What is Sensitivity Reading?
And Why is it Important?
In my experience talking with other writers, I’ve been surprised to see how many people don’t understand what a sensitivity read is. Though it’s often misunderstood—or completely overlooked—I believe sensitivity readers are one of our greatest resources as writers. I say that in part because it’s something I do for others, but it’s also a tool I’ve used in my own writing over the years. So, let’s discuss why sensitivity reading, though often overlooked, is one of the best things we can be doing for our work.
What is sensitivity reading?
A sensitivity read is basically a professional gut check for your story. It’s when someone (typically with lived experience in a particular identity, background, or topic) reads your work to flag potential misrepresentations, harmful stereotypes, or unintentional biases. Think of it as having someone look over your story from the inside out, making sure the world and characters you’re creating feel authentic, respectful, and nuanced. While I tend to gravitate toward sensitivity readers who are members of the communities they read for, I do think people outside of those communities can be valuable readers as well, provided they have enough personal connection and education to appropriately pick up on the subtle nuances of these experiences.
Contrary to what some people believe when they hear about sensitivity reading, it’s not about “canceling” authors or telling anyone they can’t write certain stories. It’s about helping you write them better.
Why hire a sensitivity reader?
We all know stories shape how people see the world. We should never take that lightly as writers, especially when we’re sharing from outside of our own lives and identities. Regardless of our intentions, the things we put on the page influence how readers understand people and experiences. That’s one of the best parts of literature. We get to experience things we never would in our ordinary lives. It’s part of what makes reading one of the best ways to tune into our empathy as human beings.
A single stereotype or careless assumption might not seem like a big deal, but to someone who’s lived that experience, it can be alienating. Painful, even. And then it reinforces these mistaken beliefs to others outside the represented group, which only furthers the long-term harm and challenges people may face due to their identity, circumstances, or experiences. Sensitivity reading bridges the gap between intention and impact, and I’d like to believe most writers would jump at the chance to engage and include more readers.
As writers, we all want to tell meaningful, inclusive stories. Most of the time, a writer isn’t setting out to hurt anyone, but we all have blind spots. That’s where sensitivity readers come in. We can help you see what you might have missed, and give you practical ways to make it stronger.
Also, it’s not just for when you’re writing outside of your own experience. I’ve hired a sensitivity reader for one of my projects, even though I’m a member of the same community. Why would I do that? Because I don’t begin to think I’m the sole perspective on what it is to be non-binary/agender, and I wanted to make sure one of my genderqueer characters didn’t cause harm. I mean, they’re technically one of the villains, so they definitely cause harm to my main character. But especially since I cast them as the villain, I needed to make sure it was as nuanced and accurate a representation as possible so that their gender identity didn’t in any way become attached to their actions in the plot in a negative or stigma-perpetuating way.
What exactly is a sensitivity read, though?
Every sensitivity reader does things a little differently, but here’s the general idea of what the process might look like:
You send your manuscript, story, or excerpt to the sensitivity reader.
The reader reviews it through the lens of their own experiences or area of expertise (for example: mental health, disability, race, culture, or sexuality).
You get a report or letter with feedback—what feels authentic, what might come across as inaccurate or harmful, and how to improve it.
Some readers also offer in-line comments or follow-up consultations if you want to talk things through.
It’s a collaboration, not a critique session, which is important to remember. While there may be critique, I tend to deliver it more as a “heads up”, and provide resources for the writer to better understand the context for my comments. I also like to provide ideas for improving the representation whenever possible.
When should we hire sensitivity readers?
Most sensitivity readers have a deep passion for storytelling, either as a reader or a writer, and sometimes both. We just want to help you tell your story with the honesty and care it deserves. That’s why, regardless of genre or topic, sensitivity reading is always worth considering. Even lighthearted stories can benefit from another set of eyes. A throwaway line in a romcom can do just as much damage as one in a dystopian. Some professional beta readers will pick up on sensitivity issues during their reading of your work, but it’s not their job or expertise to do so, so you can’t count on that to be the case. That’s why my universal suggestion is pretty much always to hire a sensitivity reader. If you (like many other writers) cannot afford to hire one, consider trading services or offering something else of value in exchange for the work. Sensitivity reading requires emotional labor and should be compensated, but I’ve found that some of us are willing to work with fellow writers however we can.
This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but if your work contains characters or conversations engaging with any of the following, you may want to seriously consider hiring someone:
LGBTQ+
Cultural identity (race, gender, ethnicity, heritage, religion, etc)
Medical conditions (disability, chronic illness, diagnoses, etc)
Mental health
Occupations (doula, car mechanic, farm worker, housekeeper, etc)
Specialized communities (cults, military, churches)
Specific experiences (enslavement, divorce, parenting, high risk pregnancy, near-death, poverty, etc)
Some of these may seem small, or cause you to question why I think a sensitivity reader would be worth hiring. LGBTQ and race make sense to most people as topics that might require some additional feedback. But occupations, for instance, are important to look at, too. Even once you’ve done all the research and written the manuscript, if your character has a job that’s been historically misunderstood, stigmatized, or stereotyped, it’s possible you’re operating with unconscious biases still in place. We all have them.
Final Thoughts
Sensitivity readers are not editing the material or responsible for what ends up in the final copy. We’re just here to point things out, provide context, and offer suggestions. But don’t be quick to dismiss the importance of that feedback. I’ve seen so many books that could have benefited greatly from a sensitivity reader (or three), and if they’d opted for this during the writing process, it may not have harmed or offended so many people once the book was published. It also would have saved the author a lot of public scrutiny. Now, there are times I’ve seen where the author claims to have hired sensitivity readers, but the end product still contained offensive or problematic representation. As writers, it’s on us to incorporate the feedback we receive, be it from editors, agents, beta readers, or sensitivity readers. That’s quite literally part of the job. So make sure you’re taking this into consideration while you’re working on your next project.
But I also want to note before I go—there are lots of things you can do before you send your work off to a sensitivity reader, and I highly recommend doing that work! I’ve found that watching book reviewers who really pay attention to various intersections of identity, and who dive deep into the cultural commentary and other elements of the books they discuss, to be one of the best ways to start identifying these things in my own work. I make sure to follow a diverse set of readers who are already offering their emotional labor and insights by sharing their commentary online, and I suggest this to every writer out there. Readers, too, for that matter. It’s important to learn how to engage with work from different perspectives, and how to hear about others’ lived experiences and the ways they feel literature either positively or negatively represents them.
And if I had to choose my #1 specific resource for writers on this topic, it would be Writing An Identity Not Your Own by Alex Temblador. I think this is a must-have for any writer’s craft section of their bookshelves.
Happy writing!
If you’re a writer looking for a sensitivity reader, I’d love to hear from you! There’s more info on my services here.
