tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post139741535546015824..comments2024-03-25T05:17:05.202-05:00Comments on Writing In The Crosshairs: OBSCENITY_OR F--- YOU SAY!Roland D. Yeomanshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-41730693609994409472010-11-20T20:09:54.405-06:002010-11-20T20:09:54.405-06:00I found this amusing as well as true. If I use any...I found this amusing as well as true. If I use any at all in my stories, it's with reserve and I usually don't use the bomb words. I try to always keep the reader in mind. <br /><br />My antagonist in my nano story is creepy times 10. When I write from his perspective or describe his 'work' I try to convey the horror without getting completely in the muck with him. I do say things, but, hopefully, in ways that allow me to put a veneer over what could really be said, while allowing the reader to imagine what's underneath. Then, they can shock themselves with their own imagination.The Words Crafterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14520267901489487512noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-77508999042059129732010-11-16T17:04:17.302-06:002010-11-16T17:04:17.302-06:00Excellent post, Roland. Profanity is pretty much a...Excellent post, Roland. Profanity is pretty much a given these days. In truth, there is little shock value left. It's only when the writer <i>believes</i> there is shock value it becomes problematic. Either s/he overuses it because s/he's too lazy to delve into real emotion, or s/he underuses it in an effort not to offend anyone, thereby making the dialogue stilted and unnatural.VR Barkowskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927993233682731113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-17035853254728265152010-11-15T18:26:56.521-06:002010-11-15T18:26:56.521-06:00Lots of good advice here, Roland! I use profantiy ...Lots of good advice here, Roland! I use profantiy in my writing, or I should say my characters do.<br /><br />Even on my blog. Coincidentally, tomorrow I have a warning on my blog about language.Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-10202863097398364782010-11-15T15:00:11.417-06:002010-11-15T15:00:11.417-06:00Hi Roland! Thanks for following. This is a great p...Hi Roland! Thanks for following. This is a great post. You bring up a lot of interesting points, and from so many different literary figures -- I try to just not explain how or why my characters speak, and just let them do the talking :) That way, if a swear-word or two slips in . . . I can blame them. Honesty, eh?Bess Weatherbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09873091527596352004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-31282296337399661922010-11-15T12:47:24.792-06:002010-11-15T12:47:24.792-06:00LOVE the comparison with the bumblebee. That's...LOVE the comparison with the bumblebee. That's brilliant. Sometimes things break the rules and work without sense! Yay!<br /><br />I also love the rule about not puttng BluRay into a DVD player.<br /><br />Another great post!Mia Haysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01041441666482084762noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-16000373257280117812010-11-15T12:28:19.578-06:002010-11-15T12:28:19.578-06:00Great post. Personally, I prefer to read books tha...Great post. Personally, I prefer to read books that are more creative with language and only use curse words to make a point – you know that one time it is used so you know it is bad, or the one foul mouthed character that irrigates everyone.Southpawhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16539290964546504171noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-17039744624766900082010-11-15T11:07:57.163-06:002010-11-15T11:07:57.163-06:00What an interesting post and great advice to boot....What an interesting post and great advice to boot. As a reader, I don't mind the occasional off color expression, especially since I do like my cop dramas and I think its almost a requirement for cops to cuss.<br /><br />As a writer, I write Christian Romantic Suspense so my market won't tolerate it. I have to find other ways to express the extreme moment...but I find that makes me be creative.<br /><b><a href="http://nitewriter6.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Edge of Your Seat Romance</a></b>Raquel Byrneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12870113745683162915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-78777460172636186372010-11-15T11:05:33.956-06:002010-11-15T11:05:33.956-06:00Knowing when to use profanity correctly is a lot l...Knowing when to use profanity correctly is a lot like writing a love scene. Done incorrectly, it's just a bunch of heartless, jarring words - all arms and legs. Done correctly, it is raw emotion, deep feeling - all body and cerebral substance.Wendy Tyler Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10841984342368861282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-41380306858599514622010-11-15T10:54:53.428-06:002010-11-15T10:54:53.428-06:00nice post. I tend to only use swear words when the...nice post. I tend to only use swear words when the situation calls for it. I'm very conservative that way I suppose compared to some of the books I read. I'm not opposed to using swear words in my novels but I think they're often over used. It needs to fit in the context of the story and character.Sondrae Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02990517502363224333noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-87588773690959898862010-11-15T10:24:58.063-06:002010-11-15T10:24:58.063-06:00The MC in my NaNo novel swears as much as I do. I ...The MC in my NaNo novel swears as much as I do. I do, however, in exposition revert to the 'I swore' generic becuase the reader can figure out his natural response from his dialogue. <br /><br />Swearing to the MC isn't a big deal, but he WON'T use the name of his creator. So it is always damn it' instead G** damn it. The MC is a falen angel and he knows people damn themselves body else does.<br /><br />As always, you have given me something to think about.<br />JJodi Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03216373059861459896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-14997939540597086992010-11-15T09:39:46.667-06:002010-11-15T09:39:46.667-06:00I believe there is a need for it in the right cont...I believe there is a need for it in the right context. I don't believe it should be blatant. There are ways ... like Hemingway, to get your point across. I haven't as of yet use profanity in my work. It's suggested.<br /><br />Great Post as usual Roland. <br /><br />Try not to work too hard this week. If I know you, we will be seeing our daily posts. YAH!<br /><br />MichaelMichael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-59039340339280877642010-11-15T08:28:47.829-06:002010-11-15T08:28:47.829-06:00Laura : You're right. There are some times whe...Laura : You're right. There are some times when "Oh, fudge!" just doesn't cut it. To have minimum or zero coarse language broadens the ranks of possible readers. And in this day of struggling publishing houses, that is what you want to aim for.<br /><br />Gail : I believe that profanity limits your vocabulary. What limits your vocabulary restricts the scope of your mind. And your mind is truly all that stands between you and the darkness of this world. I don't want to face the night with a flashlight, containing weakened batteries.<br /><br />Golden Eagle : I have very little swearing in my novel as well and stewed whenever I did include it. But like Laura mentioned, when the world you knew is suddenly gone and your life probably over, swearing seems natural -- and anything else used in dialogue would sound artificial.<br /><br />Ellie : It is important in our craft that all our characters do not end up all sounding like us. Each person has their own "voice" and vocabulary -- which includes, but is not limited to, profanity. Say hello to your friend for me.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-63449510436371692392010-11-15T07:52:45.068-06:002010-11-15T07:52:45.068-06:00My last novel had swearing pretty much limited to ...My last novel had swearing pretty much limited to one particular chapter that focused on a crude character. Other times I'll use something like "He bit back a curse..." to get the point across.<br />If the world is about to explode, really F*** is about the only acceptable word left. :)Laura Enohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09982794146667832204noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-14628027216559530912010-11-15T06:46:47.112-06:002010-11-15T06:46:47.112-06:00I am not a prude and do use obsentity on occasin i...I am not a prude and do use obsentity on occasin in my personal life, with much zest.<br /><br />I cringe when it is over used and unneeded to make a point.<br /><br />Very good post.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04219479223227928561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-69042095745463123782010-11-15T06:14:19.020-06:002010-11-15T06:14:19.020-06:00I don't have all that much swearing in my writ...I don't have all that much swearing in my writing, although I do use some of the . . . milder words every so often.<br /><br />Thanks for posting this!Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-55669943229082433812010-11-15T02:30:45.092-06:002010-11-15T02:30:45.092-06:00Interesting post. I've never used a profanity ...Interesting post. I've never used a profanity in my writing but I have friend who uses the F word a lot. I'll get her to read this article. Thank you!Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-68147435074697817872010-11-15T01:28:59.682-06:002010-11-15T01:28:59.682-06:00Melissa : Yes, those words were proper in the time...Melissa : Yes, those words were proper in the times of H. G. Wells, Rudyard Kipling, and Mark Twain. But not today's.<br /><br />If you want to be jarred, read Dean Koontz's THE WATCHERS. I enjoyed the book right up until the love scene. I kept on reading to find out what happened to the dog. But it was one of Dean Koontz's earlier works, and it shows.Roland D. Yeomanshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00338410857990551352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8681132888977525688.post-2538930433888182252010-11-15T01:17:11.993-06:002010-11-15T01:17:11.993-06:00Excellent post on when to and not to use profanity...Excellent post on when to and not to use profanity. My characters don't really swear - odd because I have a serious problem with it myself. But, I guess that's just how things happen sometimes. <br /><br />If anyone ever put fornicate or consummate in their novel... and it didn't make PERFECT sense. I'd put it down before I finished the word.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.com