Hi I'm Elsie and my question is what are the views on strong/bad language being used in a storyline if it's to add reality to the story and it isn't used gratuitously?
Hi I'm Elsie and my question is what are the views on strong/bad language being used in a storyline if it's to add reality to the story and it isn't used gratuitously?
I was advised by the publisher of my previous book that, in order to bring an element of reality to the story, if a character is the kind who would use that kind of language, go for it. I wasn't comfortable with it at first, but once I allowed myself to appreciate the characters for who they were, I could live with myself :) I'm at a point now in my novel that I'm going to have to work in some steamy sex scenes. Ugh, I'm dreading it but I'm counting on the experience to get to know myself better and explore aspects of my writing that I haven't before. Consider your target audience (I write adult fantasy, like Game of Thrones) and the relevance to your story line and you'll be just fine.
My view it that bad language is acceptable if this is the language the character would normally use. It's also up the the author. I don't tend to use bad language at home because I have a young child but it doesn't stop me from reading books, watching films, listening to music where bad language is being used. Bad language doesn't deter me unless it is not realistic or purposeful. Hope it goes well. I'm new to all of this.
You have to make your characters believable, and if bad language is part of the characters' vocabulary, then it has to be used. For me, being a writer is like being an actor. You have to know your characters like you know yourself.