Swearing in Fiction

I think not swearing can be helpful in comedy. Certain words, not to be repeated here, are so flexible they can actually remove a lot of creativity. Better to call someone a tittering harlequin or a dribbling nincompoop, sometimes, than just reel off some expletives that aren't very original.

Well, that's my view.
 
For me, writing a sci-fi has helped so much with this. While I do tend to swear a bit, I'm not overly keen on writing it in because I want to skew more towards a teen audience.

So, why not create a language? In my story two races (Humans and the main aliens) used to get on, so created some tech that translated what they were saying (meaning I can write almost entirely in English without making stuff up). But now that they're at war, sometimes the aliens with say something that doesn't translate, and is designed to be a swear word.

"Dododox!"

"Schlee-nah, language! There are children here!"

Works every time.
 
thaddeus6th said:
I think not swearing can be helpful in comedy. Certain words, not to be repeated here, are so flexible they can actually remove a lot of creativity. Better to call someone a tittering harlequin or a dribbling nincompoop, sometimes, than just reel off some expletives that aren't very original.

Well, that's my view.
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The first thing I thought of here was in Avengers, Loki using the insult "you mewling quim". It may not be original, but it sounds way better than if the modern-day equivalent was used.
 
I'm not sure that the noun in Loki's insult could be thought of as on the same order of offence as "harlequin" or "nincompoop".
 
Alex-Jay said:
The first thing I thought of here was in Avengers, Loki using the insult "you mewling quim". It may not be original, but it sounds way better than if the modern-day equivalent was used.
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That's rather vulgar, no matter how archaic the words used to say it. In fact (using Americans as an example), if said by someone in the U.S., it's actually condescending on top of it, the speaker assuming that the average American would not be well enough educated to know those words. So, it becomes even more insulting. How'd that arrogant tone work with this little fellow?


K2
 
Alex-Jay said:
For me, writing a sci-fi has helped so much with this. While I do tend to swear a bit, I'm not overly keen on writing it in because I want to skew more towards a teen audience.
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Not trying to say "what's this, no swearing for teenagers? Damn millennials!" :)

But when I was in my early teens (13-15?) my YA fiction was Stephen King. And he's not known for skimping on swear words when the situation demanded them.

Now, not saying teenagers need to read books with swearing in them. As others have pointed out there are many, many brilliant adult books that don't contain a single uncouth phrase. And I'm sure the market you are aiming for actively guides you not to put various types of content into it....

...but this feels a tad weird to me. Purely from my own experience. (I shall not be trying to write for any of the YA markets!)
 
Late to the party here but my characters swear using cuss words appropriate to my story world. There are no real-world profanities in my world but the cuss words that my characters do use are effective and sound natural coming from them because they are relevant to the world and people around them.

If a reader thinks it's pretentious or that I'm deliberately doing it to pander to the "swearing is bad" crowd, then that's their take on it. I'm not pandering and it's probably a nice-to-have side effect that by not having strong language by real-world standards, everyone can read and enjoy my stories and novels once they are published.
 
I’m with bluetights on this one. ;)

As she’s said, it’s relevant to her playworld then it should go in. That’s authentic.

I find it inauthentic however, to consciously debate with yourself or your audience whether you should be swearing or sparing sensibilities.

I’d suggest if you’re character would swear then... duh... swear

pH
 
I'm not averse to swearing if it's used well. Swearing can take me out of the story if it feels out of place or is used in an amateurish way. Then, of course, you can have a masterclass in swearing. Roddy Doyle's Barrytown trilogy is probably 1/3 swearing but it works beautifully.
 
Cathbad said:
I couldn't imagine going 24 hours without hearing a swear word.

So why should my penned worlds be different?
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I go weeks at a time without hearing a swear word, except for maybe music on the radio.

When I was in highschool? That was half of what people said. People around me these days really don't use them much.
 
I don't mind swearing as swearing. I weary of it when used as an intensifier--f***ing is no more evocative than "very"--and I get exasperated when it's used as punctuation. But when one wants to be vulgar, there's really no substitute.
 
I'm of the mind less is more when it comes to swearing. And there are times when none is best. I cite the episode of Star Trek: Discovery where they use f*ck for the first time. It was ridiculous and embarrassing to be frank.
 
Vince W said:
I'm of the mind less is more when it comes to swearing. And there are times when none is best. I cite the episode of Star Trek: Discovery where they use f*ck for the first time. It was ridiculous and embarrassing to be frank.
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Imisse it - until it waspointed out to me and I went back and saw it again.

I guess I'm just so used to hearing swear words. (These old people are f****ing jerks!)
 
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