Feo Takahari
Auror
To give an example of what I'm talking about, it's important in the second chapter of one story that a formerly-human character is of Korean descent. I introduce him at the beginning of the first chapter with a Korean surname (Park), but not until halfway through that chapter could I figure out a way to organically mention his race (as part of an aside comparing prejudice against nonhumans to racism.) Prior to this, my beta reader assumed he was white, and she was surprised at the mention that he was Korean.
I've been told readers will be drawn out of the story if they're given a mental image that later turns out to be incorrect. In my experience, whenever I don't specify the race of a character, they assume that character is white. However, I've had a hard time integrating race into the clipped, staccato rhythms of my writing, particularly when other characters don't really notice or care what someone's race is. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this better?
I've been told readers will be drawn out of the story if they're given a mental image that later turns out to be incorrect. In my experience, whenever I don't specify the race of a character, they assume that character is white. However, I've had a hard time integrating race into the clipped, staccato rhythms of my writing, particularly when other characters don't really notice or care what someone's race is. Does anyone have any advice on how to handle this better?