F-Bombs and Rating Books
Posted on July 28, 2012 by Dan Springer

Unlike movies, TV, and video games, books don’t have a rating system to label the “appropriateness” of their content for readers. As an author I shudder at the thought of some panel slapping a label on my book and potentially limiting my audience as a result of their opinion on the suitability of my work for a particular group of readers. On the other hand, I just purchased a Kindle for my thirteen-year-old and I certainly would not want her downloading a title like Fifty Shades of Grey, either on purpose or by accident! For the record I have yet to allow my teenage son and daughter to read my book because it contains adult language and a couple of “mature situations” that I believe they are not ready to handle.

Why do some authors put bad language and sex in their books? I can only speak for myself–I write adult fiction and, like it or not, many adults use bad language and have sex! It is a matter of authenticity and making my stories ring true to the reader. The way I generally write is to simply document the movie playing in my head–if a character in the movie happens to curse, then that’s what I type on the keyboard.

Is this type of content required to sell books? Obviously not! Look at the massively successful young adult works, the Harry Potter series and more recently The Hunger Games. I also just finished an adult fantasy that very much enjoyed and can’t recall reading a single swear word. Most commercial, adult fiction–especially the kind I like to read, mystery/thrillers–have intense characters, both good and bad that say things and do things I don’t want to expose my teenagers to.

Prior to publication, I remember submitting an excerpt of The WILCO Project to a panel of three folks who provided feedback on my work. All three gave me good reviews and comments, but one made the observation that using the f-word in the dialog was unnecessary. If all three had made the same comment, I might have changed it, but I left it in because that what the character said. Everyone has their own tastes and I have figured out that, as an writer, you are never going to please everyone all the time.

When it comes to books and judging if their content is appropriate for children, I am happy there isn’t a rating system. Parents need to monitor what their kids are reading and watching because one size will never fit all.

  • Pennyestelle

    Hey Dan….great post.  Bad language is such a part of the world today, it would be unnatural not to have some in adult books.  I often find YA stories a little slanted because they don’t use questionable language in certain situations.  Sometimes it just doesn’t seem natural.  Just sayin’

    • http://twitter.com/AuthorDSpringer Daniel Springer

      Hi Penny,

      I agree with you, For me, if the language does not seem natural, then the movie the book creates in my head grinds to a halt. Thanks for your comment!

      Dan

  • KC Sprayberry

    Good thoughts, Dan. I write mostly YA fiction, but do dabble in romance, and I try to keep those f-bombs out of all of my work. I’m not a prude or anything, and I can curse fluently in 15 languages, but I’ve also found it’s not appropriate in most situations. Also, I have a teen who has developed a bad habit of cursing at the drop of a hat.

    Does bad language belong in fiction, especially that for kids? I’m with you on this one. The situation and story sets the standard. The WIP I’m working on now has an adult character best described as trailer park trash. And he does curse, and make other innappropriate comments at times. But it’s his character. I tried taking out the bad language, but it doesn’t sound right then. However, I have ‘edited’ him down to only a few bad words, and most of them are in the damn category.

    Your ending statement says it all. It’s up to the parent to monitor their child. One size of anything never fits all, despite advertising to the contrary.

    • http://twitter.com/AuthorDSpringer Daniel Springer

      Hi KC,

      I like your approach in your current WIP of softening the word. Maybe “damn” instead of the f-bomb lends the character credibility without having use such a strong word! Thanks for taking the time to comment,

      Dan

  • Carlrbrush

    Never say never, but a word or two here or there has a much greater effect than a flood, which simply dulls the senses and makes the cussing meaningless. One of the ugliest examples is the TV series Deadwood, now mercifully deceased. It was critically acclaimed, and indeed the acting was good and the setting authentic. However, the dialogue was so full of obscenity it was impossible for character to have any impact. I heard an interview with one of the writers, who claimed the language was for the time and place.  I’ve written fiction and non-fiction re that period and know full well that curses were much more likely to be blasphemic (word?) than sexual. And speaking of sex–important to have it and to write about it. Not important to see the organs and hear the screams and panting. 

    • http://twitter.com/AuthorDSpringer Daniel Springer

      Carl,

      Could not agree more with your opinion–less is more, right? I agree on the sex too! Thanks for comment!

      Dan

  • http://cedarmountainnewengland.blogspot.com/ G. B. Miller

    I have very mixed feelings on this subject. On one aspect, peppering your manuscript with select adjectives just for the sake of it, can really throw and turn a reader off. But if the plot/scene calls for it, then by all means use it. But use it by using your brain cells.

    For example, my upcoming novel “Line 21″ is peppered with graphic language simply because of what it’s about (young woman in her late 20′s gets involved with adult movies to raise enough money to pay off her loan shark). But on the opposite side of the equation, my last published short story contains exactly one swear word.

    Also, certain genres, like crime fiction, have a tendency to lean towards using graphic language.

    • http://twitter.com/AuthorDSpringer Daniel Springer

      Yep, it is all about context which lends credibility and authenticity. Thanks for commenting.

      Dan

  • http://twitter.com/AuthorDSpringer Daniel Springer

    I started reading Fifty Shades of Grey today and let me tell you, if f-bombs and sex offend you, don’t waste your time. I have never read erotica before so this book is shocking to me.

  • Elyse Salpeter

    Bad language is a part of life. And if you’re bringing a character to life and they need to curse, then you have to write it that way. Cursing for shock value or just for the sake of cursing should be curbed – I think the use of it appropriately is what separates the good writers from the great writers.