Diversity and Inclusion Archives | Inspired Quill Publishing

Mother Language Day for Authors and Publishers

In 1999, UNESCO designated 21 February as International Mother Language Day. It’s an opportunity for all of us to acknowledge and celebrate language diversity and to resist the suppression of minority...

A blog feature image showing a small leafy branch and scrabble tiles spelling 'Mental Health' with the title '5 Novels with Authentic Mental Health Depictions' over the top

5 Novels with the Best (Authentic) Mental Health Depictions

Mental health is a popular theme in fiction but negative stereotypes abound. Charlotte Brontë has a lot to answer for with her madwoman in the attic in the classic novel Jane Eyre. As a former clinica...

A blog feature image showing a close up of an old woman holding a book with the text

Why We Need More Older Characters in Fiction

In a 2013 Guardian article the novelist Penelope Lively, then aged 80, bemoaned the depiction of older characters in fiction: “The stereotypes of old age run from the smiling old dear to the gru...

LGBT+ History through Contemporary Fiction

Minority rights aren’t only deeply important for minorities. Like the canary in the coal mine, they can also indicate a society’s flexibility, respect and overall health. Equality benefits everyone, s...

Perspectives on Identity in Short Stories

by Anne Goodwin
November 17th, 2019
Diversity and InclusionGuides and Resources

I often get to the end of a novel and think Now I know where it’s going, I’d love to read it again. But, as a book blogger reading around 150 contemporary novels a year, I rarely do. But short stories...

Does Diverse Reading Benefit Your Brain?

You’re probably familiar with the ethical arguments favouring diverse reading. Celebrating marginalised stories is part of what Inspired Quill is about. You might not be aware, however, that reading d...

The Point of Fictional Damsels

by Hugo Jackson
June 26th, 2018
Diversity and InclusionPublishing Industry

One of my favourite animated series was, and still is, The Mysterious Cities of Gold. It aired on the BBC in the very late eighties and it has always been a huge comfort and inspiration to me. There w...

A Man Writing Heroines

by Sara-Jayne Slack
September 26th, 2017
Diversity and InclusionInspired Quill News

Here’s a story about D&D, listening and trying to be a good ally. Why am I, a man, writing about heroines? Let me tell you a story. A friend told me about a game of Dungeons & Dragons he...

A blog feature image showing a diverse group of youngsters standing and looking at the camera and the title 'Stop Talking About Diversity in Books' over the top

Stop Talking About Diversity In Books

by Sara-Jayne Slack
September 5th, 2017
Diversity and InclusionPublishing Industry

“The importance of diversity in books”, “diverse characters – tokenism or important?” and my personal favourite, “is diversity really that important?” Every time I see a convention panel discussion wi...