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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 12:30:46 GMT -5
So if it's true to your story and your characters I wouldn't cut back to much for PC-sake, but keep it mind so you don't alienate readers. I'm not sure how readers in your genre take the cussing, in thrillers it's more acceptable (I think). Yeah, I think genre is key. Reminds me of something funny that happpened last year, when we were still back east. It was winter, and my father-in-law, who's marvelously profane, came to visit. He lives in LA, so the cold was a shock to the system. One day, he and my husband took the girls for a walk in the snow. As soon as he came outside, my FIL stopped and said, "Jesus H. Christ! Cock-sucker! It's fucking cold here!" The innocent little three-years-olds are standing there looking up at him. My husband is like, "Um, Dad ..." So, there you go. Not appropriate for the "around three-year-olds" genre!  |
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Post by Suzy on Mar 11, 2014 12:45:42 GMT -5
I read this story about Dorothy Parker:
Norman Mailer had been told by his editor to change the f-word to 'fug' in one of his books. The first time Dorothy Parker met him, she said: "So this is the man who doesn't know how to spell fuck".
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 12:48:43 GMT -5
I read this story about Dorothy Parker: Norman Mailer had been told by his editor to change the f-word to 'fug' in one of his books. The first time Dorothy Parker met him, she said: "So this is the man who doesn't know how to spell fuck".  I would pay dearly to have even 25% of Dorothy Parker's wit. |
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Post by Suzy on Mar 11, 2014 12:53:02 GMT -5
She was hilarious! There is Dorothy Parker page on FB that I'm following. I love all the anecdotes and poems.
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 15:28:09 GMT -5
She was hilarious! There is Dorothy Parker page on FB that I'm following. I love all the anecdotes and poems. I'm so there! |
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 15:33:45 GMT -5
She was hilarious! There is Dorothy Parker page on FB that I'm following. I love all the anecdotes and poems. I'm so there! Okay, I could spend the next hour reading that page.  |
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Post by Suzy on Mar 11, 2014 15:34:48 GMT -5
I wonder how she was perceived during her time. Must have been considered very un-PC.
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Post by vrabinec on Mar 11, 2014 15:36:07 GMT -5
Okay, I could spend the next hour reading that page. I did. Not sure what's up with all the repeats, but it's a great page. |
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 15:50:32 GMT -5
Okay, I could spend the next hour reading that page. I did. Not sure what's up with all the repeats, but it's a great page. Even DP only said so many great things. They're probably trying to post often to keep engagement high, so they're recycling a lot. |
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 15:52:13 GMT -5
I wonder how she was perceived during her time. Must have been considered very un-PC. I can only imagine. Maybe "scandalous" is more like it! What was that great remark about testifying before the House Unamerican Activities Committee? "I do not cut my morals to fit this year's fashions"? Something like that. |
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Post by shawninmon on Mar 11, 2014 18:18:21 GMT -5
I have very little cussing in my books for several reasons: I don't cuss much in real life, unless I'm playing sports with my friends, which seems to bring it out in me; my hardcore readers right now don't expect it from me; on those rare occasions when I do use it, I want it to have an impact. In my first book, there is no cussing at all, except in one place, where I end a chapter with "Shit. Shit. Shit." Several readers have said that impacted them more because it stood out more. (Not that shit is all that extreme a cuss word, I understand!)
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 18:27:58 GMT -5
I have very little cussing in my books for several reasons: I don't cuss much in real life, unless I'm playing sports with my friends, which seems to bring it out in me; my hardcore readers right now don't expect it from me; on those rare occasions when I do use it, I want it to have an impact. In my first book, there is no cussing at all, except in one place, where I end a chapter with "Shit. Shit. Shit." Several readers have said that impacted them more because it stood out more. (Not that shit is all that extreme a cuss word, I understand!) Salting it in lightly definitely raises the impact when you do use it! |
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 18:28:33 GMT -5
Oh, and going against your established readers' expectations ... yeah, that would be risky.
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Post by whdean on Mar 11, 2014 18:45:31 GMT -5
This is a tough one because a lot of things come into play. On one hand, yes, it offends some people. I’ve found it even offends people who swear like sailors. On the other hand, it adds some realism. On the third hand, it’s been so over the top in a lot of places that it’s lost some of its value: it comes across as weak writing (i.e., plain old shock value) or “so last week!”
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Post by shawninmon on Mar 11, 2014 21:21:00 GMT -5
Here's an example. In my last short story, I had a character say "Goddamnit!"
I got two unhappy emails from readers, saying they were sorry I had needed to take the Lord's name in vain. I explained that it was what the character had done, because it was part of him, which satisfied them, but I have a feeling that if I let fly with a few f-bombs, look out below!
At the same time, I've got a horror book in me that will have some military-style action in it and that will definitely have bad language. Oh well!
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 11, 2014 22:23:50 GMT -5
I guess it's one of those you-can't-please-everyone things. You just have to be aware and prepared.
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Post by shawninmon on Mar 12, 2014 23:06:15 GMT -5
Funny that we started this thread just now. I got an email from my editor saying, in effect, "You've got a rock 'n roll guitar player that never cusses! What kind of fantasy is this?"
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 13, 2014 0:18:06 GMT -5
Funny that we started this thread just now. I got an email from my editor saying, in effect, "You've got a rock 'n roll guitar player that never cusses! What kind of fantasy is this?" LOL. That's funny. Are you going to sprinkle in some salty language?  |
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Post by vrabinec on Mar 13, 2014 11:11:39 GMT -5
I guess it's one of those you-can't-please-everyone things. You just have to be aware and prepared. Yeah. I figure I cuss early and often enough in the WIP that any reader who checks out the sample ain't gonna be surprised. I will accept the consequences of the transgression. |
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Post by Becca Mills on Mar 13, 2014 11:14:25 GMT -5
I guess it's one of those you-can't-please-everyone things. You just have to be aware and prepared. Yeah. I figure I cuss early and often enough in the WIP that any reader who checks out the sample ain't gonna be surprised. I will accept the consequences of the transgression. Huh, hadn't thought of that! It seems like a really good idea to put some bad words in there early. That way readers who don't like cussing will know it's not the book for them and won't buy it. |
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