few other tumblers. @so-over-ableism @knittingspoonie @disabledartist @dragonsatmidnight @the-line--was--always-blurred

Character Base-  Almost all the above have mentioned this specific thing. Do not make the character as their disability. Characters can have a disability and still be interesting for more than just that. So instead of having a character in a wheelchair who just mopes about being in a wheelchair why not, for example, make them be an excellent drummer, an artist, an assassin or maybe an exotic pet trainer. 

Another thing I’d like to add to this is to not make them all the same ‘base human’ I.E white, blue-eyed, skinny (And before certain people freak out over such a suggestion of *gasp* diversity I am white and I am saying out of the small percentage of disabled characters most are white. So show some diversity!)  Make disabled LGBT people, Disabled POC and Disabled plus-sized people. 

Basically, for the most part, write their base the same way you would any other character make them unique and have their own interests and talents. 

Learning from Mistakes- If you are not a disabled writer, writing a character with a disability may seem daunting even if it is something you really want to do. Just like writing characters from a specific culture there is so much we don’t know and we won’t understand.  The best thing you can do is listen and learn, try not to get defensive when someone tells your first draft of a character doesn't make sense or it’s not portraying them correctly. Instead, use this opportunity to learn ask questions. Like “How could I write them better?”,”What didn’t you like about the character?” and “What mistakes did I make.” I know hearing you wrote your character wrong can make your blood boil, but if you aren’t part of the community you need to listen and even if you are part of the community you need to listen for not every disability is the same.

I don’t need you to save me!- This tip is simple to get rid of the trope of saving someone from their disability. Most may never get rid of their disability and others wouldn’t even want to. So no more “I love you, therefore, you are cured” and more “I love you so I’ll help when you're having a bad flair.” Another thing to note is to stop babying characters with disabilities. This is especially common when writing a character with a caregiver, just because they need some help doing certain things does not mean they are children. On another note of helping-

Helper Animals- Some people with disabilities may need a helper animal. For some, a helper animal can replace needing a caregiver allowing the person to have more freedom and independence.  From a personal example, my mom’s been thinking about getting a mastiff (If only they weren’t so expensive) the dogs naturally large size would be able to help her when she goes off balance. What type of helper animal your character needs will change based on what use the animal has and for those fantasy writers, I could see someone easily writing a mythical creature helper animal. Maybe a small dragon that helps their owner balance or Jackalope that helps with anxiety.  Afterall who says disabled people can’t go on a magical adventure.

Research!- So you decided what kind of disability you want your character to have. Now you just have to research. Every disability has a culture, symptoms, struggles and triumphs,  downside and possibly unexpected upside, this is especially true when thinking about your written word works. For example say you write a world with mythological creatures and those who hunt them, a hunter who is deaf could use that to their advantage when going against say a siren. 

For a more realistic example maybe your character is a soldier and they get shot in the leg, but luckily for them, it was their prosthetic, or maybe their prosthetic is made out of metal or dense plastic and can be used as a painful weapon in a fight. Then on the flipside, the same person may not like the rain because it bothers their stump or they may have “Phantom pains” that may knock them off guard. 

That’s all I have on the subject for now and again I must say. I am not disabled so don’t take this as 100% because it likely isn’t. Thank you for reading and I hope this may inspire you to write a disabled character or a few! The more the merrier. I also again thank the Tumblers who gave me some helpful information.