Francesca's Words

Anyone within sneezing distance of the book industry over the last few years will be familiar with the concept of sensitivity readers, or authenticity readers if you prefer. Authenticity readers are part of the editing process and will read a manuscript draft keeping an eye out for cultural insensitivities or inaccuracies. In the same way an author or publishing house would hire a nuclear physicist to check a manuscript for the accuracy of a book set at a nuclear power station, an authenticity reader will point out if there’s something false or misleading with a character’s portrayal.

For example, I have a disability called ME/CFS and offer authenticity reading for characters with that condition – if I see something in the script that strikes me as hugely inaccurate or portrayed in a way readers might deem offensive, I point it out. Does the author have to take my advice? Of course not, it’s their manuscript! But I’m there to offer my lived experience and, if I can, help the author polish the manuscript into its best self.

While sensitivity readers are common in the book industry, there are many types of media and materials that might benefit from a professional sensitivity reader.

Video Games

Where there’s story, there are characters making decisions. Whether story and world design or branching narrative choices, video games are often either incredibly diverse and well written or really aren’t. The good ones probably hired authenticity readers.

Films & TV

Everything I just wrote, except for the film and television industry. Pro tip: if you find an authenticity reader who usually does novels, they can probably read film, TV, theatre and audio scripts too (I can!).

Marketing Campaigns & Materials

Don’t go viral for the wrong reasons. Learn from Swatch, Sanex and American Eagle and maybe, maybe, check if your marketing campaign comes off as racist before you end up in the headlines for doing a racism. (I also offer authenticity reading for the asexual experience, and every year that Pride rolls around I come across marketing materials that might say it’s LGBTQIA, but in actuality forget the A. Let me help you remedy that.)

Infographics & Media Kits

Many of us run businesses and spend an inordinate amount of time making graphics, infographics and other assorted digital or printed materials for our media kits. If you’re aiming at a particular audience, enlist someone from that audience to ensure you’re hitting the right notes. If you focus on seasonal events with their roots in cultural celebrations, consider hiring people from those cultures to check your materials’ wording.

Web Pages

If you run a customer-facing business, you’ll likely find that part of your demographic has a different experience of navigating the world than you. If you’re designing or re-designing a website that’s text-heavy, consider enlisting a sensitivity reader with dyslexia to tell you how easy (or not) your website is to read. If your work focusses on visuals, check the images or visuals will work with screen readers or text-to-speech software. Consider asking a disability reader or consultant to use the site and report back on its functionality.

Actual Products & Services

Remember when candidates on The Apprentice sold ‘colony gin’? I try not to either. This comes more under the umbrella of consultancy than authenticity reading, but in for a penny… If you run a physical venue and you’d quite like to sell things to people who rely on wheelchairs or mobility aids, consider asking a disability consultant to review your layout plans or come for a visit to ensure they can actually get into and around your store. If you’d like your venue to be accessible to neurodivergent people, ask them for their advice.

As I said, you don’t have to take onboard the notes or suggestions from an authenticity reader or consultant. But if you’d like to put your best foot forward with your marketing, promotional materials or manuscripts, there are far worse ways to spend your budget.

Looking for an authenticity reader? Check out my rate card and email francescaswords (at) outlook (dot) com to get in touch. If I’m not right for your project, I’ll probably know someone who is.