$%#! It; Cursing in Writing

I recently read an interesting post on Writer Unboxed in which Keith Cronin discussed whether or not to “talk dirty” and use curse words in writing when seeking publication.

I thoroughly enjoyed his post – especially its tongue in cheek tone. For instance…

I’ve learned that there are more people than I thought who are offended by profanity. And not just the F bomb. Several reviewers have taken me to task for “using the Lord’s name in vain.” Others simply complain about “swearing” or “foul language.”

My reaction to the first bad review was, well… fuck ‘em.

Now, I rarely swear. At all. Okay, except when I shut my finger in the car door, or trip over a plastic dog toy in the dark. But other than that, I just don’t. And, if we’re being honest, I don’t really like to hear all that much swearing.

However, I can read it to my heart’s content and be completely unruffled by it. Currently, I’m reading Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep, an urban fantasy in which the F-word and others prance across every chapter.

And it truly doesn’t bother me.

Which makes me wonder: does anyone else have this same quirk? I don’t like reading about rape, gratuitous violence, etc., but swearing can appear on every page and, if it’s in character, I don’t blink an eye. Am I the exception to the rule? Are most people either pro- or anti-swearing in life and in print?

Another Inspiring Resource for Writers

As a subscriber to Writer’s Digest e-mails, I recently discovered Chuck Sambuchino’s column “7 Things I’ve Learned So Far” in which he gets published authors to list, well, seven different things they’ve learned on the road to being published.

I love reading the different responses from authors who write books that are all over the genre spectrum. It inspires me to get writing, giving me that motivational kick in the pants I sometimes need. Because, if I don’t get to work, how will I become one of them?

My Newest Discovery: Writer Unboxed

So, this is a short, little post because I have bronchitis and severe allergies right now, but I wanted to let you all in on a cool, new writing resource I recently stumbled upon: Writer Unboxed. It’s a blog that is bursting at the seems with posts by writers and writerly professionals with all sorts of great advice.

 
People who post to Writer Unboxed talk about all aspects of writing, from the creative side to the business side. I find that reading a post or two from blogs like this helps me break through writer’s block by getting me fired up about writing.

I love to hear about new [to me] writing resources. If any of you out there have any that they recommend, I’d love to check those out, too.