Increasing diversity by making all members feel welcome regardless of race, ethnicity or sexual orientation. is one of the current goals of Romance Writers of America. One way to reach out to the wider community is for authors to write about more diverse characters. While we tend to be enthusiastic about the idea, no one wants to offend anyone by getting it wrong. To help address the issue, Rose City Romance Writers’ October presentation will consist of a panel of author-members who are either part of a minority group or regularly write about diverse characters.

Join C. Morgan Kennedy, Chris Cox and Anne Tenino to learn basics of writing outside your identity. Gina Fluharty will address (and help define) “white privilege.” Q&A is highly encouraged, so bring all your questions and ideas, we’ll answer as best we can. And don’t be shy—pushing boundaries is an excellent way to keep your own writing fresh.