Tag: censorship

Self-Censorship in Writing

~ Linda Wright

Once I heard a bestselling author talk about self-censorship. She said that authors often hold back from writing what is true to their story or characters because they believe they know what readers want, what people will buy.

Before a book is even printed, she warned, censorship is in play. I mused about self-censorship a lot when I was writing my memoir. I have a rather limited imagination, so I wrote about myself and my family. I wasn’t as concerned about my book sales as I was about how much of what I had previously kept private could I bear to make public. I made a lot of decisions about what to reveal and what to leave out. Some of those decisions were based on relevance to the story line. It’s the decisions that I made based on cowardice that I would name as self-censorship.

Day 2 (of 31 days of free writing)

Reflections on Genre Censorship

~ Linda Wright

I was a librarian for thirty years, so censorship is anathema to me. Sure books can be harmful, that’s because books can change minds, attitudes, even life choices. Overall I find that it is human nature to find change threatening. As much as I like to pretend that I love change, the truth is often that is just a story I tell myself.

I know the genres that I prefer to read and the authors I admire. Recently I made a conscious decision to try something new. I actually read a romance novel for the first time. I mean it was pure happy-ever-after love story that ticked every box for its genre. First the couple don’t like each other, then there is a kiss and pow! Next comes the break-up and its devastating to the characters and the reader. We all know they are perfect for each other, why don’t they? Onward to the make-up scene, which is spectacular and the happy-ever-after. Sigh. What a relief and who cares that it was totally unrealistic?

Maybe it didn’t change my mind one bit, but it was a welcome rest to my over-thinking brain.

Day 1 (of 31 days of free writing)