{"id":792086,"date":"2025-05-13T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/?p=792086"},"modified":"2025-05-12T16:44:57","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T15:44:57","slug":"editing-with-empathy-why-authenticity-editing-matters-in-every-genre","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jerichowriters.com\/editing-with-empathy-why-authenticity-editing-matters-in-every-genre\/","title":{"rendered":"Editing with empathy: why authenticity Editing matters in every genre"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

We\u2019ve all read sentences that made us pause; not because the words moved us profoundly, but because they didn\u2019t sit right. Recently, I read a mystery novel that stereotyped all Hindus as being vegetarian, stating that their homes smelled of garlic and spices. Being a Hindu myself, this didn\u2019t resonate well. I eat most things and I\u2019d like to the think the Coastal Breeze<\/em> and Wild Rhubarb<\/em> diffusers I\u2019ve scattered around my home make it smell heavenly! Stereotypes like these are based on assumptions, give readers false impressions and beliefs, and don\u2019t reflect people\u2019s individuality or full humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether you\u2019re writing a heart-racing historical romance book, a moving memoir, a corporate blog post or a non-fiction book about the Empire, readers want authenticity<\/strong>. People want to see themselves, their culture, their identity and their experience reflected accurately. Editing with empathy is a responsible way to ensure writing is accurate and respectful across all genres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is Authenticity Editing?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

It reviews the way marginalised groups, identities, cultures and experiences are portrayed in creative work (e.g. book, script, game, movie, marketing, adverts), and is usually done when creators are exploring unfamiliar topics. For example, if a character has autism and the writer has no experience of this, they can work with an authenticity expert who has autism to accurately represent it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authenticity editing uncovers unconscious bias, stereotypes, offensive content, clich\u00e9s and inaccurate facts that writers unintentionally include.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why does it matter?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Everyone has the creative freedom to write what they want. You don\u2019t have to follow Mark Twain\u2019s famous piece of writing advice and \u2018write what you know\u2019 to avoid being criticised; instead, \u2018write what you don\u2019t know\u2019 but do it responsibly and respectfully<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Writers might thoroughly research resources to understand the unfamiliar, but even the well-intentioned writer can get things wrong \u2013 a shame when so much time and emotional investment is poured into writing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authenticity editing fills writers\u2019 knowledge-gaps and strengthens their work with lived perspectives, ensuring that the language is used contextually, carefully and responsibly to minimise misrepresentation and harmful depictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is Authenticity Editing a form of \u2018book policing\u2019?!<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Authenticity editing doesn\u2019t have the power to censor books  \u2013 the publishing house makes final publication decisions. If representation is poor or harmful, readers might leave negative reviews, critics call out writers on social media or publishers might cancel contracts, leading to reputational risk. Authenticity editing can help writers avoid mistakes that lead to outcry before publishing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Authenticity Editing matters in every genre<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Many people think that authenticity editing is only used to assess race and cultures, but many topics are reviewed which most genres will explore:<\/p>\n\n\n\n