Hi everyone! What do you think about using swearing in novels/short stories? Is it necessary to make certain characters more real (as in dialogue) or should we try harder to paint that character though description and let the reader infer their foul language?
I came across this problem recently. I was writing a short story in which the main character swears in her car, using the 'C' word at other drivers. It didnt seem quite right to write the word
It depends. Take for example Mrs. Brown's Boys on TV. Feck this, feck that etc etc. The initial reaction in Ireland was that people in the UK would find all the swearing offensive. The reality was the complete opposite. Brendan O'Carroll is now a multi-millionaire.
A lot depends on the context. If you feel it adds to the story ..... go for it.
I'm not offended by an occasional, appropriately placed swear word when it is expressing a major part of a particular character. I think common sense will guide you here.