AVERIL ROBERTSON

Writers are always told to write the book that’s in them. But what if the book that’s in them might upset or embarrass some of their readership? No, I’m not talking about actual, book-buying or -borrowing members of the public who might read your book. I’m talking parents. Partners. Friends.

Writing a book with swears aplenty in it I suspected would not go down terribly well with my parents. They know I swear – of course they do – but the reality of thinking of them reading it in print is something else. How many fucks are too many? Regardless, the lead character of my novel needed to be a swearer because of her background. For the sake of a genuine character, I had to forsake the idea that some people might have that I am well-mannered. I mean, I’m not, really, but I’m good at pretending. 

What about (gasp) sex scenes? No parent wants to think about their (adult) child doing that, and no (adult) child wants their parent to read their writing about it. But the reality is that plenty of people, including characters in books, have sex. All kinds of sex. If it fits with the book, you can’t omit it simply because you’re scared Great Aunt Elsie won’t be able to look you in the eye at Christmas Dinner. Or because you’re scared she’ll look you right in the eyes and whisper, ‘Great sex scene. I really liked it when s/he/they …’

The thing is, if you allow the fear of what all these voices might say or think about you to permeate your brain while you’re writing, your writing will likely end up stilted. You’re essentially censoring yourself for just a handful of readers. 

Write what you’d want to read, and what is true for the characters and the situation. Overly gratuitous writing is never required, but if a steamy scene or the worst swear words you know are where the book needs to go, then I’m afraid, dear writer, you need to put your head down, breathe through the blushing, and write as though no one is watching.