I recently subbed a story
to my publisher.
It was a push-the-envelope story
and had some rather raw scenes.
I fretted about this story.
I considered self-censoring it
to make it more salable.
My editor’s response?
“Don’t you dare.
Send it in as is.
If we have to dial it back,
we will.”
She did push back,
but not on all the risque scenes.
A couple of them were changed,
and one was eliminated,
but most of them remained whole.
The result is a story
that will still sell to the mainstream
and also breaks new ground.
It is a much better story
than it would have been
if I had chickened out
and made the changes.
Be bold.
Be fearless.
If your executive team or mentors or sounding board
asks you to dial it back,
consider it,
but don’t self-censor.