The right **** at the **** time?

[John Dean]

The other day, I was surfing the web seeking inspiration for my latest blog when I came across a number of articles on the vexed subject of profanity in fiction.

I, like most authors who use swear words in their writing, receive the occasional review from readers for whom profanity is an issue. For some of them, it is reason enough not to buy a book.

I tend to use swear words very sparingly in my novels but anything that may cost me readers has to be given some serious consideration in this competitive world of books.

Those readers who object to the use of profanity in fiction argue that an author can tell a story well enough without swearing. That is true but my view is that swear words add to a story – the important thing is not to overuse them.

Why do I favour the use of swear words on occasion? Well, I use the hammer and thumb argument. If while driving in a nail, I hit my thumb with the hammer, my reaction is unlikely to  be ‘jolly jeepers, Old Boy, that smarts and no doubting it’ but something much stronger.

Also, if a character who rarely, if ever, swears suddenly does so, it is a case of the author signposting to the reader how serious a situation is if it brings forth language like that. It is a useful tool in building tension.

And the occasional reader I may offend by using swear words? I do not want to lose anyone, I value all my readers, but just as I  respect their viewpoint, I hope that they will respect my instinct as an author. Sometimes no other word will do.

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