B&A - Writers: How do you feel about profanity?

A lot of the time it works especially when you're writing from first person. It gives the character a voice if that character swears often, so if the author curses then that's really the character. When an author makes up their own swear words, I find it laughable and a bit awkward and annoying to read because (unless the character is saying it and it's fantasy) then you think, "that's a bit childish. You had all these swear words to choose from but ... what are you doing author? Just what?" (No offence to anybody, of course!)

Personally, I find that swear words are just like any other words and they can be used to describe something exactly. If you say your day has been "sh*t" rather than "bad", then you really know that the person has had the worst day ever. Using it in your description in your narrative, in that case, just makes it more on the dot. Of course, the publishers or readers wouldn't like it so this isn't advisable if you think you should publish your work.

I think a character should only swear when their emotion is right. If they're really angry or in pain, then they can swear all they want because it's only natural. When the swearing is casual, it can't be too much like using a curse every two words. I think the general population would agree with this, but personally I'm so used to swearing (they are honestly like any other word to me), I wouldn't mind. If swearing is a part of the character, the characterisation is always the focal point - take Catcher in the Rye, for example.

On a side note, it's more natural for a character to swear than say "fudge" because most people say "f*ck" instead anyway.

BQ: I can write better than usual when I'm tired for some odd reason XD

Authors: I don't know about decreasing credibility, but I do wonder in certain circumstances whether or not it was necessary in the given situation. I don't mind it, though, unless it seems really weird and out of place. As for making up their own swear words, that depends on how ridiculous the made-up words are.

Characters: I think swearing starts to decrease characterization when every other word out of the character's mouth is a swear word. I personally don't use profanity at all-I don't refuse to or anything, I just haven't encountered a situation where I found it necessary, so I don't understand why a character (or author, for that matter) would feel the need to use it so excessively.

BQ: Not very well. I can't do much of anything well when I'm tired.

Author- I think the author should retain a neutrality when the book isn't in the first person point of view. When you use profanity I think it shows bias towards whatever the situation is. Granted, these problems are rightly defined as such but I think it's better when the author just sticks to 'clean' vocabulary.

Character- I think characters should swear at least once in a book, no matter how righteous and perfect they are. It adds to the reality of the book. Example: If you are under a bunch of gun fire or pinned under a collapsed roof beam that is slowly breaking your leg, you wouldn't focus on whether or not you said 'sh**' instead of 'crap'. Though there are some people who are like that. As for overdoing it, I think the maximum limits of curse words per sentence is three or four. Unless of course you got a character giving a major speech while extremely angry.

I swear a lot in real life so swearing in books and from authors does not bother me one bit. I have an extensive vocabulary and can write without a single curse word, I just typically choose not to. I like swearing and used properly I find a lot of it hilarious.

As long it's not excessive I think swearing can have much more of an impact than writing "shoot" or "fudge."

BQ: Not well most of the time. On a rare occasion I get a stroke of genius and can turn out an awesome blog post but most of the time tired means I write like s**t.

When an author swears, I feel pulled from the story. Simple descriptions such as "there was a plethora of bodies sprawled across the ground" during a suspenseful book makes me wonder what the character will do about it next, but if the author said "there was a sh * t load of bodies across the ground" I start wondering why the author had to say that. I begin to think that the invisible narrator during third-person starts to develop a personality, which is never good. When reading third-person, I want to focus on the characters and let the story tell itself.

However, I never minded when characters swear. A drill sargent never said, "Get your butt back to the bunkers!" It almost belittles him. However, when a drill sargent exclaims, "Get your worthless a** back to those f***ing bunkers!" I begin to realize in my mind, "Woah, this guy is one tough-skinned character."

So when a character swears it adds to their personality, but the invisible voice narrating should never swear or it takes away from the plot.

To be honest I like a bit of searing put into it, makes me feel as though I am reading a grown up book. Which is odd at my 20 years but still. If they swear for no reason then it can get annoying and make me not like the character so much, but if it's when they are angry or frustrated or something, and it's not every second word, then yeah I like it.

I overuse profanity in my writing and have to go back and edit it down, but it's still there. It still works for the voice I like to use. I like it when writer's swear as part of their writing style, because it makes it more 'them'. Hate made up swearwords unless they are very well done and very sparingly.

Characters should swear if it's there characterisation. I like it fine, I write characters that swear and I read characters that swear.

BQ: Quantity is great; quality isn't so good.

Only use profanity to further the story. If it doesn't further the story, and it's put of place for the character don't use it. If you don't know if it's out of place for a character, construct a back sorry for them and that'll tell you. An author should not use profanity, as a rule, when around potential buyers. If it slips out when something startles you is one thing, deliberate use is another.

It really doesn't bother me. As long it portrays the true personality of the character. Too much of it though can be distracting, but it's not that much of a big deal, otherwise.

I hate cursing I think it sounds dirty and wrong. Other words could be easily used. Answer mine please?

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