Create Diversity Tip four: Take classes!
I’ve found several classes offered through writers groups on how to write realistic characters. They have offered, gay, Native American, victims, Latina, psychopaths, police officers, and others. I hope we will be seeing more of these classes. Join an RWA group and get on the class mailing list, this way you’ll always know what’s being offered.
You can also take classes from the local college; some libraries have lectures they offer; and community classes are also available.
Did I miss anything? What are your tips for researching other cultures?
Your Monday Music is from Finland with a trio Apocoliptica, Ville Valo lead singer for HIM, and Lauri Ylonen from Rasmus. It’s a beautiful song; it always gives me chills.

And just in case you didn’t see it before- here’s a class on diversity being offered.

The Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal Chapter of RWA Presents

Latina Heroines
Presented by Dr. Charley Ferrer
http://www.romance-ffp.com/event.cfm?EventID=423
WHEN: October 24, 2011 through October 26, 2011
WHAT: Not all Latinas are the same. Mexicans, Puerto Rican, Columbian, Dominicans, Spaniards–we’re all different. Like Brits and Americans. Add to that the cultural bias, religion, sexuality, regional quirks and the individual’s ability to straddle two cultures as she tries to assimilate to the American way of life and still respect the old world traditions of her parents, and you have the hilarious situations just waiting to happen.

WHERE: This workshop will be conducted via a Yahoo! email loop. Email invitations will be sent 48 hours prior to the beginning of the workshop.
HOW: Just register for the workshop and complete the payment process via PayPal. The cost is $5.00 for FFnP members and $7.00 for non-FFnP members. Payment is due at the time of registration.
Refunds /credits are determined on a case by case basis. If a class should be canceled, then participants have a choice of a credit to be applied to a future workshop or a refund.
REGISTRATION: http://www.romance-ffp.com/nonMemberWorkshopRegistration.cfm?EventID=423 {you might want to do a Tiny URL www.tinyurl.com here, so the link is small enough to be on one line}

WHO: Dr. Charley Ferrer is a clinical sexologist and psychotherapist with over 15 years experience. She produces and hosts a TV Talk Show called PLEASURE on relationships and sexuality. She’s an award-winning author with eight books on sexuality and self-empowerment. Her new books BDSM FOR WRITERS and BDSM THE NAKED TRUTH were released June 17, 2011.
Dr. Charley teaches psychology & human asexuality courses at Rutgers University and lectures throughout the US and Latin America on various topics dealing with sexuality. She’s the sex expert for various TV/Radio shows. She writes for newspapers & magazines, including Fox News Latino, where her first live interview was providing relationship advice to the royal couple. In her spare time, Dr. Charley enjoys traveling and exploring ancient ruins and conducting research. She has created a Yahoo Group for BDSM writers to share their knowledge and learn from each other.
For 2012, she’s hosting a BDSM FOR WRITERS Conference in New York City where authors will not only receive information but gain a little hands-on experience. Plus she’s hosting a BDSM Writers Contest for published and unpublished authors starting September.
Please feel free to visit her site www.bdsmforwriters.com or for general information about sexuality www.instituteofpleasure.org.