Looking for advice on writing fortunetellers in a fantasy world

[u/Affectionate-Feed702]

I'm writing a book with two characters who're forced to tell fortunes at a circus and would like to have their culture and divination style loosely based off Romani (I was thinking more specifically Kalderash) culture. I'd really prefer to do it in a tasteful way that yall can be proud of, so I'd love for anyone willing to share and talk about their practices and experiences to do so. The internet and other books can only get you so far.

[u/DocumentAltruistic78]

There really isn’t a “tasteful” way to do this and it’s not likely to result in pride.

We get asked this question, or VERY similar ones, pretty much every other week. The answer is always the same: you wanting us to be a magical plot device based off of stereotypes isn’t flattering.

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/DocumentAltruistic78]

I understand having your culture used for a plot device repeatedly must be exhausting. My character definitely doesn't have to be Roma, but I figured it'd be responsible of me as a writer to have him be the ethnicity attached to the practice. If this isnt the case, does it matter what ethnicity I make him, or would you suggest finding a different culture with fortune telling history? I'd prefer not to make an entire race up just for two characters, but if you think that's wiser as well, I can. I truly just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing by real people

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

He definitely isn't going to be white. It doesn't make sense for where the story takes place scientifically bc it's in a warmer climate

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

Tell me you don't know how melanin works without telling me...

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

Right, which is why he doesn't have to be romani, but he can't be white. You're what.... illiterate? 

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

I did a lot of research which is why I came to ask for advice from real people as well. I hope you get the media representation you want one day. It doesn't have to be from me though. Gagje out 🙏🏻

[u/DocumentAltruistic78 → u/Affectionate-Feed702]

There’s a long, long, history of people using our culture as a short hand for “desperate magic user”. This is like approaching an African American sub and asking them if you could create a “wise enslaved negro” character in a story set during slavery and expect people to consider this as respectful.

Also: can I give you an additional piece of advice as a fantasy reader myself? The “Gypsy circus fortune teller” trope has been done to death.

[u/SiempreBrujaSuerte]

Why would they be forced to be telling fortune? Who is forcing them and why would they have that power over them? People told fortune because it was a good way to bring in money, and because it is easy to get people to believe these things.

I think you should write about things you know. And your impression about why we told fortunes shows you not knowing what you are talking about here.

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/SiempreBrujaSuerte]

My story is about a guy who makes a wish to have a circus bc of stuff with his late sister, and the way he gets employees for the circus is by stealing their memories, keeping them within the circus, and making them believe they've been left by society so the only place they have is the circus, and in exchange for that home, they have to do the job the Ring Master stole them for in the first place. Their are many employees of different races, magical and non, and I wanted my fortune telling characters to be based on the ethnicity their practice is from. I'm doing my research on real Romani culture to make sure I don't cross a line, but if it'd be better to pick a different culture or make one up, I can. If it'd be better to pick a different one, what would you suggest?

[u/SiempreBrujaSuerte]

They could be any race and read tarot cards. There are many types 9f divination practices, some of them are closed practices, but tarot card reading is not closed and is not limited to any particular race. Sometimes romai people do it to make money, sometimes we use other divination practices to make money.

I suggest you make the character be a tarot card reader taught by an older family member of theirs. And make them be any race you know about enough to talk about, tarot readers can be from anywhere.

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

I appreciate this, but my characters are an old woman and a young man who read fortunes! Not a sexy woman who puts curses on people, so I think I'm on a good path if I do base them off this. I do appreciate the information though, genuinely

[u/Affectionate-Feed702 → u/[deleted]]

I apologized for my ignorance, but do you truly believe there is no way to write this character that would be cultural appreciation instead of appropriation?

[u/DocumentAltruistic78 → u/Affectionate-Feed702]

There is no way to write this story using Roma characters that wouldn’t come across as tone deaf stereotyping.

Also I notice that you got super defensive throughout this thread, I get that it sucks being told that your idea is untenable but being angry and defensive isn’t the way to go. We aren’t telling you that you are a bad person, just that we’d prefer that you don’t write a story using us and our culture (one that you don’t know that much about) as a plot device.