be offensive

Some writer friends and I have been having a debate about cussing. One says it's bad, evil, a character shouldn't do it. One says some characters would cuss--so that's how they should be written. Clearly, the second writer's work has the potential to offend the first writer. This brings up the bigger issue: should we be careful NOT to offend readers? Should we write fiction that's acceptable to everyone?

I'm afraid I have to say: No. If we write bland, inoffensive, safe fiction, we run the risk of writing essentially ...nothing.
To write fiction people want to read, don't censor your muse; write what you need to write.

As NaNoWriMo fast approaches, I'm reminded censorship can play out on several levels. Some writers edit themselves to death; they can't make progress on a MS because they get bogged down trying to make it perfect. If you are one of these writers NaNoWriMo--National Novel Writing Month is for you! Give yourself permission to write shitty first drafts.

Give yourself permission to be offensive.