Writing for Marginalized Communities

Happy New Year.

Last year we saw amazing events that will shape history: the rolling back of Roe v. Wade, the first Black woman to run for President, and an unprecedented amount of negative legislation passed targeting the LGBTQ+, particularly the transgender, communities, this all will leave our country changed forever. Through the mappings of Project 2025, we witnessed the tone of America shift into a tumultuous fervor. These changes defined communities, divided communities, and marginalized communities.

As authors, we find ourselves writing for a broad audience even if in our genre. This enables our work to reach more readers. Over this past year, I have struggled to write for a broader audience and have focused on those I resonate with. This poses a conundrum for me. I do not want to alienate any readers. It is important that I produce an honest manuscript that aligns with my moral beliefs.

I focus my energy and thoughts on the community of which I am a part. I also am often thinking about other struggling communities. I have spent much of my writing career creating stories and characters that are transgender, lesbian, or both. I can relate to these characters and their lives. The events of this past year have provided a universal window into the challenges facing all minorities. While the histories and challenges are not universally the same, there are commonalities both past and present. As authors, we must identify, acknowledge, and illustrate these similarities to continue to reach those broader audiences.

Every community has its own unique experiences. We must continue the use of compassion, respect, and research. We must continue to maintain our morals and ethics in our writing. We must write for the communities we connect with and that need our voices. We represent those who are marginalized, and we have the opportunity to raise their struggles into a place of visibility and accessibility so that change may occur. Let us expand our voices through our communities and with compassion, respect, and communal research to support and bolster our marginalized communities for which we write.