Key Takeaways: Challenging Exploitative Narratives: Writing Coaching for Ethical Storytelling

By Sumeya Hussain

Link to original article: https://www.gilliamwritersgroup.com/blog/challenging-exploitative-narratives-writing-coaching-for-ethical-storytelling

The blog warns against exploitative narratives that negatively portray marginalised communities to serve interests and justify the unjustifiable. Such narratives are rooted in colonial traditions that have historically depicted colonised peoples as primitive, exotic, or inferior. Exploitative storytelling persists today through modern media and publishing, shaping the portrayal of marginalised groups. While dehumanising stereotypes, sensationalism, and the "white saviour" trope remain prevalent, efforts are actively underway to challenge exploitative narratives that strip communities of the agency to tell their own stories and lived experiences. The article reveals that consumers have a role to play in the perpetuation of exploitative narratives, as the demand for sensationalised or trauma-focused narratives continues to drive commercial markets. The blog also focuses attention on how book writing coaching can promote ethical storytelling.