O'Connor, an author of realistic fiction for children, shares her attempts to strike a balance between carefree, uncensored, authentic, realistic writing and age-appropriate writing. Of course, complicating that balancing act is the fact that what seems age-appropriate to her might not seem so to everyone. O'Connor suggests that while it may be easy to romanticize the idea of being so immersed in writing that you wouldn't even think about setting limits, there comes a time when authors must step back and examine their work with a discerning eye, asking, "Is this too real for my intended audience?" She explores this question through examinations of five story elements: dialogue, character, family relationships, economic class, and endings.