Are You Being Too Polite?

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artist Paul Manning

What if you just let loose in your writing?

What if you didn't hold back on naming names? (Okay - some names need to be changed - yes.)

What if you didn't pretty up the language? I mean in terms of vocabulary and roughness and all - I don't mean in terms of keeping the story telling clear; more in terms of keeping the dialogue absolutely, honestly, real and as you remember or how you imagine those characters would really talk - not as they "should."

What if you just waded into all the messy stuff and let it be there?

What is this politeness costing in terms of getting out the story?

Is there energy being spent in holding back; in being nice or smart or funny or whatever way you are covering up or pushing away?

And I'm already wanting to rescind this post - but I'm not going to.

I'm posting it.

In its rawness.

Raw thoughts for moving forward.

Putting on my hip boots and rain slicker and heading into the murky areas where my story has avoided exploring.

It's not going to be pretty. But it will be real.

And there's always the editing later.

Right?

*splosh*
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