Make History: Write Like a Child

For many years now, I’ve been a moderator over at the Absolute Write forums. As new writers come and go from the boards, there are a handful of questions that are perennial. One such question is, basically, “What is (un)acceptable to write?” The questions take on various forms, such as, “How much violence can I include?” “Can I talk about child rape?” “Am I allowed to…” I now have an answer for every writer who ever wondered where the line is: Write like you were a child.

By this, I do not mean keep your story G-rated, with unicorns and fairies and happily ever after endings. Children are not the pure, innocent creatures we pretend they are. Babies might be pure and innocent, but by the time our offspring leaves the toddler stage to become a small child, innocence has been left far behind. Instead I mean to say (and by that I mean write) whatever comes to your head, no matter how inappropriate you might consider it to be.

The other day, I was walking Sam and I came across a little boy riding his bike in the road. Sam was on “short leash,” walking right next to me, but I still tightened my grip on the leash. Sam is well-trained, but he’s still just a puppy, even if he’s a big puppy, and the boy was only about 5 years old or so, still riding a bike with training wheels, right at Sam’s level. A bike that size was new and I could see Sam suddenly deciding it needed to be investigated. Dogs, especially puppies, are a lot like toddlers. They move quickly and not always in the way you’re anticipating.

About that time, Sam sniffed something worthy of his attention in the yard we walking past. I glanced over and saw an old pile of doggy doo. I called him to me. Told him to “leave it.” Which he did.

At this, the child spoke up. “Don’t worry. They won’t care if he goes to the bathroom. They have three dogs and a cat.”

The adult in me was thinking, “Yes, but it’s their dogs and cat in their yard. They might mind if my dog goes in their yard,” but I said, “Yeah. He was sniffing one of their dogs poop and he’s been known to roll in it.” I smiled and wrinkled my nose.

The child made a face. “Eww.”

“Yeah,” I said.

At which point the boy must have decided I was all right, in a way that only a child can quickly size an individual up. He proceeded to point out which house he lived in and talk about his dog. He explained to me that his dog was a boy and he would “hump” (the so-called innocent child’s word, not mine) other boy dogs, even if they were lying down.

Now, I know that male dogs will hump other male dogs as a sign of dominance, but I did not say this to the child. That would have been far too pedantic and though I am capable of being far too pedantic, even I have my limits. Also, I was struck by the boy’s openness and his willingness to say whatever came into his head, without worrying about causing offense. He did not stop to consider that he was talking about what many would consider homosexual behavior, that there were people who would condemn him for daring to even allude to such things, that sex discussions in any form, even when talking about animals, are often taboo subjects, and I was a stranger who might possibly be offended in multiple ways by his words. No. He just said what he wanted to say, sharing the information he wanted to share. It’s what children do.

Writers should be as open and as unconcerned about causing offense as children are. When writing, say what’s on your mind, what you want to say, without worrying about consequences or tact. Forget the social niceties about what is and is not proper that have been drummed into you since your parents first heard you talking about the dog’s bathroom habits at the formal dinner party with your father’s boss and the church minister.

If you’re always worrying about who might be offended by the words and scenes you’re creating, you’re far less likely to write anything worthwhile. Laurel Thatcher Ulrich said, “Well-behaved women seldom make history.” As writers, we need to adapt this philosophy and make it our own. Authors who are constantly concerned about what is and is not acceptable or proper are not going to publish anything that removes the blinders from people’s eyes or changes the world around them.

To every budding writer out there who has been concerned that they should not write something because someone somewhere might possibly be offended by it, I say good. Let them be offended. Let them question their values and the values of the world around them. Make readers become aware there is more to the world than their nice safe corner of it. If your words encourage someone to think beyond their own limited experiences, than that is the type of writing that will stand the test of time.

Go out there. Write like a child, free of inhibitions, and do not worry about being a well-behaved author. After all, you want to make history.