And now, post your achievement below! What level are you on this week?

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Hey there, Fictating author!

Our next community session is next week, Wednesday, June 17, 1PM Central Time.

Check the post next week for your Zoom link!

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This Week’s Trail Note:

Every trail has a section where the path gets rocky and it feels like your footing might slip. Dictation has that section, too, sometimes right when the novelty wears off and the words don’t come out as clean as you’d hoped.

The authors who reach Summit Seeker didn’t find a shortcut through the rocky stretch. They just kept their feet moving.

Five minutes today is five minutes toward solid ground.

And now, post your achievement below! What level are you on this week?

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Hey there, my lovely Substack authors!

I wanted to let you know that starting this Friday, the weekly achievement thread inside my 5-Minute Fictation® Club here on Substack has a new element: Trail Notes.

Each week I’ll open with a short Trail Note: a paragraph or two on dictation, the writing life, and what it looks like to move through the levels of the club.

If you’re already a club member, look for it this Friday in your achievement thread.

If you’re not yet a member, this is a good time to join!

The 5-Minute Fictation® Club is my paid community here on Substack, built around one simple idea: you only need five minutes of dictation during your writing day to build a lasting habit. Each week you get the achievement thread where members share their progress and cheer each other on, plus a monthly community check-in call and access to the 5-Minute Fictation® Club streak tracker app. Trail Notes will now be a part of that every single week.

Membership is $12 per month. You can join now here on Substack before the first one goes out:

Subscribe now

See you on the trail!

Sarah

Subscribe now

Summer is almost here — and with it comes one of my all-time favorite traditions: summer reading.

Do you remember what it felt like to lose yourself completely in a book? Long afternoons, no agenda, just you and a story that pulled you in from the first page?

If you’ve been so deep in your own writing that reading for joy has quietly slipped away — or if you’ve been feeling a little lost as an author lately and your creative well is running dry — this episode is your invitation to come back.

This week on The Confident Fiction Author, I’m bringing back one of my favorites: How to Become a Reader Again.

In this encore episode, you’ll discover:

• How to choose the reading format that actually fits your life right now — audiobooks, eBooks, paperbacks — it all counts

• A simple way to add reading back into your schedule (because what gets scheduled gets done)

• Why tracking the books you read is surprisingly motivating

• How to plan a reading retreat — whether that’s a weekend getaway or a cozy corner at home

The goal isn’t to add another thing to your to-do list. It’s to bring back the joy of being a reader first, writer second — and let that joy pour right back into your fiction.

Your best writing starts with inspired reading. And there’s no better time to start than right now, with summer just around the corner.

Listen to Episode 57

Listen to The Confident Fiction Author Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you can find podcasts.

Episode 57 Transcript

Hey there, my friend, and welcome to this week's episode of the Confident Fiction Author podcast. I'm your host, Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, and today I'm going to be talking about how to become a reader again.

I don't know if you're anything like me, but sometimes I get in a reading slump. I don't know why, because I love to read. It's one of my favorite hobbies, one of my favorite recreational activities. I love to read fiction, and that's what led me to become a fiction writer. I think we all start out with that love of reading—at least typically. You may not have, but I started out with a love of stories and reading fiction.

But oddly enough, sometimes I get into a reading slump—actually, sometimes more often than I would like to admit. And I don't know where that comes from. I don't know if it's an energy thing, if it's a time distraction thing. I'm not sure. But sometimes I'll find myself going on my phone and watching old TV shows or something instead of reading, especially in the evenings.

So evenings are typically my primary reading time—and also Saturday morning and Sunday morning. I love to just get into a good novel. But I do hit those seasons where I'm not really reading and not reading very much. I'm not reading a paperback, an audiobook, a Kindle, and I just can't seem to get into my reading.

I had a conversation several years ago with another friend of mine who's an author, and she talked about how she was in a reading slump. She was asking me, because I was talking about how many books I was reading at that time, and she was like, “How do you get back into reading?” And I was thinking about that conversation and trying to remember what all I shared with her.

So I had a conversation with a different friend just not too long ago about reading, and why we tend to get out of it, and what it takes to get back into it. So I'm going to pull all of that together here for this podcast episode—for us as fiction authors to become readers again.

So let's get into these four ways that you can become an avid reader again. Let's get into it.

Choose a Reading Format that Works for You

Number one in becoming a reader again is to pick a format that works best for you. I mentioned in the introduction, I read ebooks, paperbacks, hardcover, audiobooks. I love to read in all the formats. And you may be that as well. You like to have multiple books going at the same time. That's not unusual for me. I'll have an audiobook that I can listen to while I'm doing the dishes or driving. And I'll have a paperback that I settle into in the evening in my chair or in bed and read. And then I'll have an ebook that, honestly, we like to go to this barbecue place every Sunday and there's typically a long line. And I'll get in a good 10 or 15 minutes of reading on an ebook while standing in line. So I generally have multiple books going on.

But sometimes that will cause me to freeze with my reading. So I have too many books going. And sometimes when I have reading time, I'm like, do I grab my phone and read on that ebook novel that I have going? Do I listen to the audiobook? Or do I get the paperback? And sometimes that's analysis paralysis, like, and I'm having to make a decision—and which one do I want to read?

And whenever I'm trying to get back into reading and back into my reading habit, what I have to do is pick one format and only read one book in that one format to get me going back into my reading habit. Once I'm there, then I can have that multiple books going on. But it's really—it's really helpful to pick one format and just have that one book going on.

And another that—and one of my friends, that's what she did. She has a lot of paperbacks, like her author friends are always sending her paperbacks. But she found that she's really not a paperback reader, because she likes to read first thing in the morning as she's, you know, getting the sleep out of her eyes. And so she usually is reaching for her phone. And she'll find herself scrolling and reading arguments about keto diets on Facebook. And she's like, why? I'm not even interested in this—why am I here?

And instead, she has flipped that time—that 15, 20 minutes—to reading a novel. And so she started getting her author friends to send her e-copies of their novels so that she can get that in. And she read more books in that month—I think it was December—than she had read the entire year.

And so think about what format works best for you. Are you someone that you find yourself first thing in the morning just scrolling through social media? And would you more enjoy spending that time in a fiction book, in a novel? So it may be listening to audiobooks. Maybe you do have a long commute, or after dropping the kids off to school, you have that extra 15 or 20 minutes to just pop in your earbuds and listen to a novel. Like I said, this is my favorite thing to do when I'm folding laundry or doing the dishes—it just makes it go by much more pleasantly.

And then you may be someone that just the feel of a paperback book is inspiring. And that's honestly—when I'm trying to get back into my reading habit—I will go to paperback, because that's at the core of who I am with loving books and loving to surround myself with books: actually having that physical book in my hand, the smell of it, the feel of the pages, the font on the page—I just love it.

So pick the format that works best for you. Even if you typically read in all the formats, you may want to just pick one to get yourself back into reading again.

Add Reading Time to Your Schedule

All right, number two is add it to your schedule. So I mentioned that I love to read in the evenings and on the weekends—that's usually when I get my most reading time in.

So think about when do you want to read? Oftentimes we're like, yeah, I want to read. And I used to read all the time—why am I not reading anymore? And it could be because your schedule has changed. You may be in a different season of life. Maybe you have young kids now versus whenever you were in college, and you had different times and a different schedule that you did your reading. Or your kids may have moved out now and you're an empty nester, and so your schedule and your routine—you're just off, and you're like, what do I do with myself? Or you've taken on a new job or new career and your routine and schedule is different.

So that could be the cause of why you've fallen off of being a reader, even though it's something that you love to do and you want to get back into it.

So look at your schedule and actually schedule when’s the best time to get in 15, 20 minutes, an hour, two hours' worth of reading. And that may be only once a week. Maybe there's that time on Saturday afternoon when things are quiet, and you can just snuggle down and get into a good book. It may be every evening after dinner—you read for 30 minutes.

So just taking a good look at your schedule—and an honest look at it—not saying, I'm going to read every evening for an hour, when really that's not realistic with kids and the TV going and dinner and all of the things happening. That might not be realistic. But it might be realistic for you to get up an extra 30 minutes in the morning while the house is quiet and make that a part of your morning routine so that you can get some reading time in.

So be honest with your schedule and add reading time into it.

Track Your Reading

All right. Number three is track the number of books you read. And this may sound silly, and some of you may not be, like, real goal-oriented. You may not be feeling like, oh, that doesn't motivate me. But what I enjoy is I like to track how many books I read on Goodreads.

So not that I read them on Goodreads—I track them on Goodreads. So I have a shelf for every year, and I've tracked this since, I think, 2013 or 2014. And what I can do now is I can look back over my years and go, wow, that year I read 20 books, that year I read 33 books, that year I only read 17 books, and wow, that year I read 53 books.

And it's just really interesting and kind of inspiring to just see that I am a reader. It’s affirming to me that I do love reading. And just because I'm in a reading slump and I'm kind of out of that habit of consuming lots of books, I have done that in the past—and I've really enjoyed it. It has so enriched my life.

And as an author, I know that I am actually reading books. I'm not just writing books. I'm consuming other stories and other authors that are out there. And I'm supporting other authors by reading their books. And it's just really, really beneficial overall just to see that number and be able to see the shelf—my digital shelf—accumulate with the books that I actually read.

And what I find is I've actually read more books than I think I have. So I always enjoy that with tracking the number of books that I've read.

And you can do this in analog, you can do it digitally, you can write it in your planner, or you can track it with something like Goodreads or another platform that you can use to mark that, yes, I read that book.

Plan a Reading Retreat

All right, number four is planning a reading retreat. And this is something that I actually came across more in my business training and circles, where professionals and stuff will plan a reading retreat, where they go off somewhere and do nothing but read for two days or a week or two weeks. And I just thought that sounded heavenly—like, just go off. And it was for business reading, but I was like, how fun would that be to just consume novels with a reading retreat?

And this is also known as, you know, a vacation or, you know, that beach read where you're on the beach and just reading books. And so if you're not able to go off somewhere and have a private reading retreat, this can be at home. And a weekend is fabulous for this, where you just let everyone in your household know that you are doing a reading retreat—that you are an author and you need to get some novels read, especially if they're from your fellow authors, your friends that you're wanting to catch up on, or it's in your genre. And so it's kind of counted as research time, right?

So just let them know that you are doing a reading retreat. And if you can have a separate room that’s maybe not being used over the weekend—like a home office, maybe it’s your spouse’s home office—and just being able to set up comfortably in there, especially if there’s a recliner or a little couch or something, or even if you can just blow up an air mattress.

So I have an air mattress that’s the kind you don’t have to get down on the floor with, like it's elevated—I forget what they call those—but I have that air mattress. And so I have blown that up in my office sometimes and just made this kind of a retreat space over the weekend when I wanted just some very chill, quiet time and to do some reading.

So it doesn’t have to be that you’re going off to a fancy resort or it’s a vacation or something. It can just be at home. And if you have a little space that you can create that’s apart, and you let everyone know that this is your reading time and that you are unplugging and doing this as a retreat—of course, if you can go off somewhere to a cabin in the woods or an inexpensive, you know, Vrbo or using hotel points that you’ve accumulated in your account—and just have that time that you are going to be reading, that can really help you to become a reader again.

Plan a trip to the Library or Bookstore

Bonus tip for you. I know I said I had four. I actually thought of one other one as I was talking and that's go to a library or a bookstore. Nothing inspires me more to read more than just going to my local county library and browsing the bookshelves. And it's just so amazing to me, even though it's just a small library to be surrounded by that many books. And I'll pull a few off the shelf and just kind of thumb through them. Maybe it's an author I've thought about checking out or people have recommended that I check them out. So I'll just sit there and read a few chapters, kind of thumb through the pages and get a feel for their style. And when I come home, I just find myself more inspired to crack open the book that's on the top of my pile, teetering by my bed, and just crack that open and get back into reading.

So going to the library, going to bookstores, very inspiring to get back into that reading habit.

Final Thoughts

So quick recap on how to become a reader again. As an author, you want to pick the format that works best for you, that's most conducive for your lifestyle. And just pick one to get back into reading, and then you can expand out into the other formats, but just focus on one to break through and get back into reading.

Number two, be honest about your schedule and look where you can add in your reading time and actually put it into your schedule.

Number three is track the number of books that you read as inspiration, and so that you can look back over the years and go, "Yes, I am a reader. That's a part of who I am as an author. It's a part of who I am. It's my favorite hobby, and I do love to read. Look at all of these books that I've read."

And number four is to plan a reading retreat. You can do this at home or you can go off somewhere, just a day or two, or even if it's at home for just a four-hour stretch that that is literally that retreat time for you that you are going to put into your schedule and enjoy reading a good book.

And your bonus one is to go to your local library or bookstore and just browse the shelf, pull a few off, read some words, and just get yourself inspired about reading again. If time is a factor with reading and you have a whole stack of novels that you want to get through and maybe you're not terribly enthusiastic about reading them, maybe they're in your genre so you want to be familiar with them or they're your author friends and you love them and you do want to read their books and give them feedback, but time wise it's just really a crunch, then I do have a hack that can increase your reading speed by 40%.

So I talk about that back in episode number nine, and it is called increase your reading speed by 40% with this one method without speed reading. So I'm not talking about speed reading. I am still talking about you actually enjoying what you're reading, but this can be a way to get you quick back into your store, into your reading, especially if you've been kind of hung up on a book that you're not terribly enjoying, but you do want to finish it because of an obligation of some kind. And maybe that's what's hanging you up on your reading and causing your reading slum, and you just need to get through it.

Go listen to episode number nine, increase your reading speed, and use that method to get on into and get through that novel that you're on so you can get to what you really enjoy. And that's the thing to remember with becoming a reader again. It's not something you have to do, it's something you get to do. And like I said with me, I love to read and I hit these slumps sometimes. I'm not sure why, but I do know if I follow these methods, that will get me out of my slump, and I do fall in love with reading all over again.

All right, my friend, that is all for this week's episode of the Confident Fiction Author. I hope you enjoyed it and I hope it helps you get back into reading again. I'll see you in next week's episode. Take care.

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit
Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation
Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide
5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

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It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

What a great meetup today!

A couple of you authors asked for the step-by-step instructions on using Voice Memo (iPhone) for dictation, so I recorded this video to share with the club.

Hope it helps!

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It’s time!

Come join in our community session happening today, Wednesday, May 20, 1PM Central Time.

Here’s the Zoom link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88014692485?pwd=ThpfDi629RnkIDHD0HzqqaQefh2yI9.1

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As fiction authors, we’re natural explorers—we chase stories into new eras, new worlds, and yes, new cultures. But when you’re researching a culture that isn’t your own, it can feel like you’re holding a map written in a foreign language.

In this week’s episode of The Confident Fiction Author podcast, I share practical, no-drama tips for researching another culture with accuracy, respect, and confidence—so you can build story worlds readers trust (and love).

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• Why accuracy builds trust (even in fantasy) and how it strengthens your confidence as an author

• Where to start: books, primary sources, oral histories, and works by members of the culture

• How to go “beneath the glass” at museums, archives, and cultural centers (and build real relationships)

• Bias checks & cross-checks: balancing sources inside and outside the culture

Want to go deeper specifically with Native American characters? My course Fiction Writing American Indians walks you step-by-step through authentic research and portrayal—without stereotypes or misrepresentation.

You don’t have to research alone—or feel lost. With the right approach, research will energize your writing and spark your best plot twists.

Listen to Episode 56

Listen to The Confident Fiction Author Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you can find podcasts.

Episode 56 Transcript

Hey there, my friend, and welcome to this episode of the Confident Fiction Author podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer.

Today we are going to explore research tips for you when you’re writing about another culture. Because honestly, as fiction authors, we’re natural explorers, right? We chase stories into new worlds, into new heirs, new cultures, maybe even new planets.

But when it comes to researching a culture that isn’t your own, it’s easy to feel lost. Like, where’s the map? How do I get through here? Or maybe you do have a map and it’s in another language. And you just feel like you don’t even know where to begin.

So today I’ve just got some practical tips for you on how to research another culture, how to really approach that research in a good way and in an authentic and respectful way, and really how to avoid the most common mistakes authors make when researching for their novels.

By the end of this episode, I just want you to feel equipped to step into that research with confidence—not feeling lost, not feeling trepidation, not feeling fear around researching your stories. So let’s get into it.

The Importance of Research

Research, as a historical fiction author, I could harp on this all day long. I’ve given entire presentations on how to research your stories. And it’s something that I certainly practice. I’ve practiced it for pretty much the whole 15 years of my career as a fiction author and certainly from the time of publishing my first book back in 2013, which was titled Touch My Tears: Tales from the Trail of Tears.

I did that with nine other authors. We did Choctaw removal stories—from removal from our homeland to Indian Territory, what became the state of Oklahoma. So I started on this journey of research many years ago.

And that, honestly, I’ll just tell you that story. Before I did that book, it was part of my program with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. I was in their Artist in Leadership program. As part of that program, I spent two weeks in Washington, DC, and the majority of that time was doing research. I got to handle Choctaw artifacts, documents, papers, paintings. It was incredible.

Part of my program was bringing that home to my community in Durant, Oklahoma. That’s around where my papal was born, and then he moved down to Fort Worth in his young years, where my mom was born. So we live in Texas, but we have deep roots in Oklahoma.

I brought all of that research back to Durant, invited Choctaws from anywhere, and had authors from five different states participate. It was incredible. We had a wonderful group, and then I invited them into this anthology that became Touch My Tears, my first book.

We took over 5,000 images, but I pared them down to show especially the objects that we were able to observe and handle. It was a foundational experience for me with my fiction writing, and for all the books that came after it. But it was by no means comprehensive or the end of my research. I continue to research to this day to really get that accuracy.

Accuracy Builds Trust

Accuracy builds trust with your readers. Even if you are writing fantasy, thriller, or action-adventure, accuracy matters. Stereotypes or things that feel off can damage your credibility. Readers who know the culture may notice inaccuracies, and that can affect their trust in your story.

The heart of most authors is to portray cultures respectfully and authentically. Hitting that mark builds trust not only with your readers but also with yourself as an author.

Research also fuels story ideas. For instance, when I was writing my most recent Choctaw Tribune series book, researching the Dawes Commission and turn-of-the-century history sparked plot ideas and character interactions that drove the entire story. Research can unblock you, inspire twists, and enrich your narrative.

Where to Start with Research

If research feels overwhelming, here’s a starting point: books. Start with the topic you want to explore and find the best books on it.

For my World War One novel, Anupa Warrior, I started researching because I knew very little about WWI. I looked for books, movies, photographs, letters, and reports. Oral histories and personal stories gave me authentic tidbits to enrich my story.

Books by members of that culture are invaluable, whether history, contemporary fiction, or biography. Knowing history, even for contemporary novels, is essential. Read widely and from varied perspectives—inside and outside the culture—to avoid bias.

Museums, Archives, and Cultural Centers

Museums, archives, and cultural centers offer unique opportunities. I spent two weeks at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), accessing archives not on display. I even handled artifacts, like blowguns used in ancient times.

Visiting cultural centers, taking classes, and interacting with experts adds sensory details to your understanding. Meeting people who are passionate about their culture gives insider knowledge and helps you “go beneath the glass.”

Respect Boundaries

Respect boundaries—some cultural knowledge or artifacts are not meant for fiction.

At the NMAI, there were items I saw but would never write about. Some knowledge is sacred or private. Different opinions exist about what is okay to include. Understanding and respecting these boundaries is crucial, even if you have to make judgment calls as a fiction author.

Avoid Cherry-Picking and Bias

Authors often cherry-pick details that serve their plot. Be mindful of your intention. Include cultural elements in a balanced way, portraying both positives and negatives. Avoid selecting only what suits your story or reinforces stereotypes.

Practical Tips for Research

• Keep a research notebook or phone notes: Record questions, tidbits, and observations. Always have it handy.

• Cross-check information with multiple sources: Use at least two sources to confirm facts. Don’t rely solely on one person or one sensitivity reader.

• Avoid shortcuts: Hollywood depictions or Wikipedia summaries often perpetuate stereotypes. Go to primary sources whenever possible.

• Be mindful of representation: Avoid one voice representing the entire culture or one aspect representing the whole. Avoid romanticizing or villainizing a culture.

Inspiration Through Research

Research can energize you and inspire your plot. It enriches characters and story worlds while giving readers a powerful, authentic experience.

If you want to go deeper, especially with Native American characters, I invite you to check out my course Fiction Writing American Indians at fictioncourses.com/americanindians.

Closing

That is all for this episode, my friend. Like I said in the previous one, we don’t have a word for goodbye in Chakhtal. We say, “Chi pisa la chike.” I will see you again soon. Take care.

Share

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit
Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation
Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide
5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

Hey there, Fictating author!

Our next community session is next week, Wednesday, May 20, 1PM Central Time.

Check the post next week for your Zoom link!

Read more

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

If you’ve ever had a story idea that included a character or culture outside of your own — and then hesitated — this episode is for you. Especially if you’ve asked questions like,

“What if I get it wrong? What if readers call me out?”

I hear these doubts often. And honestly, to me, they show you care about getting it right.

This week on The Confident Fiction Author Podcast, I’m bringing back one of my favorite episodes: Writing Beyond Your Own Experience — Respectfully Portraying “the Other.”

In this encore episode, you’ll discover:

• Why authenticity matters even in fiction — and how readers feel it when it’s there (and when it’s not)

• Practical steps for writing characters from other cultures with depth, respect, and realism

• Why you should use caution with sensitivity readers

Writing beyond your own experience isn’t just possible — it’s one of the most powerful things you can do as a storyteller. And when it’s done with care, it builds deep trust with your readers while giving them richer, more immersive story worlds.

And stay tuned — later this month I have something special coming that goes even deeper into this topic. It’s all about earning your readers’ trust by accurately portraying Native American characters in your fiction. More details soon!

Listen to Episode 55

Listen to The Confident Fiction Author Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you can find podcasts.

Episode 55 Transcript

Hey there, my friend, and welcome to this episode of the Confident Fiction Author podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. And today, I want to talk to you about writing beyond your own experiences and how you can accurately and respectfully portray other cultures.

In fact, I did an entire episode on sensitivity readers. That’s episode number 28, Should You Hire a Sensitivity Reader?

So let me ask you this. Have you ever had a story idea that included a character or culture outside of your own, but you really hesitated to write that character? Maybe you thought, What if I get it wrong? What if readers call me out? They’re like, hey, you don’t have any personal experience with that. That’s not what you are. How dare you write that?

If that sounds familiar, just know you are not alone. I want to talk about how you as a fiction author can respectfully and confidently write beyond your own experiences. Because let’s be honest, if we’re only writing what we are or what we’ve experienced, our story worlds are going to be pretty small. They’re going to be very limited only to what we are.

So I’m going to share some principles and practices that will help you avoid pitfalls while also opening up that depth to your stories that you need when you’re writing beyond your own experiences so that you can give your readers a full and realistic story world.

Why Accuracy Matters

Why does this matter? Why is it important that we get things accurate? I mean, we are fiction writers after all, right? We’re creating story worlds, sometimes really fantastical worlds that other people can just get immersed in, get lost in, and get swept away by this epic story we’re telling.

So how important is it that it’s accurate or that we’re portraying things authentically? Readers connect with authenticity. Even in fiction, characters and worlds are based on real emotions and cultural touch points. When those are portrayed authentically, readers notice, and the connection deepens.

If you’re writing real-world fiction—or even fantasy that includes other cultures—you want authenticity. Cultures should be shown realistically, not just for dramatic effect. Big emotional impact is important, but when paired with authenticity, readers trust and respect your story.

Avoiding Stereotypes

Stereotypes can break trust very quickly, especially if someone is familiar with that culture or experience. This could be a culture, a disability, or other experiences you haven’t personally had.

For context, I am a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma and I write historical fiction. All of my main characters in my 18 works of fiction so far are American Indians. I deal with stereotypes regularly, and even today, popular media still plays into them.

If you rely on stereotypes, readers notice. If you portray things authentically, they notice that too—they learn something new, gain a fresh perspective, and grow as a person. Writing “the other” respectfully and accurately is totally possible and powerful, especially when done with care and deep research.

Common Mistakes Authors Make

• Relying on cliches or modern media tropes – Movies, TV shows, and even other books often portray stereotypes or shallow versions of cultures. Always do deeper research rather than leaning too heavily on these sources.

• Making a character a spokesperson instead of a person – A character should not exist solely to explain a culture or experience. They should have depth beyond representation.

Guiding Principles for Writing Beyond Your Experience

Write People First, Culture Second

Culture shapes a character, but it’s not the whole person. Consider other factors like:

• Religion

• Family background

• Job or income level

• Life experiences

Use culture to inform the character, but never let it define them entirely.

Merge Shared Humanity with Unique Identity

Everyone shares basic human experiences. When you combine that with a character’s unique identity markers—like culture or disabilities—you create multi-dimensional, authentic characters.

For example, Native Americans are not outside of humanity. We have shared history with other Americans and individual, unique cultural experiences. Merge these aspects for authentic storytelling.

Practical Steps for Writing Authentically

Sensitivity Readers

Many authors rely on sensitivity readers to “grade” their work. Be cautious:

• One person cannot represent an entire culture or group.

• A sensitivity reader’s feedback is influenced by their own experiences, upbringing, and perspective.

Tip: If you use a sensitivity reader, include them as part of a broader research and feedback team. Combine their insights with your own deep research and consultations with other experts.

Avoid Token Characters

Avoid adding a character just to represent diversity. Ensure every character has a meaningful role and contributes to the story. For example:

• Avoid “wise guide” stereotypes for Native American characters.

• Avoid including a character solely to represent a disability or culture.

Let Culture Show Up Naturally

Culture should be integrated into the story organically, not shoehorned in. Examples:

• Show cultural or disability-related experiences through natural story circumstances.

• Include cultural touchpoints in your outline so they appear seamlessly in your writing.

My Personal Experience

Writing Native American characters, particularly Choctaw, has been a journey. I’ve written seven or eight books focused on Choctaw characters, blending fiction with historical accuracy. I’ve conducted deep research and spoken with dozens, if not hundreds, of Native Americans to ensure authenticity.

Other tribes I’ve written about include Chickasaws and Omaha Indians. Each experience has taught me the value of depth, authenticity, and breaking stereotypes. Listening to people and respecting their experiences is crucial.

For example, in my last book (book five of my Choctaw Tribune series), I included a Chickasaw character who is deaf. That required research and careful listening, as it’s not an experience I’ve had personally. Respect and careful attention to authentic representation make characters feel real to readers.

Final Thoughts

Writing beyond your own experiences is not only possible—it’s necessary for a rich, authentic story world. If we only write what we know, our stories become flat and unrealistic. Writing with respect and authenticity allows us to expand our story worlds while maintaining connection with readers.

Additional Resources

If you want to go deeper, especially when writing Native American characters, I have a digital course called Fiction Writing American Indians. It guides you step-by-step to:

• Bring Native characters to life authentically

• Avoid stereotypes and misrepresentation

• Conduct deep research effectively

You can find it at fictioncourses.com/americanindians.

There’s also a free guide: Five Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing Native Americans. It’s short but packed with tips for authentic storytelling.

Closing

That is it for this week’s episode, my friend.

Until next time, I just want to say that we don’t have a word for goodbye in Choctaw. We say, “”Chi pisa la chike”.” I will see you again soon. Take care.

Share

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit
Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation
Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide
5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

If you’ve ever told yourself, “I’m just not techy enough to dictate my fiction,” this episode is for you.

I’m digging into the limiting beliefs that keep fiction authors from even getting started with dictation. We’re talking about the overwhelm of too many tool options, the trap of searching for the perfect tool before you ever try one, and the real reason getting started with dictating fiction feels so hard.

(Spoiler: the best dictation tool out there is the one you actually use.)

And speaking of getting started — my next Dictation Bootcamp kicks off April 27th, and this round is all about the tools!

We’re spending three full days working through dictating on your phone, your computer, and the record-and-transcribe method — one day at a time, so no one gets left behind. Plus a bonus pre-party day and a masterclass to wrap it all up.

If the tools of dictation have ever felt intimidating, this is your starting point.

The Dictation Bootcamp is just $37.

Save Your Spot Now

I would love to have you in the room!

Listen to Episode 54

Listen to The Confident Fiction Author Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you can find podcasts.

Confident Fiction Author Podcast

Are Limiting Beliefs Holding You Back as an Author?

Hey there, my fellow author, and welcome to this episode of the Confident Fiction Author podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer, and today we are talking about limiting beliefs — and whether they are holding you back as an author.

So let me ask you this: have you ever told yourself, “I’m just not techy enough to dictate my fiction”? Or maybe: “These tools feel overwhelming. There are so many options out there, I don’t know what’s going to work with my device, and honestly, I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

I ask you this because I have heard these things from so many fiction authors, and I’m thinking maybe you have felt it yourself at some point. But let’s look at it this way: what if the problem isn’t the tools, or that you have to be a tech genius to dictate your fiction? What if it’s what you believe about yourself when it comes to using those tools?

Limiting beliefs are something I always have to be on guard against, and it’s usually something I take a look at in the new year — what limiting beliefs are holding me back, and what liberating truth can I replace that belief with? I thought this would be a good time to dig into it with you, specifically about dictating your fiction and using those tools, and why it feels so hard to just get started.

Point 1: “I’m Not Techy Enough” Is a Belief, Not a Fact

The first limiting belief I want to talk about is the idea that you’re not techy enough to dictate your fiction. What I want to say to that is: that is a belief, not a fact.

We authors — especially fiction authors — tend to label ourselves: “Oh, I’m just not tech savvy. I’m not good with all of the technology and the tools that people say I can use with my fiction writing.” That identity starts shaping your behavior and your choices around how you use technology. So you don’t even try, or you quit very quickly when you hit that first snag, and that just reinforces the belief: “Yeah, I knew it. I’m just not techy enough for this.”

But the thing is, you do not need to be techy in order to dictate your fiction. You just need a simple starting point and some practice with the tools so that you can become comfortable with that technology. It’s not that you’re bad with tech — you just need someone to walk you through it step by step, and that is something I do for authors.

Point 2: Overwhelm Is a Limiting Belief in Disguise

The second point is that overwhelm is often a limiting belief in disguise. Maybe you’ve heard dictating authors talk about the latest tool they’re using, you try it, it doesn’t work with your device, and things get confusing quickly. So you walk away — because underneath that overwhelm might be the belief that you just don’t have confidence in yourself to figure it out.

Too many options lead to decision fatigue. No clear starting point leaves you with a sense of paralysis and the belief that you just won’t be able to figure this out. But here’s what I want you to take away: overwhelm is not a lack of ability. It is a lack of clarity.

You do not need to understand everything when it comes to getting started with the right tech to dictate your fiction. You just need to understand the next step. My mama always says: take the step that is in front of you. Don’t look too far out. Don’t look at all of the options. Just take the next step in the right direction.

Point 3: You Don’t Need the Best Tool — You Just Need a Tool

My third point is that you do not need the best tool to dictate your fiction. You just need a tool — any tool, anything that works for you.

This is where I’ve seen authors get stuck countless times. They are researching and comparing and reading reviews, and maybe they walk away for a while, and then a new tool comes up and they start all over again. What’s happening underneath all of that is a belief that if they pick the wrong tool, they’ll waste their time on something subpar when there’s something better out there they should be using.

The authors I find who do this most are what we call maximizers — people who want to make sure they find the absolute best option before committing. And for some things, that’s absolutely the right call. But when it comes to learning how to dictate your fiction, I hope you’ll hear me on this: it is okay to start messy.

If you burn all of your time and energy trying to find the perfect tool, you’re not going to have much left to actually train your brain to speak words of fiction. You can optimize later. You can upgrade later. You can refine your process later. But when you are starting out, you just want to get something working — anything — and then move on to the next steps.

Good enough is what gets you started. Better can come later. Because honestly, the best dictation tool out there is the one you actually use.

Point 4: This Isn’t a Personal Failure — It’s a Training Gap

The fourth point is this: the real problem isn’t your lack of tech skills. The real problem is that no one has taught you how to use these tools to dictate your fiction.

Most authors just hear about dictation and never see it in action. They never learn the actual step-by-step and the tool setups, so they’re left to piece everything together on their own. That leads to so much trial and error and frustration, quitting too early, and solidifying that limiting belief: “I’m just not techy enough.”

If this is you, I want to say: this is not a personal failure. It is a training gap. Of course it feels hard and frustrating — because no one has shown you exactly where to start, what tools to choose, and how to use them. It is not you.

You already know how to write stories, or you’re working toward learning. And if you’ve had any experience as a fiction author, you’ve already learned some really complex skills — plot and structure, dynamic characters, all of those things you needed to learn. Getting a dictation tool that works for you is learnable too.

If you have thought about dictation or tried and failed before, I want to say: you are not behind. You are not incapable. You just haven’t been shown a clear path that makes dictation effortless for you.

Join Me at Dictation Bootcamp — April 27, 2026

That is why I am teaching my next Dictation Bootcamp at the end of April. We are kicking off April 27, 2026, and it is going to be all about tools. We are spending three full days eliminating that overwhelm and that limiting belief that you are not techy enough to dictate your fiction.

We’re going to dig into dictating on phones — whether you have an iPhone or an Android — and then move on to computers, whether you have a PC or a Mac. Day three will cover the record-and-transcribe method. Each of these aspects deserves its own day, because sometimes we blast through the tools part a little too fast, and I want to make sure no one gets left behind on this step.

If the tools of dictation have felt intimidating, if you’ve had the limiting belief that you’re not tech savvy enough, or if you’ve wanted to try dictation but had no idea where to start — this bootcamp is for you. Come join me and your fellow authors live. It’s just $37 for those three days, plus a bonus pre-party day and a masterclass day to wrap it all up. You’ll get a glimpse of what it is to dictate your stories from start to finish.

You can register at fictioncourses.com/dictationbootcamp. I would love to see you in there!

Closing Thoughts

Remember: the tools around dictation are not what’s holding you back. It is the limiting belief you have about your ability to use them. So I would love for you to reframe that belief — from “I’m not techy enough to figure this out” to “I can dictate my fiction with the right guidance and training.”

You do not need the perfect setup to get started with dictating your fiction. You just need the willingness to start, and I would love to have you in the Dictation Bootcamp to help you get there.

That’s all for this episode of the Confident Fiction Author, my friend. I hope you have a fabulous rest of your week. Take care.

Share

Free resources for you:

The Confident Fiction Author Toolkit: fictioncourses.com/toolkit
Dictation + Scrivener Power Combo Mini Course: fictioncourses.com/dictation
Dictation for Authors: Tools and Tips of the Trade: fictioncourses.com/dictationguide
5 Stereotypes to Avoid When Writing about Native Americans: fictioncourses.com/stereotypes

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more

It’s time!

Come join in our community session happening today, Wednesday, April 15, 1PM Central Time.

Here’s the Zoom link to join: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88014692485?pwd=ThpfDi629RnkIDHD0HzqqaQefh2yI9.1

Read more

It’s time! What level are you on this week? Post in the comments where you’re at, even if you are just “trekking” along.

Read more