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May 12, 2025 18 mins

Most authors are concerned about getting it wrong when writing about other cultures or anything they've not personally experienced, including disabilities and traumas.

When it comes to cultural differences especially, many authors are feeling the pressure to hire a sensitivity reader.

But should you?

That's the question I'm going to answer in this episode, because I get this question quite a bit.

I teach authors how to accurately and respectfully include Native American characters in their stories through my digital course, Fiction Writing: American Indians. I’ve even been asked by authors if I would be a sensitivity reader for their work.

In this episode, I’m going to get into why I'm not a sensitivity reader for hire, along with the pros and cons of hiring sensitivity readers, and what to do if you do decide that hiring a sensitivity reader is the route you need to go.

***

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit

Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation

Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide

5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

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