ADHD Things:

ADHD things:

- “I’ll do my work in a sec, but first I have to stare at this exact spot in the carpet for no less than 10 minutes”

- “My nail is split, I have to split it more” proceeds to rip off entire piece of nail down to the finger

- “My toenails look like half-peeled-up stickers, I must peel them off now” toes start bleeding

- Any noises in a silent space are immediately too loud

- “Whatever you need me to do, you’re gonna have to wait for at least half an hour while I finish this super important thing that I’ve been doing for 3 hours already”

- Zoned out during conversation and people start laughing “Wait, what?” “Oh, never mind”

- “What am I supposed to be doing right now?” Looks over at person next to me, “Where did they get that paper? Where do I get that paper?”

Feel free to add your own, these

Writing x Characters When You Aren’t x, A Masterlist

x: a variable used to represent something unknown.

We’ve seen an influx of questions about how to write stories based around characters of color, disability, non-binary, etc. when the author does not fall into these categories. Rather than have these posts take over the site, we’ve decided to compile a list of resources to help our fellow writers become more educated about writing what they do not immediately know. However, this list is not the end-all-be-all of knowledge; one should always try to learn from someone with first hand experience in any topic. The world is constantly growing and changing, and because of that, there will always be more to learn. The admins at Plotline Hotline want to help writers form respectful, informed, and realistic characters that broaden the narrow range we see in literature today. 

*Be wary that some of the topics listed below contain sensitive material. Reader discretion is advised.* 

As always, the links I found to be especially apt will be in bold. Topics are listed alphabetically, excepting the “other” section.

Culture

Appropriate Cultural Appropriation

What is Cultural Appropriation? [1,2,3]

Cultural Appropriation Is, In Fact, Indefensible

Voice Appropriation & Writing About Other Cultures

Diversity, Appropriation, and Writing the Other [List]

Disability

Writing Disibilities [1,2,3,4,5]

Guides to Writing Deaf or Hard of Hearding People

National Association of the Deaf - Resources [List]

World Federation of the Deaf

Using a Prosthetic Device

Prostehtic Limbs (Character Guide)

How NOT to Write Disabled Characters

A Guide to Disibility Rights Law (United States)

Timeline of Disibility Rights in the United States

Social Security Disability: List of Impairments, Medical Conditions, and Problems [List] (United States)

How to Write Disabled Characters: An Opinion Piece

Artificial Eye Resources [List][Various]

Adapting to the Loss of an Eye

Misconceptions and Myths About Blindness

Blind Characters: A Process of Awareness

Writing Blind Characters [List]

Types of Learning Disabilities [List]

Diversity

A Guide to Spotting and Growing Past Stereotypes

How to Prepare to Write a Diverse Book

The Diversity of Writing

Why Diversity Matters for Everyone

Writing a Driverse Book [1,2,3,4,5]

Diversity, Political Correctness and The Power of Language

Diversity Book List [List][Books]

Basic Tips To Write Subcultures & Minority Religions Better 

Basic Tips to Avoid Tokenism

Gender

GLAAD Media Reference Guide - Transgender

Creating Well-Written Trans Characters

A Few Things Writers Need To Know About Sexuality & Gender Expression

Trans (Character Guide & Bio Building)

A Non-Binary Person’s Guide to Invented Pronouns

Gender Neutral Writing [List]

Keeping a Trans* Person a Person  

Suggestions for Reducing Gendered Terms in Language [Photo]

How to Review a Trans Book as a Cis Person

Writing Characters of Different Genders [List]

Understanding Gender

Gender Spectrum Resources [List]

Gender History

Illness 

Writing Chronic Illness [1,2]

The Spoon Theory - Also pertains to disibility

About HIV/AIDS

Sexually Transmitted Diseases [List]

Sexually Transmitted Infections

Sex and Gender Differences in Health [Study]

All Chronic Illness Topics [List]

Coping with Chronic Illness

All Cancer Types

A Day in the Life of a Home Health Aide/Health Coach

Fiction Books With Chronically Ill Main Characters- Not Cancer [List][Books]

Neurotype (Including Mental Health)

Writing an Autistic Character When You Don’t Have Autism

Depression Resources [List]

What to Consider When Writing Mental Illness

Stanford Psychiatric Patient Care

Inpatient Psychiatric Questions and Tips

Don’t Call Me Crazy [Documentary]

(Avoid) Romanticizing Mental Illness [1,2]

A Day in the Life of a Mental Hospital Patient

State-run vs. Private Mental Hospitals

Mental Disorders

Mental Hospital Non-Fiction [List][Books]

National Institute of Mental Health - Mental Health Information [List]

Writing Autistic

What Causes PTSD?

Remember, Remember: The Basics of Writing Amnesia

ADHD Basic Information

What is a Learning Disability?

What is Neurotypical?

Race

Writing Race: A Checklist for Authors

Transracial Writing for the Sincere

Is my character “black enough”

White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Challenge, Counter, Controvert: Subverting Expectations

Writing With Color: Blogs - Recs - Resources [List]

Writing People of Color (If you happen to be a person of another color)

7 Offensive Mistakes Well-Intentioned Writers Make

Description Guide - Words for Skin Tone

Religion

Religion in Novels: Terrific or Taboo?

How to Write a Fantasy Novel that Sells: The Religion

Writing About Faith And Religion

From Aladdin to Homeland: How Hollywood Can Reinforce Racial and Religious Stereotypes 

Sexuality

Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [List]

Writing Gay Characters [1,2,3]

American Civil Liberties Union - LGBT+ Rights

LGBT+ Rights by Country or Territory

History of Gay Rights

Gay Rights Movement

LGBT+ Culture

Gay Myths and Stereotypes

LGBT+ Studies Web Sites [List]

LGBTQ Youth Issues

LGBTData.com

Overview of Gay and Lesbian Parenting, Adoption and Foster Care (United States)

Other

How Doctors’ Offices—and Queer Culture—Are Failing Autistic LGBTQ People

Five Traps and Tips for Character Development

Developing Realistic Characters

I hope that this list will provide topics a writer may not initially think to research when writing. If there are any resources that you think would be fitting for this list, please let us know! We want to have as many helpful sources as possible to maximize learning opportunities. 

Stay educated,

xx Sarah

If you’d have been there

If you’d have seen it

I betcha you would have done the same

Alyssa shoots her mother with a paintball gun

She had it coming.

She had it coming.

She only had herself to blame.

Now see, around here, we call the character development.

ARMS 💖

I love shera 💖

I have an entire word document with information about them as well as a small, unfinished narrative piece featuring these two and a couple other characters, let me know if you wanna hear about it!

A small look into a sketch that I did a while ago of two of my original characters, Sunny and Sky (yes I know the names are kind of ironic don’t @ me) it is based off of the percabeth drawing at top. Sunny is on the skateboard and Sky is holding her hand 💙💛

- Her little smiles every time Chess tried to engage her in any form of anything.

- The way the corner of her lip quirks up when Eva leans over her shoulder to ask Annleigh who she’s texting

- Unafraid to call people out on their bullshit

- Will always be ready to fight anyone who tries to talk shit or hurt some she loves

- Can still be snarky with a LITERAL STAB WOUND

- Is vocally against going to the sleepover but goes anyway and stays because her best friend asks her too

- The way she takes her hoodie off during finale; she crosses her arms at the bottom and pulls up but stops once it’s over her shoulders so she can carefully take it off without messing up her hair

- EYELINER!!!!!!!!!!

- The PONYTAIL!!!!!!!!

Reasons why I love Kate Dalton (in no particular order):

- This girl is such a disaster lesbian, she changes her look roughly 4583792874387 times during the show

- She read a Swedish drama thriller during a cheerleader sleepover

- “I-I like your pin”

- Calls out Farrah and Annleigh when they do something illegal/claim it isn’t illegal

- “If God killed high schoolers for having sex, there would be no high schoolers.”

- “Hi everyone, I’m Kate, those candles are the dead ones, and the freshman’s in PRISON!”

- Have I mentioned how much of a disaster she is

- Looks like she could kill you but is actually a cinnamon roll

- “I am going to find my FRIEND, preferably so that we can LEAVE.”

- Refers to Riley’s basement as the Basement Of Death despite nobody having died in the basement specifically

- Has one (1) friend that she would die for

- Hufflepuff who pretends she is a Gryffindor

- An excellent gymnast? Give me? Kate gymnast content? Please?

- Her full name is probably Katherine but she hates it

- Chaotic bean

- Her expressions during Shut Up and Cheer

- Because Annleigh tackles Reese and she’s just Fear

- And then she holds back Reese and is Done With This Bullshit

- And then Annleigh says a no-no word and she is Fear once again

- Judges people WHILE BLEEDING OUT

- “Are you SURE you know what you’re doing?”

- “Wouldn’t it be better to just have a lateness policy?”

- “No, you said there was NO policy, Riley.”

- Argues with everyone

- All of Skype Tomorrow makes me want to give her a hug

- Has a friendship bracelet she probably never takes off

- Wears a black choker with her cheerleading uniform even though that’s probably against at least 3 rules

- Kate having glasses secretly is a hill I will die on

- I would bet any amount of money that she buys a pin that matches Eva’s and wears it everywhere

- The thing her voice does in IDK when she says “Well, let’s call her in prison, see how much FUN she’s having there!”

- Just

- Kate Dalton