Profanities in Stories

ChemicallyImbalanced:

I think that unnecessary swearing in a story is quite a turn off.

I agree.
I've written stories where there is more swearing than I say in everyday life, but it was necessary to convey the personalities of the characters/group.

But then I read stories where there's so much swearing it's almost like the writer is doing it just to swear. Like, maybe they're not allowed to in real life or something. I was guilty of that when I was, oh, twelve.

This is slightly off-topic, but I hate it when an author swears and then "edits" it. "F*ck me with a stick," cried Jimmy.

If you don't feel comfortable swearing, you shouldn't be swearing.

druscilla; glitter.:

This is slightly off-topic, but I hate it when an author swears and then "edits" it. "F*ck me with a stick," cried Jimmy.

If you don't feel comfortable swearing, you shouldn't be swearing.

:cheese: Oh gosh, same.
It's either do it properly, or not at all.

Freddie Mercury.:

druscilla; glitter.:

This is slightly off-topic, but I hate it when an author swears and then "edits" it. "F*ck me with a stick," cried Jimmy.

If you don't feel comfortable swearing, you shouldn't be swearing.

:cheese: Oh gosh, same.
It's either do it properly, or not at all.

I agree.
That annoys me so much.
It was a big thing on quizilla, or so what I read. :grr:

Swearing in dialogue is perfectly normal, I think... I mean, as long as it's not over done, or edited. I don't think I've ever cursed in a third person narrative, though. It doesn't really make sense to me for some reason.

I don't usually in first person narrative either, except in one of my stories there's a point of view swap, and I used it in that. I think it helped to distinguish the two characters quite well, and added to the individuals voices. I suppose that's why I find it hard to put it in third person, because you're not creating a personality with that - it's quite neutral. That's probably just me, though.

If I'm writing an angry scene or whatever, even if it's in third person, I'll curse. :/

Swearing in third person narration is the most amazing addition to stories ever ever ever. :cheese:

Obviously not every story, but I absolutely LOVE the gritty feel it provides. :]

^ YES.

I do it myself. All the time. I'm not saying it's a good thing, but I think it adds a certain something to a narration where you otherwise might not feel as attached to the character.

^^Agreed.
When swearing is in 3rd person narration it makes a great connection to the character's thought process, and makes the narration not so...robotic-sounding? It just gives it a certain tone to the piece, so it's not so bland.

Yes! :cheese: ^
I completely agree.
Just because one is writing in third person, doesn't mean that the reader shouldn't be able to tell what's going on in the characters head, and usually, for me at least, that includes cursing like a sailor.

The majority of my work is in first person so I swear in both dialogue and speach when needed. I don't go off the wall since I don't imagine the characters like that. I have had one second-person story with swearing. I figured someone is still telling the story to refer as someone as you.

Third person is a hard one to include swearing. Stephen King does it fantastically, though. If the narration is focused on one character, and is her/his thoughts only it adds something to the character - lets you know them better. And that's what all readers want to do - get to know the character.

All in all, it just has to fit. Doesn't matter if it's first or thrid person. It just has to fit.

i tend to use cursing outside of dialogue, although i think it fits in with my particular style of writing most of the time.

most of my writing, while in third person, is more...i guess stream-of-consciousness than anything. (for example, She was fucked. From the minute he showed up with that goofy fucking tie and that...that fucking smile- she. was. fucked. as opposed to 'I'm so fucked," she thought.)

i think that it's totally fine if it fits the style/mood/tone/etc.

I think swearing in stories is kinda...mandatory.

It's realistic. You cuss in real life, and sometimes you cuss yourself out in your own head. Whether outloud or not, I think swearing goes hand and hand with writing.

Swear-words are still words. Not using them is a waste of the English language.

misfitswhore:

I think swearing in stories is kinda...mandatory.

It's realistic. You cuss in real life, and sometimes you cuss yourself out in your own head. Whether outloud or not, I think swearing goes hand and hand with writing.

I agree. Cursing in dialogue is fine, but not anywhere else.

pulmonary archery.:

Swearing in dialogue is perfectly normal, I think... I mean, as long as it's not over done, or edited. I don't think I've ever cursed in a third person narrative, though. It doesn't really make sense to me for some reason.

I agree with this and I swear a lot in my dialog because it fits my characters.
I feel that is it poor writing to swear in third person.
What is the need to use a swear word as an adjective?

^ I agree. Swearing in third person often can seem vulgar and shows lack of imagination.

I also tend not to like swearing out of dialogue in first person, though there are some writers whose style allows them to get away with this.

Tom Fletcher.:

^ I agree. Swearing in third person often can seem vulgar and shows lack of imagination.

I also tend not to like swearing out of dialogue in first person, though there are some writers whose style allows them to get away with this.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you.
I think that sometimes swearing, even in third person, helps the writer convey the point better.
Rather than saying something like "He hated him." Which sounds a little monotonous,
The writer could say something like "He fucking hated him." and in a way, I think that he really shows the disdain the character had for the other character, and it works with other examples too.

Freddie Mercury.:

Tom Fletcher.:

^ I agree. Swearing in third person often can seem vulgar and shows lack of imagination.

I also tend not to like swearing out of dialogue in first person, though there are some writers whose style allows them to get away with this.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with you.
I think that sometimes swearing, even in third person, helps the writer convey the point better.
Rather than saying something like "He hated him." Which sounds a little monotonous,
The writer could say something like "He fucking hated him." and in a way, I think that he really shows the disdain the character had for the other character, and it works with other examples too.

It depends on how often swears are used.
For example, I tried to read Trainspotting but stopped after around 20 pages because there were more swears than words and I thought that was just unnecessary.

But in ''scary'' stories - like Fatma's Dancing Bruises, and some of her one-shots, Kor's Cherry Hardwood Floors & Crazy, Liz's stuff- it just works with the story and adds in to the already amazing writing style.
^_______________________________^

I think some swearing is necessary, ya'know?
Just don't over do it.

Cakecup:

I think some swearing is necessary, ya'know?
Just don't over do it.

Yeah. Pretty much everyone is going to swear at one point or another.