Could use an opinion please!

Gynn · May 5, 2008

The main character of my fantasy novel is a 19-year-old American male who, in the course of seeking his lost brother, finds his way into another world. Stuff ensues, etc.

The book looks like it's going to end up being aimed at the YA crowd, because of the subject matter and the age of the protags. However, there are times during the course of the writing where I feel like the 19-year-old should be swearing. A situation will come up that would normally evoke a "What the f*** is that?" from a young man of his age and background, but I hesitate to add the vulgarity out of a fear of alienating my possible audience!

What would you do?

Matera the Mad · May 5, 2008

"What the--" Blank spat out a few of the words his mother hated. "What is that?"

or somethin' like that, maybe

InfinityGoddess · May 5, 2008

Gynn said:
The main character of my fantasy novel is a 19-year-old American male who, in the course of seeking his lost brother, finds his way into another world. Stuff ensues, etc.

The book looks like it's going to end up being aimed at the YA crowd, because of the subject matter and the age of the protags. However, there are times during the course of the writing where I feel like the 19-year-old should be swearing. A situation will come up that would normally evoke a "What the f*** is that?" from a young man of his age and background, but I hesitate to add the vulgarity out of a fear of alienating my possible audience!

What would you do?

YA, as in Young Adult? If you're gearing your story towards that age group, then why would you need to censor the bad words?

I'm confused.

nybx4life · May 5, 2008

Dude, it's all based on the character.
If your character is the type of person who'll curse every two sentences, then let him curse every two sentences, as that is their way of speaking.
I mean, it wouldn't sound right if you're trying to make your character sound like something he's not.

For example: If a black guy born in the ghetto just happened to always speak well, with clear grammar and not cursing, it would seem off. Not to racially profile a person, but it depends on who was raised where, and what you expect. You understand?

if you don't, just tell me.

ChaosTitan · May 5, 2008

Swearing occurs in YA books quite often. If it's true to the character and his situation, include it. No sweat.

Gynn · May 5, 2008

Thanks. I'm not used to reading young adult novels. I just assumed that editors would look down on that.

It's not like my character swears every other sentence, but there are definitely times when it should come up!

ChaosTitan · May 5, 2008

If your novel truly is YA, I also suggest checking out a few current YA releases in your genre. Just to see what's currently selling, what people are and are not writing about. "Know your market" is a must-have in any writer's Tool Kit.

nybx4life · May 5, 2008

Gynn said:
Thanks. I'm not used to reading young adult novels. I just assumed that editors would look down on that.

It's not like my character swears every other sentence, but there are definitely times when it should come up!

There's this book out there. It's called "Life Is Funny" by E.R Frank. Good collection of short stories. Worth reading. But on to the point:

The characters in that book, they're also teenagers. Swearing naturally comes. I mean, think about it.
If you went to a high school, just roaming the halls, eavesdropping on a conversation or two, you might hear something like this:

"Jenny's a skank bitch!"
OR
"I'm gonna get that prick for stealing my chick!"

unless your MC is taught by his parents not to curse, or his community is kinda peaceful in a way that they don't curse a lot, then believe me, he's gonna curse. It's just the natural facts of life

geardrops · May 5, 2008

I swear like a sailor in life, but I mute swears in my writing.

Ex: Now she swore.

Because I don't want to alienate as well. Just because swearing is natural to the character, there are people in the YA audience who might be put off by use of the fsck-word. I swear more than you'd believe in life but it leaps out at me in writing, far more than in music or film.

But to quote Obi Wan: "You must do what you feel is right, of course."

Zoombie · May 6, 2008

For my 19 year old falls into another world (though mine literally rolls out of bed and into another planet) story is not very sweary.

Not all teens are sweary after all. Just look at me. It's more fun to make up your own fustering blat words! ^_^

Shweta · May 6, 2008

My advice: Check out the YA forum. Check out the threads on what you can/cannot do in YA fiction.

I think you'll find that YA fiction is not nearly as restrictive as you're thinking. Most people who don't read YA -- well. Their intuitions on this are way, way off.

PS :welcome:

and just so you know, if you make the title of a thread more specific/informative, you'll generally get more replies

Marian Perera · May 6, 2008

Pick up a Gossip Girl book and check how many times the word "fuck" is used.

Ravenlocks · May 6, 2008

If he's in an alternate world, he could pick up some of their swears and start using those instead. Since they wouldn't be familiar to a general audience, they wouldn't be as loaded.

Twilight · May 10, 2008

I agree with Raven. Usually when a person spends time in a certain area they begin using that area's curses. You could start by using common "acceptable" swears ("what the hell" rather then "what the fuck") and slowly phase those out using more "local" cursing.

Twilight

oscuridad · May 10, 2008

If you are worried about swearing in YA (might be different rules in the US, mind), try 'the road of the dead' by Kevin Brooks. It was shortlisted for the Carnegie in 2007. Violent, brutal and with a healthy smattering of 'shits' and 'fucks'. its actually a very well written book and aimed at an audience significantly younger than 19. Its not exactly fantasy, but it has paranormal elements. The sawn off shotguns, blood and killing are very much a part of the real world, however.

Could use an opinion please!

Gynn

Wandering worlds

Matera the Mad

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

InfinityGoddess

Goddess of Infinity

nybx4life

ChaosTitan

Around

Gynn

Wandering worlds

ChaosTitan

Around

nybx4life

geardrops

Good thing I like my day job

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

Shweta

gone

Marian Perera

starting over

Ravenlocks

How novel.

Twilight

oscuridad