Profanity in Your Writing, and Taking the Lord's Name in Vain

Hello. I am on a ten-day vacation in Yosemite National Park and then Pismo Beach. As hard as it is to believe, there will be times when I will not have an internet connection. In the meantime, please enjoy one of my favorite posts from this last year. 

Warning:  the following blogpost contains profanities and strong language. If you are going to be offended, don’t read it.

“Did you ever notice that nobody breaks the Second Commandment better than a Catholic?”—Comedienne Kathy Griffin

When it comes to profanity in Rules for Giving, I draw blood pretty quick. Just 330 words into the first chapter, the reader comes across the word “fucked.” I use the term “god damned” even earlier. I want to establish the narrator’s personality, inasmuch as he is the hero of the story. I also want to show his frustration with alcoholism, which runs in his family.

   But last week I was editing some copy and I came across a passage halfway through the book in which Leo the Knuckle says “fuck.” I changed it. Leo’s character, as I have written her, would not use that word.  

   My policy on profanity is that if it has a place in the story, then use it. If it has no place in the story, then by all means don’t use it. It is a matter of being true to what your character would do and who your reader is. Rules for Giving has profanity in it. That’s who the characters are. But I to weigh whether the language is authentic to the story, or is it as gratuitous as two junior high school kids who just learned how to cuss?  There’s a difference.

   I’ve never been called by anyone in my critique group for using profanity. But I did get a manuscript back one time with the passage “Jesus Christ” underlined with a question mark next to it. Some folks have their limits. But the hero in the novel is a former Catholic, as am I, so I think it works. We will see.

   I am starting research on my next novel. I don’t see any of the characters in this book using profanity. It’s not in their nature as I have so far thought it out. They are all Catholics, though, so as far as taking the Lord’s name in vain—that could happen. 

 

Comments

[Stephanie Puckett]

This is an excellent guideline to apply not only to swearing but to dialogue in general. Is it doing work? If not, why is it there?

[Lawrence Derobillard]

Thank you Tim. You are becoming a mine of useful insights. I have a personal problem with written and spoken profanity but accept the reality of having to sketch a character or record a conversation. How does this apply where your audience is likely to be offended and possibly alienated? Does one wimp-out and write F**k it?

[Tim Sunderland]

Lawrence--The people I envision reading my novel are not overly bothered by profanity and besides, that's the way the characters speak in my novel. If you think your audience will be bothered, then don't say it--just my opinion. Otherwise, in the words of one of my critique group members, say it loud and say it proud. You have to be true to who your characters are.

[Timothy Linnomme]

Profane language is a part of life but like many other things, at times it is overly used. When (or if) I use such language depends on what I am writing. In my Twisted Earth Series, profanity is largely as much a part of life as the nuclear war that forever changed things while in a S & S saga I am writing, a shortened version of one Gods's name subs for any swearing that is done. I write for an older teen/adult market and I post content warings where apporopriate.

http://www.timothylinnomme.net