6 Ways Embracing Other Cultures Can Transform Your Writing

Opening Yourself Up to Other Cultures and How That Can Improve Your Writing.

As writers, do you find yourself people watching out in public? We're constantly drawing on the world we've experienced, researched, or from the people we meet to the stories we hear. One of the best things you can do to enrich your storytelling is to step outside your cultural bubble. Many of you know that I'm fascinated by cultures, travel, and psychology and all of that comes into play in today's post. Opening yourself up to other cultures doesn't just expand your worldview; it helps you write characters, settings, and stories with depth, authenticity, and resonance.

Why Embracing Other Cultures Matter in Writing?

Empathy: em·pa·thy noun

Greek empatheia, literally, passion, from empathēs emotional, from em- + pathos feelings, emotion — more at pathos

the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to, and vicariously experiencing the feelings, thoughts, and experience of another *Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Understanding cultures beyond your own fosters empathy and adds layers to your work. Readers want authentic, multifaceted characters, and realistic worlds. Breaking the stereotypes by exploring traditions, languages, and customs. Challenge your own preconceptions, creating a work that resonates across diverse audiences.

How to Open Yourself to Other Cultures

Read Widely and Diversely
- An easy way to start is to read books by authors from different cultural backgrounds. Pat attention to how they weave cultural elements into their stories. Here is a list on Goodreads that might help you get started https://www.goodreads.com/genres/cultural
- Some of my favorites are Memories of a Geisha Guns, Germs, and Steel The Help Beloved Anne Frank To Kill a Mockingbird Like Water for Chocolate Outlander The Count of Monte Cristo Love in the Big City Eat, Pray, Love The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo The Handmaid's Tale Chocolate In the Woods The Poppy War Circe The Paris Wife The Song of Achilles
Watch Shows from Other Cultures
- Television shows and movies offer a treasure trove of stories from around the world. From South Korean dramas to French mysteries, shows from other cultures can immerse you in unique storytelling techniques, character dynamics, and cultural norms. For example, Takara no Vidro (which I personally enjoy) is a great way to dive into Japanese storytelling and learn about their nuanced approaches to themes like family and tradition. Watching such shows not only entertains but also exposes you to cultural subtleties that can enrich your own writing.
Travel, if you can
- Nothing beats experiencing a culture firsthand. Whether it's a road trip to a neighboring town with a unique history or a journey abroad, immersing yourself in another environment can spark countless story ideas.
- If you can't do some of these try checking out restaurants in your area from other cultures. You'd be surprised how many cultures are in your backyard.
Connect with People from other Backgrounds
- Build relationships with people from diverse cultural groups. Join pen pal groups or other groups. Offer to be an English language buddy for people who are studying the language in other countries.
Research like a Detective
- If travel or direct connection isn’t an option, research is your best friend. Watch documentaries, explore online forums, and dive into cultural studies. However, be mindful to respect cultural nuances and avoid appropriation.
Attend Cultural Events and Festivals

How This Enriches Your Writing

You'll gain tools to build more layered, authentic worlds and characters. Adding a tapestry of human experiences, making your work more relatable to readers of all backgrounds.

As a Native American writer, I often draw on my own history, research, and psychology training to shape my stories. Exploring other cultures helps me create more realistic and diverse characters and settings. By embracing the world beyond your own, you not only grow as a writer, but as a person.

Take the first step today—read a book from a different culture, binge-watch an international series, or try a new restaurant from a culture you aren't familiar with. You never know what will inspire your next story.

The cookbook for On the Wings for Writers is coming together. I just sent out a note to the spotlight authors for their full-page ads included in the book.

I started work on the next chapter for Small Embers, the last story inside the Burning Desires Fire Series Box Set.