Let them speak!

Sometimes when you're writing along on your novel, your gut instinct directs your protagonist to say or do something controversial, but you censor yourself and your character. You decide, almost as fast as you thought of the idea, that it is too harsh, too off the wall, too dangerous. But often that gut instinct is right.

When I was younger I tended to have a character think about saying a certain thing but explain why she doesn't. Now I try to let my people speak out or act out. Better to...