Before I begin the order of this day, let me express my gratitude to all of you who have subscribed to my granddaughter Marley Lego's YouTube channel. We didn't get her to 100 by her birthday, but she was close. And now she's at 100!
If you haven't subscribed yet then rush on over to Marley Lego's YouTube channel right now and subscribe. This busy 13 year old is showing a lot of ambition in her musical pursuits and can always use encouragement as well as fans. And please share with others! Now let's aim for 1000 subscribers!
Here's the latest video she's posted:
And now let's move on to...
The Insecure Writer's Support Group
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
The co-hosts for the October 6 posting of the IWSG are Jemima Pett, J Lenni Dorner, Cathrina Constantine, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, and Mary Aalgaard!
October 6 question - In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?
The last time I attempted National Novel Writing Month was in 2011. My story idea ironically was about a pandemic. It was very dark and evil and it didn't take me long to back away from the idea and just shelve the project. That was about the time when I decided to avoid writing about any such topics.
Since I was a kid I've loved horror and sci-fi genres--the scarier, the better. These days, while there is still much that is interesting, so much has gone beyond the pale in my view. I avoid many horror films these days because they just don't sit right with me. I'd prefer to be elevated rather than cast into a pit of dark introspection and fear.
Don't let me mislead you because I do still watch and read some rather dark stuff. Just not like I used to. What I have been avoiding though is the consideration of writing my own dark works of fiction. It's just not the place where I want my thoughts to dwell these days. Especially in our current times.
Likewise this would apply to the use of profanity in my writing. In my everyday speech I've never been one to use profanity other than in extreme circumstances of mishap or anger and I try to stay measured in those times as well. It's not that I'm a prude or a holier-than-thou type, but profanity was never part of my upbringing and I never really heard much of this type of language until the 70's when it became more commonplace in movies. Profane language still seems a bit alien to me from my own speaking perspective and it makes me cringe a bit when I hear it.
Years ago during an early Blogging from A to Z April Challenge I got into a protracted debate with some other bloggers about the subject of profanity or coarse language in blog posts. If the language in a blogger's post gets a bit too much for me and there's not enough return in value in reading the post then I will tend not to read as often if ever again. And as for me writing in that type of language is like me saying, "I'm hip. I'm cool. And I can talk like a fool."
However, I occasionally use a profanity for greater impact, but I try to avoid any gratuitous use even if it is a matter of trying to achieve more "realism." Using expletives as my main adjectives, verbs, or nouns is not my thing.
I'm sure many of you have similar or thoughts otherwise. You might have even commented in my post years ago. If you have any thoughts you like to share about this then bring them up in the comments.
Also: Visit my Battle of the Bands and cast your vote!
you were ahead of your time then, I'm catching up. Awesome post.
ReplyDeleteTWW, pandemics have been a good topic for fiction over the years. I think I had a good idea, but it was just too dark for me to deal with at the time.
DeleteLee
Glad she hit a hundred!
ReplyDeleteI'll admit to cussing in real life when I'm angry, but I avoid it in what I write. Used to also dig horror films, but real life is much scarier now.
Alex, I too will let an expletive fly on occasion when I get angry, but I do try to limit unneeded language in speaking and writing.
DeleteLee
I cursed more when I was younger. The years ago I worked in auto salvage and every other word the guys said was foul. It taught me not to use it at all.
ReplyDeleteL.Diane, even in my younger days I didn't curse much--definitely less so than now. During those times in the past a lot of my friends and coworkers had pretty foul mouths at times. It annoyed me to hear it, but it didn't affect much of my own speech.
DeleteLee
I think I'm 101 for your granddaughter. What an amazing girl. As we get older, do we slow down as far as "spicy" language and what we write about? I know I have. And that's okay.
ReplyDeleteDiane, thank you for supporting Marley's efforts. I'm glad she's doing constructive and creative things.
DeleteOlder and wiser is what I hope happens.
Lee
I used to be much more sensitive to profanity before I married my husband. Now I find myself explaining to my 8yo why he can't use particular words outside of the house or when people come visit. I will still shy away from excessive foul language, but it no longer makes me uncomfortable like it used to.
ReplyDeleteLoni, my wife doesn't like or use profanity so I tend to be more careful around her. But I normally wouldn't use off color language anyway. I wouldn't say the language makes me uncomfortable to hear, but I'd prefer people to express themselves in other ways.
DeleteLee
I agree with your assessment, Arless. Too much of profanity and sex is gratuitous. I think it is thrown in to ignite the plot, which it doesn't do for me!
ReplyDelete"I'm hip. I'm cool..." Ha! I love your answer. While certain language may authenticate a character's persona, it might not come naturally for the writer.
ReplyDeleteA long time ago, I watched a filmed version of a comedian I liked perform live. I'd seen him in movies and thought he was quite talented, but during this performance it seemed every word out of his mouth was an unnecessary profanity. Pretty quickly, I turned the program off. That was probably more than 35 years ago and even now when I see that performer I don't think of his talent, I think of that performance. At the right time and place, perhaps one profanity is enough but when used like adjectives, they do nothing for me.
ReplyDeleteI often find the swearing in books and movies unnecessary
ReplyDeleteIf it fits the situation or character, I think it is okay, but if you over do it (for what ever reason) I think it becomes detracting. I'm going to date myself, but in the mid-70's there was a period where every edgy or hip movie, especially police ones seem to have the 'f' word every other sentence/word. It didn't really do anything for the movie except maybe give it an X-rating. If it doesn't move your plot or story, it is a waste.
ReplyDeleteI agree that gratuitous swearing is a turn off. The story might be great but if it's just in the language to be "cool and tuff," I won't come back. Thanks for your blog - I always appreciate reading it. Thanks for your continued support of the IWSG. It keeps me going! dianeweidenbenner.com
ReplyDeleteLee,
ReplyDeleteProfanity is not apart of my language, either. I really dislike the casual use of swear words in entertainment. I wonder, do people really talk like this in real life? I haven't been in circulation in years, even before the pandemic so I don't know normal that kind of speaking is. Part of me thinks it's possible people use gutter language more around those who also use a foul vocabulary and less around those they do not know well. I remember the day when guys wouldn't swear around a girl. They had manners. Nowadays, it's the girl who swears worse than a sailor and has no regard of others being present. Swearing doesn't offer anything of value in the entertainment or real life scenarios. For many, I think it's just a bad habit that once started off with thinking it made them look cool or bad or grown and now they can't or don't want to change. Have a good day, my friend!