Guardians of Grail

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Robert Flores
Submitted 2012-12-23 06:29:53 Genre Trumps All Else
This would seem to be so obvious that it doesn't need to be mentioned, yet not understanding genre on the part of the author is a problem I find with a lot of material that's sent to me to edit.
Let's Start with Literature and Mainstream Fiction
Both genres cater to an essentially [url=http://www.ash.ne.jp/~nyk/joyful/joyful.cgi]hollister france Tips to Find[/url] adult market, and constraints on profanity generally aren't an issue because of this demographic. But there can be serious concerns when a book crosses over. For example, if Holden Caulfield said "F" [url=http://www.tagverts.com/barbour.php]www.tagverts.com/barbour.php[/url] this and "F" that in THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, [url=http://www.lookingforpump.com/lookforpump/2013/06/19/christian-louboutin-hot-and-white-pink-shoes-23933-%e7%94%a8800%e5%a4%a9%e8%b5%b0%e9%81%8d%e5%85%a8%e7%90%83/#comment-]Play free online games[/url] what sort of impact would that have had on the novel's sales (more than 60 million and still counting)?
Even material as stark as both STUDS LONIGAN and AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY were relatively profanity-free, [url=http://www.tagverts.com/barbour.php]barbour online shop[/url] and if an epithet was spoken, it was mild. And Henry Miller's material, while graphically sexual, contains little profanity of any sort. Even Cormac McCarthy's novels, which in my opinion are as visceral as narratives can get, are overwhelmingly sans profanity. The same can be said for Erskine Caldwell's works, as well as those of Faulkner and Steinbeck, both of whom often dealt with quite adult themes and circumstances.
Setting Is Often the Common Denominator for Profanity
If I'm reading jailhouse argot, or the conversation between two drunken sailors, every other sentence with an "MF" in it is perfectly acceptable. Likewise, to [url=http://www.tagverts.com/barbour.php]barbour deutschland[/url] impress their peers, gang members are going to use all of the seven words that can't be spoken on TV as often as possible, and anyone writing [url=http://www.ttcarpets.co.uk]mulberry sale[/url] dialogue centered in this environment has to lace it with profanity or [url=http://www.ttcarpets.co.uk]mulberry outlet[/url] the runs won't ring true with the reader.
But when writing dialogue in standard settings, one "F" word goes a long way, and unless it's part of a character's established profile, even one instance of the "F" word won't be acceptable to the reader. However, the "F" word used judiciously can indeed be a powerful tool. [url=http://www.anepf.fr]doudoune moncler pas cher[/url] In [url=http://www.thehygienerevolution.com/hollister.php]www.thehygienerevolution.com/hollister.php[/url] no other book has the "F" word had more of an impact on me than in William Maxwell's SO LONG, SEE YOU TOMORROW. And it appeared just once in the entire novel.
But Watch Out for YA
It's not so much what kids read, but what parents will let them buy or will purchase for them. The Internet makes just about any reading material available [url=http://www.teatrodeoro.com/hollisterde.php]hollister deutschland[/url] to anyone, but when considering a novel someone is paying for, regardless [url=http://www.jeremyparendt.com/Barbour-Paris.php]barbour pas cher soldes[/url] of who's remitting the funds, buyer demographics enter into the equation.
Even "hell" and "damn" can be a problem in a YA story, especially if these words are spoken routinely by the story's protagonist [url=http://www.diecastlinks.co.uk]hollister uk[/url] without provocation. I always think of myself when I was 17 year old and meeting a girl's parents for the first time and cussing repeatedly in front of them for no reason, thinking it was cool. I was told [url=http://www.turtle.or.jp/cgi-bin/aska.pl/otto/kreger/dzhenet/tiuson/tipi/liudey/16/tipov/lichnosti/opredelyaius20[0]mulberry outlet Menton L'écla[/url] in no uncertain terms by her father that my language wasn't acceptable in his household, and he escorted me to my car and made it clear that I was never to ask his daughter out again. This life's lesson applies to writing profanity as well.
Always Consider the Market for Your Story
Genre is market, and I'm concluding this article as it began by emphasizing the importance of [url=http://www.burnabystorage.com/barbour.php]barbour sito ufficiale[/url] identifying who will be reading your story. Will it be only older adults? Or will young adults be your audience as well? Can profanity detract in any way from the image you're wanting your character to portray, especially your protagonist? Does profanity fit the scene? And how do you want to use profanity--to shock or as part of [url=http://www.skoda-witzke.de/woolrichoutlet.php]woolrich outlet[/url] a character's normal speech? Whatever the situation, think it out carefully and choose wisely.