Community: Writing Disabled Characters in Speculative Fiction with Dr. Lara Ameen
Admission
- $25.00 - Supporting Tuition
- $15.00 - Helping Hands
- $5.00 - Helping Hands Extended
Description
Disabled people make up 20% of the U.S. population, yet disabled characters are grossly underrepresented in fiction—and when they do appear, they’re often trapped in damaging stereotypes. From the "tragic victim" to the "inspirational hero" or "villain with a disability," these portrayals reinforce ableist tropes instead of offering meaningful representation.
In this class, Dr. Lara Ameen will guide writers through creating authentic, well-rounded disabled characters in speculative fiction.
You’ll explore:
- Common stereotypes and harmful tropes to avoid
- The impact of ableist language and how to recognize it in your work
- Core disability studies concepts to deepen your understanding of representation
- The nuances of person-first vs. identity-first language
You’ll leave with tools to craft disabled characters who are dynamic, interesting, and free of clichés. To further inspire and inform, participants will receive a resource guide featuring YA novels (both speculative and non-speculative) written by disabled authors.
Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned writer, this class offers the knowledge and strategies to elevate your storytelling and foster inclusivity. Let’s expand speculative fiction to reflect the richness of our world!
About the Instructor: 
Lara Ameen is a screenwriter, novelist, short fiction writer, sensitivity/authenticity reader, and holds a PhD in Education with a Disability Studies emphasis from Chapman University. She received an MFA in Screenwriting from California State University, Northridge. Her YA contemporary fantasy novel, SPAER, was awarded a disabled writers’ grant from Suffering the Silence, longlisted in Voyage YA's First Chapters Contest, and their Book Pitch Contest. A 2022 Lambda Literary Screenwriting Fellow, 2022 Mentorship Matters TV Writing Program Finalist, and a 2022 NBC Launch TV Writing Program Finalist, she was a 2023 Screenwriting Mentee as part of 1in4 Coalition’s mentorship program for disabled screenwriters. She is a 2021 alum of the Tin House YA Workshop, and 2021 and 2024 alum of the Futurescapes Writers' Workshop. Her short fiction has been published in Prismatica Magazine, Disabled Voices Anthology, Flash Fiction Magazine, Drunk Monkeys, just femme & dandy, Hairstreak Butterfly Review, and elsewhere. She made her traditional publishing debut as a contributor to the 2024 Lambda Literary finalist young adult multi-genre anthology, Being Ace, published by Page Street YA.
This event will be held in Zoom. By registering for this class, you agree to follow the Clarion West Code of Conduct and Zoom policies.
About Our Community Classes:
Community classes are offered at low cost and with additional sliding scale options to enable access to high-quality writing instruction, regardless of your economic circumstance. Please choose the ticketing price that best supports your circumstances.
Limited Free Seating:
We offer a percentage of seats in every class to People of the Global Majority (Asian, Black, African, Latina/o/x, Middle Eastern, Indigenous, Pacific Islander, and/or have been racialized as 'ethnic minorities') for free, regardless of financial need.
Eligible folks should complete this form to enter the lottery for free seats. If a seat is available, we will email you 7-10 days before the class begins. For more information, see our equity and inclusion policies.