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The Stories We Tell (Revised)
Creating a believable Disabled Main Character
An estimated twenty to twenty five percent of adults suffer from some form of disability. As a result of these high percentages, it’s astonishing we don’t see more representation in literature, media, and entertainment films, so I decided early on to write stories about people with disabilities.
It can be difficult to create a character with a disability, but there are some tips that can help. First, as with writing about anything, do your research, be careful not to make your story sound like something it isn’t, and remember that people with disabilities have all the emotions that everyone else does, so don’t make it sound like they are always having a pity party. On the other hand, don’t make it seem like they are always happy.
Research different disabilities instead of relying on standards when writing about disabilities.
The second step is to research well, and use that research wisely.
It’s important to explore the positive aspects of your character’s disability. Disabled individuals do not want others to focus on the negative aspects of their disability. They are not in constant need of your sympathy, in fact it is more of an anchor.
Don’t give your character a disability just to underscore tragic circumstances, or…
