VT Dorchester
asked
Jeff Bond:
I recently very much enjoyed reading Dear Durwood. One of the things that I noticed, is that you took some pains to avoid spelling out obscenities in a couple of places throughout the book. Is this part of a general philosophy of yours as a writer? Or was it more a case of it being in keeping with the character and flavour of this particular book? I'm curious to learn what your thoughts are re writing coarse language.
Jeff Bond
Thanks for your question — and for riding along with Durwood to Chickasaw! You’re right that I intentionally avoided swearing in the story, and in fact, I’ve done the same in my last four books. (My debut, The Winner Maker, contains a handful of obscenities.) I didn’t start this practice out of any overarching philosophy or grand moral conviction. Simply, I realized that profanity bothered some readers, and decided I could write intense — or angry, or vile, etc — dialog perfectly well without it.
Now, I’ll admit that when I hear a reviewer use the phrase “take pains to,” it gives me pause. I don’t like breaking the spell in my fiction and having a reader’s attention drawn to a stylistic decision. Ultimately, I’ve chosen to accept a few minor awkwardnesses in exchange for certain readers’ comfort.
Another point to make is that, as you hinted, the type of book matters. The Third Chance Enterprises series has a big, fun, over-the-top vibe, very much in the Indiana Jones tradition, and I didn’t feel like a gritty, ultra-realistic style of language suited it. And, yes, Durwood Oak Jones being the point-of-view character made a somewhat chaste approach even more natural.
My current work in progress comes from my Franklin series, which is more literary/slice-of-life in nature. (Only a short story, The Cleaner, is available to date.) I’m actually leaning towards breaking my “no swear” streak for just that reason: the book’s style demands it. Realism is so important to the story’s artistic success that I think I’ll want profanity in those one or two spots where its rawness is truly required.
It’ll still just be one or two, though.
Now, I’ll admit that when I hear a reviewer use the phrase “take pains to,” it gives me pause. I don’t like breaking the spell in my fiction and having a reader’s attention drawn to a stylistic decision. Ultimately, I’ve chosen to accept a few minor awkwardnesses in exchange for certain readers’ comfort.
Another point to make is that, as you hinted, the type of book matters. The Third Chance Enterprises series has a big, fun, over-the-top vibe, very much in the Indiana Jones tradition, and I didn’t feel like a gritty, ultra-realistic style of language suited it. And, yes, Durwood Oak Jones being the point-of-view character made a somewhat chaste approach even more natural.
My current work in progress comes from my Franklin series, which is more literary/slice-of-life in nature. (Only a short story, The Cleaner, is available to date.) I’m actually leaning towards breaking my “no swear” streak for just that reason: the book’s style demands it. Realism is so important to the story’s artistic success that I think I’ll want profanity in those one or two spots where its rawness is truly required.
It’ll still just be one or two, though.
More Answered Questions
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more