About

Who We Are

Writers for Diversity is dedicated to providing tools and resources for writers who want to write diverse and inclusive characters and worlds. As the founder of Writers for Diversity, my goal is to promote inclusivity across all genres. I believe in a vibrant community where diverse storytellers can share their narratives, challenge stereotypes, and foster understanding through the written word. By supporting emerging and established writers from various backgrounds, the concept behind Writers for Diversity is to support writers and inspire them to embrace the richness of our shared human experience.

R.E.L.A.T.E

How do we engage in thoughtful and respectful dialogues in turbulent times?

How do we relate to others meaningfully?

Respect—I will respect that we are all in different stages of discovery and growth. I will give others the space and time they need to learn new concepts and about unconscious biases they may not have been aware of. I will not shame someone for not being at the same place of growth that I am.
Empathy—I will strive to be empathetic towards those whose experience is different than mine.
Listening—I will listen to hear, not to speak. I will take the time to process what others are saying before I engage.
Awareness—I will be aware that my experience is different from others.
Thoughtfulness—I will be thoughtful in how I engage with people whose experience and belief systems differ from mine.
Engagement—I will be aware of my tone when I approach others and take cues in the body language and facial expressions. I will recognize when my engagement is no longer helpful and take a step back to let other voices be heard.

About Eliana

Eliana West is the recipient of the 2022 Nancy Pearl Award for genre fiction and is dedicated to embracing diversity in her writing. Rather than confining herself to a single genre, Eliana welcomes every story that comes her way, aiming to create characters that reflect the rich tapestry of her community, encompassing various social backgrounds, ethnicities, genders, and sexual orientations. She also loves weaving in historical elements whenever possible, firmly believing that everyone deserves a happy ending.

Eliana comes from a lineage of civil rights pioneers. Her grandfather, Richard West, was one of the first to join the NAACP in Mississippi, serving as a field investigator for Medgar Evers and playing a crucial role in the Emmett Till case. Richard and Medgar forged a lifelong friendship that continues today between Renna Evers, Medgar’s daughter, and Eliana. Eliana’s father, Jonathan West, broke barriers as one of the first Black Marines in WWII and as the first Black elected official in Lane County, Oregon. Both Richard and Jonathan were early pioneers in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion work long before these concepts became mainstream.

Following in her father and grandfather's footsteps, Eliana founded Writers for Diversity in 2017. The organization has grown to nearly 2,000 members from around the world, providing a safe space for thoughtful and respectful dialogue across all genres. Eliana's life experiences and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training inform her empathetic approach to engaging with writers.

Eliana West also holds a certificate in Leading Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the Weinberg College of Arts & Sciences at Northwestern University.