Years ago, stereotyping in fiction was very common, and readers accepted them without question. Stereotypes, therefore, are nothing new. An emperor in his empire, a lawyer in a courtroom, a detective in a crime scene, a prostitute in the streets—every known character and profession has already been represented. Stereotyping is the product of how we commonly perceive such characters in the world and the occupations they inhabit. A character with a Stetson hat, boots, and lasso in the background with rocks and cactus will be easily identified as a cowboy. A character wearing a cape and tight-skinned jammies exemplifies the typical superhero. Even speculative characters like aliens with huge heads, green skin, and skinny bodies are a stereotypical way of perceiving them.

In today’s world of political correctness and gender sensitivity, stereotyping in fiction is now frowned upon. It has become a cliché in creative writing and nonfiction. Unless you are writing a satire where you challenge the norms, stereotyping can be an effective form of social commentary. Try a stand-up comedy show and see how most of the performers poke fun at race, religion, and even themselves.

Satire aside, stereotypes are not backed up by statistical data. There is no proof that all Mexicans prefer driving a Camaro or that the majority of African Americans love eating fried chicken and watermelon. Whatever preconceived notions you have about a particular group, it would be prudent to set them aside and not let it seep through your writing.

As a starter, there are two simple ways you can effectively avoid stereotyping in your fiction:

1) Explore your character in-depth and show what makes him different.

Example: Don Kelsey is not a high-priced lawyer, but he is brilliant and dedicated. Big law firms in New York have been jostling to hire him, but he prefers to practice independently. His memory lapses were recently diagnosed as an early stage of Alzheimer’s, and he couldn’t believe he would succumb to such illness considering that he was only in his forties. Nonetheless, he continues bar-hopping in drag during weekends.

The first two sentences establish Don as a character. The third sentence reveals a secret about him. In the last sentence, he is described as having an odd predisposition that doesn’t suit a lawyer. Don is no longer a stereotype.

2) Place the character in a unique situation.

Example: The Grammy-award winning R&B singer acknowledged the presence of her fans and dedicated her last song to them. They gave her a huge round of applause. As the music begins to play for her last piece, she fears that her psychotic fan who has been sending her threatening letters is watching in the crowd. Getting sniped in front of her fans is not a glamorous way to die.

The character typifies what most singers do. The crowd of fans puts her in her element. But the life-threatening situation defines an uncommon scene. The reader grows concerned about what will happen next, and this gives the writer more room to further explore the uniqueness of the singer.