Swearing in Creative Writing

[Lost_Wanderer]

I would say that knowledge and experience would go well with common sense when it comes this. If you’re writing a story about, say, people in the construction worker scene, you’d get praise if you had the credentials of actually immersing yourself in that setting.

Likewise, settings where elegance and propriety are historically/culturally held fast should come with the knowledge and study to back up their respective backdrops.

In my experience, fictional characters tend to swear more than real-life characters do.

That says more about the difference between the people you associate with and the dirty-mouthed fictional characters you judge as unrealistic. That doesn’t mean I can’t attest the complete opposite.

Because really, your logic means nearly 90% of my social circles comprise of fictional characters.

I would think that, writing without swearing,
is in fact, writing more creatively.

Creativity is a rather subjective term because I can easily argue that a sense of ‘cleanliness’ is just as much restrictive, redundant, and hesitant. All three things are in direct contrast to the freedom that is often synonymous with creativity.

 

[truetofaith]

Since I use profanity on a daily basis I would think it would be fine. I would shy away from taking the Lord’s name in vain though…

“You’ve Got to Change your Evil Ways., .Daddy!”

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

“You’ve Got to Change your Evil Ways., .Daddy!”

Some days it is all that keeps me sane!

 

[Kay_Cee]

Since I use profanity on a daily basis I would think it would be fine. I would shy away from taking the Lord’s name in vain though…

I worry about this.

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

“But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.” Colossians 3:8

Maybe you want to re-think using profanity?

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I worry about this.

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

“But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.” Colossians 3:8

Maybe you want to re-think using profanity?

LOL I’ll take that under advisement with my confessor…

Thanks for your concern.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

I worry about this.

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. By your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37

“But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.” Colossians 3:8

Maybe you want to re-think using profanity?

You know quoting scripture out of context is troublesome as well. And this does not address “swearing” at all. And what is swearing anyway? Words? Words that are used in different contexts in different places in different times? What I would use to describe a wound, (bloody) is considered a swear word by others. Are we just talking about George Carlin’s list? It would be odd if the Catholic Church’s morality was based on the bit of a foul mouthed comedian wouldn’t it? What do I use to describe the contents of a diaper? the medical term? Or is poo poo ok? And why not the word that rhymes with “trap”?

Is swearing appropriate in public or in polite conversation. No. But sometimes it conveys very real emotions. If my wife calls me and I am having a really really bad day and she asks how it is going. I can explain all how I feel or I can go to the shorthand we have developed over the years. And she will know exactly what I mean and how I feel.

I am not talking about screaming at someone or even calling someone a name (though that does happen) I am talking about parts of speech that serve a very real and valuable purpose. And that can indeed be a great part of creative writing.

Ask the script writers for the Exorcist…

 

[truetofaith]

You know quoting scripture out of context is troublesome as well. And this does not address “swearing” at all. And what is swearing anyway? Words? Words that are used in different contexts in different places in different times? What I would use to describe a wound, (bloody) is considered a swear word by others. Are we just talking about George Carlin’s list? It would be odd if the Catholic Church’s morality was based on the bit of a foul mouthed comedian wouldn’t it? What do I use to describe the contents of a diaper? the medical term? Or is poo poo ok? And why not the word that rhymes with “trap”?

Is swearing appropriate in public or in polite conversation. No. But sometimes it conveys very real emotions. If my wife calls me and I am having a really really bad day and she asks how it is going. I can explain all how I feel or I can go to the shorthand we have developed over the years. And she will know exactly what I mean and how I feel.

I am not talking about screaming at someone or even calling someone a name (though that does happen) I am talking about parts of speech that serve a very real and valuable purpose. And that can indeed be a great part of creative writing.

Ask the script writers for the Exorcist…

I identify completely with what you say about using foul words to describe the contents of a diaper or the way you feel at the moment. I do it all the time and don’t consider it a sin …although I wouldn’t talk that way in front of church people or strangers & women.
I consider it a sin, & don’t receive communion, if I unleash a tirade of curses at a driver, or even at someone on TV…especially if I am in an angry rage.

I hope Jesus understands …

 

[edwest2]

Hollywood has greatly helped to promote coarse language. There is good and there is bad. I encourage all writers to choose good, clean and wholesome words and phrases. I work in a very creative setting. Most of the people I deal with daily are artists and writers. As an assistant art director, when asked, I reject artwork that is lewd, and disrespectful of the human person. The “freedom” many creative types wanted in the late 1960s ended up being nothing more than exposing more skin and adding sexual situations, and upping the amount of profanity as the years passed.

We can help ‘redeem the culture.’ The counterculture of the past needs to be let go, and we should become the truth-inspired ‘counterculture’ to what exists today.

Ed

 

[Joe_5859]

I took a lot of creative writing courses in college, and honestly, I never saw the need for including swearing in any of my stories. My classmates used foul language all the time, though, and I never could understand what was added to the story by the inclusion of such words. I always considered them to be rhetorical shortcuts.

I’ve never been a fan of swearing to begin with, though. I cannot recall ever reading a book with a swear word and thinking “Wow, that was a well-conceived and appropriate use of an expletive to further the story and character development.”

For some reason, there seems to be a trend in literature in recent decades that even fiction has to be “real”. I think reality can be conveyed through fiction in many ways besides salty language.

But I wouldn’t say the use is always and everywhere intrinsically immoral. Just pointless.

 

[vz71]

I cannot recall ever reading a book with a swear word and thinking “Wow, that was a well-conceived and appropriate use of an expletive to further the story and character development.”

Properly used language will go unnoticed.
The idea will be conveyed, the emotion will be conveyed, and if done well, the verbiage is not even remembered.

 

[JackVk]

I consider using vulgar words like using spice or seasoning. Potty-mouth writing takes away from the story. Swearing is acceptable if it is relevant to the scene or for the sake of character development. But don’t make it like The Wolf of Wall Street. But here and there, I don’t find it troubling.

Peter Kreeft, a well-known Catholic apologist and philosopher, has a book titled Before I Go. It is a series of short letters he wants his children to read before he dies. It talks so much about God, Christ, and the Church, and it also has a lot of what we consider “bad words” in it.

 

[Lost_Wanderer]

I consider using vulgar words like using spice or seasoning. Potty-mouth writing takes away from the story. Swearing is acceptable if it is relevant to the scene or for the sake of character development. But don’t make it like The Wolf of Wall Street. But here and there, I don’t find it troubling.

Peter Kreeft, a well-known Catholic apologist and philosopher, has a book titled Before I Go. It is a series of short letters he wants his children to read before he dies. It talks so much about God, Christ, and the Church, and it also has a lot of what we consider “bad words” in it.

I don’t know dude, I personally like the use of the f-word to describe just how much being rich is really the better choice. It’s just about the most hard-slapping expletive to match the prissy arrogance of people who think their poverty puts them on the moral high ground.

Then again, I suppose you can only appreciate the gesture when you really experience living in a country where a majority of people subconsciously worship self-perpetual poverty. (Oh and backwards thinking.)

 

[Kay_Cee]

You know quoting scripture out of context is troublesome as well. And this does not address “swearing” at all. And what is swearing anyway? Words? Words that are used in different contexts in different places in different times? What I would use to describe a wound, (bloody) is considered a swear word by others. Are we just talking about George Carlin’s list? It would be odd if the Catholic Church’s morality was based on the bit of a foul mouthed comedian wouldn’t it? What do I use to describe the contents of a diaper? the medical term? Or is poo poo ok? And why not the word that rhymes with “trap”?

Is swearing appropriate in public or in polite conversation. No. But sometimes it conveys very real emotions. If my wife calls me and I am having a really really bad day and she asks how it is going. I can explain all how I feel or I can go to the shorthand we have developed over the years. And she will know exactly what I mean and how I feel.

I am not talking about screaming at someone or even calling someone a name (though that does happen) I am talking about parts of speech that serve a very real and valuable purpose. And that can indeed be a great part of creative writing.

Ask the script writers for the Exorcist…

Goodness, it almost sounds like you’re trying to defend the use of foul language.

The standard I use is “Is this something I would say in front of Mary, the Mother of God?” If it isn’t, I won’t use the word.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Goodness, it almost sounds like you’re trying to defend the use of foul language.

The standard I use is “Is this something I would say in front of Mary, the Mother of God?” If it isn’t, I won’t use the word.

Ok. That sounds good for you to do.

Do you do a lot of creative writing?

 

[Kay_Cee]

Ok. That sounds good for you to do.

Do you do a lot of creative writing?

My third novel is scheduled to come out this April.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

My third novel is scheduled to come out this April.

Probably not my style.

But I am curious if any of the characters in your novels have said anything that would have displeased the Virgin Mary?

 

[Kay_Cee]

Probably not my style.

But I am curious if any of the characters in your novels have said anything that would have displeased the Virgin Mary?

No.

My objection is mostly to the use of the F-word. I got “treated” to that, in huge letters, this morning on Facebook.

 

[truetofaith]

No.

My objection is mostly to the use of the F-word. I got “treated” to that, in huge letters, this morning on Facebook.

One of the reasons I don’t go on Facebook!

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

No.

My objection is mostly to the use of the F-word. I got “treated” to that, in huge letters, this morning on Facebook.

Ugh… In public and even on social media I am 100 percent in solidarity with you. I guess not having facebook is a blessing in my family’s life. But even other media and heck, just going out to the store sometimes is a rape of my ears.

 

[Kay_Cee]

Ugh… In public and even on social media I am 100 percent in solidarity with you. I guess not having facebook is a blessing in my family’s life. But even other media and heck, just going out to the store sometimes is a rape of my ears.

You know how I took care of that once? My husband and I were at Taco Bell, and the guy behind us in line was using the F-word at least twice in every sentence. I waited for my husband to do something, but he wouldn’t. So finally I turned around and said, “Excuse me, sir. I’m sure you’re far too much of a gentleman to use language like that in front of a lady.”

Well, he blushed beet red and mumbled an apology.