9 Comments
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M.E. Proctor's avatar

I don't swear in real life, except when that brick falls on my big toe... my characters are like me, I guess. It takes extreme circumstances for them to utter an oath. I find too many f words mind numbing. Like everything, repetition dulls the impact.

Good Humor by CK Steefel's avatar

Love this. I try not to swear. It’s not a good look for a 60 year old woman. Unless it’s about an honest to goodness morherfucker. Hehe.

And you’re right. It’s a fiction cop out.

Craig Strickland's avatar

An accurate and true post! Although, like Victoria (@victoriawaddle), the title shocked me at first. Even after I understood where you were going I kept glancing up at it, feeling vaguely offended. Which was perfect, as it got me thinking about your point.

Victoria Waddle's avatar

Oh, man. I saw this emailed to me and for a second, I thought it was you telling me to f-off. Then I realized it was this week’s post. I had a section of my novel on book bans where the protag is in hard labor, almost ready to have a baby. She is cussing like a woman would. And my workshop people were —nah. Too much cussing. I removed a lot but left a bit in for realism.

Richard Donnelly's avatar

This is so funny Victoria, know that although I like to challenge thinking (and like being challenged) I would never attack you or anyone in such a way. But thank you for pointing out the possible flaw with such a title. I used it for surprise and humor (humor is surprise) but might change in the future, still not real comfortable with it.

Also your use of profanity or any rule is dependent on you. My guess is as an expert you know what you're doing, and if you are like me you listen to others closely, then do what you want anyway : )

Dante Langston's avatar

Real famous last words: “oh, shit!” And “Fuck!”

Leslie Rasmussen's avatar

Agreed. Speaking, yelling, writing--it just seems lazy and inarticulate.

Lev Raphael's avatar

Totally agree, and I give up on books or anything filmed if it over-relies on obscenity in its various forms. Here's my recent post about F-bombs: https://levraphael.substack.com/p/tired-of-f-bombs

Richard Donnelly's avatar

Thanks Lev good read