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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/2632-.html
Action/Adventure: October 01, 2008 Issue [#2632]

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Action/Adventure


 This week:
  Edited by: Vivian Author IconMail Icon
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  Open in new Window.

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

         I've joined the Action/Adventure editors starting this issue. I enjoy reading works with action and with adventure. Hopefully, you'll ride along with me as I bring my ideas concerning what is needed or not needed to create excellent action/adventure stories and books.

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Word from our sponsor

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Letter from the editor


To cuss or not to cuss


         I love mysteries, and they usually have action and adventure. I like Grisham and Jack Higgins and Cussler and so many of the action/adventure writers.

         However, more and more of the so called action/adventure material is filled with vulgarities, extreme profanity, and constant swearing. Some so-called writers seem to think the more crude the language, the better. What is especially sad to me is the fact that many women writers seem to try to "out-vulgar" any man writer. Hmmm . . . wonder if any of them ever heard of a dictionary?

         I'm not a person who uses profanity personally. I don't like it, but some people and some characters do use it. If I'm going to write believable dialogue, then some times I have to have the character cuss. Even when I do, I am careful not to use God's name in vain, to have excessive usage, or to use anything too vulgar. A pinch of salt adds flavor to food. Too much ruins it. The same is true with profanity in writing. I use little, if any, swearing in my writings, and then only if the character and/or circumstances in the plot calls for it.

         I approached three of the best action/adventure writers on the site for their opinions: billwilcox, Holly Jahangiri Author Icon, and writetight. I asked them what they thought about using profanity in writing.

billwilcox:

         Profanity?

         You know how I love to write dialogue. And yet I make a conscious effort not to swear. There are many ways to show that your character has a colorful way of talking without cussing. For example: "Ain't ya gonna show me how ta talk
right? I dunno whatcha mean 'bout it?"

         I have read stories that use profanity for no apparent reason other than to just throw it in there. That really turns me off. But if one of my characters has a tendency to cuss because of how he was raised or whatever, then I will include some common everyday words. This doesn't mean that I will have every character speak in this manner, because they are all different people.


Holly Jahangiri Author IconMail Icon:

         There are some who get really weird about ANY use of profanity, even when it's appropriate to the character or the situation. I happen to think there's a happy middle ground. REAL people do swear. It's not REAL to write action/adventure where everyone's uber-polite and has on his best party manners. I mean, what do you think a priest would say if he saw a hand-grenade tossed at his feet? A PRIEST might actually start to pray, or think of something that didn't involve swearing, because it's in his nature and training not to swear. But I'd bet a few would say some colorful things, under the circumstances...

         A truck driver who didn't swear might be interesting. A schoolmarm who did might be interesting. Swearing gratuitously isn't interesting. But it can make the character more colorful or believable, or emphasize how an extraordinary situation might make a character act OUT of character, and thus be effective.

         I absolutely agree that profanity for its own sake is overused. For some characters, it's just a cliché that reinforces a boring stereotype. Then again, your hard-boiled detective probably DOES have a colorful arsenal of epithets.


writetight:

         Profanity is like cheap perfume -- it should be used sparingly -- and then only around those accepting of the same.

         So we all pretty much agree. Profanity should be used only as necessary in writing and no more.


Editor's Picks

Highlighted items


         billwilcox is a prolific writer of action/adventure. Here are three of his stories:

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The Lone Survivor Open in new Window. (13+)
The Olympics, one hundred years from now...
#853172 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon

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The Tire Swing Open in new Window. (13+)
Push me all day, everyday.
#911631 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon

Death Chamber Open in new Window. (13+)
An Undertaker knows too much about Death
#696461 by W.D.Wilcox Author IconMail Icon


         writetight provided the following links to some of his work:

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#671561 by Not Available.

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#547220 by Not Available.

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This item number is not valid.
#763382 by Not Available.


         The following are two, newer action/adventure offerings from the site:

 Invalid Item Open in new Window. []

by A Guest Visitor

 Amaranthine Open in new Window. [18+]
is there enough mystery behind the main character? Thanks for reading!
by Wrath.of.Khan Author Icon



         And I can't forget Holly Jahangiri Author IconMail Icon:

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This item number is not valid.
#325767 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#423579 by Not Available.

 Invalid Item Open in new Window.
This item number is not valid.
#436709 by Not Available.

 
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Ask & Answer


         I hope readers will leave comments, questions, suggestions for me.

         Enjoy reading and writing exciting action/adventure.

Viv

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