If you were writing a novel, and one of your main characters was a troubled teen, how would you write her? Would you go ahead and use profanity, because it's realistic? Or would you avoid it?
2006-12-04 03:19:03 · 10 answers · asked by cirque de lune 6 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I would not use profanity. I certainly could express the thought by saying "He swore under his breath" or "She spewed a stream of four letter words" etc.
I do not think the reader has to read the actual words to get the picture.
As a believer, it is my responsiblity to write with honesty but also with a high regard to personal morality...
would I want my children to read profanity? would I want them to read graphic sex scenes? no, i wouldn't. no matter how i try to justify it as "just literature".
god bless!!
2006-12-04 03:28:03 · answer #1 · answered by happy pilgrim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think that it would depend on your audience. Are you writing for Christians, young people, or the general audience? If the story is about a troubled teen and is for young people or a general audience, then having the character say, "Gosh all Friday!" will not work.
If you are writing for a Christian audience, you could probably get by with the teen "uttering expletives" to get the point across, without actually writing the words themselves.
2006-12-04 03:27:03 · answer #2 · answered by Darlene G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Who is your target audiance? Study the Christian authors who have gone before you. I would not want to buy something that has profanity. Before I became a Christian, I used this type of langauge then I learn how to communicate more effectively.
I understand that many around me use that language, many of them know that I am a seriuos Christain and THEY try to watch what they say around me. never have I told any of them to do this.
I had some of my co-workers to ask me to leave the cubical for while becuase they were going to make a phone and use some harsh lanuage. I took a break.
If someone is using this langague in church, I kind remind them where they are at and that we need to be careful of our words.
2006-12-04 03:36:26 · answer #3 · answered by 2 know Him & 2 Make Him known 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most people insert profanity to avoid being more creative - in speaking and writing. Use the creativity God gave you. Think rather than falling back on a 20 word vocabulary.
2006-12-04 03:25:17 · answer #4 · answered by guitar teacher 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they can "unlease a stream of profanity," or if you're going for humor, try "S/He made an anotomically dubious suggestion" (for "go bugger yourself.")
There are lots of ways to imply cursing. As for religious writing, I've set a few stories in Hell, and figured I could use Hell and Damn just fine.
2006-12-04 03:24:50 · answer #5 · answered by Sarah 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Of course it is. The truth of faith is that it often comes to us when we've reached our darkest places, our deepest depths. Write from your truth; if that truth includes profanity, tell that truth.
2006-12-04 03:23:49 · answer #6 · answered by evolver 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm struggling with that right now, to be honest. But I suppose what I could do is either write in slang (crap for its vulgar alternative, et cetera) or just put **** for other words.
It's not easy though.
2006-12-04 03:23:14 · answer #7 · answered by The_Cricket: Thinking Pink! 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd avoid it. A simple, "S/he swore" or "S/he cussed, raising a gasp in the other person" would work just as well as writing out "F###" all the time.
2006-12-04 03:21:45 · answer #8 · answered by sister steph 6 · 1⤊ 2⤋
if you dont create believable realistic characters your story will not be interesting
2006-12-04 03:21:12 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
you should be true to the story, if it reqires profanity then you should use it
2006-12-04 03:22:11 · answer #10 · answered by ? 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋