How to Handle Sensitive Topics When Writing Nonfiction

Writing often involves many topics that are sensitive or controversial. As a writer, you need to be able to tackle these topics with finesse and fairness.

This is even more important in nonfiction where you can’t soften information by presenting it as imaginary. Readers know what you write is real and understand its implications in real life. 

Examples of Sensitive Topics

Sensitive topics can be about personal experiences such as trauma, identity crises, neglect, abuse, disabilities, and mental health challenges. It can also be about racial, societal, and cultural issues such as economic inequality, discrimination, religion, social security, and systemic corruption. 

These issues often overlap, creating a complicated web of topics that need to be thoroughly researched and viewed from different angles. 

Tips on How To Handle Sensitive Topics

If you plan on writing about sensitive topics, here are a few things you should keep in mind.

Do thorough research

Do proper research, take from reliable sources, and always double-check your information. Nonfiction is built on facts and any errors will negatively impact the quality of your work.

You not only need to become an expert on the subject but should also be able to contextualize it for your readers. Consulting other subject matter experts and relying on solid research will help you avoid making generalizations and stereotypes. 

Avoid stereotypes

Avoid perpetuating stereotypes in your writing, especially as it is nonfiction. Reducing a person into a caricature can bring you all sorts of trouble, some even legal.

Present individuals and communities in a nuanced, multifaceted way. Acknowledge how diverse people can be, even if they are from the same communities and cultures. This better demonstrates sensitive topics as you can explore their relevance through the actions, perspectives, and words of the people. 

Establish boundaries

Define the scope of your writing so you can set reasonable expectations for your audience. This also ensures your writing stays focused and relevant to the topic.

Sensitive topics are complex and you rarely have all the pieces of the puzzle. Stating that your experiences are only limited to X can help readers understand your work better. 

Check your biases

No writing is truly objective. Biases will always factor into your work, intentionally or not. Being aware of your personal biases will go a long way toward ensuring you don’t write unfairly.

Write down your thoughts on the subject and evaluate your opinions about it. Be mindful of these opinions as you go through the entire writing process. There are situations where your opinions are valuable, but it can never hurt to present other perspectives.

Include diverse perspectives

As stated, sensitive topics often involve opinions, experiences, and beliefs that are contrary to yours. Including these diverse perspectives instead of dismissing or avoiding them shows your openness to alternatives, honesty to your readers, and an attempt to provide a comprehensive treatment of the topic. 

Use respectful language

Be aware of the words you use. Avoid using inflammatory words that will only trigger negative emotional responses. If better, universally accepted words can be used, do so.

Self-censorship should come out of a place of respect instead of a fear of backlash. There may be times when using words with negative connotations is necessary. They should, however, be only used if they bring value to your narrative. Even then, you need to be careful. 

For example, if you’re writing a history book about slavery in the U.S., it won’t make sense to censor the pejoratives being used at the time. Doing so will only lessen the accuracy of your work and weaken its message. 

Don’t sugarcoat

It’s natural to hesitate when writing about a sensitive topic. You might even think to avoid or lessen the severity of it. Don’t. 

Sugarcoating will only lead to shallow writing. Tough subjects need to be portrayed as they are to convey and justify your message. You need to write realistically if you want to reach your readers. 

They don’t want to be babied. You might even alienate those who have experienced what you write about. 

Avoid sensationalism

Sensationalism is just as bad as sugarcoating. Exploiting a subject will only cause chaos and create misconceptions about an already sensitive issue. 

Apply an ethical approach to your writing. Always focus on the facts and respect the privacy and dignity of those involved. 

Use sensitivity readers

Sensitivity readers are beta readers who focus on identifying cultural inaccuracies, representation issues, bias, and stereotypes in your work. They’re not attached to your work so they can more clearly find errors that need to be changed.

Use content warnings

Sensitive topics will likely trigger some people, particularly if they’re related to trauma. Adding content warnings makes the contents of your work clear to everyone who reads it. It gives people a chance to decide whether they’re ok with the subject matter or skip it instead.

Why You Need to Be Careful

Sensitive topics often revolve around serious issues that involve many people. The way you present these topics can profoundly affect your readers. Do it badly and you might trigger negative emotional responses or perpetuate harmful stereotypes.

Ethics and respect should be one of your main concerns. Being empathetic, understanding, and fair will help you write a piece that many readers can, in turn, empathize with and understand. This helps generate healthy conversations about these issues. 

What other tips do you have for writing about sensitive topics? Share them below!

If you enjoyed this post, then you might also like:

• Your Guide to Content Warnings: When and How to Include One in Your Book
• Sensitivity Readers: What They Are and How to Work With One
• Is Explicit or Edgy Content Okay in Young Adult Books?