Photo Credit: SLU
This post is partly inspired by a comment I received yesterday on my post Stopping a Book Before you Finish. I’d go back and see who said it, but I’m writing this 15 minutes before I’m supposed to get ready for work, so if you read this you mystery person you, thanks for the comment.
Okay. Now I’m not talking about language here. I’m talking about cussing. Or vulgar language in your work. There are a number of genres in which any coarse language is unacceptable, but let’s not talk about those this time around. Let’s talk strictly books for adults. Say you’re reading along and then the protagonist has an angry episode and starts cussing all over the next few pages. Would that turn you off the rest of the book? Or say you’ve been reading along and the protagonist speaks casually with other characters using some of our favorite four-letter words. Would that turn you off the rest of the book?
I ask because I’ve come to realize that although I read mostly detective stories that deal with serial killers or rapists or so-called bad people, there is very little cussing going on. When I say very little, I mean almost none. The book I’m just about to finish in the next day or so, The Drop by Michael Connelly, has had none. Or if there has been any, it’s been such a small amount that I can’t even recall it.
The point I want to make is that sometimes we write scenes that we just know need a little cussing to make more genuine or realistic, but in reality that is rarely the case. It may sound okay to you as you write it, but it likely sounds a bit forced or excessive to the reader if there are any scenes that have a lot of cussing from one or more characters. There are a number of things that can potentially turn me off a book, but cussing isn’t really one of them.
To you, do you tend to have any amount of vulgar language in your writing? Maybe there’s some yelling or maybe it happens in casual conversation. Tell me.
I think that is a great question to ask. Vulgarity in many forms can turn some readers off to a work of writing if not done correctly. I think it works if it fits with the character or the scene. However, it only works in these situations if it’s used appropriately. So, in my opinion, if a writer puts in a line of multiple cuss words because the character is so mad, I think they could have done with just one. A good writer does not need to rely on vulgarity to express the emotion of a scene, but it may help support the character’s personality in reflection to a situation.
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I agree. Less is better most times. I had some in my book. Maybe a bit too much. Can’t change it now.
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In my novel I’m still editing there are maybe three curse words used at time where it seems like that would be the only proper response to the situation. None are used in random conversation, but all my characters are more professional types. Swearing doesn’t turn me off a book but it might annoy me if it seems forced and excessive. I’m pretty used to swearing in my daily life so it doesn’t really bother me.
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Hmm. Yeah I’ve said on here that I cuss a lot. So I’m not really worried about it in books I read unless the book is just bad.
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I’m turned off by vulgarity in general, and especially in books. Writers are supposed to be creative. So create! A few swear words here and there, especially in emotionally charged scenes, is fine. But if people just lean on swearing, I’m disappointed in the author. I know people do talk like that in real life, I experience people like that every day, but it’s not something I want to read. So, if there’s a lot of vulgarity, I’ll stop reading the book.
I think I have maybe two swear words in the entirety of my written works, and I’ll probably edit those out. Just a personal preference, but vulgarity is lazy speech/writing to me.
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Once again, except that writers are supposed to be creative, I disagree with everything.
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Meh. I’m cool with it.
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Happens all the time now.
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With you and I? Or with you and other people?
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We always disagree on my posts. Like a couple times a week.
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There’s nothing wrong with that. We have different approaches to life and writing, so I wouldn’t expect us to always agree. I learn a lot more about life and writing from people I don’t agree with than people who think the exact same as me.
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I suppose that would be true.
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Heck yeah! I don’t think I’d ever be able to friends with someone just like me. I mean, I’m pretty awesome and all, but I’d annoy myself right out the door. 🙂 Variety is the spice of life, Wordsmith.
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You’re not awesome. 😉
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Heh. Nice try. I’ll never believe that.
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Wow. You’re full of yourself. 😉
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Hah! Only on here.
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Doubtful. Your coworkers probably don’t like your conceitedness.
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Actually, they tell me to stop being so hard on myself. Dang. I wish I was a bit more conceited.
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They probably saw you hit your head on the wall the other day.
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No, nobody else was in the clinic at the time. No witnesses.
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Cameras everywhere.
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That’s just the government spying on everyone. I doubt they care much about a weirdo physical therapist banging her head against a brick wall. They probably thought it was a new treatment for back pain.
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Ahaha sounds logical to me.
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If the cursing sounds true to the character,it doesn’t bother me as long as it’s in moderation. I don’t care for vulgarity..
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Okay.
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I’m always disappointed when I open a book and it has vulgarity in it. Most of the time it is completely unnecessary. I can only think of one time when I have used a swear word in my writing. It has to be in there because lets face it, sometimes ‘jerk’ just doesn’t cut it.
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Disappointed? I’m disappointed when a book is bad, not when there’s cussing.
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That too… but I am not a fan of cussing.
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I’m not a fan of you.
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I don’t care to read excessive vulgarity in conversation. An occasional expletive maybe. Those words really are a distraction. Taking all those extra words out, a good writer will be able to project the emotion of the speaker in greater depth by using words that actually carry meaning. Those vulgar words are nothing more than grunts that interrupt the reader’s train of thought. Meaningless interruptions are annoying, and many people will put the book down rather than read the same vulgar words over and over. Be creative. People will not notice the absence of vulgarity. Really.
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I have to disagree. With most of that.
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I am fine with cussing if it adds to character or emphasizes an important moment. I don’t think that it is needed though, but if that is someone’s style, so be it. Gratuitous cussing turns me off.
What I have noticed is that the level of cussing in films and books has decreased lately–at least compared to the 80′s and 90′s when authors were out to shock everyone with their vulgarity. Or maybe I have stopped watching and reading that kind of stuff. I’m curious to know what other people think of this.
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I think you’re right. Like I said, very little cussing in any of the books I read.
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I’m not against cussing, but I think a lot of people can get carried away with it, and then it takes away from the story. Plus they lose their effect after a while, so they don’t have the impact you want when you need them.
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Yep. Stop agreeing with me. 🙂
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Every word needs to be chosen with care. If the situation calls for it, let it rip. I often hesitate (working on some sci-fi stuff) because I’m picturing my audience — a younger crowd, though few would mind. I think cussing is lazy in most circumstances, warranted in others.
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I still don’t think it’s necessarily lazy, but I agree.
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There are people who cuss quite a bit and others who very rarely cuss. I think if it seems to suit the character and fits the story large amounts can be acceptable. But I agree that it can sometimes seem to be placed just for the shock value or to make you hate the antagonist, or make a character “cool”. For it to work it has to flow naturally. I very rarely use “bad language” in my writing. If I cuss in real life, you know I mean it. Same with my fiction.
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Ooooh. I like your last two sentences. And the rest too.
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I wrote my first novel back in November for NaNoWriMo and one of my main characters, Ingrid, is a complete “potty mouth.” I didn’t have her cuss every time she spoke, but I did make sure to include strong language in her dialogue at pivotal moments in the book. Other than that, I think her sailor-like tendencies were implied through her tone and characteristics while speaking (having little to no filter, etc.).
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Hmm. I’ve definitely never read a female character like that. I bet she’s great.
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To be honest, I don’t swearin real life, so swearing does not come natural to me in my writing. However, if there are swear words in a story I am reading, I won’t necessarily stop reading it. It really depends on if the level of swearing or vulgarity is distracting from the story. If the level of swearing makes the characters or story sound fake (usually if it is too much or too harsh), I will lose interest in finishing the story.
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I think another person said something similar. I still don’t see it as distracting.
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I think, because we all use a bit of ‘language’ in our real life, that a little adds an element of reality to the story. That being said, if I’m going to have it in a story, it’s usually a one word exclamation and usually under breath because the character has gone and either made a mistake, or is about to break something. Kind of like what I do in life. I find that excessive amounts of cussing an annoyance factor. Hence why I won’t ever read a Stephan Cannell book again. The one I read had more than it’s fair share and I found it annoying. I did not know that most detective/crime books didn’t have a lot of swearing. I thought they all did and it’s nice to know they don’t. I don’t spend my time around people that cuss, and I don’t want to read a ton of it either. A well placed ‘da–‘ or ‘shi–‘ does work nicely sometimes. I never use the F word.
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I don’t think it’s annoying. But okay.
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This is how you write 15 minutes before you have to go to work? Okay then, officially envious 🙂
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Oh be quiet! My posts are all the same.
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I know! So your writing is always great and fun to read, okay? Shoot me 😉 This is my writing 15 mins before work – oh crap, I’m late, oh czaop, I’m lite, oh drap I’m l8. Aww man, I meant to write oh crapp, I’m latte 😉 Spell check can’t even help me!
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Hahaha oh hush. I bet your writing is a million times better than mine. With your 87 degrees and awards. 🙂
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Pleeaassseee. awards and degrees are just pieces of paper to prove to the world that you know what you’re talking about which is often directly uncorrelated to any skillsets you may possess! Which is probably why I’m not in the loony bin, even though everyone believes I should be there, see no correlation to the “skillset” I possess! 😀
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Hmmm. That’s just you being humble. Don’t worry. I won’t say anything. You’re smart and hilarious and sarcastic with a bunch of degrees and awards. Okay. Secret’s safe with me. 🙂
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Okay, this one I am ABSOLUTELY going to take as a compliment 😀 Not true, but thank you, just realistic. Too many smart, intelligent people out there (present company included btw) to ever think you’re talented – so many people to learn from … keeps it exciting 🙂
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Oh please. It’s true. And you know it. 🙂
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Aww thanks. But I’m not good with compliments because beetroot looks pale in comparison when I blush, so we’ll agree to disagree rather than keeping up the “no you are, no you are” charade 😀
Even though you are no returns for infinity (because this has always been the most mature way I have dealt with an argument! 🙂
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Hahaha aren’t beets like purple-y? Okay. You’re like every girl ever when it comes to receiving compliments. I have an example. A few months ago I saw a friend of mine I hadn’t seen in a long time. First thing I said was something like, “Hey, look at you.” You know, like, you look nice. Her response was literally, “Huh?” Haha girls are funny.
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Yes, apparently that’s how I blush, I can’t be the run of the mill, my ego wouldn’t be able to cope with blending in obviously Nope girls aren’t funny, we’re just different (which I guess is a nice way of saying we’re weird and being okay with it). Look, it all makes sense in our heads, it’s just the rest of the world and a few random species out there that don’t get us. That’s all 😀
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That’s a rather great description. I have to write this down for future reference. You shouldn’t be blushing at your computer or iPad anyway. That’s just odd. 😉
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And that would be different how? 😉 Okay, as long as you copyright it to “crazy girl with mop on her head”
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You’re right. Sometimes I forget. Haha
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😀 That’s okay. Talking to me does that to people…hmm, not sure why?
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Cause they’re so enamored with all your awesomeness? 🙂
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Okay, even if this is sarcastic, taking it as a compliment!!! Just so you know 🙂
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Nope. I wouldn’t talk to anyone as much as I do you if you aren’t awesome. Honesty is nice, right? 🙂
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Yay! Love honesty. We’re awesome in every weird way even if no one else can see it 😉
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But for the record, I think you’re more weird than I. Haha 😉
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Okay!!! I can live with being QUEEN of Weirdness. Then I can make a land for all my peeps and it could be better than Narnia! Woohooooo!!!
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Nope. That would be cool, but then you’d always be there and not with me. Doesn’t work.
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Hmm, don’t you have a cupboard that opens into Narnia like worlds? Hmm, I just thought everyone had one like me Whoops 😀
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Nope. Unless you’ll take me with you? Then okay. 🙂
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Of course I’ll take you with me! We’re going to the HP theme park together while high on Prozac, right? Plus we’ll be merry and have milkshake & dance with uncoordinated concentration. Seriously, could there be anything more fun?!
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Nothing. Nothing could be more fun that that. 🙂
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So agree, absolutely nothing. We’d make Alice’s Wonderland look like child’s play 😀
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You’re the only one standing in the way. Diagon Alley opens in like two weeks. I expect you here by then.
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Okay, just remember I am there in spirit, I promise. You can even have a conversation and introduce the blank space beside you to your friends as Lulu, Loony, Gumpy and the other one, but only after you introduce yourself as Skippy first :p
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So you’re not coming? 😦
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What makes you think that my spirit isn’t me? Plus, this option is the best, trust me. This way you can tell me to shut up and watch it actually happen! 😀 It’ll be a first for anyone.
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It isn’t. Fine. Bye.
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Whaaaaattt!??? Noooooooo, waaaaaiiiiittttttt!!!! That’s my spirit wailing btw, all its bags were packed and everything 😦
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Well I don’t know what the heck I’m supposed to do with your spirit. It won’t even be fun.
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Seriously, my spirit is staring to wane away here, I can barely see it now, it’s kind off becoming a small puff of pinkish smoke, coz I’m a girl & I’m being stereotypical :p
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Hahaha oh well. At least I don’t have to deal with it. 😉
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That’s just mean. If my spirit could, it would slap you across the back of your head right now. Did you feel it? :p
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Hahaha nope. Lying down. I did feel like some air decided to poke me in the eye, though. Maybe that was it? 😉
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Well, I am short-eye sighted, so maybe my spirit is too. It is highly likely that it mistook your eye for your forehead so yup, that we my spirit. I’ll get it to go get you an ice pack now 🙂
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Haha do one second I’m supposed to be slapped and now I’m.getting an ice pack? You need to be better at being evil. 🙂
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Hey, I’m evil with a heart, fineeee you’re right. I’m confused and awkward dammit!
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Ahahaha nope. You’re nice. You just pretend. 🙂
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If you say so 🙂 Hahaha! Ask my family, they want to put me up for adoption but they missed the boat unfortunately!
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Adoption? That’s how you can come here! Get adopted! Or just buy a plane ticket. 🙂
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Hmm, yeah, but it’s really hard getting adopted. I mean they always want to meet me first & that’s when I lose out! Yeah I could do that, buy a plane ticket, but that’s so norrrrmalllllll 😀
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Yeah. Forget the plane ticket. My new goal in life is to get you adopted by an American family. I’ll let you know when everything is ready. 🙂
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Okay cooooollll! But, it can’t be for a family of shrinks, actually better be safe then sorry. They can’t be connected to any sort of asylum full stop, because then they may be using me as a case study and though I had a dream about being a guinea pig once, it bordered on a nightmare, so yeah :p
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Wouldn’t consider them suitable to receive you. 🙂
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Hmm, I think that’s an insult but you wrapped it up so nicely, you sneaky person, you! 😀
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Nope. I was using your logic!
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Another insult -_- I’m learning how your master brain works now, I’ll just hear the good bits … silence is all I’m hearing now 😀
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WHAAAAAT!? No. I never insult you. You insult yourself and then blame me!
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I think I’ve told you before that I don’t like the way you argue. So in the end it’s my fault again? I don’t like this line of questioning -_-
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Then don’t argue with me. 🙂
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You’re right, I’m wrong. There, no more arguing 😀
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You never win any arguments anyway. 😉
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Were you the kid who always came first in the balloon popping game at b’day parties? You know, cause you are really good at deflating my self pride! 😀
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Hahaha where do you come up with these things!?
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Um, my broken brain. And Lulu, Gumpy & Loony. Mostly Loony, but I don’t want to start a fight or anything 😉
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Yeah. Your broken brain. Hmmmm.
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What’s the hmmmmm about? Do you doubt my broken brain or are you like, “hmm, I think I need to maintain my distance from the crazy chick. Man am I glad she’s not coming over”?
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It’s more like “your brain isn’t broken!”
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Really? Okay, if you say so…hang on. What were we talking about again? 🙂
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Ugh. Oh well. Your brain is broken.
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I told you … now I hope you believe me every time I tell you that 😉
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I’ll never believe that until I have visual evidence.
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Of my broken brain, okay here it is:
See, it’s broken 🙂
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Not what I meant.
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Well seeing as we just established that my brain is broken, you need to be more specific in your directions 😉
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You have to come here for me to see!
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I sent you my brain in a package last week, didn’t you get it?
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Nope. Oh well. Not like you were using it anyway.
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No!!! That was my brain, you got nothing, right?
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Oh hush!
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Hushing up now.
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You always threaten with that and never stick to it. 🙂
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Watch me, dammit!
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I’m watching. But I’m only seeing you dance around rather awkwardly. Like you forgot the song playing in your head and your body kept moving.
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Nu-uhhhh! Not true, I didn’t forget the song, it’s just my body’s dancing to another one I’m not thinking of, so there 😉
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Hahaha okay. You should probably get your head and body to match up.
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Um, tried that, it’s too normal so naturally it doesn’t work for me :p
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You’re like a centaur! Ooooh.
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I’m going to take this as a compliment because Centaurs have a lot of advantages, like saving on public transport :p
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Bahahaha you’re so right. 😉
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AND, I’m speaking from experience, just so you know 🙂
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Not even. I don’t think there are centaurs running around Australia to do adequate research.
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How do YOU know? Are you saying I’m lying. Have you seen the animals here? I mean what was the Creator on when the Platypus was created? And I’m the Centaur, duuuuuhhhhh! 😀
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No you’re not. You’re the hilarious, awesome, sarcastic, odd girl with her own business. 🙂
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Thanks … I think, but where does it say a Centaur can’t be all those things. Don’t be racist 😀
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I do. Cause I said girl. Not centaur. 🙂
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I’m confused now. I’m a Centirl 😀
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Is that a typo? Or female centaur? Or random letters? Lol
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Whatever you want them to be. It’s all about keeping you enthralled 😀
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I want it to be obvious in what it is. Is that so hard for you? Geez. 😉 just kidding! 🙂
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Yes it is. Because half the time I think I AM being obvious. Sorry, I’ll try but you’ll just end up with awkward silence most of the time which pretty much equates to blank spaces via textual information 🙂
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Awkward silence is my everyday experience. I don’t mind. Unless you’re ignoring me and disguising it as awkward silence. Hmmm.
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You can’t be ignored, you know that.
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Yeah. Uh huh.
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It’s trrruuuuueeeeeeeeee!!!
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Whatever you say.
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Thank you. I knew you’d come around … someday
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Not really. I haven’t.
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You have you just don’t know it yet, again your subconscious :p
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All these things I don’t know. You’re making me clueless.
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Really? I tend to have that effect on people, all I have to do is exist really
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It’s cause everyone is so taken aback by your beauty. They forget things. And start blubbering on about nothing. Haha 🙂
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That was very nice, even considering that it came from you and you like messing with me. So I’m just going to shut up and not probe further because I don’t want to ruin the compliment 😀
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I wouldn’t say that just to say it. Honest. 🙂
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You should write a book on complimenting people efficiently while making them feel guilty for saying you lie 🙂
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I should. And I’ll just use all my examples with you. I smell bestseller.
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Haha! Yeah, and then I’ll have to have security because everyone is going to want to assassinate me and there you go. You have another bestseller 😉
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Haha nooo. They’d just send you hate mail and then they’d follow you on Twitter and hate you there too. No assassination stuff. Haha
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Okay great then. So all I have to look forward to is some cyber bullying, such a comforting thought. 😀
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😉 better than plots to end your life.
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Yeah, I guess so. Beggars can’t be choosers.
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Haha I’m totally racing you to reply to comments right now.
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Tell me about it! I can hardly keep up, but I’m not going to lose … I cannnnnnn’tttttt
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I’m doing it again! Even though it’s like two in the morning and I should be sleeping. Haha
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On of my beta readers (my dad, funnily enough) thought there may be a bit too much swearing in my story. I wasn’t sure, but when I went back and re-read he was indeed correct. It was out of character much of time; although I did leave one or two obscenities in – just for good measure.
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I don’t know. Maybe one person complained of my use of cuss words in my book. I still think it’s okay in my book or any other.
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Yep. It’s all about context really.
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If it needs to be there, then add it in. There’s no sense in being superfluous.
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100% true.
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[…] On this day in 2014 I published Language in Your Writing. […]
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