tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post2617232375042647753..comments2023-12-26T18:33:04.681-08:00Comments on Writability: Discussion: Is Cursing in YA Novels Acceptable?Gabe (Ava Jae)http://www.blogger.com/profile/04778524723148508140noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-21742388802235723232013-05-02T05:14:21.265-07:002013-05-02T05:14:21.265-07:00I suppose how common swearing is will depend on th...I suppose how common swearing is will depend on the environment you grow up in. I know when I was going through high school in particular, swearing was extraordinarily common, like a rite of passage (albeit a rite of passage the teachers didn't appreciate, but nonetheless...). But had I gone to private school, for example, it probably would not have been as prevalent. I can definitely see how it might be more difficult to make it sound natural if you haven't really been exposed to it, however. <br /><br /><br />But I think you caught onto a key word, there: authenticity. If it doesn't come naturally to your character as you're writing, I wouldn't really worry about it. As you said, not everyone swears. :)Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-69063790745937820252013-04-28T17:57:03.987-07:002013-04-28T17:57:03.987-07:00This is such an interesting question. I find incre...This is such an interesting question. I find incredibly hard to write characters that swear because my family never did and I never do, and very few of my friends growing up ever did. I just don't even know how to make it sound natural! <br /><br />I don't have anything against it in books really ... I realize that there are people who swear (obviously) ... but I also sometimes wonder if swearing is as common/frequent as it is made out to be in some books. It certainly hasn't been the case in my life!<br /><br /><br /><br />I guess in the end we just have to write what seems authentic to our experiences and our story..... or maybe I just need to push my boundaries a bit!Carissa Taylorhttp://twitter.com/CarissaATaylornoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-89831515283898197172012-12-03T06:43:36.068-08:002012-12-03T06:43:36.068-08:00Sexual innuendos and drug references are 100% ok i...Sexual innuendos and drug references are 100% ok in YA novels--in fact, they're far from uncommon in the genre. Teenagers think, talk and joke about sex all the time and drug use is not exactly uncommon amongst the teenage population, either. IMO, there's absolutely nothing wrong with being realistic and including drug or sexual references if relevant. You obviously don't need to force it into your work, but if it comes up, I see no reason to censor it.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75555849472169579982012-12-02T13:34:14.172-08:002012-12-02T13:34:14.172-08:00While we're on the subject of what's suita...While we're on the subject of what's suitable for YA novels, what about sexual innuendos? Or even drug references? I was reading one of my WIPs that takes place in a fantasy world, and when one of the characters inquired the location of another, one of my villains said she went out to find poppy seeds. At the time I wrote that, I had NO idea poppies were the key ingredient to heroin. But the older, more knowledgable me today wants to keep that there, just to see if anyone catches it and laughs at the implications. Is this wrong? Help me out, Ava.Robin Rednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-9613612887829571482012-10-14T11:50:44.531-07:002012-10-14T11:50:44.531-07:00First and foremost, thank you so much for this tho...First and foremost, thank you so much for this thoughtful response, Chris. You bring up a great point about teens doing things without fully understanding <i>why</i> they're doing so--and I think you could be right that sometimes we overthink it. I also agree that the language that your characters use shouldn't be forced either way--it should be what feels right for the character.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-75049767877086709302012-10-09T01:30:36.484-07:002012-10-09T01:30:36.484-07:00I remember being a teenager. And when I swore it w...I remember being a teenager. And when I swore it was because I felt like it. Sometimes specifically because I knew it would upset my mom if she heard me. I don't think teens swear because they read it, or because they're expected to. I think they do it because they want to try it out and see how it feels to say it, or get a reaction from someone, or because that's how they hear others talk. Or sometimes just because. <br /><br />I think written characters should swear when they feel like it, or not swear because they don't like to. But I don't think we should censor them, because then the character ends up feeling forced or stilted. I'm not saying all characters should swear. Not all teens swear. But I certainly don't think there's a world out there where some won't choose to for whatever reason.<br /><br />Sometimes teens do things and feel things even they don't understand. I look back on my own teen years, and there are moments that even now I have no idea why I did what I did... So trying to understand every single motivation for why kids do what they do - including swearing - is really an exercise in futility sometimes, in my opinion. Instead, learning from the experiences is probably far more beneficial. <br /><br />I'm not sure this makes much sense, but I think if we as adults and writers overthink swearing, it becomes a forced issue and our characters become cardboard cutouts instead of relatable and believable "people." If you as a writer don't swear, but the character in your head does, then they probably should on paper. But that's my opinion :)Chris vnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-4371092389354739452012-10-07T06:16:15.481-07:002012-10-07T06:16:15.481-07:00It's an epidemic, these reading teenagers...It's an epidemic, these reading teenagers...Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-40191387989680647992012-10-05T22:23:46.561-07:002012-10-05T22:23:46.561-07:00hahaha yes teens definitely curse because they rea...hahaha yes teens definitely curse because they read too many books. *laughs heartily while falling off a cliff*Knaks Plaplaphttp://www.facebook.com/big.fat.slutnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-55268303105641998432012-09-24T13:47:32.518-07:002012-09-24T13:47:32.518-07:00Agreed--it's certainly been very interesting t...Agreed--it's certainly been very interesting to see everyone's thoughts from both sides of the debate. There are a lot of valid points to consider both for and against it.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-9837009577845306442012-09-24T13:42:53.754-07:002012-09-24T13:42:53.754-07:00Preserving innocence?! I don't know! Lol.
Ho...Preserving innocence?! I don't know! Lol.<br /><br /><br />However, some people on here have put some real thought into this. Interesting discussion. :)Lauren I. Ruizhttp://www.pure-text.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-36202744641852771732012-09-24T13:17:11.323-07:002012-09-24T13:17:11.323-07:00That is ironic! Just out of curiosity, why do you ...That <i>is</i> ironic! Just out of curiosity, why do you think you would completely avoid swearing then, if you don't mind swearing in your daily life?Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-38888539005728800432012-09-24T13:15:08.232-07:002012-09-24T13:15:08.232-07:00I don't write YA, but if I did, I think I'...I don't write YA, but if I did, I think I'd keep it clean almost always. For some reason I have the same principle as a businessperson--keep it clean--which is ironic considering how unhinged I am with swearing in my daily life!Lauren I. Ruizhttp://www.pure-text.netnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-22198262969778352802012-09-24T12:34:06.717-07:002012-09-24T12:34:06.717-07:00Interesting point! I don't think anyone else b...Interesting point! I don't think anyone else brought up the difference between various swear words. Personally I can't remember reading that particular swear word and thinking that it didn't fit, but it's an interesting thing to think about nonetheless.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-13445085802048826712012-09-23T20:23:01.058-07:002012-09-23T20:23:01.058-07:00I don't mind swearing as long as it's orga...I don't mind swearing as long as it's organic and not gratuitous. That said, I think some swears work better than others. Some don't work at all, like "shit". I don't know what it is, but it feels so...crass in books. I have hardly ever seen it where it feels like the 'right' thing.Angela Halliday-Ackermanhttp://www.facebook.com/angela.hallidayackermannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-68463709258018814762012-09-23T17:56:40.349-07:002012-09-23T17:56:40.349-07:00Great points. While I do believe that some respons...Great points. While I <i>do</i> believe that <i>some</i> responsibility lies with us (if only in what impact our specific novels have), I don't know that censorship is the answer, either, for many of the reasons that have been discussed both in the post and in the comments. It's an issue to be aware of and one that we have to be careful not to overuse, should we choose to use it, but blatantly avoiding swear words in YA novels can sometimes backfire, depending on the story and the characters. <br /><br /><br />In the end, I think it depends on the characters.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-65672067537382926302012-09-23T17:53:06.305-07:002012-09-23T17:53:06.305-07:00Firstly, thanks for stopping by, Lynn! So glad you...Firstly, thanks for stopping by, Lynn! So glad you enjoyed the post and the discussion--it certainly has been an interesting one. :) <br /><br /><br />You bring up an interesting point about swearing when it comes to writing for different age groups--I hadn't really thought about what the impact would be for a writer like yourself that writes primarily MG, then writes YA. It certainly adds another complication to an already interesting dilemma.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-86963370241736360452012-09-23T17:51:17.289-07:002012-09-23T17:51:17.289-07:00A lot of people have mentioned this, and I think i...A lot of people have mentioned this, and I think it's a good point--when the swearing is overdone, regardless of whether it's on the page or in the movies, etc., it becomes distracting and can even be irritating. If you do choose to include swearing, you definitely want to be careful not to overdo it.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-51004097930394213762012-09-23T17:47:30.072-07:002012-09-23T17:47:30.072-07:00I absolutely agree with you, Gene. "It depend...I absolutely agree with you, Gene. "It depends" tends to be the answer to a lot of things in writing, and I think this is one of them, in this case, depending on the characters and the story. <br /><br /><br />Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Gene!Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-34936575111589744372012-09-22T20:39:46.519-07:002012-09-22T20:39:46.519-07:00I'm here from Gene Lempp's Blog Treasures....I'm here from Gene Lempp's Blog Treasures. He said the discussion thread is interesting, and I have to agree with him!<br /><br /><br />Ava, I went through the same process you did. Tried to avoid using cuss words here and there, but it wasn't true to the character or real life. It's an edgy read with some edgy characters. Keeping the cuss words to a minimum and using them when the scene calls for it adds more impact, in my opinion. It's a tough decision, though. I don't plan to publish my YA for at least a year since I mainly write middle grade books, so the swearing in my YA poses a problem for me. I might have to publish it under a pen name. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.Lynn Kelleynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-72123086663419091222012-09-22T18:25:03.316-07:002012-09-22T18:25:03.316-07:00It comes down to censorship in the end, and censor...It comes down to censorship in the end, and censorship is wrong. Just because a few people can't do something responsibly doesn't mean it should be taken away from everyone. As authors we should be aware of the issue but I don't think much responsibility lies with usRoweMatthewnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-50622245163303470302012-09-22T16:56:32.139-07:002012-09-22T16:56:32.139-07:00I don't think books are the cause of foul-mout...I don't think books are the cause of foul-mouthed teenagers, either. Environment, peers, parents, siblings, whatever the cause, I doubt books make it very high on the list. But it's still a consideration, because while I doubt it <i>causes</i> it, I suppose there could be an argument that media in general might aggravate the situation.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-15243949176352998282012-09-22T16:51:36.270-07:002012-09-22T16:51:36.270-07:00I agree that there has to be balance--repeating an...I agree that there has to be balance--repeating <i>any</i> word or phrase too often will draw attention to it, which then becomes distracting to the readers. Whether it's cuss words or something else entirely (like your "angel" example), we have to be careful not to overuse words or phrases.Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-57689199728711479572012-09-22T12:38:25.601-07:002012-09-22T12:38:25.601-07:00I generally don't swear in my books, but there...I generally don't swear in my books, but there is a contextual small swear word every once in a blue moon but nothing major. I don't like unnecessary swearing in movies especially when it is pointless and really doesn't add anything. It is an interesting thing to think about though because it is a bit of an important issue when writing YA. Although I don't necessarily write YA per se it is still applicable. :)<br /><br /><br />~Author StevenAuthor Stevennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-86041326539959591402012-09-22T07:24:47.939-07:002012-09-22T07:24:47.939-07:00I absolutely agree that the decision should lie in...I absolutely agree that the decision should lie in the characters and the story itself. You also make an interesting point about creating a world with shielded characters--censoring our characters can have more of an effect than just keeping the language clean. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-606209712314101104.post-81344697101885410672012-09-22T07:00:42.406-07:002012-09-22T07:00:42.406-07:00A lot of people have brought this up and I agree--...A lot of people have brought this up and I agree--overusing it would quickly become distracting and start to pull the readers out of the writing. It definitely requires a balance. Ava Jaehttp://avajae.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com