Episode 5.1: Making Your Non-Fiction Book Inclusive with Dr. Jen O'Ryan
Dr. Jen O’Ryan is Jodi’s guest for this episode of the Write.Publish.Market Podcast. Dr. Jen is a Diversity, Inclusion and Equity strategist and that is the topic of this episode. She also wrote her book to be an addition to her business, so she’s a perfect guest for our podcast.
Jodi and Dr. Jen walk through how diversity is viewed generationally and how this can impact your readers. Knowing your target audience will help determine how you address it in your books. A few key things that Dr. Jen points out are:
“Make sure everyone is on the same playing field”
“Have somebody else who doesn't have the same life experience or who doesn't look like you read your book, and give feedback.”
“It's not about political correctness. . . It's about being respectful and opening it up to a larger body of people who'll be able to consume your story and relate to it and benefit from it.”
She relates these to not only your writing work, but inside your business and even personal life. Jodi and Dr. Jen talk about remembering to focus on the fact that everyone is a human and ways to make it easier to include everyone in your work.
Listen below or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Meet Dr. Jen O’Ryan
Dr. Jen O’Ryan is an Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (D.I.E.) strategist, focused on helping people build authentically inclusive and welcoming companies. She brings a unique perspective to organizational change, combining a PhD in Human Behavior with over 20 years of experience.
Jen understands the challenges leaders face in developing a culture of inclusiveness and guides organizations from ‘good intentions’ to effective implementation. Jen is the author of “Inclusive AF: A Field Guide for ‘Accidental’ Diversity Experts”, which explains how to cultivate a more welcoming workplace.
Outside work, Jen is a travel enthusiast and avid runner. With a strange affinity for bad 80’s music, getting lost in new cities, and scary movies.
Get ready to talk to a compassionate and lively ethics expert who is excited to teach writers how to be inclusive.