Acclaimed author, educator and travel journalist Alex Temblador (Half Outlaw; Secrets of the Casa Rosada) gives writers an effective and thorough handbook to help them think through one of the most important aspects of creative writing: how to write characters and identities outside of the spaces that they themselves embody. Writing an Identity Not Your Own is more than a how-to; Temblador does not merely outline dos and don'ts. Rather, she gets into the hows and whys: how certain kinds of writing can reveal bias and have unintended negative impacts, and why it is paramount for authors to be aware of the power dynamics in the public sphere that see certain voices more commonly written from outside of communities than within them.
The book is divided into three sections. The chapters in "Before You Write" provide background information on what the book will cover, while those in "As You Write" break down elements, such as characterization and dialogue, for authors to consider during the writing process. Perhaps most importantly, the third section teaches readers how to edit work effectively to check for bias, stereotypes, and tropes. Each chapter begins with a "quick chapter navigation" guide, making it easy to dip in and out, and to use as a workbook, and includes a writing exercise to apply the topics discussed. Temblador includes supplementary material, such as books, websites, online discussion groups, and suggestions for further learning at the end of the book, as well as via QR codes throughout the text. This is an essential resource for every author's shelf. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer