tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362490117084225307.post6229176087835257035..comments2024-02-13T16:47:53.774-06:00Comments on Cowboy Musing: Profanity in writing - guest post by client Donn TaylorTerry Burnshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14526255183090554401noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362490117084225307.post-31227217425645590652012-10-06T07:38:54.197-05:002012-10-06T07:38:54.197-05:00Totally agree, Donn. Thing is, such trashy languag...Totally agree, Donn. Thing is, such trashy language is not a "realism" in my life. I know no one who salts their daily conversations with curse words--and if I do, they have the sense not to do so around me. Perhaps the idea that they can control their mouths ought to be considered "realism" too.Linda Yezakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16359372692625786864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362490117084225307.post-75661858377188702212012-10-06T06:46:23.235-05:002012-10-06T06:46:23.235-05:00Thank you so very much, Donn, for your brilliant p...Thank you so very much, Donn, for your brilliant post. Your logic is impeccable. I especially appreciated your statement that "'Strong language' helps lazy writers gain the appearance of conflict without the hard work of creating genuine conflict, which is always generated by a story’s narrative structure." This is a keeper quote. :) One last thing: It's about time we stop calling lazy writing realistic writing. IMHO, your post has completely shot down that argument. MaryAnn Diorio, PhD, MFAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08728569035482554211noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-362490117084225307.post-89785368411249543442012-10-05T09:15:16.903-05:002012-10-05T09:15:16.903-05:00I make no bones about it, I don't represent an...I make no bones about it, I don't represent anything with profanity or inappropriate material in it. You know, it's a funny thing but if I actually say something about that when I reject something people want to argue about it nearly every time. Other reasons for not taking something they seem to accept easily if not always gracefully, but profanity, they feel compelled to explain to me how wrong I am. They feel I do not understand that it is necessary for realism, or to reach a certain audience the way a more mature rating on a movie will pull such an audience in. They explain even for a Christian writer to reach out to someone who really needs to hear the message they have to say they need to write in language they will relate to. Baloney. As a writer I had people cussing in many of my books, bad men do that, but I have never used a single profane word. It is the action and the emotions that are important, not the language. A good writer can do it easily. And they should. Terry Burnshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14526255183090554401noreply@blogger.com