I’ve heard a lot of arguments for or against including profanity in Christian fiction. In realism especially, including profanity in a character’s manner of speaking tends to help with the setting and tone, and trying to substitute lesser or made-up curse words usually detracts from the immersion. It also kinda seems weird to refrain from profanity when other worldly and darker sins like murder, infidelity, and blasphemy are present. However, I’ve also heard the argument that the things you think and say and write about will inevitably make it into your own habits, which is obviously undesirable. Also, since profanity might not be directly addressed like murder, infidelity, or blasphemy, a work including profanity might seem to be condoning it.
Thoughts?
Iris,
This is a good question as I have been struggling with this recently. I am a completely unexperienced writer so I will not give an opinion for a response as I have so little from which to share. What I will say is that I teach in a school where I hear the profanity constantly, yet I make it my purpose not to use it. While not entirely successful in my own private space, I do not use any such words in my conversations or any time that I am around others.
What I an finding is that I come to a moment where any normal person would let one fly, and I don’t want to write what I thought they would say. Wondering if it is best to settle on a ‘character favorite’ word or phrase and go with that. I do have a set of restricted words that will never be included, but wanted to ask you if you would vary you usage of use a common word set in all the intense moments?
