A sensitivity reader is a special book critiquer who reads manuscripts to look for insensitive, offensive, or archaic portrayals of minorities. Typically, these readers are an active member of that marginalized group. Writers might hire sensitivity readers when they write characters who are members of a marginalized group that the author is not a part of.
While including diverse representation in media is an important and intentional act, it doesn’t always go well. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy for an author to misstep in a way that could be harmful for the group they’re trying to represent.
To help avoid that kind of mistake, you should hire a sensitivity reader.
Sensitivity readers can help protect the author from catching heat for not doing their due diligence, as well as protecting readers from needless, potentially triggering content.
While a sensitivity reader can sift through your manuscript to point out internalized bias, stereotypes, and insensitive language, they are not a guarantee against mistakes. Just like hiring a copy editor is a great idea to make your manuscript as clean as possible, it’s still not a guarantee that a typo or two won’t make its way into your final publication.
https://self-publishingschool.com/sensitivity-readers/
While including diverse representation in media is an important and intentional act, it doesn’t always go well. Even with the best intentions, it’s easy for an author to misstep in a way that could be harmful for the group they’re trying to represent.
To help avoid that kind of mistake, you should hire a sensitivity reader.
Sensitivity readers can help protect the author from catching heat for not doing their due diligence, as well as protecting readers from needless, potentially triggering content.
While a sensitivity reader can sift through your manuscript to point out internalized bias, stereotypes, and insensitive language, they are not a guarantee against mistakes. Just like hiring a copy editor is a great idea to make your manuscript as clean as possible, it’s still not a guarantee that a typo or two won’t make its way into your final publication.
https://self-publishingschool.com/sensitivity-readers/
