As writers in this modern day and age, we have a social imperative to be more diverse in our work. When a conversation I had with a family member over the dinner table sparked into a heated argument over whether or not James Bond could acceptably be cast as anything other than caucasian and male, I knew that it was time for a change in the way we approach not only diverse casting (shoutout to Lin-Manuel Miranda’s excellent production, Hamilton) but also the writing of diverse roles.

Most iconic characters in western cinematic history are white and male – Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, Indiana Jones, Han Solo, Harry Potter – with only Ellen Ripley from Alien making it into Empire Magazine’s 2015 Top Ten Greatest Movie Characters for the ladies and Michael Corleone from the Godfather marking the only non-caucasian character to make it up to the #11 spot, it has become increasingly apparent that change needs to happen – and honestly it can’t come soon enough.

For all the writers out there, it starts with you. With a large percentage of the most popular movies and television shows now based on books or short stories, the need for characters of colour, characters with disabilities, LGBT characters and female characters with more to do than look pretty in fiction is dire. This right here, right now, is a call to action to anyone with a pen and a will to write: be more inclusive in your work, branch out, push your limits. Everyone deserves to see themselves on the big screen and the opportunity for that begins with you.