Censorship

I think it partly has to do with the reader-author relationship. As a reader, when you feel connected to a piece of writing you often feel connected to the author like you know them, and in the instance that you don't like what they've written you feel like you should give them a call and tell them what you think. Luckily for writers it's pretty rare that you can contact them. However in your case the person knows you and as they're reading, unless they're a very experienced reader, they probably imagine you during the reading process. It's really hard to separate the two. On top of that the person knows you well and therefore does have access to you, hence the feeling you are being "censored". As a writer you're mental well being needs to be a little off balance anyway so don't take their comment to heart! Keep writing and stay true to yourself!

Hi Dan, Fortunately I have not experienced this but perhaps through fear of such a reaction I have censored myself as far as ABCtales is concerned. I thought long and hard before posting "Behind the Vestry Door" and i have never been brave enough to post a poem about a paedophile called "The Seven Ages of a Sick, Perverted man." Similarly, albeit for different reasons, I have never felt able to publish on this site "Thoughts on Dying." If a line comes to me and I can see it heading towards contentious ground i won't stop writing, I just don't post it. The opening to the first part of my novella is fairly strong but I felt it needed to be told in that way to set the tone. I have a poem in progress at the moment that deals with South Sea islanders catching and eating porpoises - I've had my doubts about continuing with it because, although based on true events, some might find the notion offensive. I guess this rambling doesn't do much but highlight that writing can always be contentious. i would however agree completely with Maggy's final comment. Kheldar :--)

Hi dan, have read the poem in question and I think another issue it highlights is the fear I also have that as a writer writing about someone else "in the first person" that the reader may feel the views expressed are my own and not that of the character. In your poem you are an actor taking on a part, in the same way Anthony Hopkins, for example, takes on the part of a cannabilistic serial killer. Perhaps that is the writers curse, not only do we play the role but we also write the script. People like your character exist in reality, as writers we can look at their motivations without condoning them. Regards, Kheldar

I just got a complete works of Lewis Carroll out of a charity shop and, reading it, I wondered whether the day might come when Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass might be censored or banned given the controversy over Lewis Carroll.

Here free to post solong as its certified properly and maybe a warning at the top waht it might be that could upset someone Most important though I think now riter should feel they cannot post their work for worry it may be criticesed if it is honest and understandable no one should have a problem or if they know they wont like it dont read it. Honesty is free written opinion and some people post personal things I do and get mostly good comments, if someone dont like it ignore them Simples ;) K

I discovered the comments to be very well thought out with passionate viewpoints. My writing may be considered to be very tame by some folks, but that is me, my style. I have no qualms over anyone writing about monsters, or vampires or sexually explicit scenes; I just don't read them, but that is my choice. It's no different than TV where bodies are exhumed/examined with gore quite prominent. If it is not your cup of tea, then change the channel. My advice to anyone fixated on very nasty stuff, is to read the material being published by online and print journals. You can tune in to the degree of the material being published. The bottom line is personal self-discipline, that is if one wishes to get published in some magazines.

I think that, when it comes to children's and young adult fiction, parents don't seem to trust authors to know what they're doing. The amount of comments I've read along the lines of 'children's books are too bleak/dark' astounds me. What really made me laugh, though, was when ANNE FIBE made a comment along those lines. Let's just clarify: this is the author of 'The Tulip Touch'- one of the darkest children's books ever written. I just find it bizarre.

Reading some of Sue Dinums work, I'm a bit confused about what you can and can't write about on ABCtales. Can someone please tell me?

She's a writer on this web-site, mostly 18 rated erotica, and so I don't want to go into too much detail on this forum but some of the erotica stories seem to have pre-teenagers in them and also "adult" relationships between close family members and yet, amazingly, she doesn't get any complaints. On the contrary, she gets lots of good comments from ABC regulars and ABCtales seems to be okay with these stories, thus I am confused. What are the limits on this website? What does ABCtales consider unacceptable? That's all I'm wondering. I just want to make clear again that I am not judging, attacking or criticizing Sue Dinum for what she chooses to write.

So long as its got 18 + so I think its ok

So long as its got 18 + so I think its ok