New diversity literary consultancy launches

A new literary consultancy dedicated to offering advice on diversity and other sensitivity issues has launched.

We Know the Way was launched by Sagal Mohamed Elmi to check work for any biases, inaccuracies, insensitive or problematic scenes and portrayals, in order to produce a work that is "emphatic, understanding and overall a positive representation of the minority group being written about".

The consultancy offers full manuscript reads, picture book reads, synopsis reads and hourly consultations at prices ranging from £100 to £250.

Elmi said that she created the consultancy because she saw a gap in the industry for this type of service.

Elmi, who is from a Somali background, said that she grew up spotting "damaging representations of characters from minoritised groups", and believes it is "so important" that writers refer their work to others from the groups they write about to ensure that representation is "positive, and free of the negative stereotypes and inaccuracies that will end up in readers hands".

She added: "There is a misconception that 'sensitivity readers' are looking for things to get offended about, and that the service is only needed for white people, but that isn't the case at all. Diversity editing, the term I prefer, is a service for anyone and everyone, as not one person can truly understand the experiences of every single minoritised group, which is fine. They can reach out, however, to those who do understand, and ensure that this step is an integral part of the overall editing process of their manuscript, and this is the service we offer."

She continued: "Diversity editing should be a step that isn't missed out at all, much in the way that someone writing about a forensic scientist will consult one at some point to ensure their portrayal is accurate. Diversity editing offers the writer an opportunity to see if there are any negative portrayals that will cause harm down the line. Many authors, particularly in the YA genre have been recently blasted for mistakes that could have been easily avoided with the consultancy of a diversity editor."

Elmi has an undergraduate degree in medical microbiology from the University of Warwick, a masters degree in structural molecular biology at Birkbeck University, but is using her experience as a reader and aspiring writer to launch the consultancy.

The We Know the Way team currently consists of two people, as well as a "rapidly growing" list of diversity editors. 

The consultancy has launched a crowdfunder to help with running costs, with rewards including discounts on the prices of its services.