by Alicia Chantal
“It’s really about respecting someone’s lived experience.”
I use this answer a lot when I get asked what a sensitivity reader does. The thing is, no amount of words can adequately express what it means to someone when they see their reality accurately portrayed on a page; the same is true about the devastation that’s felt when a well-meaning author misses the mark.
Sensitivity reading (also known as sensitivity editing, authenticity editing, or authenticity reading, as I refer to it throughout this blog post) has grown in recognition over the past decade in the publishing industry. I daresay it’s become part of society’s consciousness as a whole, especially with regards to high-profile stories, such as the revisions to some of Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s books in recent years, which hit mainstream news. I do believe the word “sensitivity” in this context has gotten an unfortunate rap, and it has taken on a meaning that leads some to believe this type of service exists to erase any traces of sentiment that risks causing controversy, seeks to ensure no one is ever offended, or even aims to uncover and change long-standing texts that don’t “match” modern sensibilities.
I have come to believe calling this work “authenticity reading” is much more comprehensive. The fact is, some texts are written to be provocative or subversive to make us think, and some discuss hard issues that need to be spoken about in frank, open ways. Authenticity means those of us who undertake this work are being diligent with representation, with the ultimate goal of allowing a reader to be and feel seen, heard, and understood. This way of understanding authenticity moves the conversation from what might offend to what might enhance.
I’ve also been asked why authenticity reading is important to me. The answer is straightforward: I believe strongly in education, growth, and learning, and that accurate portrayals can mean the world to someone out there you’ll likely never know. Much like other aspects of editing, the impact of an authenticity reader isn’t always seen, but it is felt. What a gift and a privilege that is to give!
Here are some things authenticity reading is (and isn’t):
Authenticity reading is useful for all types of material, not just works of fiction
Authenticity reading gets a lot of attention in the fiction world, but it’s incredibly important for non-fiction works too. Authenticity readers work with a variety of texts that reach a multitude of audiences. The following are examples of when working with an authenticity reader might help:
- A client may seek help for a fundraising brochure to ensure a particular marginalized group isn’t portrayed as “lesser.”
- Perhaps a textbook needs to be reviewed to ensure certain language strikes the balance between historical accuracy and current research.
- The owner of a medical website wants to have someone review their site to provide feedback on how to ensure serious messages aren’t glossed over because the stock images are not conveying the urgency (or reality) of a situation.
It can be done as a separate pass on a manuscript
Although editors are encouraged to keep principles inherent to an authenticity read (such as knowledge of conscious language) in mind as they work, authenticity reading isn’t always embedded as part of a line or copy edit. Oftentimes, authenticity readers are hired to read for a specific topic within a larger work. One may be asked to read a manuscript to ensure a character’s disability is portrayed accurately; another may be tasked with reviewing a work with the sole purpose of catching anything that’s inauthentic to a certain religion or culture.
Authenticity reading is not “one size fits all”
Authors seeking an authenticity reader are best served by finding someone who has lived experience with what they’re writing about, but that doesn’t mean the authenticity reader is the sole authority on a subject that may be seen as similar to that experience or identity. For example, I’m a Black woman who grew up in rural Alberta, and I’m the daughter of immigrants from the Caribbean. Does that mean I’d be the best authenticity reader for a text that discusses the reality of a Black person who is a newcomer to a predominantly southeast Asian community? Not necessarily. Good authenticity readers will clearly advertise the subjects they offer reads for so that writers can find the best person to review their work.
It’s an art, not a science
Like other aspects of editing, there is rarely (if ever) one right or wrong answer. It is an exercise in applying knowledge we’ve gained as professionals, and as humans in the world, to help a writer get their meaning across in a way that helps promote understanding from someone else’s point of view. Authenticity readers work to ensure ideas, events, circumstances, and the like are portrayed as accurately as possible. It’s to promote understanding, not to achieve conformity. It’s not about being “woke” or being right, but it is about opening dialogue. Authenticity readers need to be prepared to discuss why they recommend certain changes to an author, and they should do so in a way that approaches the writer with grace, compassion, and understanding.
It’s an opportunity to grow
Offering authenticity reading services is an opportunity to stretch our own learning and expectations, challenge biases, and have open dialogue with clients who are also eager to learn. In my experience, people are generally open to hearing what we bring to the table, and authors and publishers ultimately have the final say over whether to take our advice. Even if some of the conversations are tough, strength comes from a commitment to keep dialogue going. Learning comes from seeking understanding. Progress comes from even small, sometimes imperceptible shifts in thought. The work authenticity readers do in collaboration with colleagues and clients can be vulnerable and challenging, but it is an important labour of love.
Authenticity reading is an extension of what editors can do, and I think it’s important to share that the work comes from an unwavering belief that what we say and how we say it, and the way people’s stories are told, matters. It’s a belief that even though we cannot guarantee perfection, we can use our expertise to help writers get their messages across in the best way possible.
That makes questions about what we do and how we do it worth being asked.
Alicia Chantal is a non-fiction copy editing, proofreading, and authenticity reading specialist in Edmonton, Alberta. She is passionate about helping her clients’ words inform, inspire, educate, and empower.
This article was copy edited by Matt Long (What’s the Idea Editing), a non-fiction copy editor, proofreader, and writer based in Hamilton, Ontario. He has served as the publications chair for Editors Canada since 2023.
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