TABOOS

Subjects that will not be accepted by certain publications or book publishers. What might be taboo for one publisher could be fully acceptable by another. The area most likely to have taboos is the religious market, although those taboos seem to change with the passage of time. In the past, in writing for religious magazines, the taboos included references to such things as smoking, drinking, dancing, or playing cards. Most of those taboos have gone by the wayside for all but the most conservative denominations, and even religious publications are open to discussions on homosexuality, or challenges to long-held religious practices. Most publisher's writers' guidelines will indicate if they have specific taboos. Reading sample copies of magazines is also helpful in recognizing the taboos associated with that publication.

And another area that still holds a number of taboos is the children’s book market. For some guidance on how to attempt a children’s book on what might be considered a taboo topic, go to: http://www.ehow.com/how_5095679_write-childrens-book-taboo-subjects.html.