Do you use swears in your fantasy?

[Clo]

I don't swear much usually in my novel, but I have a character who does a lot, in a recent chapter. Enough that I added an extra TW at the start of the chapter.

 

[Thraben]

Functionally, unless you want to write your fantasy story in a canon language, using english swears is no different the rest of the watsonian logic of the story being written in english; How else would my readers understand it?

 

[Deleted member 84247]

Not often. I swear more on the forums than my characters do.

 

[AmbreaTaddy]

In one of my stories, there's a kind and polite king but everytime he is alone with his lover, he always swears because he is happy and doesn't know how to express it. I like swears when it serves the story

 

[Garolymar]

Functionally, unless you want to write your fantasy story in a canon language, using english swears is no different the rest of the watsonian logic of the story being written in english; How else would my readers understand it?

That's a really good point and one I need to remember when I try to incorporate certain creatures or words into the story. I always have this weird hang up where I second guess myself and think, "hold on, wait a minute, why would it be called a Gorilla in this universe" honestly this is a good reminder. It's a really dumb thing I do for some reason.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I haven't made any up so far.
As for how often it occurs, depends on the character's personality.

 

[Placeholder]

I think swears would be character driven.

Also, I find most author-coined neologisms take me out of immersion as a reader.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I think swears would be character driven.

Also, I find most author-coined neologisms take me out of immersion as a reader.

Well, TANJ. But TANSTAAFL.

 

[Placeholder]

> Well, TANJ. But TANSTAAFL.

Niven and post-juvenile SF Heinlein spent more time charting the inner worlds of aliens than those of women. This despite the discovery of women by a certain Charlotte Brontë in 1847!

 

[HypnoticNovels]

Sometimes there really is no better way to express how a character feels in the moment than an Fbomb, but maybe that's due to my poor vocabulary, still I do try to use them sparingly or try to come up with world appropriate ones... but those usually sound cheesy to me when I'm the one writing them down.
How do you guys deal with it? do you try to stay away from it as much as possible? freely use it whenever you want? Do you come up with your own that fit your world?

I'd love to see some examples of fun made up swears or idioms if you have any too.

I actually don't! It's really a struggle sometimes though not having curses really can limit the impact of a verbal fight / limit the speech traits you can give to a character.

In some cases, I have characters about to swear but then they get cut off halfway through lol that's a fun work-around You can also just make up fictional swears if its a fantasy story which can help

 

[John_Owl]

I do. Usually it's common ones, and I nearly always have some means of the words being translated for the character - my current work, the MC has a skill called "Draconic Tongue" that allows him to speak and be understood to and by anyone of any language. If the POV is a character that doens't understand, then I come up with lore or worlder specific swears for it. Usually in their language. Currently working on one (using traditional english letters, as I don't care to make an all new alphabet) for the Vorax (dark elves in my world).

 

[Fox-Trot-9]

It depends on the character's personality and circumstances, which can vary. But then again, my characters tend to go through some seriously crazy stuff, so I think it's understandable for them to swear (sometimes or a lot).

 

[RoyalTime]

My mc is an anti social, so he doesn't need to swear

 

[Lysander_Works]

I'd use them sparingly, only when it really feels necessary or justified. Some readers drop books for excessive swearing, but a realistic variation of it when it counts should still be fine. Let's face it: you're gonna encounter swear words from other people IRL anyway.
Only other reason to 100% never use them is if you are targeting a specific age/range, example making a kids book.

 

[expentio]

When they come, they come. Usually only a WTF. Yet often weakened to What the heck/frick. Frickin' hell! It depends on whether the character is someone who would be swearing. Like the dockworker wouldn't really stop himself from any hard wrods.

 

[EverenVale]

My personal rule is, do not use swear words in narration (unless the mc is the narrator). In dialogue, however, if it fits the character and the circumstances, then sure.

That's an interesting rule. I also do the same since I love to write my character's inner thoughts. Something like: What the actual F*k is happening here or What the hell am I doing here?

But I also use them in the dialogues, especially with grumpy or hilarious characters. Sometimes, my hilarious characters swear just for the fun of it and because it makes their dialogues funny!

I don't swear much usually in my novel, but I have a character who does a lot, in a recent chapter. Enough that I added an extra TW at the start of the chapter.

A TW for swearing? That's interesting. I have never heard of it before, and I would love to hear your thoughts about why you think it needs a TW. I love to see others' perspectives. After all, that's what life is about.

 

[soupsabaw]

Swearing is such a funny concept to think about. I use regular swears. More aggressive ones for the more aggressive characters, and gentler ones for the more gentle characters. But also, if it's your own set world, you can play around and possibly create your own.

For example, my current novel has a deity named Namuh. Instead of going "Oh, my God!" my characters say "Oh, my Namuh!" Another character will tend to say "Namuh's Palace!" as an exclamation as well. Additionally, he knows a ton of ancient languages, so sometimes I'll just say he curses. Like:

Unfortunately, Yuri’s anger hiked up to a high. He began to curse Enrico out in an ancient language. No one could understand what he was saying any longer.

“Did he just agree?” Yuri grumbled. Disbelief! He sank lower. “I can’t believe it.” He cursed in the ancient tongue Sumtah.

You can leave your readers to wonder what they said too, like:

"Yuri," Akroma said through a gentle sigh. He sounded exhausted. "Please, you have to tell us what to do if that happens again."

Yuri raised an eyebrow. "If what happens again?"

"If you get stuck in the ancient tongue."

With a laugh, Yuri said, "I wasn't stuck at all. I just prefer the curses. They have more bite to it."

It could make people wonder, "Mm, what was he saying? What would a character like Yuri say?" It can be fun for both you and your readers.

 

[ignova]

Swearing is a tool like any other used in writing. Too much swearing makes you look like you're trying too hard to be edgy, or like your vocabulary is too stunted to come up with something more expressive. However, people swear in real life, and avoiding it entirely can lead to unrealistically toothless sentences that take people out of the writing. (E.g. would your hardboiled private eye really say things like 'gosh' or 'darn'?) Good writers strike a balance.

It's worth noting that cuss words like f**k and c**t are actually quite old, and they were in common use even back in Shakespeare's day. So they wouldn't really be out of place in a high fantasy setting where people are already speaking modern English (i.e. not middle English like Chaucer or old English like Beowulf).

 

[DireBadger]

By Titania's T**s!

Fantasy swearing is awesome

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Oh - just reread the title and maybe I didn't really answer the question: I only occasionally have my CHARACTERS swear, but I frequently swear while writing...