Foul Language in Writing

by Adam Huddleston

Last week, I posted a blog defining a few of the terms we generally refer to as swearing or cursing. I hinted that a future post may concern the appropriate/inappropriate use of foul language in writing. I realize that this topic is very wide and that there are many on both sides who feel strongly about it. Let’s just take a few moments to analyze this subject.

First of all, let me state that I am proud to proclaim myself as a Christian. As such, I believe that the use of foul language in speech is displeasing to God. I base this on verses such as Ephesians 4:29 and 5:4. In a world where the common use of foul language has become the norm rather than the exception, my family and I have chosen not to use it in our everyday speech. As it relates to my writing, I honestly have not come across many instances where the character’s dialogue would necessitate cursing. If I do, I’ll deal with it on a case-by-case basis.

At this point, someone usually argues that swearing in your speech is not necessarily the same as having your characters swear. I understand the point and if it is possible to have your reader understand that the words spoken by your characters do not always reflect those of the author, I would agree with it.

Another point to consider is if swearing is appropriate for the specific character. The stereotypical sailor or gang member may use foul language, but I would guard against falling into the trap of assuming that every “rough/uneducated” type of person speaks that way. If it is appropriate, use it, but don’t overdo it. I’ve read many novels containing excessive foul language where the extra words simply did not add anything to the story. Instead, it detracted from it.

The last point to remember is you should write to your genre. If you are writing a book of children’s stories, you probably don’t want to be dropping f-bombs every other sentence. Not only is it inappropriate for the genre, but more importantly, you will NEVER…GET…PUBLISHED. Save foul language for the adult readers.

I hope these arguments will help you in your writing!

The Thrill

by Adam Huddleston

“There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.”

                                                        -Alfred Hitchcock

For works in the horror or thriller genres, the high point of the story comes with a bang; the killer is revealed, the hero is murdered by the antagonist, the kidnapped girl is finally discovered. Fans of these types of books and movies are usually drawn more to the build-up of tension rather than the climax. So, if someone were inclined to pen a horror/thriller short story or novel, what methods could they use to increase this anticipation?

1. Give small bits of information as the story goes on. It stands to reason that the reader does not want the ending spoiled and feels more involved if they can try to answer the puzzle themselves.
2. Make sure that the reader cares about the character that is in danger. The closer they feel to them, the more “terror” they will fell as the climax approaches.
3. Set up the “thrill-causing” events of the story in order of increasing dread. By the time the bang arrives, the reader should be flying through the pages.

Hopefully, I’ve given enough advice to help you in crafting your suspenseful story. Happy writing!

Sports in Writing

by Adam Huddleston

With football season in full force (Go Cowboys), the topic of sports is on the majority of American minds. For the writer, there may be instances when you include sports in your work. Whether you are writing fiction, blogging, or reporting, there are a few rules that need to be adhered to:

1. Make sure you know your sport! This may sound like a no-brainer, but nothing will turn away a sports reader faster than referring to runs in baseball as points or referring to Wrigley Field as Wrigley Stadium. Unless you are creating a brand new game, have a firm understanding of the rules and scoring system.
2. Use plenty of vibrant action verbs and try to avoid repeating them. “Joe Bob ran” will only work for so long before the reader falls asleep. Strengthen your repertoire and use terms appropriate for the sport.
3. If you are blogging, blog often. Serious sports fans like to keep up-to-date on their favorite teams and players. They look forward to reading about their most recent exploits, not how they lost a game in double-overtime five days ago.

With some study and a little practice, writing about sports can be a lot of fun and very rewarding.

Jury Duty

by Adam Huddleston

So, I have recently been summoned for jury duty. I’m one of those strange folk who have always wanted to perform my civic duty by serving on a jury, but circumstances have always conspired against me. I wanted to tie-in my summons with my weekly blog, so I began to think about the film “Twelve Angry Men.”

Written by Reginald Rose as a teleplay in 1954, “Twelve Angry Men” centers around a homicide trial and the jurors’ deliberation concerning the defendant’s fate. Each character is fleshed out and the dialogue is technical enough to make them believable.

I remember reading the play in high-school and both film versions are excellent, sporting all-star casts. The 1957 version stars Henry Fonda, Lee J. Cobb, and Jack Klugman. The 1997 edition features Jack Lemmon, Hume Cronyn, and George C. Scott. I highly recommend both.

Hopefully, my experiences won’t be quite as dynamic as those in this wonderful work!

Encouraging Others to Write

by Adam Huddleston

So, you’re a writer. Or, like me, you at least attempt to be one. You spend a good deal of energy in the creation of a literary work in the hopes that it will make you rich and famous; or maybe brighten someone’s day. My question to you is: Do you ever encourage others to write?

Personally speaking, there are two types of people that I would like to see writing more. The first are my children. They know that “Daddy” is a writer and has even had a few flash fiction stories published. My oldest has created a few basic stories mostly concerned with he and his best friends fighting crime in and around our town. I praise him constantly for his efforts and encourage him to keep up the good work.

The second of my babies has even begun writing a few elementary stories. Her spelling is atrocious and the tales are quite basic, but guess what, I couldn’t care less. I fills my heart with joy and tends to bring a tear to my eye to see my kids imitating dear old Dad. I hope and pray that they continue to.

The other group of folks I encourage to write are those who are interested in writing short fiction. As a moderator of www.site.flashfiction5.com, I would love to see more people participate each month. It is completely free, it strengthens your writing skills, and is a lot of fun! If you are reading this right now, open up another window in your browser, type in the web address above, and embrace a literary nirvana.

Happy writing!

Ramblings

by Adam Huddleston

So, what do you do you are up against the deadline and you have no ideas (or good ones at least) for a blog post bouncing around in your cranium?

You ramble.

I love to read. Most writers do. I used to real a lot more before marriage, kids, and a career inserted themselves into my life. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not complaining. I love my life now, but I remember a day when I would stretch out with a good horror or fantasy novel and spend a couple of hours in page-turning relaxation.

Now I sneak a couple of minutes in here and there. Traveling to east Texas to see family helps. Whether by car or by plane, I am usually afforded a few peaceful moments to spend in my favorite pastime. It takes me about twice as long to finish a novel as it used to, but the payoff is still the same. I’m currently half-way through “Mr. Mercedes” and look to have it finished before my birthday in October when I hope to receive the sequel, “Finders Keepers.”

When do you like to read? Do you have a favorite spot to read in? I hope ya’ll do!

Happy writing (and reading)!

A Literary Analysis of Stephen King’s Writing: Part 2

by Adam Huddleston

Last week I began a series on what makes Stephen King’s writing successful. It is my intent to analyze the strengths of his work in an attempt to understand it and apply it to my writing as well. Part 1 of the series focused on his character creation and imaginative situations. For today’s blog, lets discuss how he organizes his plots as well as how expansive his library of work is.

For the most part, the majority of Mr. King’s plotting is linear. As his stories progress, they may jump around in time slightly depending upon the narrative’s needs, but they usually move straight forward. He doesn’t toy around much with stories told in reverse or packed full of flashbacks. I believe that this is because the typical reader is more comfortable with a traditional plot format.

Speaking of his plots, there are many who criticize the endings of his stories. I’d be lying if I said that I have done so from time to time. Most of his tales end quite satisfactorily, for me at least, but there are some that just lose steam and peter out in the end. One of his novels, “Cell”, just seems to end. It almost feels like he was rushed to finish it or just ran out of things to say. Other works exist with similar flaws, but in my opinion, they comprise a minority of his library.

The expansiveness of his work is non-debatable. He has consistently published several pieces a year ranging from short story collections to novels, screenplays to audiobooks. The sheer volume of his work is a testament to the author’s success. I believe that his ability to find a niche in the fiction market then provide quality entertainment (at a break-neck pace) to his consumer base solidifies him as one of the greatest authors of the past several decades.

Happy writing!