Authors, Writers, Publishers, and Book Readers

To Curse or Not To Curse

I'm venturing into YA fiction and with today's lean toward all reality all the time, how do we as writers approach this subject. I struggle with this question: If I allow my characters to curse, am I encouragiing my readers to use bad language? My current writing takes place in an urban setting and when I hear my characters speak, they want to use all the language of the street. Rather than struggle with the dilema of real vs profane, I chastise my characters and keep them on the straight and narrow. What are your thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by Viviana Arteaga on July 21, 2010 at 1:06pm

Its ok to curse in a YA book! What the hell or crap. But that's all Ive ever read!! And the one b**** word but that's about it!! I don't think its that bad as long its not like paragraphs of it!! lol

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Permalink Reply by Kay Elizabeth on July 22, 2010 at 2:39am

I agree with Viviana. If you stick to the lower end on the profanity scale you should be okay. I have an article at my site about finding age appropriate words for children, including young adult, and there are tools listed in it that help you do that.

http://www.cuckleburr.com/finding-age-appropriate-words-when-writin...

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on July 30, 2010 at 1:24am

I've struggled with that as well, I don't curse, but there are several scenes in my novels that are screaming for the fiery passion behind those words, but it makes me feel like I'm the one saying them if I type it. I'm in the same situation as you my friend.

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Permalink Reply by Aries on July 30, 2010 at 2:42am

Swear and curse all you like, and throw that age-appropriate-words rubbish out the window into a blazing trash can. Also, thinking that a book encourages people to swear is a lot of lies and something that's been a rumor (and repeatedly unproven) since the 80s. The problem with assuming intelligence based on someone's grade means that you might end up writing something that would be heavily insulting to an entire class due to being aimed at what they would call a pre-schooler. I myself had read Body Rides when I was... 10? 11? And that's aimed at an adult audience.

If you're going for an urban setting in which profanity is common, go for it. I've been able to swear for five minutes straight without repeating myself since primary school. Every kid has heard mountains of coarse language (usually from their parents), and if your book kicks up mountains of controversy over someone putting George Carlin to shame, it'll just draw more attention to it for customers.

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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on September 14, 2010 at 3:46am

I curse alot. lol and i mean A LOT.
its not my fault, was simply raised with it.
curse words just seems to express my emotions, so they are the words that most likely slip from my lips. cursing seems to inhabit every ones voice sometimes.
there is a lot of cursing in my books, because the characters reflect me,
when they are angry, i am angry.
and when im angry, i lose control of every foul word that leaves my throart.
so it all depends i guess.
all depends the character u representing in the writing.
its not like ur gonna make a massively powerful, savage biker scream out," yeah, well! , Your a Poopey Head!! "
naw man...lol thats just whack. sometimes curse words fit the scenes perfectly.
as for that line of a "poopey Head"
lets just leave that to the 5 year old girls shall we? lol ;)

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on September 14, 2010 at 4:05am

Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!

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Permalink Reply by Aries on September 14, 2010 at 10:11pm

You should see the script for the first two God of War games, Kratos gets his point across pretty well, and not a single profanity is uttered in the first two games. The third had profanity you'd hear on TV.

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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on September 16, 2010 at 2:11am

haha, yeah...Curse words run in my blood line.
lol My parents taught me every cuss word i know.

Callie Leah said:

Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on September 17, 2010 at 2:09am

Yeah, my mom is a bit different. :)

Betty Damil said:

haha, yeah...Curse words run in my blood line.
lol My parents taught me every cuss word i know.

Callie Leah said:
Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!

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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on September 17, 2010 at 2:32am

hahaha, a bit?
lol u dont know my mother.
Shes a alcholoic physcopath.

Callie Leah said:

Yeah, my mom is a bit different. :)

Betty Damil said:
haha, yeah...Curse words run in my blood line.
lol My parents taught me every cuss word i know.

Callie Leah said:
Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!

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Permalink Reply by Callie Leah on September 17, 2010 at 11:14pm

Yeah, my mom is way different. She opposes cursing, drinking, smoking, or underage sex, she doesn't really like any supernatural books either, but she lets my get away with the supernatural stuff though. But the others, I'd be dead if she caught me doing them. (But to be honest, I don't want to anyway.)

Betty Damil said:

hahaha, a bit?
lol u dont know my mother.
Shes a alcholoic physcopath.

Callie Leah said:
Yeah, my mom is a bit different. :)

Betty Damil said:
haha, yeah...Curse words run in my blood line.
lol My parents taught me every cuss word i know.

Callie Leah said:
Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!

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Permalink Reply by Betzy Crypt on September 18, 2010 at 10:40pm

wow, ur mom sounds strict.
my parents are bikers, so our every moment is freewilled.
pretty much can do and say whatever the heck we want.
to tell u the truth, my life is seriously whack, im surprised im still alive.

Callie Leah said:

Yeah, my mom is way different. She opposes cursing, drinking, smoking, or underage sex, she doesn't really like any supernatural books either, but she lets my get away with the supernatural stuff though. But the others, I'd be dead if she caught me doing them. (But to be honest, I don't want to anyway.)

Betty Damil said:
hahaha, a bit?
lol u dont know my mother.
Shes a alcholoic physcopath.

Callie Leah said:
Yeah, my mom is a bit different. :)

Betty Damil said:
haha, yeah...Curse words run in my blood line.
lol My parents taught me every cuss word i know.

Callie Leah said:
Well, I know what Betty means. I've had a lot of scenes in my books that I just couldn't express right because I didn't swear, but no matter how bad I need to, I just can't bring myself to type them. I was raised to believe those were terrible, horrible, aweful words (even though my best friend EVER says them) and I don't mind reading them in books, but I just can't write them down. And besides, my mom likes to read my stories and she'd KILL me if I did!