When Characters Say Bad Things…

Is it ever okay to use the F bomb in your writing?

After the publication of my first novel, I excitedly went on the author tour, meeting with appreciative readers at local libraries and other facilities to read from my novel and share anecdotes.

A woman sitting at a desk, looking surprised and covering her mouth with her hand while using a laptop.

During the usual Q&A at one such appearance, a women rose from her seat and introduced herself as the mother of a childhood friend of mine. As she told me how much she liked the book, she paused for a moment before saying she was also disappointed in me. With raised eyebrows, I listened as she explained that she was sorry that I felt the need to include swear words in the book.

“Ah, yes,” I replied. “I have a feeling I know what word you’re specifically talking about. I actually used the word twice in dialogue. I didn’t use it lightly. I felt that the scene warranted the reaction of the characters, and was necessary for realism.” I thought for a moment, because I didn’t want to discredit her concern, and I appreciated her honestly. “I do understand that you may not appreciate it, and I hope you are able to look beyond it.” I didn’t know what else to say, so I thanked her for her comment and moved on.

Are swear words necessary in novels? It’s a fair question, and I believe the answer is, “Yes, when it moves the story along in a realistic fashion and is true to the character’s situation and reaction.”

I recently read a bestseller that contained the F bomb casually throughout the pages, and curious, I went to the Amazon reviews to see if readers had an issue with it’s liberal usage. Turns out, a fair percentage of reviewers did indeed cringe at the number of times profanity appeared, and some even stopped reading the book.

While I don’t pretend to take any moral high ground, my question of whether to use profanity is more of a business question. Does the inclusion of swear words diminish sales? It’s a real question that authors have to ask themselves, and it’s a balancing act between being authentic in writing and character development, and wanting to sell books.

As I finish the manuscript for my second novel, I am comfortable with the true language spoken by my characters, and I’m just going to have to stand there and take it when my childhood friend’s mother stands before me and tells me she’s disappointed in me, yet again.

F*ck!