G.A. Anderson's Blog
March 4, 2023
To Cuss or Not
To Cuss...or Not
I’m feeling 38% panicked about the curse words in my debut novel, South of Happily. Will people give it a negative review because of the swearing? Do I need to add, trigger warning—language, on page one?
I’ve spoken to other authors about this, and the resounding response is that I shouldn’t worry about it.
Here’s the thing.
I am a reasonably nice person. I don’t smoke or do drugs, I barely drink. My biggest vice is chocolate.
But I swear like a sailor. I have no idea why, though I can pinpoint the exact moment it began.
I was in middle school and life was rosy, hopeful. Nineteen-seventy-something in the suburbs.
My friend and I were out on our bikes, and we decided THIS was the day we would begin cussing. We rode up to “The Mansion”. Seriously, it was a real mansion. Dark, deserted, derelict, creepy as fu… um, heck.
I picture this perfectly in my mind. Dropping the kickstand next to the crumbling red brick columns, gnarled vines, years of rotting leaves on the ground. Shadows lurking in the spider webs.
“What swear words do you know?” I asked her.
“I dunno,” she answered. “Which ones do you know?”
We listed them, repeated them, put them into sentences, giggled and snorted, and laughed.
Then it was dusk, and we heard a rustling sound. We jumped on our bikes and pedaled our foul-mouthed selves back home, petrified that we’d offended the ghosts hovering behind those battered old windows.
Since that day, I’ve refined my skills, and learned when and where I can safely drop an f-bomb. Yet, many years later, it’s not the memory of that withered mansion I’m afraid of—it’s the possibility of offending you, dear reader.
I truly hope not to, and sincerely apologize if I do.
But I enjoy colorful language, and if this is my worst offense, I still write with my whole damn heart, even if I do sound like a pirate… gamer… human.South of HappilySouth of HappilySouth of Happily
I’m feeling 38% panicked about the curse words in my debut novel, South of Happily. Will people give it a negative review because of the swearing? Do I need to add, trigger warning—language, on page one?
I’ve spoken to other authors about this, and the resounding response is that I shouldn’t worry about it.
Here’s the thing.
I am a reasonably nice person. I don’t smoke or do drugs, I barely drink. My biggest vice is chocolate.
But I swear like a sailor. I have no idea why, though I can pinpoint the exact moment it began.
I was in middle school and life was rosy, hopeful. Nineteen-seventy-something in the suburbs.
My friend and I were out on our bikes, and we decided THIS was the day we would begin cussing. We rode up to “The Mansion”. Seriously, it was a real mansion. Dark, deserted, derelict, creepy as fu… um, heck.
I picture this perfectly in my mind. Dropping the kickstand next to the crumbling red brick columns, gnarled vines, years of rotting leaves on the ground. Shadows lurking in the spider webs.
“What swear words do you know?” I asked her.
“I dunno,” she answered. “Which ones do you know?”
We listed them, repeated them, put them into sentences, giggled and snorted, and laughed.
Then it was dusk, and we heard a rustling sound. We jumped on our bikes and pedaled our foul-mouthed selves back home, petrified that we’d offended the ghosts hovering behind those battered old windows.
Since that day, I’ve refined my skills, and learned when and where I can safely drop an f-bomb. Yet, many years later, it’s not the memory of that withered mansion I’m afraid of—it’s the possibility of offending you, dear reader.
I truly hope not to, and sincerely apologize if I do.
But I enjoy colorful language, and if this is my worst offense, I still write with my whole damn heart, even if I do sound like a pirate… gamer… human.South of HappilySouth of HappilySouth of Happily
