For that one person that commented on something like this...
I think if you force diversity in certain settings that just doesn't really leave a lot room for it, it doesn't do well.
Ex: Historically 13th century England? Or ancient times in an east asian country. What do you think majority of that population is like at that time?
Now if like the setting is fantasy (such as one completely created by the author and not really based on a setting that sort of limits them in certain ways, then that can leave them more freedom to create and include more diversity as they wish) or like modern day set in locations with more diversity (certain countries, international cities, etc.), then yes, its much more easier to happen and can totally see how different groups are written into the story.
I do like to see characters that are diverse and can relate to. Partly the reason why wanted to start writing. However, it depends on how they incorporate it. Sometimes it comes off cringey if not worse, depending how the author does it. And that also scares a lot of potential authors who wish to include diversity or different cultures too. Its all kinda grey and just depends how its done at the end of the day.
That, and we tend to write what we are comfortable with and the type of society we interact with often. Forcing diversity in just for sake of diversity may make it hard to read, even when its adding characters that may relate to us in appearance, but their personality and character is either invisible or just ~~~. Adding diversity
if it works for that story, and adding depth to the characters is better.
As for different skin tones, I think one of these days if ever decide to pursue stories where characters have multicultural backgrounds, then maybe I would also try to look into that more too. So far, some of the stories had in mind are more centered on a particular type of culture(s), although people within that culture can also come in various shades of color. I have read some characters in novels where they describe the character as honey or wheat colored perplexion besides the common pale and smooth as a jade kind of thing.
By the way there is no sure way to describe skin color. Some ideas (idk how good it is but Writing POC 101 was one of those stories i bookmarked for better reference and reminder awhile back. Write Diversity is something just looked up, so idk how good it is).
Read Describing People Of Color from the story Write Diversity by AWryneckWrites (Ana Wryneck) with 941 reads. african, poc, latina. Describing Characters with...
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Read Author's Note from the story Writing POC 101 by talkthepoc (TalkThePOC) with 22,432 reads. advice, talkthepoc, characters. Before...
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