Multicultural + Accessibility Consultation
Embracing our many layers and stories has been historically complicated and cyclical, punctuated with grief, struggle, and progress. Individuals, communities, and cultures meet at diverse intersections and are made and remade by the narratives we tell.
In recent years, publishing has shifted towards incorporating DEIA representation and review into their process. Sun Literary, based in Cherokee Nation and founded & directed by diverse women, has held a long view and been quietly at the forefront of this shift, bringing years of expertise and trusted global relationships to bear, elevating Own Voices and successful collaboration towards shared progress.
Sun Literary has developed a diversity + accessibility review method that is multiculturally-informed with respected experts, educators, editors and publishers from around the world – to provide fully-informed consultation where creativity and shared progress both flourish.
"When you need a road map to a better story ..."
– Antoinette Scully, Founder of Black & Bookish, collaborative consultant and diversity reviewer with Sun Literary
Sun Literary's Guiding Principles for Better Stories
We Begin and End with Shared Progress
Just as we are each evolving in our own information literacy and progress, so too are our communities and our society at large. From the origins of traditional storytellers to our current mediums accessed & shared worldwide, stories define our meaning and connections. We believe that we are all called to be good stewards and allies. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility are not just buzzwords for today but the language of humanity in movement: we are migrating towards better belonging, better stewardship, and better stories.
Information Literacy
The American Library Association defines this as "a set of abilities requiring individuals to recognize when information is needed and have the ability to locate, evaluate, and use effectively the needed information." Information & cultures constantly evolve; no one story or project should bear the weight of being fully-representative but being as fully-informed as possible is best practice. By strengthening representation and accessibility across all narrative mediums in our communities, we achieve cultural literacy.
Own Voices
Own Voices – those who speak, write, and educate from their own historic origins, lived experience, and embodied expertise – are central to our methodology and set the standard of excellence. For narratives, if you want to represent a specific or underrepresented community or individual identifying with a unique culture, tribe, disability, or difference in your story – access "Own Voice" authors, illustrators, and consultants to practice genuine inclusion and ensure accuracy, authenticity, and cultural proficiency.
Deep Listening
The most crucial element of better storytelling is better listening. Deep listening is like being a good traveler – it's the practice of bringing one's attentiveness and respect to another perspective, feeling, experience, or place. At the heart, this is what prioritizing Own Voices is all about. Listening expands our curiosity, knowledge, and imagination – translating across all forms of narrative and dialogue, both intimate and shared.
Inclusion (A Paradigm Shift)
Inclusion is defined as "the act or practice of including and accommodating people who have historically been excluded." (Merriam) Inclusion is about belonging, and serves as a healthy hedge against bias blind spots & appropriation, shifting the paradigm from hierarchy to community, from "one expert" to mutually-informed collaborators. With the global connections we are afforded today, our opportunity and responsibility to be better storytellers and allies is luminous.