How to Avoid Self-Censorship, and Why It’s Important

There's no denying that words have an immense power to influence, persuade, and create change—and in the wrong hands, that power can be catastrophic. In the right hands, however, they can be a force for tremendous good.

Those who seek to use them for evil don't hesitate to wield that power ... so why should you, who are likely only looking to tell a good story, if not do some good in the process?

To use the classic example of violence in video games, for a long time, people argued that it encouraged violence in the real world (particularly in children). On one level, it's a reasonable concern; it seems logical that if someone is exposed to an idea, the likelihood of them engaging with it increases. The most recent meta-analytic studies, however, show that violence in video games has a near zero impact on youth aggression. Some even contend that it acts as an outlet for aggression, and may reduce its impact in society.

However humble or lofty your goals for your writing are, whatever you intend for it to accomplish, it's impossible to really predict the response that it might have. A story about true love could end up inspiring someone to cheat, or a murder mystery might save someone's life. Once your writing leaves your hands, what happens next is quite literally out of your hands.

It's important to consider the impact of your words ... but unless you're specifically writing to cause harm, you shouldn't allow yourself to be silenced for fear of what might happen. What someone else chooses to do with your words is up to them.