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Writing: Native American Characters

A Writing Webinar for Western Authors. Creating Native American characters and what writers get wrong.

The American West is big and bold and stuff of legends, and for Western authors it’s as much a part of the story as your characters. For writers of historical fiction, we struggle to be true to the time period. Hours of research is key for accuracy. And if you’re writing about the American West, the Native Americans definitely have a place in that story.

My Comanche character suffered a debilitating injury and must prove his worth to the tribe. For tween readers, coming soon in 2024: WOLF’S WAR.

For me personally, I have been haunted by the story of a Comanche brave and a white mule skinner who cross paths as enemies but end up as friends. I’ve walked many a mile on our dirt road trying to channel this 16-year-old warrior. The fact that I am mother to two boys helped, but I still have doubts about doing justice to the characters and the story that’s in my head. Sometimes the story finds the author. And sometimes we have to stop asking why and just write. So that is what I did. The manuscript actually won first place in a contest, but it still needs work.

Over the course of crafting this novel, I stumbled on an online course by Choctaw author and storyteller Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. The information has proven to be invaulable, and when Sarah offered me the chance to collaborate on a free webinar I was thrilled.

Free Webinar: March 9 at 6:00 (CST)

Join us on Thursday evening, March 9 at 6:00 PM central, to discuss creating Native American characters. We will focus on the most troublesome issues and then open up the meeting for a Q&A with Sarah. Even if you can’t make the live broadcast, register anyway to have access to the recorded video. Sarah is also offering a discount on her course and other special deals for only registered participants.

Register for the Webinar NOW.

I’ve never had the confidence to put this book out into the world until I took this online course by Choctaw author and storyteller Sarah Elisabeth Sawyer. And I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to collaborate with Sarah on a free Webinar covering the same topic. I hope our discussion inspires and helps you find the confidence to release your work out into the world. For a writer, that is the hardest thing of all.

For more information about Sarah: https://www.sarahelisabethwrites.com/

Natalie Cline Bright grew up in the small farming community of Dimmitt, inspired by the wide open skies of the Texas Panhandle. She writes for kids and adults.

Big sky and short grass country: the Texas Panhandle. Pic by N. Bright.