Word choice in fan fiction

[tenaya]

First off, let me say I do cuss. I have to remember not to cuss when at the job and something alarming happens. My father had been a sailor in WW2 and had an absolutely filthy mouth. I am not prude when it comes to foul language. I just think it is more effective to use it as spice instead of the main course.

Having said that, I have to admit I frequently find myself stopped dead in a story, staring at the all too frequent bad language coming out of the mouths of my favorite characters. Since when does Daniel speak like that? I'll give you he does say damn, bastard and even hell when under duress, but not under mundane and casual circumstances.

I'm still reading a mess of Harry Potter fiction I dl'd a few months ago. It's not uncommon for these kids to be using all manner of bad language while simply discussing how to spend the reminder of the day. This usually has me staring at the screen, muttering "wtf?"

Poor word choice ruins the characterization. Why would an author sabatoge themselves with such an easily avoided mistake? Does using bad language equate being 'cool?' Is it more desirable to be cool than to create a better story? Is the constant reminder that they are included in the community more important than writing a story, that if done really well, will give you bonus points in said community? Does each writer's priority sort them into one of two groups--fans who write or writers who are fans?

In a related subject, and one in which I'll probably be stomping on some toes of the 'cool kids,' why do otherwise skilled writers insist on using fannish vocabulary in their fannish stories? I know specialized vocabulary defines a community, and the fannish community is particularly eager to embrace new words, partly, I suspect to differentiate the small cliques of fans who feel they are cooler than the rest of the pack. I have to say when I come across online lingo coming out of the mouths of Teal'c or Jack (in a non-online situation) or in the narrative, I am stopped cold in the story. The word choice is obviously wrong, and the only conclusion I can come up with, is that the writer is wanting to communicate their inclusion into the 'cool kids' club, and the temptation to do the secret handshake in public is irresistable. My sad little opinion is that they should rethink the urge.

The bottom line? Skilled writers are making the same mistake as those seemingly highschoolers are making. Go figure.

Not quite the effect they were shooting for, is it?

Comments

[sg1scribe.livejournal.com]

I don't have a particular hang-up about swearing, but I recently had a conversation along these lines with my eldest son. I ticked him off for swearing without good reason. He retaliated by saying that I use the f-word in fiction. I pointed out that the character I was writing was a pregnant teenager who had survived living on the streets for some time and had, in the past, hung out with drug addicts and low lives. It was therefore in character for the f-word to flow off her tongue fairly readily, but even with her, I only used it when she was under pressure. I also pointed out that if you use the f-word frequently it doesn't leave you a whole lot of scope when you need a really, really good swear. Much better to save certain words up for when you really want to let rip. He seems to gave got the message.

[tenaya.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a thoughtful young man. Say...this isn't the one you were going to sell on ebay, was it??

I suppose it could be my value judgement that a constant stream of foul language equates poor manners and a shortage of education. Yet I do know people that are way smarter than me and have a stream of initials after their names that say f-this and f-that...but not that many. The majority of the results of higher education can eviserate with a few precise words.

I guess for me it is when my emotions are in control--or out of control-- that I'm most likely to cuss. I guess I'm projecting those values onto the characters.