Writing Beyond Stereotypes of Disability

Characters with disabilities have been around as long as there have been stories, but often those characters are based on stereotypes that serve as plot shortcuts and end up being harmful to real people with disabilities. Disability is one of humanity’s most shared traits. It is inevitable that to write characters you will write disability.

This class will use model texts and generative writing exercises to explore how to go beyond stereotypes such as the one-handed villain, the pitiable cripple, and the inspirational athlete, to write nuanced characters that honor human diversity on the page.

Because we live in an able world, discussions and exercises will also touch on writing disabled worlds and how to reveal the often invisible expectations of ablism in our current world by thinking about settings, clothing, food, and many other cultural norms.

This class will have scalable exercises for advanced writers interested in extra intensity. It’s also for writers looking to learn something new, and writers interested in developing new characters or revising characters.

Access Program
We understand that our tuition structure can present obstacles for some people. Our Access Program offers writing class registrations at a reduced rate. The access program for writing classes covers 60% of the class tuition. Most writing classes have at least one access spot available.

Jaye Viner lives on what used to be the plains of eastern Nebraska with two feline fur bombs and a very tall man.  She holds an MFA and MA from the University of Nebraska. Her writing has been published in Drabblecast, The Roanoke Review, and Everyday Fiction. Her first novel, Jane of Battery Park, (Red Hen Press) is a speculative romantic thriller about two people trying to fall in love and stay there despite their families. Find her on Twitter @JayeViner or Instagram @Jaye_Viner