Shock Is Cheap

Generally, I think any kind of content that's presented purely for shock value is slipshod and short lived. Objectively, extremism is low hanging fruit. The crude, vulgar and salacious are on the ground: already fallen from the tree.

Now, to give one of my usual disclaimers, I am not a puritanical goody two shoes. Sometimes there's good reason to present shocking or extreme content in literature or media, but as with everything, context is King.

I do have a point to this. Following all the previous processes I've laid out here, my characters are really coming to life and doing their own thing. I am thrilled by this, but there are times when they say things that seem unnecessarily suggestive or violent.

Should I censor them? No, of course not, and I seriously doubt that anything that's said will be inappropriate in context, but what's my hang up?

Simply put, I've always been terrified of being one of those writers that relies on sensationalism to make an impact. Gratuitous content, while not always easy to write, doesn't retain its value for very long. After the initial, "SAY WHAT?!" The content becomes immediately empty, like a loud, bright firework that fizzles out after a few seconds.

My concern doesn't lie with keeping things pure enough or not offending my readers, it lies in keeping things true. It's likely that my continued awareness of this concern will be enough to keep the balance, as long as it doesn't evolve into fear.

Ultimately, what it really comes down to is the writing being tasteful. Complex social issues like racism and fanaticism can be approached tastefully. Graphic violence and erotic content can be presented tastefully. If sensitive content is being treated with respect by the author, I believe it will come through in the writing.

As the author, I must take responsibility for whatever I put down in words, but censoring my characters overtly is an act of creative tyranny, and moreso, cowardice.

If I allow my characters to suffer from my cowardice, I should quit now. In context, their free will must be just as absolute as everyone else's.