A panel of talented Black creators shared advice about crafting compelling narratives in Monday’s “Enchanting Realms: Black Voices in Fantasy,” held in Hyatt Hanover AB at 10AM. Moderated by children’s author Christine H. Taylor-Butler, the panel featured commentary from Isabelle Hardesty, Sebastian A. Jones, Violette L. Meier, Glenn Parris, and L. Marie Wood.

The panelists stress the value of drawing upon personal experience when crafting a story. For example, Meier’s Angel Crush series is set in Atlanta, where Meier was born and raised. In Hardesty’s The Witch of Belle Fleur, Juliette is a telenovela actor; Hardesty grew up watching telenovelas with her family.

The panelists agreed that being Black in America means being somewhat of an outsider. This shared life experience led them to have their characters navigate contemporary settings. As these protagonists explore their worlds, so do readers. This writing technique draws in readers and allows writers a convenient framework to introduce key concepts.

Taylor-Butler noted that Black authors sometimes struggle to sell stories to publishers, as publishers generally seek conventional stories without fresh plot elements. This is changing, as the literary world grows its appreciation for diverse voices and stories. Jones opined that stories by under-represented groups are not just timely, but timeless.

Inspiration comes in many forms for our panelists. Some listen to music to break through bouts of writer’s block, others find light-bulb moments in meditation and dreams. Meier, Parris, and Wood all take inspiration from other writers with different styles, which helps them push themselves.

The panelists write a variety of genres, but all agreed that Black stories should generally spark joy. The authors believe that there is a tremendous audience for funny, adventurous, and thrilling stories across genres. Black characters are underrepresented in these types of stories, which led each panelist to consistently incorporate them into their works. With a glut of stories focusing on Black trauma, the authors urge publishers and readers alike to branch out.

As time marches on, the literary world becomes more vibrant and varied. The panelists hope that the number of diversity-forward writers and readers continues to grow.