#13: In Conversation with Crystal Shelley, about the Importance of Using Conscious Language in Our Writing and Editing

Association Station

Today’s guest is Crystal Shelley, of Salt Lake City. Crystal is the owner of Rabbit with a Red Pen. She edits fiction and is an authenticity reader. Drawing on her background as a social worker, she unites her love of language and passion for social justice by pushing for writing and representation that’s more dignified, intentional, and just.

Crystal is the creator of the Conscious Language Toolkits for Editors and Writers — these toolkits are fantastic resources and I’ll put a link to them in the show notes.

Crystal also serves on the board of ACES: the Society for Editing and is an instructor for the Editorial Freelancers Association.

In this episode, we talk about:

• What “conscious language” is, a term coined by Karen Yin, who also created the Conscious Style Guide.
• What the difference between “conscious language” and “inclusive language” is.
• Why using conscious language — and critically assessing the language we use — in our content is important.
• Style guides are just that: guides. The primary ones, such as the Associated Press Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style, don’t always reflect the most updated and conscious language or the accepted language of a particular group.
• Some pitfalls when editing and striving for conscious language.
• How we can advocate for using more conscious language at our associations.
• How staff can respond to members who criticize using “woke” or “politically correct” language or content.
• Why everyone should embrace and use “singular they” in their content.
• How to think about which words to use when identifying people by race and ethnicity.
• What ableism and ableist language is and how incredibly prevalent it is in our society.
• What “inspiration porn” is and why not to write so-called “inspiring” stories of people with disabilities.
• What an “authenticity reader” or “sensitivity reader” is and how associations can use these experts to avoid stereotypes and harming readers.

Resources:

• Crystal’s Conscious Language Toolkits for Editors and Writers
• Crystal’s website
• Crystal on Twitter
• Crystal on Instagram
• Crystal on LinkedIn

Style Guides:

• Karen Yin’s Conscious Style Guide
• Trans Journalists Association Style Guide
• Native Governance Center Style Guide
• National Center on Disability and Journalism Style Guide
• American Psychosocial Association (APA) Style
• Lydia X. Z Brown’s Glossary of Ableist Phrases

Authenticity reader directories:

• Editors of Color Database
• ACES–the Society for Editing’s Editors for Hire database
• Editorial Freelancers Association Member Directory
• Writing Diversely Sensitivity Reader Directory

Check out Melanie’s other podcast for freelancers, consultants and solo business owners: Deliberate Freelancer (free on any podcast app).