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The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling and encourage them. This allows writers to express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!
October 6 question - In your writing, where do you draw the line, with either topics or language?
If I feel uncomfortable with the topic or language, I mean really uncomfortable, I won't put it in there. In my first novel (now being redone) I had a practical rape scene, which I have now decided is a tad overboard, I have done a workaround, the scene doesn't exist anymore. I removed it because it not only made me wince but also there was a whole thing regarding it around the web (not my scene but the putting in of harming women without it being completely necessary), I found that once I took it out and thought about it, the scene was not needed there, and was simply gratuitous.
The thing was, the fiction books I'd been reading up to that point, and graphic novels didn't seem to mind dropping those kinds of things, or alluding to them in their works. Unless it's actually necessary to your plot or character, don't use it. As far as language goes, I don't outright swear, I use words like feck, or bugger...trying to tone it down a little even though I do swear like a sailor myself.
Sex scenes are another thing that if they naturally progress in the plot of the novel, if not there is no need in my mind to put them in there. In this case, it's more about the flow of the novel, than just putting something in there just for the sake of it.
TWW
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I'm in the same boat as you. Readjusting old work, or just plain trying to hide those uncomfortable first pieces from the internet. I agree. When we include trauma it needs to be central to the plot.
ReplyDeleteSo much depends upon your genre. But I do read many books that avoid cuss words and gratuitous sex (Wilbur Smith comes to mind) without costing any popularity. It's my choice to but my genre--prehistoric fiction--makes it a bit easier to avoid that stuff.
ReplyDeleteCan't say I've ever used "feck" or "bugger" but no one around here does. They do sound funny though.
ReplyDeleteIf something makes you wince then I'm sure others might agree. If a more artful creative way can be found to express an idea then I think that's the better way to go.
Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out
Great response to the question. Some things are not necessary.
ReplyDeleteMary at Play off the Page
I'm struggling with something similar, an attempted rape scene that is central to the plot and the characters involved--but that's a trigger for a lot of people. I'm really torn, because I'm not sure how to work around it without losing a critical piece of the work. Glad you were able to find an alternative that worked for you.
ReplyDelete