Comments on: On Swearing In Writing

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Sun, 23 Apr 2017 22:11:18 +0000

In reply to Sue. True. Swearing should be 'seasoning', not a key ingredient. Too much, it overshadows the story. And when it's contrived and too much, it's offensive and boring! Thank you for taking the time to read and comment ;-)

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 13:39:51 +0000

The problem with incessant swearing (whether in writing or in speech) is that it fails after a while to be anything other than wearing for the reader/listener.
I’ve just read a 700-page sci-fi novel which has one single solitary instance of the main character swearing. The fact that it was that one single solitary instance made a much better job of conveying the character’s sheer out-of-options end-of-tether state of mind than it would have if the character had been using gratuitous swearwords throughout the text. Because once your character (or you) lazily and thoughtlessly pops out the F-words every other sentence, where do you go to convey that you really, truly, have had enough/are about to die/are terrified?

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Sat, 15 Apr 2017 06:48:43 +0000

In reply to Tracy Krimmer. Oh, I am speechless ... not even a swear word! How do people get through life if their sensibilities are such that they're offended by a fictional character's colourful language?!

By: Tracy Krimmer

Tracy Krimmer — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 11:53:21 +0000

I swear in my books. Well, my characters do 🙂 I’ve received reviews with people upset about it!

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 23:01:35 +0000

In reply to Victoria Hay. Indeed. And how amazing to have that insight as a fourteen-year-old! Words don't offend; word usage can. But then, there are those who'll misread whatever you say regardless of your intentions. Like you, I don't much care.

By: Victoria Hay

Victoria Hay — Fri, 07 Apr 2017 16:07:18 +0000

Thank you!

Like you, by nature I use earthy language all the time. Not in a sludgy way…it’s just that if a word is called for, I use it. Reflecting on this habit — which came out of nowhere, since my parents were nicey-nice on the issue — at about the age of 14 it occurred to me that no word has ever picked up a stick and bashed anyone or aimed a pistol and shot anyone, and so there really is no good reason to suppress specific words that have meaning and power.

If someone’s offended, then that person will never be my friend anyway, and I don’t much care whether she or he approves.

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:32:00 +0000

In reply to LG O'Connor. And right back atcha!

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:30:43 +0000

In reply to Jeanne Felfe. Yes. I think overkill is the handmaiden of writing without depth.

By: Paula Houseman

Paula Houseman — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 21:22:25 +0000

In reply to Christine. And then some!

By: Jeanne Felfe

Jeanne Felfe — Mon, 03 Apr 2017 15:35:08 +0000

Well put. I totally agree that “an orchestrated use of foul language” is off-putting and cerebral sludge. I’m not sure why some authors toss foul language around like so many pennies in a wishing well, with no thought for their impact. It’s a bit like the use of the “!” – used sparingly and in the right place it imparts the perfect touch. However used in every other sentence, it becomes boring and has no real meaning. An appropriately dropped F-bomb can shift the entire meaning of a scene and can often provide more characterization that a hundred words might.