For the past two years or so, I've been planning a series of novels. I have most of the back story and actual plot figured out, but I'm still working on characterization. I'm dealing with a huge cast of characters- around 25 secondary characters and three main characters. All three of them are white.
So, is this a problem? I've noticed that, when writing, I tend to focus more on ethnicity than race. I grew up in an area full of second and third generation immigrants, mostly from Europe and Eastern Europe. It was ethnically, but not racially, diverse. At this point in my life, college is the only time I've spent in a racially diverse environment. As a result, I default to making my character's ethnicity important (eg, one character has a strong Jewish background, which is important to their back story and family history), but I have to be intentional about including other races.
The secondary cast is more diverse, aside from the families of the three main characters. I could possibly change the race of one of the main characters, but I'd have to change some important plot points (though I'm still in the planning phase, so this isn't that big a problem). What do you guys think?
Question about race, for writers (or readers)
So, is this a problem? I've noticed that, when writing, I tend to focus more on ethnicity than race. I grew up in an area full of second and third generation immigrants, mostly from Europe and Eastern Europe. It was ethnically, but not racially, diverse. At this point in my life, college is the only time I've spent in a racially diverse environment. As a result, I default to making my character's ethnicity important (eg, one character has a strong Jewish background, which is important to their back story and family history), but I have to be intentional about including other races.
The secondary cast is more diverse, aside from the families of the three main characters. I could possibly change the race of one of the main characters, but I'd have to change some important plot points (though I'm still in the planning phase, so this isn't that big a problem). What do you guys think?